diff --git a/src/OpenClaw.Shared/NotificationCategorizer.cs b/src/OpenClaw.Shared/NotificationCategorizer.cs
index 8559d69..20d61a2 100644
--- a/src/OpenClaw.Shared/NotificationCategorizer.cs
+++ b/src/OpenClaw.Shared/NotificationCategorizer.cs
@@ -51,16 +51,23 @@ public class NotificationCategorizer
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Classify a notification using the layered pipeline.
+    /// When <paramref name="preferStructuredCategories"/> is <see langword="true"/> (the default),
+    /// structured metadata (Intent, Channel) is checked first.
+    /// When <see langword="false"/>, structured metadata is skipped and classification starts
+    /// from user-defined rules, then keyword fallback.
     /// </summary>
-    public (string title, string type) Classify(OpenClawNotification notification, IReadOnlyList<UserNotificationRule>? userRules = null)
+    public (string title, string type) Classify(OpenClawNotification notification, IReadOnlyList<UserNotificationRule>? userRules = null, bool preferStructuredCategories = true)
     {
-        // 1. Structured metadata: Intent
-        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(notification.Intent) && IntentMap.TryGetValue(notification.Intent, out var intentResult))
-            return intentResult;
+        if (preferStructuredCategories)
+        {
+            // 1. Structured metadata: Intent
+            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(notification.Intent) && IntentMap.TryGetValue(notification.Intent, out var intentResult))
+                return intentResult;
 
-        // 2. Structured metadata: Channel
-        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(notification.Channel) && ChannelMap.TryGetValue(notification.Channel, out var channelResult))
-            return channelResult;
+            // 2. Structured metadata: Channel
+            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(notification.Channel) && ChannelMap.TryGetValue(notification.Channel, out var channelResult))
+                return channelResult;
+        }
 
         // 3. User-defined rules (pattern match on title + message)
         if (userRules is { Count: > 0 })
diff --git a/src/OpenClaw.Shared/OpenClawGatewayClient.cs b/src/OpenClaw.Shared/OpenClawGatewayClient.cs
index 0e21836..ccc08d9 100644
--- a/src/OpenClaw.Shared/OpenClawGatewayClient.cs
+++ b/src/OpenClaw.Shared/OpenClawGatewayClient.cs
@@ -22,6 +22,17 @@ public class OpenClawGatewayClient : WebSocketClientBase
     private bool _usageCostUnsupported;
     private bool _sessionPreviewUnsupported;
     private bool _nodeListUnsupported;
+    private bool _preferStructuredCategories = true;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Controls whether structured notification metadata (Intent, Channel) takes priority
+    /// over keyword-based classification. Mirrors the <c>PreferStructuredCategories</c>
+    /// setting. Call after construction and whenever settings change.
+    /// </summary>
+    public void SetPreferStructuredCategories(bool value)
+    {
+        _preferStructuredCategories = value;
+    }
 
     private void ResetUnsupportedMethodFlags()
     {
@@ -851,7 +862,7 @@ private void EmitChatNotification(string text)
             Message = displayText,
             IsChat = true
         };
-        var (title, type) = _categorizer.Classify(notification);
+        var (title, type) = _categorizer.Classify(notification, preferStructuredCategories: _preferStructuredCategories);
         notification.Title = title;
         notification.Type = type;
         NotificationReceived?.Invoke(this, notification);
@@ -1556,7 +1567,7 @@ private void EmitNotification(string text)
         {
             Message = text.Length > 200 ? text[..200] + "…" : text
         };
-        var (title, type) = _categorizer.Classify(notification);
+        var (title, type) = _categorizer.Classify(notification, preferStructuredCategories: _preferStructuredCategories);
         notification.Title = title;
         notification.Type = type;
         NotificationReceived?.Invoke(this, notification);
diff --git a/src/OpenClaw.Tray.WinUI/App.xaml.cs b/src/OpenClaw.Tray.WinUI/App.xaml.cs
index de0780f..e9cde48 100644
--- a/src/OpenClaw.Tray.WinUI/App.xaml.cs
+++ b/src/OpenClaw.Tray.WinUI/App.xaml.cs
@@ -1085,6 +1085,7 @@ private void InitializeGatewayClient()
         UnsubscribeGatewayEvents();
 
         _gatewayClient = new OpenClawGatewayClient(_settings.GatewayUrl, _settings.Token, new AppLogger());
+        _gatewayClient.SetPreferStructuredCategories(_settings.PreferStructuredCategories);
         _gatewayClient.StatusChanged += OnConnectionStatusChanged;
         _gatewayClient.ActivityChanged += OnActivityChanged;
         _gatewayClient.NotificationReceived += OnNotificationReceived;
diff --git a/tests/OpenClaw.Shared.Tests/NotificationCategorizerTests.cs b/tests/OpenClaw.Shared.Tests/NotificationCategorizerTests.cs
index bb2354c..723ba6c 100644
--- a/tests/OpenClaw.Shared.Tests/NotificationCategorizerTests.cs
+++ b/tests/OpenClaw.Shared.Tests/NotificationCategorizerTests.cs
@@ -272,7 +272,82 @@ public void PipelineOrder_Intent_Channel_UserRules_Keywords()
         Assert.Equal("health", _categorizer.Classify(notification).type);
     }
 
-    // --- ClassifyByKeywords static method ---
+    // --- PreferStructuredCategories = false ---
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void PreferStructuredCategories_False_SkipsIntent()
+    {
+        // Intent says "build" but with preferStructuredCategories=false it should be ignored;
+        // message keyword "email" drives the result.
+        var notification = new OpenClawNotification
+        {
+            Message = "New email notification",
+            Intent = "build"
+        };
+        var (_, type) = _categorizer.Classify(notification, preferStructuredCategories: false);
+        Assert.Equal("email", type);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void PreferStructuredCategories_False_SkipsChannel()
+    {
+        // Channel says "calendar" but with preferStructuredCategories=false it should be ignored;
+        // message keyword "email" drives the result.
+        var notification = new OpenClawNotification
+        {
+            Message = "Check your email",
+            Channel = "calendar"
+        };
+        var (_, type) = _categorizer.Classify(notification, preferStructuredCategories: false);
+        Assert.Equal("email", type);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void PreferStructuredCategories_False_UserRulesStillApply()
+    {
+        var rules = new List<UserNotificationRule>
+        {
+            new() { Pattern = "invoice", Category = "email", Enabled = true }
+        };
+        // Intent would win when preferStructuredCategories=true, but is skipped here;
+        // user rule matches the message.
+        var notification = new OpenClawNotification
+        {
+            Message = "New invoice received",
+            Intent = "urgent"
+        };
+        var (_, type) = _categorizer.Classify(notification, rules, preferStructuredCategories: false);
+        Assert.Equal("email", type);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void PreferStructuredCategories_False_FallsBackToKeywords()
+    {
+        // No user rules, no keywords for "hello world" → "info"
+        var notification = new OpenClawNotification
+        {
+            Message = "Hello world",
+            Intent = "build",
+            Channel = "email"
+        };
+        var (_, type) = _categorizer.Classify(notification, preferStructuredCategories: false);
+        Assert.Equal("info", type);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void PreferStructuredCategories_True_Default_BehaviourUnchanged()
+    {
+        // Ensure the default (true) still gives structured metadata priority.
+        var notification = new OpenClawNotification
+        {
+            Message = "New email notification",
+            Intent = "build"
+        };
+        Assert.Equal("build", _categorizer.Classify(notification).type);
+        Assert.Equal("build", _categorizer.Classify(notification, preferStructuredCategories: true).type);
+    }
+
+
 
     [Fact]
     public void ClassifyByKeywords_DefaultsToInfo()