diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index d3e2348..ca0f583 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ Ansible-driven personal infrastructure repo for Fedora and Void desktops, Fedora
     `ansible-playbook ansible/site.yml --limit atlas --tags storage,sharing,containers --check --diff`
   - Atlas rootless Gitea staging (does not start Gitea):
     `ansible-playbook ansible/site.yml --limit atlas --tags gitea --check --diff`
-  - Atlas iCloudPD storage and inactive Quadlet (does not start it):
+  - Atlas iCloudPD storage and boot-started Quadlet:
     `ansible-playbook ansible/site.yml --limit atlas --tags icloudpd --check --diff`
   - Atlas explicit Gitea host-owner migration (live outage; never a normal run):
     `ansible-playbook ansible/site.yml --limit atlas --tags gitea_owner_migration -e atlas_gitea_owner_migration=true`
@@ -375,8 +375,10 @@ successfully. The first monthly scrub remains a runtime check.
 - [x] Deploy the declared Atlas iCloudPD state dataset and inactive rootless `admin` Quadlet.
   Photos belong under `/zpool/archive/Pictures/iCloudPD`; private config/MFA state belongs in
   `zpool/services/data/icloudpd`. Photobook remains reserved for Immich. Ansible now renders
-  `icloudpd.conf` with the Apple ID from the existing Vault key, but does not store the password,
-  manage MFA, or enable automatic startup. The isolated no-network layout test is documented in
+  `icloudpd.conf` with the Apple ID from the existing Vault key, but does not store the password
+  or manage MFA. Automatic startup was approved on 2026-10-03; the Quadlet now
+  uses `WantedBy=default.target` and Ansible keeps the service running.
+  The isolated no-network layout test is documented in
   `docs/atlas-icloudpd-migration.md`. On 2026-10-02 Atlas deployment and a second idempotent run
   passed; no app config existed at deployment. A manual first start on 2026-10-02 generated
   `icloudpd.conf`; an Ansible run then replaced it with a private mode-0600 Vault-backed template
diff --git a/ansible/roles/profile_atlas/tasks/icloudpd.yml b/ansible/roles/profile_atlas/tasks/icloudpd.yml
index 9695bd6..632fb97 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/profile_atlas/tasks/icloudpd.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/profile_atlas/tasks/icloudpd.yml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
       - atlas_icloudpd_image is search('@sha256:[0-9a-f]{64}$')
     fail_msg: Verify the fixed, separate Atlas iCloudPD photo and state paths.
 
-- name: Declare inactive rootless Atlas iCloudPD storage and Quadlet
+- name: Declare rootless Atlas iCloudPD storage and boot-started Quadlet
   tags: [atlas, icloudpd]
   block:
     - name: Inspect the existing Archive and application-data datasets
@@ -162,4 +162,27 @@
         owner: "{{ atlas_admin_username }}"
         group: "{{ atlas_admin_group }}"
         mode: "0644"
-      notify: Reload Atlas admin user manager
+      register: atlas_icloudpd_quadlet
+
+    - name: Reload the Atlas admin user manager after iCloudPD Quadlet changes
+      become_user: "{{ atlas_admin_username }}"
+      ansible.builtin.systemd:
+        scope: user
+        daemon_reload: true
+      environment:
+        XDG_RUNTIME_DIR: "/run/user/{{ atlas_admin_uid }}"
+        DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS: "unix:path=/run/user/{{ atlas_admin_uid }}/bus"
+      when:
+        - atlas_icloudpd_quadlet.changed
+        - not ansible_check_mode
+
+    - name: Keep the rootless Atlas iCloudPD service running
+      become_user: "{{ atlas_admin_username }}"
+      ansible.builtin.systemd:
+        name: atlas-icloudpd.service
+        scope: user
+        state: started
+      environment:
+        XDG_RUNTIME_DIR: "/run/user/{{ atlas_admin_uid }}"
+        DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS: "unix:path=/run/user/{{ atlas_admin_uid }}/bus"
+      when: not ansible_check_mode
diff --git a/ansible/roles/profile_atlas/tasks/main.yml b/ansible/roles/profile_atlas/tasks/main.yml
index 044b349..259059b 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/profile_atlas/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/profile_atlas/tasks/main.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 - name: Import staged Atlas rootless Gitea tasks
   ansible.builtin.import_tasks: gitea.yml
 
-- name: Import Atlas iCloudPD storage and inactive Quadlet tasks
+- name: Import Atlas iCloudPD storage and boot-started Quadlet tasks
   ansible.builtin.import_tasks: icloudpd.yml
 
 - name: Import explicit Atlas Gitea restore rehearsal tasks
diff --git a/ansible/roles/profile_atlas/templates/atlas-icloudpd.container.j2 b/ansible/roles/profile_atlas/templates/atlas-icloudpd.container.j2
index 635c9b2..5c6f06b 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/profile_atlas/templates/atlas-icloudpd.container.j2
+++ b/ansible/roles/profile_atlas/templates/atlas-icloudpd.container.j2
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Managed by Ansible. No install target or automatic start.
+# Managed by Ansible. Start automatically with the lingering admin user manager.
 [Unit]
 Description=Atlas rootless iCloud Photos Downloader
 RequiresMountsFor={{ atlas_icloudpd_state_dir }} {{ atlas_icloudpd_photos_dir }}
@@ -20,3 +20,6 @@ NoNewPrivileges=true
 Restart=on-failure
 RestartSec=300
 TimeoutStartSec=900
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=default.target
diff --git a/docs/atlas-icloudpd-migration.md b/docs/atlas-icloudpd-migration.md
index 02b2d94..276874f 100644
--- a/docs/atlas-icloudpd-migration.md
+++ b/docs/atlas-icloudpd-migration.md
@@ -55,11 +55,12 @@ path, user/UID, and folder format as the bind mounts. References:
 
 The photo subtree receives a managed marker and the image's `.mounted` file.
 An existing unmarked path is refused rather than taken over. The existing
-Pictures tree is not chowned or emptied. The Quadlet has no `[Install]`
-section, so Ansible does not start or enable it. Ansible renders a mode-0600
+Pictures tree is not chowned or emptied. The Quadlet now has `[Install]` with
+`WantedBy=default.target`, so the lingering admin user manager starts it at boot.
+Ansible keeps the service running. Ansible renders a mode-0600
 `icloudpd.conf` with `no_log` and no diff, but does not pull the image,
-initialize MFA, or run a cutover task. The service was started manually and
-will not start automatically after reboot under this design.
+initialize MFA, or run a cutover task. Boot startup was approved on 2026-10-03
+after a reboot left the previously manual-started service inactive.
 
 The previous gated check-mode tests and isolated Quadlet-generator test proved
 only the proposed layout; they predate the simplified declarative role. They
@@ -110,8 +111,8 @@ completed backup or restore of iCloudPD data**, which did not exist at the time.
   on first start. Ansible replaced that default file with a private template
   using the Apple ID already in Vault. The operator initialized password
   and MFA interactively; never put credentials or codes in the repository,
-  chat, or Ansible extra-vars. The Quadlet has no automatic boot start;
-  enablement requires a separate deliberate design change.
+  chat, or Ansible extra-vars. Automatic boot startup was separately approved
+  on 2026-10-03; this does not change the interactive MFA procedure.
 - Initial ingestion completed on 2026-10-03. Still check folder structure,
   ownership, SELinux and SMB access, no unintended deletions, the next daily
   cycle, completed Borg and USB versions, and isolated restore of photos and
@@ -161,3 +162,12 @@ is a filesystem file count, not a count of distinct iCloud assets. A later
 read-only check found the service still active. This closes initial
 authentication and ingestion only: a subsequent daily cycle and end-to-end
 recovery of the new photos and private state remain untested.
+
+On 2026-10-03 Atlas rebooted at 10:17 CEST; iCloudPD stayed inactive because
+its Quadlet had no install target. A manual start restored the running service
+and the application began listing iCloud files. The operator then approved
+persistent boot startup. The managed Quadlet now declares
+`WantedBy=default.target`; the live generator created
+`default.target.wants/atlas-icloudpd.service`, admin has `Linger=yes`, and the
+service remained active with zero restarts. No NAS reboot was performed to
+test this change; actual post-reboot startup remains untested.