diff --git a/hermes_cli/browser_connect.py b/hermes_cli/browser_connect.py
index 911cb4b78f..a5ef1497fa 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/browser_connect.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/browser_connect.py
@@ -630,26 +630,36 @@ def _copy_auth_file(src_file: str, dst_file: str) -> bool:
     """
     os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(dst_file), exist_ok=True)
     if os.path.basename(src_file) in _SQLITE_AUTH_DBS:
-        try:
-            import sqlite3
-
-            # Read-only URI + immutable-free: we want a consistent committed
-            # snapshot, not to fight the writer. Short busy timeout so a truly
-            # wedged DB fails fast rather than hanging the launch.
-            source = sqlite3.connect(f"file:{src_file}?mode=ro", uri=True, timeout=5)
+        # On a live Chrome on macOS the profile holds
+        # its DBs in a state where mode=ro WITHOUT immutable=1 can hang the
+        # connect/backup indefinitely (the sqlite busy-timeout never fires
+        # because the block happens inside lock negotiation). immutable=1
+        # reads instantly and is correct here: we want a committed snapshot of
+        # a file another process owns, not coordinated writes. A torn read
+        # raises → falls through to the plain-copy fallback below.
+        for uri in (
+            f"file:{src_file}?mode=ro&immutable=1",
+            f"file:{src_file}?mode=ro",
+        ):
             try:
-                out = sqlite3.connect(dst_file)
+                import sqlite3
+
+                # Short busy timeout so a truly wedged DB fails fast rather
+                # than hanging the launch.
+                source = sqlite3.connect(uri, uri=True, timeout=5)
                 try:
-                    with out:
-                        source.backup(out)
+                    out = sqlite3.connect(dst_file)
+                    try:
+                        with out:
+                            source.backup(out)
+                    finally:
+                        out.close()
                 finally:
-                    out.close()
-            finally:
-                source.close()
-            return True
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.debug("real-profile: sqlite-backup of %s failed (%s); trying raw copy",
-                         src_file, e)
+                    source.close()
+                return True
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.debug("real-profile: sqlite-backup of %s failed (%s); trying next mode",
+                             src_file, e)
     # Non-DB file, or DB whose backup failed: raw copy.
     try:
         shutil.copy2(src_file, dst_file)
@@ -722,6 +732,53 @@ def _profile_is_locked(src: str, source_profile: str) -> bool:
         return False
 
 
+def _real_profile_pin() -> str | None:
+    """Pinned source profile dir name from ``browser.real_profile_pin``.
+
+    Natively the snapshot follows Chrome's
+    ``profile.last_used`` — whichever profile the user touched last. On a
+    machine with a work profile (HM) and a personal profile, that roulette
+    can silently give the agent the wrong identity. When set (e.g.
+    ``"Profile 2"``), the snapshot ALWAYS copies that profile regardless of
+    last_used. Unset → native last_used behavior, unchanged.
+    """
+    try:
+        from hermes_cli.config import read_raw_config
+
+        cfg = read_raw_config()
+        browser_cfg = cfg.get("browser", {})
+        if isinstance(browser_cfg, dict):
+            pin = browser_cfg.get("real_profile_pin")
+            if isinstance(pin, str) and pin.strip():
+                return pin.strip()
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.debug("could not read real_profile_pin: %s", e)
+    return None
+
+
+def _resolve_source_profile(src: str) -> tuple[str | None, str | None]:
+    """Resolve which source profile to copy: pin first, else last_used.
+
+    Returns ``(profile_dir_name, error)``. A configured pin that does not
+    exist under ``src`` FAILS CLOSED with a fixable message — falling back
+    to last_used would silently browse as the wrong identity, which is the
+    exact wrong-principal bug this pin exists to prevent.
+    """
+    pin = _real_profile_pin()
+    if pin:
+        if os.path.isdir(os.path.join(src, pin)):
+            return pin, None
+        return None, (
+            f"browser.real_profile_pin is set to '{pin}' but that profile "
+            f"directory does not exist under {src!r}. Fix the pin (run: "
+            "`python3 -c \"import json; "
+            "print(json.load(open(input()))['profile']['info_cache'])\" "
+            "against '<user-data-dir>/Local State' to list profiles) or "
+            "remove it to fall back to last-used."
+        )
+    return _last_used_profile(src), None
+
+
 def _real_profile_autoclose() -> bool:
     """Whether browser.real_profile_autoclose consent is on (config read).
 
@@ -822,7 +879,9 @@ def close_browser_holding_profile(src: str, timeout: float = 15.0) -> tuple[bool
     psutil.wait_procs(alive, timeout=3.0)
 
     # The lock releases slightly after the process exits on Windows; poll.
-    source_profile = _last_used_profile(src)
+    source_profile, _resolve_err = _resolve_source_profile(src)
+    if not source_profile:
+        source_profile = _last_used_profile(src)
     deadline = time.monotonic() + timeout
     while time.monotonic() < deadline:
         if not _profile_is_locked(src, source_profile):
@@ -859,8 +918,10 @@ def snapshot_real_profile(browser: str, src: str | None = None) -> tuple[str | N
             f"profile directory for '{browser}' was not found ({src!r}). "
             "Launch that browser at least once, or turn browser.use_real_profile off."
         )
+    source_profile, resolve_err = _resolve_source_profile(src)
+    if resolve_err or not source_profile:
+        return None, resolve_err
     dst = real_profile_copy_dir(browser)
-    source_profile = _last_used_profile(src)
     # Fast lock probe BEFORE any copy: a running browser holds the cookie DB
     # deny-all (Windows), and a blocking file op on it can hang the launch for
     # minutes. On POSIX this never trips (no mandatory locking) so
@@ -910,12 +971,38 @@ def snapshot_real_profile(browser: str, src: str | None = None) -> tuple[str | N
         # Base user-data-dir file the browser reads at startup. Cheap; always
         # re-synced so last_used etc. stay current.
         ls_src = os.path.join(src, "Local State")
+        ls_dst = os.path.join(dst, "Local State")
         if os.path.isfile(ls_src):
             try:
-                shutil.copy2(ls_src, os.path.join(dst, "Local State"))
+                shutil.copy2(ls_src, ls_dst)
             except OSError as e:
                 logger.debug("real-profile snapshot: skipped Local State: %s", e)
 
+        # The copy contains ONLY the mirrored Default
+        # dir (that is where the pinned/active profile's auth was mirrored
+        # into), but a verbatim Local State still names the SOURCE profile
+        # (e.g. last_used="Profile 2", info_cache listing Profile 2/4/7).
+        # Chrome therefore opens a missing profile dir and starts SIGNED OUT
+        # (verified live: 3 anonymous cookies instead of the ~4000 copied).
+        # Rewrite Local State so the copy's only profile is Default and it is
+        # the last-used one.
+        try:
+            import json as _json
+
+            with open(ls_dst, encoding="utf-8") as fh:
+                state = _json.load(fh)
+            prof = state.get("profile")
+            if isinstance(prof, dict):
+                cache = prof.get("info_cache")
+                if isinstance(cache, dict) and "Default" in cache:
+                    prof["info_cache"] = {"Default": cache["Default"]}
+                prof["last_used"] = "Default"
+                prof["last_active_profiles"] = ["Default"]
+            with open(ls_dst, "w", encoding="utf-8") as fh:
+                _json.dump(state, fh)
+        except (OSError, ValueError) as e:
+            logger.debug("real-profile snapshot: could not normalize Local State: %s", e)
+
         if not populated:
             # Fresh (or torn-and-rebuilding): drop any partial Default and copy
             # the ACTIVE profile's full dir (minus caches AND the locked auth
diff --git a/tests/tools/test_browser_real_profile.py b/tests/tools/test_browser_real_profile.py
index 1635e60c47..68ff002fa7 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_browser_real_profile.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_browser_real_profile.py
@@ -176,10 +176,21 @@ class TestRealProfileCdpLaunch:
     def test_launch_returns_http_cdp(self, tmp_path):
         import tools.browser_tool as bt
         self._reset()
-        proc = Mock(returncode=0, stdout="", stderr="")
+        proc = Mock(return_value=None, returncode=0, stdout="", stderr="")
+
+        class FakeChrome:
+            def poll(self):
+                return None
+
+        def fake_popen(argv, **kw):
+            (tmp_path / "DevToolsActivePort").write_text("41000\n/devtools/browser/x\n")
+            return FakeChrome()
+
         with patch.object(bt, "_use_real_profile", return_value=True), \
              patch("hermes_cli.browser_connect.detect_default_chromium", return_value="chrome"), \
              patch("hermes_cli.browser_connect.snapshot_real_profile", return_value=(str(tmp_path), None)), \
+             patch("hermes_cli.browser_connect.chromium_executable", return_value="/usr/bin/chrome"), \
+             patch.object(bt.subprocess, "Popen", side_effect=fake_popen), \
              patch.object(bt, "_agent_browser_get_cdp",
                           side_effect=[None, "http://127.0.0.1:41000"]), \
              patch.object(bt, "_find_agent_browser", return_value="/usr/bin/agent-browser"), \
@@ -191,19 +202,36 @@ class TestRealProfileCdpLaunch:
         self._reset()
 
     def test_launch_never_passes_headless(self, tmp_path):
-        """--headless would use a separate cookie store → 0 real cookies."""
+        """--headless would use a separate cookie store → 0 real cookies.
+
+        We launch the REAL Chrome binary
+        ourselves (no mock-keychain switches — those break macOS cookie
+        decryption) and agent-browser attaches via --cdp. So the agent-browser
+        argv must contain --cdp (attach, not launch) and must NOT contain
+        --headless or --profile (launch-mode switches).
+        """
         import tools.browser_tool as bt
         self._reset()
-        proc = Mock(returncode=0, stdout="", stderr="")
+        proc = Mock(return_value=None, returncode=0, stdout="", stderr="")
         captured = {}
 
         def fake_run(argv, **kw):
             captured["argv"] = argv
             return proc
 
+        class FakeChrome:
+            def poll(self):
+                return None
+
+        def fake_popen(argv, **kw):
+            (tmp_path / "DevToolsActivePort").write_text("41000\n/devtools/browser/x\n")
+            return FakeChrome()
+
         with patch.object(bt, "_use_real_profile", return_value=True), \
              patch("hermes_cli.browser_connect.detect_default_chromium", return_value="chrome"), \
              patch("hermes_cli.browser_connect.snapshot_real_profile", return_value=(str(tmp_path), None)), \
+             patch("hermes_cli.browser_connect.chromium_executable", return_value="/usr/bin/chrome"), \
+             patch.object(bt.subprocess, "Popen", side_effect=fake_popen), \
              patch.object(bt, "_agent_browser_get_cdp",
                           side_effect=[None, "http://127.0.0.1:41000"]), \
              patch.object(bt, "_find_agent_browser", return_value="/usr/bin/agent-browser"), \
@@ -211,19 +239,30 @@ class TestRealProfileCdpLaunch:
              patch.object(bt, "_is_headed_mode", return_value=False):
             bt._real_profile_cdp()
         assert "--headless" not in captured["argv"]
-        assert "--profile" in captured["argv"]
-        assert str(tmp_path) in captured["argv"]
+        assert "--profile" not in captured["argv"]
+        assert "--cdp" in captured["argv"]
         self._reset()
 
     def test_reuses_only_session_on_our_copy_dir(self, tmp_path):
         """A live session on a DIFFERENT dir (stale/throwaway) is closed, not reused."""
         import tools.browser_tool as bt
         self._reset()
-        proc = Mock(returncode=0, stdout="", stderr="")
+        proc = Mock(return_value=None, returncode=0, stdout="", stderr="")
         closed = {"n": 0}
+
+        class FakeChrome:
+            def poll(self):
+                return None
+
+        def fake_popen(argv, **kw):
+            (tmp_path / "DevToolsActivePort").write_text("41000\n/devtools/browser/x\n")
+            return FakeChrome()
+
         with patch.object(bt, "_use_real_profile", return_value=True), \
              patch("hermes_cli.browser_connect.detect_default_chromium", return_value="chrome"), \
              patch("hermes_cli.browser_connect.snapshot_real_profile", return_value=(str(tmp_path), None)), \
+             patch("hermes_cli.browser_connect.chromium_executable", return_value="/usr/bin/chrome"), \
+             patch.object(bt.subprocess, "Popen", side_effect=fake_popen), \
              patch.object(bt, "_agent_browser_get_cdp",
                           side_effect=["http://127.0.0.1:5000", "http://127.0.0.1:41000"]), \
              patch.object(bt, "_cdp_http_ready", return_value=True), \
diff --git a/tests/tools/test_browser_real_profile_pin.py b/tests/tools/test_browser_real_profile_pin.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d0803b32e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/tools/test_browser_real_profile_pin.py
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+"""Tests for the LOCAL real_profile_pin patch (browser.real_profile_pin).
+
+Native behavior: snapshot copies whichever Chromium profile was last used
+(Local State -> profile.last_used). The pin lets a machine with a work
+profile and a personal profile lock each Hermes install to one identity so
+last-used roulette can never give the agent the wrong principal.
+
+Invariants under test:
+- pin set + exists       -> pinned profile is copied, last_used ignored
+- pin set + missing      -> FAIL CLOSED (error), never silently last_used
+- pin unset              -> native last_used behavior, byte-for-byte
+"""
+import json
+import os
+
+import pytest
+
+
+class TestRealProfilePin:
+    def _make_profile(self, root, last_used="Profile 2"):
+        """Synthetic Chromium user-data-dir with two profiles + last_used."""
+        for prof in ("Default", "Profile 2", "Profile 4"):
+            (root / prof / "Network").mkdir(parents=True)
+            (root / prof / "Cookies").write_text(f"cookies-{prof}")
+            (root / prof / "Login Data").write_text(f"logins-{prof}")
+            (root / prof / "Preferences").write_text("{}")
+        (root / "Crashpad").mkdir()
+        (root / "Local State").write_text(
+            json.dumps({"os_crypt": {}, "profile": {"last_used": last_used}})
+        )
+        return root
+
+    def test_pin_wins_over_last_used(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        import hermes_cli.browser_connect as bc
+
+        src = self._make_profile(tmp_path / "real", last_used="Profile 4")
+        home = tmp_path / "hermes-home"
+        monkeypatch.setattr(bc, "get_hermes_home", lambda: home)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(bc, "_real_profile_pin", lambda: "Profile 2")
+
+        dst, err = bc.snapshot_real_profile("chrome", src=str(src))
+        assert err is None and dst
+        got = (home / "browser-profile" / "chrome" / "Default" / "Cookies").read_text()
+        assert got == "cookies-Profile 2", "pin must override last_used"
+
+    def test_bad_pin_fails_closed(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        import hermes_cli.browser_connect as bc
+
+        src = self._make_profile(tmp_path / "real")
+        monkeypatch.setattr(bc, "get_hermes_home", lambda: tmp_path / "hh")
+        monkeypatch.setattr(bc, "_real_profile_pin", lambda: "Profile 99")
+
+        dst, err = bc.snapshot_real_profile("chrome", src=str(src))
+        assert dst is None
+        assert err and "real_profile_pin" in err and "Profile 99" in err
+        # Nothing may have been copied when the pin failed closed
+        assert not (tmp_path / "hh" / "browser-profile" / "chrome" / "Default").exists()
+
+    def test_no_pin_keeps_native_last_used(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        import hermes_cli.browser_connect as bc
+
+        src = self._make_profile(tmp_path / "real", last_used="Profile 4")
+        home = tmp_path / "hermes-home"
+        monkeypatch.setattr(bc, "get_hermes_home", lambda: home)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(bc, "_real_profile_pin", lambda: None)
+
+        dst, err = bc.snapshot_real_profile("chrome", src=str(src))
+        assert err is None and dst
+        got = (home / "browser-profile" / "chrome" / "Default" / "Cookies").read_text()
+        assert got == "cookies-Profile 4", "no pin = native last_used"
+
+    def test_re_sync_respects_pin_when_last_used_flips(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+        """The wrong-principal regression: session 2 with different last_used
+        must NOT overlay a different profile's auth onto the pinned copy."""
+        import hermes_cli.browser_connect as bc
+
+        src = self._make_profile(tmp_path / "real", last_used="Profile 2")
+        home = tmp_path / "hermes-home"
+        monkeypatch.setattr(bc, "get_hermes_home", lambda: home)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(bc, "_real_profile_pin", lambda: "Profile 2")
+
+        dst1, err1 = bc.snapshot_real_profile("chrome", src=str(src))
+        assert err1 is None
+
+        # User browses HM (Profile 4) in between; last_used flips.
+        (src / "Local State").write_text(
+            json.dumps({"os_crypt": {}, "profile": {"last_used": "Profile 4"}})
+        )
+        (src / "Profile 2" / "Cookies").write_text("cookies-Profile 2-v2")
+
+        dst2, err2 = bc.snapshot_real_profile("chrome", src=str(src))
+        assert err2 is None and dst2 == dst1
+        got = (home / "browser-profile" / "chrome" / "Default" / "Cookies").read_text()
+        assert got == "cookies-Profile 2-v2", "auth re-sync must stay on the pin"
diff --git a/tools/browser_tool.py b/tools/browser_tool.py
index 5adc71d17d..8d7ee6a395 100644
--- a/tools/browser_tool.py
+++ b/tools/browser_tool.py
@@ -1454,6 +1454,7 @@ def _use_real_profile() -> bool:
 _REAL_PROFILE_SESSION = "hermes-real-profile"
 _real_profile_cdp_lock = threading.Lock()
 _real_profile_cdp_cache: dict = {}
+_real_profile_chrome_procs: list = []  # Popen handles of directly-launched real browsers
 
 
 def _agent_browser_argv(browser_cmd: str) -> list:
@@ -1653,9 +1654,87 @@ def _real_profile_cdp() -> tuple:
             return None, f"browser.use_real_profile is on, but {err}"
         copy_dir = snap_dir
 
-        # Launch agent-browser's packaged Chromium on the profile COPY. This is
-        # the same launch path Hermes' built-in local browsing already uses,
-        # just pointed at the copied user-data-dir — no bespoke Chrome launch.
+        # Launch the user's REAL browser binary directly on the profile COPY.
+        # agent-browser 0.35's own
+        # launch path force-adds --use-mock-keychain/--password-store=basic
+        # (and --headless=new), which makes macOS Chrome treat every
+        # keychain-encrypted cookie as undecryptable and drop it — the copied
+        # profile launches signed out. Launching the real binary ourselves with
+        # NO mock-keychain switches keeps the OS keychain path intact, exactly
+        # as the snapshot design intends; agent-browser attaches to it after
+        # via --auto-connect (--cdp <port>).
+        from hermes_cli.browser_connect import chromium_executable
+
+        real_binary = chromium_executable(browser)
+        if real_binary is None:
+            return None, (
+                "browser.use_real_profile is on, but the real browser binary for "
+                f"'{browser}' could not be found. Reinstall it or turn the toggle off."
+            )
+        import tempfile
+
+        port_file = os.path.join(copy_dir, "DevToolsActivePort")
+        try:
+            os.unlink(port_file)  # stale port from a previous launch confuses reuse probes
+        except OSError:
+            pass
+        chrome_argv = [
+            real_binary,
+            f"--user-data-dir={copy_dir}",
+            "--remote-debugging-port=0",
+            "--no-first-run",
+            "--no-default-browser-check",
+            "--disable-background-networking",
+            "--disable-component-update",
+            "--disable-default-apps",
+            "--disable-hang-monitor",
+            "--disable-popup-blocking",
+            "--disable-prompt-on-repost",
+            "--disable-sync",
+            "--disable-features=Translate",
+            "--no-startup-window",
+        ]
+        try:
+            chrome_proc = subprocess.Popen(
+                chrome_argv,
+                stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+                stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+                stdin=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+                start_new_session=True,
+                env=_build_browser_env(),
+            )
+        except (subprocess.SubprocessError, OSError) as e:
+            return None, f"browser.use_real_profile is on, but the launch failed: {e}"
+        _real_profile_chrome_procs.append(chrome_proc)
+
+        # Wait for DevToolsActivePort to appear (Chrome picks a free port).
+        import time as _time
+
+        deadline = _time.monotonic() + 30.0
+        port = None
+        while _time.monotonic() < deadline:
+            try:
+                with open(port_file, encoding="utf-8") as fh:
+                    line = fh.readline().strip()
+                if line.isdigit():
+                    port = int(line)
+                    break
+            except OSError:
+                pass
+            if chrome_proc.poll() is not None:
+                return None, (
+                    "browser.use_real_profile is on, but Chrome exited during "
+                    "startup (another instance may hold the profile copy)."
+                )
+            _time.sleep(0.25)
+        if port is None:
+            return None, (
+                "browser.use_real_profile is on, but the real-profile browser "
+                "did not expose a debug port in time. Retry, or turn the toggle off."
+            )
+
+        # Tell agent-browser to ATTACH to the running Chrome instead of
+        # launching its own (its own launch injects mock-keychain flags).
         try:
             browser_cmd = _find_agent_browser()
         except FileNotFoundError as e:
@@ -1666,16 +1745,9 @@ def _real_profile_cdp() -> tuple:
         argv = [
             *_agent_browser_argv(browser_cmd),
             "--session", _REAL_PROFILE_SESSION,
-            "--profile", copy_dir,
+            "--cdp", str(port),
+            "open", "about:blank",
         ]
-        # Do NOT pass agent-browser's ``--headless``: it maps to Chrome's legacy
-        # headless mode, which uses a SEPARATE cookie store and loads none of the
-        # copied profile's cookies (verified: --headless → 0 cookies, default →
-        # full jar). agent-browser's default already runs windowless on a
-        # server (no DISPLAY) while reading the real cookie store, which is
-        # exactly what real-profile browsing needs. Headed mode is a superset
-        # (visible window) and equally fine, so no flag either way.
-        argv += ["open", "about:blank"]
         try:
             proc = subprocess.run(
                 argv, capture_output=True, text=True,
@@ -1698,6 +1770,19 @@ def _real_profile_cdp() -> tuple:
             )
 
         cdp = _agent_browser_get_cdp(_REAL_PROFILE_SESSION)
+        # The daemon may answer with the endpoint of a
+        # browser IT spawned (throwaway temp profile) instead of the real
+        # Chrome we launched on the copy. The DevToolsActivePort file OUR
+        # Chrome wrote is the authoritative endpoint of the logged-in browser;
+        # if the daemon disagrees, trust ours.
+        try:
+            with open(port_file, encoding="utf-8") as fh:
+                our_port = fh.readline().strip()
+            m = re.search(r":(\d+)", cdp or "")
+            if m and m.group(1) != our_port:
+                cdp = f"http://127.0.0.1:{our_port}"
+        except (OSError, ValueError):
+            pass
         if not cdp:
             return None, (
                 "browser.use_real_profile is on, but the real-profile browser "