diff --git a/setup/auto.ts b/setup/auto.ts
index 392bc133f..94ffe20c5 100644
--- a/setup/auto.ts
+++ b/setup/auto.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ import { claudeCliAvailable, resolveTimezoneViaClaude } from './lib/tz-from-clau
 import * as setupLog from './logs.js';
 import { ensureAnswer, fail, runQuietChild, runQuietStep } from './lib/runner.js';
 import { emit as phEmit } from './lib/diagnostics.js';
-import { accentGreen, brandBody, brandBold, brandChip, dimWrap, fitToWidth, note, wrapForGutter } from './lib/theme.js';
+import { accentGreen, brandBody, brandBold, brandChip, dimWrap, fitToWidth, fmtDuration, note, wrapForGutter } from './lib/theme.js';
 import { isValidTimezone } from '../src/timezone.js';
 
 const CLI_AGENT_NAME = 'Terminal Agent';
@@ -579,18 +579,16 @@ async function confirmAssistantResponds(): Promise<PingResult> {
   const s = p.spinner();
   const start = Date.now();
   const label = 'Waking your assistant…';
-  s.start(fitToWidth(label, ' (999s)'));
+  s.start(fitToWidth(label, ' (99m 59s)'));
   const tick = setInterval(() => {
-    const elapsed = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
-    const suffix = ` (${elapsed}s)`;
+    const suffix = ` (${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`;
     s.message(`${fitToWidth(label, suffix)}${k.dim(suffix)}`);
   }, 1000);
 
   const result = await pingCliAgent();
 
   clearInterval(tick);
-  const elapsed = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
-  const suffix = ` (${elapsed}s)`;
+  const suffix = ` (${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`;
   if (result === 'ok') {
     s.stop(`${k.bold(fitToWidth('Your assistant is ready.', suffix))}${k.dim(suffix)}`);
   } else {
diff --git a/setup/channels/discord.ts b/setup/channels/discord.ts
index 3638e4eec..c25f2decc 100644
--- a/setup/channels/discord.ts
+++ b/setup/channels/discord.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import { brightSelect } from '../lib/bright-select.js';
 import { confirmThenOpen } from '../lib/browser.js';
 import { askOperatorRole } from '../lib/role-prompt.js';
 import { ensureAnswer, fail, runQuietChild } from '../lib/runner.js';
-import { accentGreen, brandBody, note } from '../lib/theme.js';
+import { accentGreen, brandBody, fmtDuration, note } from '../lib/theme.js';
 
 const DEFAULT_AGENT_NAME = 'Nano';
 const DISCORD_API = 'https://discord.com/api/v10';
@@ -289,9 +289,8 @@ async function validateDiscordToken(token: string): Promise<string> {
       username?: string;
       message?: string;
     };
-    const elapsedS = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
     if (res.ok && data.username) {
-      s.stop(`Found your bot: @${data.username}. ${k.dim(`(${elapsedS}s)`)}`);
+      s.stop(`Found your bot: @${data.username}. ${k.dim(`(${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`)}`);
       setupLog.step('discord-validate', 'success', Date.now() - start, {
         BOT_USERNAME: data.username,
         BOT_ID: data.id ?? '',
@@ -309,8 +308,7 @@ async function validateDiscordToken(token: string): Promise<string> {
       'Copy the token again from the Developer Portal and retry setup.',
     );
   } catch (err) {
-    const elapsedS = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
-    s.stop(`Couldn't reach Discord. ${k.dim(`(${elapsedS}s)`)}`, 1);
+    s.stop(`Couldn't reach Discord. ${k.dim(`(${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`)}`, 1);
     const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
     setupLog.step('discord-validate', 'failed', Date.now() - start, {
       ERROR: message,
@@ -338,7 +336,6 @@ async function fetchApplicationInfo(token: string): Promise<AppInfo> {
       team?: unknown;
       message?: string;
     };
-    const elapsedS = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
     if (!res.ok || !data.id || !data.verify_key) {
       const reason = data.message ?? `HTTP ${res.status}`;
       s.stop(`Couldn't read application info: ${reason}`, 1);
@@ -351,7 +348,7 @@ async function fetchApplicationInfo(token: string): Promise<AppInfo> {
         'Re-run setup. If it keeps failing, check the bot token has the right scopes.',
       );
     }
-    s.stop(`Got your application details. ${k.dim(`(${elapsedS}s)`)}`);
+    s.stop(`Got your application details. ${k.dim(`(${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`)}`);
     // owner is populated for solo applications; team-owned apps return a
     // team object instead and we'll fall back to a manual user-id prompt.
     const owner =
@@ -369,8 +366,7 @@ async function fetchApplicationInfo(token: string): Promise<AppInfo> {
       owner,
     };
   } catch (err) {
-    const elapsedS = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
-    s.stop(`Couldn't reach Discord. ${k.dim(`(${elapsedS}s)`)}`, 1);
+    s.stop(`Couldn't reach Discord. ${k.dim(`(${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`)}`, 1);
     const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
     setupLog.step('discord-app-info', 'failed', Date.now() - start, {
       ERROR: message,
@@ -479,7 +475,6 @@ async function openDmChannel(token: string, userId: string): Promise<string> {
       body: JSON.stringify({ recipient_id: userId }),
     });
     const data = (await res.json()) as { id?: string; message?: string };
-    const elapsedS = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
     if (!res.ok || !data.id) {
       const reason = data.message ?? `HTTP ${res.status}`;
       s.stop(`Couldn't open a DM channel: ${reason}`, 1);
@@ -492,14 +487,13 @@ async function openDmChannel(token: string, userId: string): Promise<string> {
         'Make sure the bot is in a server you\'re also in, then retry setup.',
       );
     }
-    s.stop(`DM channel ready. ${k.dim(`(${elapsedS}s)`)}`);
+    s.stop(`DM channel ready. ${k.dim(`(${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`)}`);
     setupLog.step('discord-open-dm', 'success', Date.now() - start, {
       DM_CHANNEL_ID: data.id,
     });
     return data.id;
   } catch (err) {
-    const elapsedS = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
-    s.stop(`Couldn't reach Discord. ${k.dim(`(${elapsedS}s)`)}`, 1);
+    s.stop(`Couldn't reach Discord. ${k.dim(`(${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`)}`, 1);
     const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
     setupLog.step('discord-open-dm', 'failed', Date.now() - start, {
       ERROR: message,
diff --git a/setup/channels/signal.ts b/setup/channels/signal.ts
index 0c5718ec7..8462a568e 100644
--- a/setup/channels/signal.ts
+++ b/setup/channels/signal.ts
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ import {
   writeStepEntry,
 } from '../lib/runner.js';
 import { askOperatorRole } from '../lib/role-prompt.js';
-import { accentGreen, note } from '../lib/theme.js';
+import { accentGreen, fmtDuration, note } from '../lib/theme.js';
 
 const DEFAULT_AGENT_NAME = 'Nano';
 
@@ -324,8 +324,7 @@ async function restartService(): Promise<void> {
     // Give the adapter a moment to connect to signal-cli before
     // init-first-agent's welcome DM hits the delivery path.
     await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 5000));
-    const elapsed = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
-    s.stop(`NanoClaw restarted. ${k.dim(`(${elapsed}s)`)}`);
+    s.stop(`NanoClaw restarted. ${k.dim(`(${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`)}`);
     setupLog.step('signal-restart', 'success', Date.now() - start, {
       PLATFORM: platform,
     });
diff --git a/setup/channels/slack.ts b/setup/channels/slack.ts
index 167fa726a..340eabc09 100644
--- a/setup/channels/slack.ts
+++ b/setup/channels/slack.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import * as setupLog from '../logs.js';
 import { confirmThenOpen } from '../lib/browser.js';
 import { askOperatorRole } from '../lib/role-prompt.js';
 import { ensureAnswer, fail, runQuietChild } from '../lib/runner.js';
-import { accentGreen, note, wrapForGutter } from '../lib/theme.js';
+import { accentGreen, fmtDuration, note, wrapForGutter } from '../lib/theme.js';
 
 const SLACK_API = 'https://slack.com/api';
 const SLACK_APPS_URL = 'https://api.slack.com/apps';
@@ -241,10 +241,9 @@ async function validateSlackToken(token: string): Promise<WorkspaceInfo> {
       user_id?: string;
       error?: string;
     };
-    const elapsedS = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
     if (data.ok && data.team && data.user) {
       s.stop(
-        `Connected to ${data.team} as @${data.user}. ${k.dim(`(${elapsedS}s)`)}`,
+        `Connected to ${data.team} as @${data.user}. ${k.dim(`(${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`)}`,
       );
       const info: WorkspaceInfo = {
         teamName: data.team,
@@ -273,8 +272,7 @@ async function validateSlackToken(token: string): Promise<WorkspaceInfo> {
         : `Slack said "${reason}". Check the token scopes and workspace install, then retry.`,
     );
   } catch (err) {
-    const elapsedS = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
-    s.stop(`Couldn't reach Slack. ${k.dim(`(${elapsedS}s)`)}`, 1);
+    s.stop(`Couldn't reach Slack. ${k.dim(`(${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`)}`, 1);
     const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
     setupLog.step('slack-validate', 'failed', Date.now() - start, {
       ERROR: message,
@@ -334,9 +332,8 @@ async function openDmChannel(token: string, userId: string): Promise<string> {
       channel?: { id?: string };
       error?: string;
     };
-    const elapsedS = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
     if (data.ok && data.channel?.id) {
-      s.stop(`DM channel ready. ${k.dim(`(${elapsedS}s)`)}`);
+      s.stop(`DM channel ready. ${k.dim(`(${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`)}`);
       setupLog.step('slack-open-dm', 'success', Date.now() - start, {
         DM_CHANNEL_ID: data.channel.id,
       });
@@ -360,8 +357,7 @@ async function openDmChannel(token: string, userId: string): Promise<string> {
       `Slack said "${reason}". Check the member ID and app permissions, then retry.`,
     );
   } catch (err) {
-    const elapsedS = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
-    s.stop(`Couldn't reach Slack. ${k.dim(`(${elapsedS}s)`)}`, 1);
+    s.stop(`Couldn't reach Slack. ${k.dim(`(${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`)}`, 1);
     const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
     setupLog.step('slack-open-dm', 'failed', Date.now() - start, {
       ERROR: message,
diff --git a/setup/channels/telegram.ts b/setup/channels/telegram.ts
index 1aa7cb541..ad749eb98 100644
--- a/setup/channels/telegram.ts
+++ b/setup/channels/telegram.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ import {
   spawnStep,
   writeStepEntry,
 } from '../lib/runner.js';
-import { accentGreen, brandBold, fitToWidth, note } from '../lib/theme.js';
+import { accentGreen, brandBold, fitToWidth, fmtDuration, note } from '../lib/theme.js';
 
 const DEFAULT_AGENT_NAME = 'Nano';
 
@@ -191,10 +191,9 @@ async function validateTelegramToken(token: string): Promise<string> {
       result?: { username?: string; id?: number };
       description?: string;
     };
-    const elapsedS = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
     if (data.ok && data.result?.username) {
       const username = data.result.username;
-      s.stop(`Found your bot: @${username}. ${k.dim(`(${elapsedS}s)`)}`);
+      s.stop(`Found your bot: @${username}. ${k.dim(`(${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`)}`);
       setupLog.step('telegram-validate', 'success', Date.now() - start, {
         BOT_USERNAME: username,
         BOT_ID: data.result.id ?? '',
@@ -212,8 +211,7 @@ async function validateTelegramToken(token: string): Promise<string> {
       'Copy the token again from @BotFather and try setup once more.',
     );
   } catch (err) {
-    const elapsedS = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
-    s.stop(`Couldn't reach Telegram. ${k.dim(`(${elapsedS}s)`)}`, 1);
+    s.stop(`Couldn't reach Telegram. ${k.dim(`(${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`)}`, 1);
     const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
     setupLog.step('telegram-validate', 'failed', Date.now() - start, {
       ERROR: message,
diff --git a/setup/channels/whatsapp.ts b/setup/channels/whatsapp.ts
index 96d23d53c..922c98521 100644
--- a/setup/channels/whatsapp.ts
+++ b/setup/channels/whatsapp.ts
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ import {
   writeStepEntry,
 } from '../lib/runner.js';
 import { askOperatorRole } from '../lib/role-prompt.js';
-import { accentGreen, brandBody, brandBold, note } from '../lib/theme.js';
+import { accentGreen, brandBody, brandBold, fmtDuration, note } from '../lib/theme.js';
 
 const DEFAULT_AGENT_NAME = 'Nano';
 const AUTH_CREDS_PATH = path.join(process.cwd(), 'store', 'auth', 'creds.json');
@@ -379,8 +379,7 @@ async function restartService(): Promise<void> {
     // Give the adapter a moment to reconnect before init-first-agent's
     // welcome DM hits the delivery path.
     await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 5000));
-    const elapsed = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
-    s.stop(`NanoClaw restarted. ${k.dim(`(${elapsed}s)`)}`);
+    s.stop(`NanoClaw restarted. ${k.dim(`(${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`)}`);
     setupLog.step('whatsapp-restart', 'success', Date.now() - start, {
       PLATFORM: platform,
     });
diff --git a/setup/lib/claude-assist.ts b/setup/lib/claude-assist.ts
index e76a4fcfd..187377e02 100644
--- a/setup/lib/claude-assist.ts
+++ b/setup/lib/claude-assist.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import * as p from '@clack/prompts';
 import k from 'kleur';
 
 import { ensureAnswer } from './runner.js';
-import { brandBody, fitToWidth, note } from './theme.js';
+import { brandBody, fitToWidth, fmtDuration, note } from './theme.js';
 
 export interface AssistContext {
   stepName: string;
@@ -295,9 +295,8 @@ async function queryClaudeUnderSpinner(
     // Move cursor back to the start of the block (WINDOW_SIZE + 1 = header + window).
     out.write(`\x1b[${WINDOW_SIZE + 1}A`);
 
-    const elapsed = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
     const icon = SPINNER_FRAMES[frameIdx % SPINNER_FRAMES.length];
-    const suffix = ` (${elapsed}s)`;
+    const suffix = ` (${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`;
     const header = fitToWidth('Asking Claude to diagnose…', suffix);
     out.write(`\x1b[2K${k.cyan(icon)}  ${header}${k.dim(suffix)}\n`);
 
@@ -355,8 +354,7 @@ async function queryClaudeUnderSpinner(
       clearBlock();
       out.write(SHOW_CURSOR);
       process.off('exit', restoreCursorOnExit);
-      const elapsed = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
-      const suffix = ` (${elapsed}s)`;
+      const suffix = ` (${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`;
       if (kind === 'ok') {
         p.log.success(`${brandBody(fitToWidth('Claude replied.', suffix))}${k.dim(suffix)}`);
         resolve(payload);
diff --git a/setup/lib/runner.ts b/setup/lib/runner.ts
index cf7a86da8..6ffffed80 100644
--- a/setup/lib/runner.ts
+++ b/setup/lib/runner.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import k from 'kleur';
 import * as setupLog from '../logs.js';
 import { offerClaudeAssist } from './claude-assist.js';
 import { emit as phEmit } from './diagnostics.js';
-import { brandBody, fitToWidth } from './theme.js';
+import { brandBody, fitToWidth, fmtDuration } from './theme.js';
 
 export type Fields = Record<string, string>;
 export type Block = { type: string; fields: Fields };
@@ -307,18 +307,16 @@ async function runUnderSpinner<
 ): Promise<T> {
   const s = p.spinner();
   const start = Date.now();
-  s.start(fitToWidth(labels.running, ' (999s)'));
+  s.start(fitToWidth(labels.running, ' (99m 59s)'));
   const tick = setInterval(() => {
-    const elapsed = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
-    const suffix = ` (${elapsed}s)`;
+    const suffix = ` (${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`;
     s.message(`${fitToWidth(labels.running, suffix)}${k.dim(suffix)}`);
   }, 1000);
 
   const result = await work();
 
   clearInterval(tick);
-  const elapsed = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
-  const suffix = ` (${elapsed}s)`;
+  const suffix = ` (${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`;
   if (result.ok) {
     const isSkipped = result.terminal?.fields.STATUS === 'skipped';
     const msg = isSkipped && labels.skipped ? labels.skipped : labels.done;
diff --git a/setup/lib/theme.ts b/setup/lib/theme.ts
index 0dfa53f74..2c80c8a55 100644
--- a/setup/lib/theme.ts
+++ b/setup/lib/theme.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,22 @@ export function accentGreen(s: string): string {
   return k.green(s);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Format an elapsed-time duration (in milliseconds) for the spinner
+ * suffixes setup writes everywhere. Sub-minute durations stay in plain
+ * seconds (`47s`); once the timer crosses 60 seconds we switch to the
+ * `Xm Ys` form (`2m 34s`) so a long step doesn't read as `247s` or
+ * similar. The format is consistent above 60s — `4m 0s` over `4m` —
+ * so live spinner output doesn't change shape at every whole minute.
+ */
+export function fmtDuration(ms: number): string {
+  const totalSec = Math.round(ms / 1000);
+  if (totalSec < 60) return `${totalSec}s`;
+  const m = Math.floor(totalSec / 60);
+  const s = totalSec % 60;
+  return `${m}m ${s}s`;
+}
+
 /**
  * Brand body color for setup-flow prose. Used for card bodies (via the
  * `note()` formatter) and `p.log.*` body arguments — anywhere the
diff --git a/setup/lib/tz-from-claude.ts b/setup/lib/tz-from-claude.ts
index 5486fbb20..f861f6491 100644
--- a/setup/lib/tz-from-claude.ts
+++ b/setup/lib/tz-from-claude.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import * as p from '@clack/prompts';
 import k from 'kleur';
 
 import { isValidTimezone } from '../../src/timezone.js';
-import { fitToWidth } from './theme.js';
+import { fitToWidth, fmtDuration } from './theme.js';
 
 export function claudeCliAvailable(): boolean {
   try {
@@ -44,18 +44,16 @@ export async function resolveTimezoneViaClaude(
   const s = p.spinner();
   const start = Date.now();
   const label = 'Looking up that timezone…';
-  s.start(fitToWidth(label, ' (999s)'));
+  s.start(fitToWidth(label, ' (99m 59s)'));
   const tick = setInterval(() => {
-    const elapsed = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
-    const suffix = ` (${elapsed}s)`;
+    const suffix = ` (${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`;
     s.message(`${fitToWidth(label, suffix)}${k.dim(suffix)}`);
   }, 1000);
 
   const reply = await queryClaude(prompt);
 
   clearInterval(tick);
-  const elapsed = Math.round((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
-  const suffix = ` (${elapsed}s)`;
+  const suffix = ` (${fmtDuration(Date.now() - start)})`;
 
   const resolved = reply ? extractTimezone(reply) : null;
   if (resolved) {