diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/shellCommandProcessor.test.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/shellCommandProcessor.test.tsx
index b8486bc378..9208d59153 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/shellCommandProcessor.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/shellCommandProcessor.test.tsx
@@ -34,6 +34,23 @@ const mockShellOnExit = vi.hoisted(() =>
     ) => () => void
   >(() => vi.fn()),
 );
+const mockLifecycleSubscribe = vi.hoisted(() =>
+  vi.fn<
+    (pid: number, listener: (event: ShellOutputEvent) => void) => () => void
+  >(() => vi.fn()),
+);
+const mockLifecycleOnExit = vi.hoisted(() =>
+  vi.fn<
+    (
+      pid: number,
+      callback: (exitCode: number, signal?: number) => void,
+    ) => () => void
+  >(() => vi.fn()),
+);
+const mockLifecycleKill = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+const mockLifecycleBackground = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+const mockLifecycleOnBackground = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+const mockLifecycleOffBackground = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
 
 vi.mock('@google/gemini-cli-core', async (importOriginal) => {
   const actual =
@@ -47,6 +64,14 @@ vi.mock('@google/gemini-cli-core', async (importOriginal) => {
       subscribe: mockShellSubscribe,
       onExit: mockShellOnExit,
     },
+    ExecutionLifecycleService: {
+      subscribe: mockLifecycleSubscribe,
+      onExit: mockLifecycleOnExit,
+      kill: mockLifecycleKill,
+      background: mockLifecycleBackground,
+      onBackground: mockLifecycleOnBackground,
+      offBackground: mockLifecycleOffBackground,
+    },
     isBinary: mockIsBinary,
   };
 });
@@ -777,8 +802,11 @@ describe('useShellCommandProcessor', () => {
           output: 'initial',
         }),
       );
-      expect(mockShellOnExit).toHaveBeenCalledWith(1001, expect.any(Function));
-      expect(mockShellSubscribe).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect(mockLifecycleOnExit).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        1001,
+        expect.any(Function),
+      );
+      expect(mockLifecycleSubscribe).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
         1001,
         expect.any(Function),
       );
@@ -816,7 +844,7 @@ describe('useShellCommandProcessor', () => {
       expect(addItemToHistoryMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
         expect.objectContaining({
           type: 'info',
-          text: 'No background shells are currently active.',
+          text: 'No background tasks are currently active.',
         }),
         expect.any(Number),
       );
@@ -834,7 +862,7 @@ describe('useShellCommandProcessor', () => {
         await result.current.dismissBackgroundShell(1001);
       });
 
-      expect(mockShellKill).toHaveBeenCalledWith(1001);
+      expect(mockLifecycleKill).toHaveBeenCalledWith(1001);
       expect(result.current.backgroundShellCount).toBe(0);
       expect(result.current.backgroundShells.has(1001)).toBe(false);
     });
@@ -884,7 +912,7 @@ describe('useShellCommandProcessor', () => {
       expect(result.current.activeShellPtyId).toBeNull();
     });
 
-    it('should persist background shell on successful exit and mark as exited', async () => {
+    it('should auto-dismiss background task on successful exit', async () => {
       const { result } = renderProcessorHook();
 
       act(() => {
@@ -892,7 +920,7 @@ describe('useShellCommandProcessor', () => {
       });
 
       // Find the exit callback registered
-      const exitCallback = mockShellOnExit.mock.calls.find(
+      const exitCallback = mockLifecycleOnExit.mock.calls.find(
         (call) => call[0] === 888,
       )?.[1];
       expect(exitCallback).toBeDefined();
@@ -903,22 +931,19 @@ describe('useShellCommandProcessor', () => {
         });
       }
 
-      // Should NOT be removed, but updated
-      expect(result.current.backgroundShellCount).toBe(0); // Badge count is 0
-      expect(result.current.backgroundShells.has(888)).toBe(true); // Map has it
-      const shell = result.current.backgroundShells.get(888);
-      expect(shell?.status).toBe('exited');
-      expect(shell?.exitCode).toBe(0);
+      // Should be auto-dismissed from the panel
+      expect(result.current.backgroundShellCount).toBe(0);
+      expect(result.current.backgroundShells.has(888)).toBe(false);
     });
 
-    it('should persist background shell on failed exit', async () => {
+    it('should auto-dismiss background task on failed exit', async () => {
       const { result } = renderProcessorHook();
 
       act(() => {
         result.current.registerBackgroundShell(999, 'fail-exit', '');
       });
 
-      const exitCallback = mockShellOnExit.mock.calls.find(
+      const exitCallback = mockLifecycleOnExit.mock.calls.find(
         (call) => call[0] === 999,
       )?.[1];
       expect(exitCallback).toBeDefined();
@@ -929,17 +954,9 @@ describe('useShellCommandProcessor', () => {
         });
       }
 
-      // Should NOT be removed, but updated
-      expect(result.current.backgroundShellCount).toBe(0); // Badge count is 0
-      const shell = result.current.backgroundShells.get(999);
-      expect(shell?.status).toBe('exited');
-      expect(shell?.exitCode).toBe(1);
-
-      // Now dismiss it
-      await act(async () => {
-        await result.current.dismissBackgroundShell(999);
-      });
+      // Should be auto-dismissed from the panel
       expect(result.current.backgroundShellCount).toBe(0);
+      expect(result.current.backgroundShells.has(999)).toBe(false);
     });
 
     it('should NOT trigger re-render on background shell output when visible', async () => {
@@ -956,7 +973,7 @@ describe('useShellCommandProcessor', () => {
 
       const initialRenderCount = getRenderCount();
 
-      const subscribeCallback = mockShellSubscribe.mock.calls.find(
+      const subscribeCallback = mockLifecycleSubscribe.mock.calls.find(
         (call) => call[0] === 1001,
       )?.[1];
       expect(subscribeCallback).toBeDefined();
@@ -982,7 +999,7 @@ describe('useShellCommandProcessor', () => {
       // Ensure background shells are hidden (default)
       const initialRenderCount = getRenderCount();
 
-      const subscribeCallback = mockShellSubscribe.mock.calls.find(
+      const subscribeCallback = mockLifecycleSubscribe.mock.calls.find(
         (call) => call[0] === 1001,
       )?.[1];
       expect(subscribeCallback).toBeDefined();
@@ -1012,7 +1029,7 @@ describe('useShellCommandProcessor', () => {
 
       const initialRenderCount = getRenderCount();
 
-      const subscribeCallback = mockShellSubscribe.mock.calls.find(
+      const subscribeCallback = mockLifecycleSubscribe.mock.calls.find(
         (call) => call[0] === 1001,
       )?.[1];
       expect(subscribeCallback).toBeDefined();
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/shellCommandProcessor.ts b/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/shellCommandProcessor.ts
index 7e33d37d1f..2fb6910b0a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/shellCommandProcessor.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/shellCommandProcessor.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import type { AnsiOutput, Config, GeminiClient } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import {
   isBinary,
   ShellExecutionService,
+  ExecutionLifecycleService,
   CoreToolCallStatus,
 } from '@google/gemini-cli-core';
 import { type PartListUnion } from '@google/genai';
@@ -144,7 +145,7 @@ export const useShellCommandProcessor = (
 
   useEffect(
     () => () => {
-      // Unsubscribe from all background shell events on unmount
+      // Unsubscribe from all background task events on unmount
       for (const unsubscribe of m.subscriptions.values()) {
         unsubscribe();
       }
@@ -176,7 +177,7 @@ export const useShellCommandProcessor = (
       addItemToHistory(
         {
           type: 'info',
-          text: 'No background shells are currently active.',
+          text: 'No background tasks are currently active.',
         },
         Date.now(),
       );
@@ -191,12 +192,19 @@ export const useShellCommandProcessor = (
     dispatch,
   ]);
 
-  const backgroundCurrentShell = useCallback(() => {
+  const backgroundCurrentExecution = useCallback(() => {
     const pidToBackground =
       state.activeShellPtyId ?? activeBackgroundExecutionId;
     if (pidToBackground) {
-      ShellExecutionService.background(pidToBackground);
+      // Use ShellExecutionService for shell PTYs (handles log files, etc.),
+      // fall back to ExecutionLifecycleService for non-shell executions
+      // (e.g. remote agents, MCP tools, local agents).
       m.backgroundedPids.add(pidToBackground);
+      if (state.activeShellPtyId) {
+        ShellExecutionService.background(pidToBackground);
+      } else {
+        ExecutionLifecycleService.background(pidToBackground);
+      }
       // Ensure backgrounding is silent and doesn't trigger restoration
       m.wasVisibleBeforeForeground = false;
       if (m.restoreTimeout) {
@@ -206,12 +214,14 @@ export const useShellCommandProcessor = (
     }
   }, [state.activeShellPtyId, activeBackgroundExecutionId, m]);
 
-  const dismissBackgroundShell = useCallback(
+  const dismissBackgroundTask = useCallback(
     async (pid: number) => {
       const shell = state.backgroundShells.get(pid);
       if (shell) {
         if (shell.status === 'running') {
-          await ShellExecutionService.kill(pid);
+          // ExecutionLifecycleService.kill handles both shell and non-shell
+          // executions. For shells, ShellExecutionService.kill delegates to it.
+          ExecutionLifecycleService.kill(pid);
         }
         dispatch({ type: 'DISMISS_SHELL', pid });
         m.backgroundedPids.delete(pid);
@@ -227,37 +237,55 @@ export const useShellCommandProcessor = (
     [state.backgroundShells, dispatch, m],
   );
 
-  const registerBackgroundShell = useCallback(
+  const registerBackgroundTask = useCallback(
     (pid: number, command: string, initialOutput: string | AnsiOutput) => {
       dispatch({ type: 'REGISTER_SHELL', pid, command, initialOutput });
 
-      // Subscribe to process exit directly
-      const exitUnsubscribe = ShellExecutionService.onExit(pid, (code) => {
+      // Subscribe to exit via ExecutionLifecycleService (works for all execution types)
+      const exitUnsubscribe = ExecutionLifecycleService.onExit(pid, (code) => {
         dispatch({
           type: 'UPDATE_SHELL',
           pid,
           update: { status: 'exited', exitCode: code },
         });
+        // Auto-dismiss completed tasks from the background panel.
+        dispatch({ type: 'DISMISS_SHELL', pid });
+        const unsub = m.subscriptions.get(pid);
+        if (unsub) {
+          unsub();
+          m.subscriptions.delete(pid);
+        }
         m.backgroundedPids.delete(pid);
       });
 
-      // Subscribe to future updates (data only)
-      const dataUnsubscribe = ShellExecutionService.subscribe(pid, (event) => {
-        if (event.type === 'data') {
-          dispatch({ type: 'APPEND_SHELL_OUTPUT', pid, chunk: event.chunk });
-        } else if (event.type === 'binary_detected') {
-          dispatch({ type: 'UPDATE_SHELL', pid, update: { isBinary: true } });
-        } else if (event.type === 'binary_progress') {
-          dispatch({
-            type: 'UPDATE_SHELL',
-            pid,
-            update: {
-              isBinary: true,
-              binaryBytesReceived: event.bytesReceived,
-            },
-          });
-        }
-      });
+      // Subscribe to output via ExecutionLifecycleService (works for all execution types)
+      const dataUnsubscribe = ExecutionLifecycleService.subscribe(
+        pid,
+        (event) => {
+          if (event.type === 'data') {
+            dispatch({
+              type: 'APPEND_SHELL_OUTPUT',
+              pid,
+              chunk: event.chunk,
+            });
+          } else if (event.type === 'binary_detected') {
+            dispatch({
+              type: 'UPDATE_SHELL',
+              pid,
+              update: { isBinary: true },
+            });
+          } else if (event.type === 'binary_progress') {
+            dispatch({
+              type: 'UPDATE_SHELL',
+              pid,
+              update: {
+                isBinary: true,
+                binaryBytesReceived: event.bytesReceived,
+              },
+            });
+          }
+        },
+      );
 
       m.subscriptions.set(pid, () => {
         exitUnsubscribe();
@@ -267,6 +295,28 @@ export const useShellCommandProcessor = (
     [dispatch, m],
   );
 
+  // Auto-register any execution that gets backgrounded, regardless of type.
+  // This is the agnostic hook: any tool that calls
+  // ExecutionLifecycleService.createExecution() or attachExecution()
+  // automatically gets Ctrl+B support — no UI changes needed per tool.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const listener = (info: {
+      executionId: number;
+      label: string;
+      output: string;
+    }) => {
+      // Skip if already registered (e.g. shells register via their own flow)
+      if (m.backgroundedPids.has(info.executionId)) {
+        return;
+      }
+      registerBackgroundTask(info.executionId, info.label, info.output);
+    };
+    ExecutionLifecycleService.onBackground(listener);
+    return () => {
+      ExecutionLifecycleService.offBackground(listener);
+    };
+  }, [registerBackgroundTask, m]);
+
   const handleShellCommand = useCallback(
     (rawQuery: PartListUnion, abortSignal: AbortSignal): boolean => {
       if (typeof rawQuery !== 'string' || rawQuery.trim() === '') {
@@ -439,7 +489,7 @@ export const useShellCommandProcessor = (
           setPendingHistoryItem(null);
 
           if (result.backgrounded && result.pid) {
-            registerBackgroundShell(result.pid, rawQuery, cumulativeStdout);
+            registerBackgroundTask(result.pid, rawQuery, cumulativeStdout);
             dispatch({ type: 'SET_ACTIVE_PTY', pid: null });
           }
 
@@ -531,7 +581,7 @@ export const useShellCommandProcessor = (
       setShellInputFocused,
       terminalHeight,
       terminalWidth,
-      registerBackgroundShell,
+      registerBackgroundTask,
       m,
       dispatch,
     ],
@@ -548,9 +598,9 @@ export const useShellCommandProcessor = (
     backgroundShellCount,
     isBackgroundShellVisible: state.isBackgroundShellVisible,
     toggleBackgroundShell,
-    backgroundCurrentShell,
-    registerBackgroundShell,
-    dismissBackgroundShell,
+    backgroundCurrentShell: backgroundCurrentExecution,
+    registerBackgroundShell: registerBackgroundTask,
+    dismissBackgroundShell: dismissBackgroundTask,
     backgroundShells: state.backgroundShells,
   };
 };
diff --git a/packages/core/src/agents/subagent-tool.test.ts b/packages/core/src/agents/subagent-tool.test.ts
index 438df59cd3..6f6bc490fa 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/agents/subagent-tool.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/agents/subagent-tool.test.ts
@@ -189,6 +189,7 @@ describe('SubAgentInvocation', () => {
     expect(mockInnerInvocation.execute).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       abortSignal,
       updateOutput,
+      undefined,
     );
 
     expect(runInDevTraceSpan).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
diff --git a/packages/core/src/agents/subagent-tool.ts b/packages/core/src/agents/subagent-tool.ts
index 0c4f19ee8b..34daf3b141 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/agents/subagent-tool.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/agents/subagent-tool.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
   type ToolCallConfirmationDetails,
   isTool,
   type ToolLiveOutput,
+  type ExecuteOptions,
 } from '../tools/tools.js';
 import type { Config } from '../config/config.js';
 import { type AgentLoopContext } from '../config/agent-loop-context.js';
@@ -161,6 +162,7 @@ class SubAgentInvocation extends BaseToolInvocation<AgentInputs, ToolResult> {
   async execute(
     signal: AbortSignal,
     updateOutput?: (output: ToolLiveOutput) => void,
+    options?: ExecuteOptions,
   ): Promise<ToolResult> {
     const validationError = SchemaValidator.validate(
       this.definition.inputConfig.inputSchema,
@@ -188,7 +190,7 @@ class SubAgentInvocation extends BaseToolInvocation<AgentInputs, ToolResult> {
       },
       async ({ metadata }) => {
         metadata.input = this.params;
-        const result = await invocation.execute(signal, updateOutput);
+        const result = await invocation.execute(signal, updateOutput, options);
         metadata.output = result;
         return result;
       },
diff --git a/packages/core/src/services/executionLifecycleService.test.ts b/packages/core/src/services/executionLifecycleService.test.ts
index 0d800c6e55..b5b78a8e86 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/services/executionLifecycleService.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/services/executionLifecycleService.test.ts
@@ -296,6 +296,81 @@ describe('ExecutionLifecycleService', () => {
     }).toThrow('Execution 4324 is already attached.');
   });
 
+  describe('Background Start Listeners', () => {
+    it('fires onBackground when an execution is backgrounded', async () => {
+      const listener = vi.fn();
+      ExecutionLifecycleService.onBackground(listener);
+
+      const handle = ExecutionLifecycleService.createExecution(
+        '',
+        undefined,
+        'remote_agent',
+        undefined,
+        'My Remote Agent',
+      );
+      const executionId = handle.pid!;
+
+      ExecutionLifecycleService.appendOutput(executionId, 'some output');
+      ExecutionLifecycleService.background(executionId);
+      await handle.result;
+
+      expect(listener).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      const info = listener.mock.calls[0][0];
+      expect(info.executionId).toBe(executionId);
+      expect(info.executionMethod).toBe('remote_agent');
+      expect(info.label).toBe('My Remote Agent');
+      expect(info.output).toBe('some output');
+
+      ExecutionLifecycleService.offBackground(listener);
+    });
+
+    it('uses fallback label when none is provided', async () => {
+      const listener = vi.fn();
+      ExecutionLifecycleService.onBackground(listener);
+
+      const handle = ExecutionLifecycleService.createExecution(
+        '',
+        undefined,
+        'none',
+      );
+      const executionId = handle.pid!;
+
+      ExecutionLifecycleService.background(executionId);
+      await handle.result;
+
+      const info = listener.mock.calls[0][0];
+      expect(info.label).toContain('none');
+      expect(info.label).toContain(String(executionId));
+
+      ExecutionLifecycleService.offBackground(listener);
+    });
+
+    it('does not fire onBackground for non-backgrounded completions', async () => {
+      const listener = vi.fn();
+      ExecutionLifecycleService.onBackground(listener);
+
+      const handle = ExecutionLifecycleService.createExecution();
+      ExecutionLifecycleService.completeExecution(handle.pid!);
+      await handle.result;
+
+      expect(listener).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+      ExecutionLifecycleService.offBackground(listener);
+    });
+
+    it('offBackground removes the listener', async () => {
+      const listener = vi.fn();
+      ExecutionLifecycleService.onBackground(listener);
+      ExecutionLifecycleService.offBackground(listener);
+
+      const handle = ExecutionLifecycleService.createExecution();
+      ExecutionLifecycleService.background(handle.pid!);
+      await handle.result;
+
+      expect(listener).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('Background Completion Listeners', () => {
     it('fires onBackgroundComplete with formatInjection text when backgrounded execution settles', async () => {
       const listener = vi.fn();
diff --git a/packages/core/src/services/executionLifecycleService.ts b/packages/core/src/services/executionLifecycleService.ts
index 6df693fccb..a0212bbed5 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/services/executionLifecycleService.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/services/executionLifecycleService.ts
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ export interface ExecutionCompletionOptions {
 
 export interface ExternalExecutionRegistration {
   executionMethod: ExecutionMethod;
+  /** Human-readable label for the background task UI (e.g. the command string). */
+  label?: string;
   initialOutput?: string;
   getBackgroundOutput?: () => string;
   getSubscriptionSnapshot?: () => string | AnsiOutput | undefined;
@@ -79,6 +81,7 @@ export type FormatInjectionFn = (
 
 interface ManagedExecutionBase {
   executionMethod: ExecutionMethod;
+  label?: string;
   output: string;
   backgrounded?: boolean;
   formatInjection?: FormatInjectionFn;
@@ -86,6 +89,18 @@ interface ManagedExecutionBase {
   getSubscriptionSnapshot?: () => string | AnsiOutput | undefined;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Payload emitted when an execution is moved to the background.
+ */
+export interface BackgroundStartInfo {
+  executionId: number;
+  executionMethod: ExecutionMethod;
+  label: string;
+  output: string;
+}
+
+export type BackgroundStartListener = (info: BackgroundStartInfo) => void;
+
 /**
  * Payload emitted when a previously-backgrounded execution settles.
  */
@@ -150,6 +165,23 @@ export class ExecutionLifecycleService {
     this.injectionService = service;
   }
 
+  private static backgroundStartListeners = new Set<BackgroundStartListener>();
+
+  /**
+   * Registers a listener that fires when any execution is moved to the background.
+   * This is the hook for the UI to automatically discover backgrounded executions.
+   */
+  static onBackground(listener: BackgroundStartListener): void {
+    this.backgroundStartListeners.add(listener);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Unregisters a background start listener.
+   */
+  static offBackground(listener: BackgroundStartListener): void {
+    this.backgroundStartListeners.delete(listener);
+  }
+
   /**
    * Registers a listener that fires when a previously-backgrounded
    * execution settles (completes or errors).
@@ -222,6 +254,7 @@ export class ExecutionLifecycleService {
     this.exitedExecutionInfo.clear();
     this.backgroundCompletionListeners.clear();
     this.injectionService = null;
+    this.backgroundStartListeners.clear();
     this.nextExecutionId = NON_PROCESS_EXECUTION_ID_START;
   }
 
@@ -239,6 +272,7 @@ export class ExecutionLifecycleService {
 
     this.activeExecutions.set(executionId, {
       executionMethod: registration.executionMethod,
+      label: registration.label,
       output: registration.initialOutput ?? '',
       kind: 'external',
       getBackgroundOutput: registration.getBackgroundOutput,
@@ -259,11 +293,13 @@ export class ExecutionLifecycleService {
     onKill?: () => void,
     executionMethod: ExecutionMethod = 'none',
     formatInjection?: FormatInjectionFn,
+    label?: string,
   ): ExecutionHandle {
     const executionId = this.allocateExecutionId();
 
     this.activeExecutions.set(executionId, {
       executionMethod,
+      label,
       output: initialOutput,
       kind: 'virtual',
       onKill,
@@ -434,6 +470,18 @@ export class ExecutionLifecycleService {
 
     this.activeResolvers.delete(executionId);
     execution.backgrounded = true;
+
+    // Notify listeners that an execution was moved to the background.
+    const info: BackgroundStartInfo = {
+      executionId,
+      executionMethod: execution.executionMethod,
+      label:
+        execution.label ?? `${execution.executionMethod} (ID: ${executionId})`,
+      output,
+    };
+    for (const listener of this.backgroundStartListeners) {
+      listener(info);
+    }
   }
 
   static subscribe(