diff --git a/plugins/platforms/photon/adapter.py b/plugins/platforms/photon/adapter.py
index 0747ab7db3e..30448da3a03 100644
--- a/plugins/platforms/photon/adapter.py
+++ b/plugins/platforms/photon/adapter.py
@@ -696,6 +696,10 @@ async def _standalone_send(
 
 def register(ctx) -> None:
     """Called by the Hermes plugin loader at startup."""
+    # Local import to avoid argparse work at module load; reused for both the
+    # gateway-setup hook and the `hermes photon` CLI command below.
+    from . import cli as _cli
+
     ctx.register_platform(
         name="photon",
         label="Photon iMessage",
@@ -709,6 +713,9 @@ def register(ctx) -> None:
             "Spectrum project, links your phone number, installs the "
             "spectrum-ts sidecar)."
         ),
+        # Surfaces Photon in `hermes gateway setup` alongside every other
+        # channel — same unified onboarding wizard, no Photon-only detour.
+        setup_fn=_cli.gateway_setup,
         env_enablement_fn=_env_enablement,
         cron_deliver_env_var="PHOTON_HOME_CHANNEL",
         standalone_sender_fn=_standalone_send,
@@ -717,8 +724,9 @@ def register(ctx) -> None:
         max_message_length=_MAX_MESSAGE_LENGTH,
         emoji="📱",
         # iMessage carries E.164 phone numbers — treat session descriptions
-        # as PII-sensitive so they get redacted in logs.
-        pii_safe=False,
+        # as PII-sensitive so they get redacted before reaching the LLM
+        # (matches the BlueBubbles iMessage channel in _PII_SAFE_PLATFORMS).
+        pii_safe=True,
         allow_update_command=True,
         platform_hint=(
             "You are communicating via Photon Spectrum (iMessage). "
@@ -730,8 +738,6 @@ def register(ctx) -> None:
     )
 
     # Register CLI subcommands — `hermes photon ...`
-    from . import cli as _cli  # local import to avoid argparse at module load
-
     ctx.register_cli_command(
         name="photon",
         help="Set up and manage the Photon iMessage integration",
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/photon/cli.py b/plugins/platforms/photon/cli.py
index 1316ace252b..615ed9db14a 100644
--- a/plugins/platforms/photon/cli.py
+++ b/plugins/platforms/photon/cli.py
@@ -300,6 +300,31 @@ def _cmd_webhook(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
     return 2
 
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Gateway-setup entry point
+#
+# `hermes gateway setup` discovers platforms via the registry and calls each
+# entry's zero-arg ``setup_fn``. Photon registers this function so it appears
+# in the unified setup wizard alongside every other channel — same onboarding
+# surface, no Photon-specific detour. It runs the identical device-login +
+# project + user + sidecar flow as ``hermes photon setup`` with interactive
+# defaults (phone is prompted when stdin is a TTY).
+
+def gateway_setup() -> None:
+    """Run Photon first-time setup from the `hermes gateway setup` wizard."""
+    args = argparse.Namespace(
+        photon_command="setup",
+        project_name=None,
+        phone=None,
+        first_name=None,
+        last_name=None,
+        email=None,
+        no_browser=False,
+        skip_sidecar_install=False,
+    )
+    _cmd_setup(args)
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Small interactive helpers
 
diff --git a/website/docs/user-guide/messaging/photon.md b/website/docs/user-guide/messaging/photon.md
index feb373618b4..41f4b54aa76 100644
--- a/website/docs/user-guide/messaging/photon.md
+++ b/website/docs/user-guide/messaging/photon.md
@@ -45,12 +45,20 @@ endpoint we'll retire the sidecar in a follow-up release.
 
 ## First-time setup
 
+Either run the unified gateway wizard and pick **Photon iMessage**:
+
+```bash
+hermes gateway setup
+```
+
+…or run the Photon setup directly (the wizard calls the same flow):
+
 ```bash
 # Device-code login + project + user + sidecar deps, all in one
 hermes photon setup --phone +15551234567
 ```
 
-The wizard:
+The setup:
 
 1. Opens `https://app.photon.codes/` for device approval
 2. Creates a Spectrum-enabled project under your account
@@ -62,6 +70,36 @@ Credentials are stored in `~/.hermes/auth.json` under
 `credential_pool.photon` (bearer token) and
 `credential_pool.photon_project` (project id + secret).
 
+## Authorizing users
+
+Photon uses the same authorization model as every other Hermes
+channel. Choose one approach:
+
+**DM pairing (default).** When an unknown number messages your Photon
+line, Hermes replies with a pairing code. Approve it with:
+
+```bash
+hermes pairing approve photon <CODE>
+```
+
+Use `hermes pairing list` to see pending codes and approved users.
+
+**Pre-authorize specific numbers** (in `~/.hermes/.env`):
+
+```bash
+PHOTON_ALLOWED_USERS=+15551234567,+15559876543
+```
+
+**Open access** (dev only, in `~/.hermes/.env`):
+
+```bash
+PHOTON_ALLOW_ALL_USERS=true
+```
+
+When `PHOTON_ALLOWED_USERS` is set, unknown senders are silently
+ignored rather than offered a pairing code (the allowlist signals you
+deliberately restricted access).
+
 ## Registering the webhook
 
 Photon needs a public URL it can POST to. Expose your local listener
@@ -109,17 +147,17 @@ Photon iMessage status
 ──────────────────────
   device token        : ✓ stored
   project id          : 3c90c3cc-0d44-4b50-...
-  project secret      : ✓ stored
+  project key         : ✓ stored
+  webhook key         : ✓ set
   node binary         : /usr/bin/node
   sidecar deps        : ✓ installed
-  webhook secret      : ✓ set
 ```
 
 Common issues:
 
 - **`sidecar deps : ✗ run hermes photon install-sidecar`** — Node is
   installed but `spectrum-ts` isn't. Run the suggested command.
-- **`webhook secret : ⚠ unset — verification disabled`** — the
+- **`webhook key : ⚠ unset — verification disabled`** — the
   plugin will accept ANY POST to the webhook URL, which is unsafe.
   Re-run `hermes photon webhook register` and store the secret.
 - **`PHOTON_WEBHOOK_PORT` already in use** — set a different port via
@@ -160,8 +198,11 @@ hermes photon webhook delete <webhook-id>   # remove one
 | `PHOTON_SIDECAR_AUTOSTART`| `true`             | Whether the adapter spawns the sidecar     |
 | `PHOTON_NODE_BIN`         | `which node`       | Override the Node binary path              |
 | `PHOTON_HOME_CHANNEL`     | (unset)            | Default space ID for cron / notifications  |
+| `PHOTON_HOME_CHANNEL_NAME`| (unset)            | Human label for the home channel           |
 | `PHOTON_ALLOWED_USERS`    | (unset)            | Comma-separated E.164 allowlist            |
 | `PHOTON_ALLOW_ALL_USERS`  | `false`            | Dev only — accept any sender               |
+| `PHOTON_API_HOST`         | `spectrum.photon.codes` | Override the Spectrum management API host |
+| `PHOTON_DASHBOARD_HOST`   | `app.photon.codes` | Override the dashboard / device-login host |
 
 [photon]: https://photon.codes/
 [app]: https://app.photon.codes/