diff --git a/backend/src/api/admin/crawler.rs b/backend/src/api/admin/crawler.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8529fbd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/api/admin/crawler.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,345 @@
+//! Admin-only crawler observability + control endpoints.
+//!
+//! Mounted under `/api/v1/admin/crawler*`, cookie-only via `RequireAdmin`.
+//! All control endpoints return 503 when the crawler daemon is disabled
+//! (`AppState.crawler == None`). Reads compose the live in-process status
+//! ([`crate::crawler::status`]) with DB-derived queue counts and the
+//! session/browser flags.
+
+use axum::extract::{Query, State};
+use axum::routing::{get, post};
+use axum::{Json, Router};
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use serde_json::json;
+use uuid::Uuid;
+
+use crate::app::{AppState, CrawlerControl};
+use crate::auth::extractor::RequireAdmin;
+use crate::crawler::browser_manager::RestartPhase;
+use crate::crawler::status::{LastPass, Phase, WorkerState};
+use crate::error::{AppError, AppResult};
+use crate::repo;
+use crate::repo::crawler::{DeadJob, RequeueScope};
+
+pub fn routes() -> Router<AppState> {
+    Router::new()
+        .route("/admin/crawler", get(get_status))
+        .route("/admin/crawler/run", post(run_now))
+        .route("/admin/crawler/browser/restart", post(restart_browser))
+        .route("/admin/crawler/session", post(update_session))
+        .route(
+            "/admin/crawler/session/clear-expired",
+            post(clear_session_expired),
+        )
+        .route("/admin/crawler/dead-jobs", get(list_dead_jobs))
+        .route("/admin/crawler/dead-jobs/requeue", post(requeue_dead_jobs))
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// GET /admin/crawler — live status
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
+struct QueueCounts {
+    pending: i64,
+    running: i64,
+    dead: i64,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
+struct SessionStatus {
+    /// Whether the sticky session-expired flag is set (chapter workers idle).
+    expired: bool,
+    /// Whether a PHPSESSID is currently configured at all.
+    configured: bool,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
+struct CrawlerStatusResponse {
+    /// `"running"` | `"disabled"`.
+    daemon: &'static str,
+    phase: Option<Phase>,
+    workers: Vec<WorkerState>,
+    last_pass: LastPass,
+    session: SessionStatus,
+    /// `"healthy"` | `"draining"` | `"restarting"` | `"down"`.
+    browser: &'static str,
+    queue: QueueCounts,
+}
+
+fn browser_phase_str(p: RestartPhase) -> &'static str {
+    match p {
+        RestartPhase::Healthy => "healthy",
+        RestartPhase::Draining => "draining",
+        RestartPhase::Restarting => "restarting",
+    }
+}
+
+async fn get_status(
+    State(state): State<AppState>,
+    _admin: RequireAdmin,
+) -> AppResult<Json<CrawlerStatusResponse>> {
+    let (pending, running, dead) = repo::crawler::job_state_counts(&state.db).await?;
+    let queue = QueueCounts {
+        pending,
+        running,
+        dead,
+    };
+
+    let resp = match state.crawler.as_ref() {
+        None => CrawlerStatusResponse {
+            daemon: "disabled",
+            phase: None,
+            workers: Vec::new(),
+            last_pass: LastPass::default(),
+            session: SessionStatus {
+                expired: false,
+                configured: false,
+            },
+            browser: "down",
+            queue,
+        },
+        Some(c) => {
+            let snap = c.status.snapshot().await;
+            CrawlerStatusResponse {
+                daemon: "running",
+                phase: Some(snap.phase),
+                workers: snap.workers,
+                last_pass: snap.last_pass,
+                session: SessionStatus {
+                    expired: c.session.is_expired(),
+                    configured: c.session.current().await.is_some(),
+                },
+                browser: browser_phase_str(c.browser_manager.phase()),
+                queue,
+            }
+        }
+    };
+    Ok(Json(resp))
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// POST /admin/crawler/run — trigger an out-of-cycle metadata pass
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
+struct RunResponse {
+    started: bool,
+}
+
+async fn run_now(
+    State(state): State<AppState>,
+    admin: RequireAdmin,
+) -> AppResult<Json<RunResponse>> {
+    let c = require_crawler(&state)?;
+    let mp = c.metadata_pass.as_ref().ok_or_else(|| {
+        AppError::ServiceUnavailable("no source configured (CRAWLER_START_URL unset)".into())
+    })?;
+    let mp = std::sync::Arc::clone(mp);
+    // Fire-and-forget: the pass can run for minutes; the dashboard polls
+    // status for progress. Overlap with the daily cron is rare (daily) and
+    // both serialise on the single browser lease.
+    tokio::spawn(async move {
+        if let Err(e) = mp.run().await {
+            tracing::warn!(error = ?e, "manual metadata pass failed");
+        }
+    });
+    repo::admin_audit::insert(&state.db, admin.0.id, "crawler_run", "crawler", None, json!({}))
+        .await?;
+    Ok(Json(RunResponse { started: true }))
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// POST /admin/crawler/browser/restart — coordinated restart
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
+struct RestartResponse {
+    ok: bool,
+    error: Option<String>,
+}
+
+async fn restart_browser(
+    State(state): State<AppState>,
+    admin: RequireAdmin,
+) -> AppResult<Json<RestartResponse>> {
+    let c = require_crawler(&state)?;
+    let result = c.browser_manager.coordinated_restart(c.drain_deadline).await;
+    repo::admin_audit::insert(
+        &state.db,
+        admin.0.id,
+        "crawler_browser_restart",
+        "crawler",
+        None,
+        json!({ "ok": result.is_ok() }),
+    )
+    .await?;
+    Ok(Json(match result {
+        Ok(()) => RestartResponse {
+            ok: true,
+            error: None,
+        },
+        Err(e) => RestartResponse {
+            ok: false,
+            error: Some(format!("{e:#}")),
+        },
+    }))
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// POST /admin/crawler/session — refresh PHPSESSID
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
+struct UpdateSessionRequest {
+    phpsessid: String,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
+struct UpdateSessionResponse {
+    /// Whether the post-update browser relaunch + session probe succeeded.
+    valid: bool,
+    error: Option<String>,
+}
+
+async fn update_session(
+    State(state): State<AppState>,
+    admin: RequireAdmin,
+    Json(body): Json<UpdateSessionRequest>,
+) -> AppResult<Json<UpdateSessionResponse>> {
+    let c = require_crawler(&state)?;
+    c.session
+        .update(&body.phpsessid)
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| AppError::InvalidInput(format!("{e:#}")))?;
+    // Relaunch the browser so on_launch re-injects the new cookie and
+    // re-probes — the restart's success IS the session-validity signal.
+    let probe = c.browser_manager.coordinated_restart(c.drain_deadline).await;
+    repo::admin_audit::insert(
+        &state.db,
+        admin.0.id,
+        "crawler_session_update",
+        "crawler",
+        None,
+        json!({ "valid": probe.is_ok() }),
+    )
+    .await?;
+    Ok(Json(match probe {
+        Ok(()) => UpdateSessionResponse {
+            valid: true,
+            error: None,
+        },
+        Err(e) => UpdateSessionResponse {
+            valid: false,
+            error: Some(format!("{e:#}")),
+        },
+    }))
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
+struct ClearExpiredResponse {
+    cleared: bool,
+}
+
+async fn clear_session_expired(
+    State(state): State<AppState>,
+    admin: RequireAdmin,
+) -> AppResult<Json<ClearExpiredResponse>> {
+    let c = require_crawler(&state)?;
+    c.session.clear_expired();
+    repo::admin_audit::insert(
+        &state.db,
+        admin.0.id,
+        "crawler_session_clear_expired",
+        "crawler",
+        None,
+        json!({}),
+    )
+    .await?;
+    Ok(Json(ClearExpiredResponse { cleared: true }))
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Dead jobs
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#[derive(Debug, Deserialize, Default)]
+struct DeadJobsParams {
+    #[serde(default)]
+    search: Option<String>,
+    #[serde(default = "default_limit")]
+    limit: i64,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    offset: i64,
+}
+
+fn default_limit() -> i64 {
+    50
+}
+
+async fn list_dead_jobs(
+    State(state): State<AppState>,
+    _admin: RequireAdmin,
+    Query(params): Query<DeadJobsParams>,
+) -> AppResult<Json<crate::api::pagination::PagedResponse<DeadJob>>> {
+    let limit = params.limit.clamp(1, 200);
+    let offset = params.offset.max(0);
+    let search = params.search.filter(|s| !s.trim().is_empty());
+    let (items, total) =
+        repo::crawler::list_dead_jobs(&state.db, search.as_deref(), limit, offset).await?;
+    Ok(Json(crate::api::pagination::PagedResponse::with_total(
+        items, limit, offset, total,
+    )))
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(tag = "scope", rename_all = "snake_case")]
+enum RequeueRequest {
+    All,
+    Manga { manga_id: Uuid },
+    Job { job_id: Uuid },
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
+struct RequeueResponse {
+    requeued: u64,
+}
+
+async fn requeue_dead_jobs(
+    State(state): State<AppState>,
+    admin: RequireAdmin,
+    Json(body): Json<RequeueRequest>,
+) -> AppResult<Json<RequeueResponse>> {
+    let scope = match &body {
+        RequeueRequest::All => RequeueScope::All,
+        RequeueRequest::Manga { manga_id } => RequeueScope::Manga(*manga_id),
+        RequeueRequest::Job { job_id } => RequeueScope::Job(*job_id),
+    };
+    let requeued = repo::crawler::requeue_dead_jobs(&state.db, scope).await?;
+    repo::admin_audit::insert(
+        &state.db,
+        admin.0.id,
+        "crawler_dead_jobs_requeue",
+        "crawler",
+        None,
+        json!({ "requeued": requeued, "scope": scope_label(&body) }),
+    )
+    .await?;
+    Ok(Json(RequeueResponse { requeued }))
+}
+
+fn scope_label(r: &RequeueRequest) -> &'static str {
+    match r {
+        RequeueRequest::All => "all",
+        RequeueRequest::Manga { .. } => "manga",
+        RequeueRequest::Job { .. } => "job",
+    }
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+fn require_crawler(state: &AppState) -> Result<&std::sync::Arc<CrawlerControl>, AppError> {
+    state.crawler.as_ref().ok_or_else(|| {
+        AppError::ServiceUnavailable("crawler daemon is disabled".into())
+    })
+}
diff --git a/backend/src/api/admin/mod.rs b/backend/src/api/admin/mod.rs
index 0154665..2048cf1 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/admin/mod.rs
+++ b/backend/src/api/admin/mod.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 //! bot/API tokens cannot reach admin routes (see
 //! `crate::auth::extractor::RequireAdmin`).
 
+pub mod crawler;
 pub mod mangas;
 pub mod resync;
 pub mod system;
@@ -19,4 +20,5 @@ pub fn routes() -> Router<AppState> {
         .merge(mangas::routes())
         .merge(resync::routes())
         .merge(system::routes())
+        .merge(crawler::routes())
 }
diff --git a/backend/tests/api_admin_crawler.rs b/backend/tests/api_admin_crawler.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e7dcd41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/api_admin_crawler.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+//! Integration tests for the admin crawler observability/control API.
+//!
+//! The default test harness wires `AppState.crawler = None` (no daemon),
+//! so the *control* endpoints return 503 and the *read* endpoints that
+//! work off the DB (status shell, dead-jobs list/requeue) still function.
+//! This is exactly the production "daemon disabled" posture.
+
+mod common;
+
+use axum::http::StatusCode;
+use axum::Router;
+use serde_json::json;
+use sqlx::PgPool;
+use tower::ServiceExt;
+use uuid::Uuid;
+
+use common::{body_json, get, get_with_cookie, post_json_with_cookie, register_user, harness};
+
+async fn seed_admin(pool: &PgPool, app: &Router) -> String {
+    let (username, cookie) = register_user(app).await;
+    let u = mangalord::repo::user::find_by_username(pool, &username)
+        .await
+        .unwrap()
+        .unwrap();
+    mangalord::repo::user::set_is_admin_unchecked(pool, u.id, true)
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    cookie
+}
+
+async fn seed_dead_job(pool: &PgPool, title: &str) -> Uuid {
+    let manga_id = Uuid::new_v4();
+    let chapter_id = Uuid::new_v4();
+    sqlx::query("INSERT INTO mangas (id, title) VALUES ($1, $2)")
+        .bind(manga_id)
+        .bind(title)
+        .execute(pool)
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    sqlx::query("INSERT INTO chapters (id, manga_id, number) VALUES ($1, $2, 1)")
+        .bind(chapter_id)
+        .bind(manga_id)
+        .execute(pool)
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    let job_id = Uuid::new_v4();
+    sqlx::query(
+        "INSERT INTO crawler_jobs (id, payload, state, attempts, last_error) \
+         VALUES ($1, $2, 'dead', 5, 'boom')",
+    )
+    .bind(job_id)
+    .bind(json!({
+        "kind": "sync_chapter_content",
+        "source_id": "target",
+        "chapter_id": chapter_id,
+        "source_chapter_key": "k",
+    }))
+    .execute(pool)
+    .await
+    .unwrap();
+    job_id
+}
+
+#[sqlx::test(migrations = "./migrations")]
+async fn get_status_requires_admin(pool: PgPool) {
+    let h = harness(pool);
+    // Unauthenticated → 401.
+    let resp = h.app.clone().oneshot(get("/api/v1/admin/crawler")).await.unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::UNAUTHORIZED);
+
+    // Authenticated non-admin → 403.
+    let (_u, cookie) = register_user(&h.app).await;
+    let resp = h
+        .app
+        .clone()
+        .oneshot(get_with_cookie("/api/v1/admin/crawler", &cookie))
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::FORBIDDEN);
+}
+
+#[sqlx::test(migrations = "./migrations")]
+async fn get_status_reports_disabled_daemon_with_queue_counts(pool: PgPool) {
+    seed_dead_job(&pool, "Naruto").await;
+    let h = harness(pool.clone());
+    let cookie = seed_admin(&pool, &h.app).await;
+
+    let resp = h
+        .app
+        .clone()
+        .oneshot(get_with_cookie("/api/v1/admin/crawler", &cookie))
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+    let body = body_json(resp).await;
+    assert_eq!(body["daemon"], "disabled");
+    assert_eq!(body["queue"]["dead"], 1);
+    assert_eq!(body["browser"], "down");
+}
+
+#[sqlx::test(migrations = "./migrations")]
+async fn control_endpoints_return_503_when_daemon_disabled(pool: PgPool) {
+    let h = harness(pool.clone());
+    let cookie = seed_admin(&pool, &h.app).await;
+    for uri in [
+        "/api/v1/admin/crawler/run",
+        "/api/v1/admin/crawler/browser/restart",
+        "/api/v1/admin/crawler/session/clear-expired",
+    ] {
+        let resp = h
+            .app
+            .clone()
+            .oneshot(post_json_with_cookie(uri, json!({}), &cookie))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            resp.status(),
+            StatusCode::SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE,
+            "{uri} should be 503 when daemon disabled"
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+#[sqlx::test(migrations = "./migrations")]
+async fn dead_jobs_list_and_requeue_over_http(pool: PgPool) {
+    let job_id = seed_dead_job(&pool, "Bleach").await;
+    let h = harness(pool.clone());
+    let cookie = seed_admin(&pool, &h.app).await;
+
+    // List.
+    let resp = h
+        .app
+        .clone()
+        .oneshot(get_with_cookie("/api/v1/admin/crawler/dead-jobs", &cookie))
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+    let body = body_json(resp).await;
+    assert_eq!(body["page"]["total"], 1);
+    assert_eq!(body["items"][0]["manga_title"], "Bleach");
+
+    // Requeue the single job.
+    let resp = h
+        .app
+        .clone()
+        .oneshot(post_json_with_cookie(
+            "/api/v1/admin/crawler/dead-jobs/requeue",
+            json!({ "scope": "job", "job_id": job_id }),
+            &cookie,
+        ))
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+    let body = body_json(resp).await;
+    assert_eq!(body["requeued"], 1);
+
+    let state: String = sqlx::query_scalar("SELECT state FROM crawler_jobs WHERE id = $1")
+        .bind(job_id)
+        .fetch_one(&pool)
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(state, "pending");
+}