diff --git a/messages/de.json b/messages/de.json
index 535b44c94..20f2bde80 100644
--- a/messages/de.json
+++ b/messages/de.json
@@ -2010,7 +2010,8 @@
       "loadingLabel": "Briefing wird zusammengestellt",
       "noProviderTitle": "Kein KI-Anbieter verbunden",
       "noProviderDescription": "Das Tagesbriefing fasst deine Werte in Klartext zusammen. Dafür braucht HealthLog einen KI-Anbieter — nutze deinen eigenen Schlüssel (OpenAI, Anthropic) oder ein lokales Modell. Deine Daten bleiben dabei bei dir.",
-      "noProviderAction": "Zu den KI-Einstellungen"
+      "noProviderAction": "Zu den KI-Einstellungen",
+      "staleNoProviderHint": "Dieses Briefing kann nicht aktualisiert werden — es ist kein KI-Anbieter verbunden."
     },
     "trendsRow": {
       "title": "Trends",
diff --git a/messages/en.json b/messages/en.json
index b2372522b..095a16d65 100644
--- a/messages/en.json
+++ b/messages/en.json
@@ -2010,7 +2010,8 @@
       "loadingLabel": "Synthesising today's briefing",
       "noProviderTitle": "No AI provider connected",
       "noProviderDescription": "The daily briefing turns your readings into plain-language summary. HealthLog needs an AI provider for that — use your own key (OpenAI, Anthropic) or a local model. Your data stays with you.",
-      "noProviderAction": "Open AI settings"
+      "noProviderAction": "Open AI settings",
+      "staleNoProviderHint": "This briefing can't refresh — no AI provider is connected."
     },
     "trendsRow": {
       "title": "Trends",
diff --git a/messages/es.json b/messages/es.json
index be2580372..dc09000df 100644
--- a/messages/es.json
+++ b/messages/es.json
@@ -2010,7 +2010,8 @@
       "loadingLabel": "Preparando el resumen",
       "noProviderTitle": "Ningún proveedor de IA conectado",
       "noProviderDescription": "El briefing diario resume tus lecturas en lenguaje claro. HealthLog necesita un proveedor de IA para ello: usa tu propia clave (OpenAI, Anthropic) o un modelo local. Tus datos siguen siendo tuyos.",
-      "noProviderAction": "Abrir ajustes de IA"
+      "noProviderAction": "Abrir ajustes de IA",
+      "staleNoProviderHint": "Este briefing no puede actualizarse: no hay ningún proveedor de IA conectado."
     },
     "trendsRow": {
       "title": "Tendencias",
diff --git a/messages/fr.json b/messages/fr.json
index 4cbe3b34f..ca5b125e6 100644
--- a/messages/fr.json
+++ b/messages/fr.json
@@ -2010,7 +2010,8 @@
       "loadingLabel": "Préparation du briefing",
       "noProviderTitle": "Aucun fournisseur d'IA connecté",
       "noProviderDescription": "Le briefing quotidien résume tes mesures en langage clair. HealthLog a besoin d'un fournisseur d'IA pour cela : utilise ta propre clé (OpenAI, Anthropic) ou un modèle local. Tes données restent chez toi.",
-      "noProviderAction": "Ouvrir les réglages IA"
+      "noProviderAction": "Ouvrir les réglages IA",
+      "staleNoProviderHint": "Ce briefing ne peut pas être actualisé — aucun fournisseur d'IA n'est connecté."
     },
     "trendsRow": {
       "title": "Tendances",
diff --git a/messages/it.json b/messages/it.json
index 5866e29ba..2a7ed4ea5 100644
--- a/messages/it.json
+++ b/messages/it.json
@@ -2010,7 +2010,8 @@
       "loadingLabel": "Preparazione del briefing",
       "noProviderTitle": "Nessun provider IA collegato",
       "noProviderDescription": "Il briefing giornaliero riassume le tue misurazioni in linguaggio chiaro. HealthLog ha bisogno di un provider IA per questo: usa la tua chiave (OpenAI, Anthropic) o un modello locale. I tuoi dati restano tuoi.",
-      "noProviderAction": "Apri impostazioni IA"
+      "noProviderAction": "Apri impostazioni IA",
+      "staleNoProviderHint": "Questo briefing non può aggiornarsi: nessun provider IA è collegato."
     },
     "trendsRow": {
       "title": "Tendenze",
diff --git a/messages/pl.json b/messages/pl.json
index 1acef823f..2fa1e4977 100644
--- a/messages/pl.json
+++ b/messages/pl.json
@@ -2010,7 +2010,8 @@
       "loadingLabel": "Przygotowanie briefingu",
       "noProviderTitle": "Brak połączonego dostawcy AI",
       "noProviderDescription": "Codzienny briefing podsumowuje Twoje pomiary prostym językiem. HealthLog potrzebuje do tego dostawcy AI — użyj własnego klucza (OpenAI, Anthropic) lub modelu lokalnego. Twoje dane pozostają u Ciebie.",
-      "noProviderAction": "Otwórz ustawienia AI"
+      "noProviderAction": "Otwórz ustawienia AI",
+      "staleNoProviderHint": "Tego briefingu nie można odświeżyć — nie połączono żadnego dostawcy AI."
     },
     "trendsRow": {
       "title": "Trendy",
diff --git a/src/app/api/insights/generate/__tests__/route.test.ts b/src/app/api/insights/generate/__tests__/route.test.ts
index da86a255e..ff58846b8 100644
--- a/src/app/api/insights/generate/__tests__/route.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/insights/generate/__tests__/route.test.ts
@@ -565,4 +565,50 @@ describe("GET /api/insights/generate — read-only advisor read", () => {
     // No warm enqueued → no convergence poll for the client to run.
     expect(body.data.revalidating).toBe(false);
   });
+
+  // v1.18.9 (#4) — the read path reports provider availability so the
+  // insights surfaces can pair a stale cached briefing's honest age with
+  // a connect-provider hint. The cache is served regardless of provider
+  // state, so `hasProvider: false` is the only honest "can never refresh"
+  // signal the client has.
+  it("reports hasProvider: false alongside a served stale briefing", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(hasUsableStatusProvider).mockResolvedValueOnce(false);
+    const stale = new Date(Date.now() - 48 * 60 * 60 * 1000);
+    const cached = { dailyBriefing: { paragraph: "old", keyFindings: [] } };
+    vi.mocked(prisma.user.findUnique).mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      insightsCachedAt: stale,
+      insightsCachedText: JSON.stringify(cached),
+      locale: "en",
+    } as never);
+
+    const res = await (GET as unknown as (req: Request) => Promise<Response>)(
+      new Request("http://localhost/api/insights/generate"),
+    );
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    const body = (await res.json()) as {
+      data: { cached: boolean; hasProvider: boolean; revalidating: boolean };
+    };
+    // The stale briefing is still delivered (no provider needed to read).
+    expect(body.data.cached).toBe(true);
+    // But it can never refresh — no warm enqueued, hasProvider flagged.
+    expect(body.data.hasProvider).toBe(false);
+    expect(enqueueForceWarm).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(body.data.revalidating).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("reports hasProvider: true on a normal cached read", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(prisma.user.findUnique).mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      insightsCachedAt: new Date(),
+      insightsCachedText: JSON.stringify({
+        dailyBriefing: { paragraph: "ok", keyFindings: [] },
+      }),
+      locale: "en",
+    } as never);
+
+    const res = await (GET as unknown as (req: Request) => Promise<Response>)(
+      new Request("http://localhost/api/insights/generate"),
+    );
+    const body = (await res.json()) as { data: { hasProvider: boolean } };
+    expect(body.data.hasProvider).toBe(true);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/app/api/insights/generate/route.ts b/src/app/api/insights/generate/route.ts
index 48451e071..686dfed8e 100644
--- a/src/app/api/insights/generate/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/insights/generate/route.ts
@@ -257,12 +257,22 @@ export const GET = apiHandler(async (request: NextRequest) => {
   const isFresh =
     cachedAt !== null && Date.now() - cachedAt.getTime() < BRIEFING_FRESH_MS;
 
+  // v1.18.9 (#4) — resolve provider availability once, up front. The
+  // read path never blocks on or generates through the provider, but it
+  // must REPORT whether one exists: a provider-less account's cached
+  // briefing freezes at the last successful generation (the pregenerate
+  // cron can't refill it), and the UI presented that stale text as
+  // current. Surfacing `hasProvider: false` lets the insights surfaces
+  // pair the honest "Stand: vor X Tagen" age with a discreet
+  // connect-an-AI-provider hint instead of implying the read is live.
+  const hasProvider = await hasUsableStatusProvider(userId);
+
   // Read-only: never block on the provider. Warm out of band only when the
   // cached briefing is stale / missing AND a provider is configured (a
   // provider-less account costs one cheap chain-resolve and shows the
   // empty / connect-AI state instead of a wasted enqueue).
   let revalidating = false;
-  if (!isFresh && (await hasUsableStatusProvider(userId))) {
+  if (!isFresh && hasProvider) {
     // Resolve the locale the caller is actually reading (cookie /
     // Accept-Language fall-back when `User.locale` is unset) and narrow
     // non-German to English — the same convention the nightly's
@@ -285,7 +295,7 @@ export const GET = apiHandler(async (request: NextRequest) => {
       const legacyPayload = isLegacyInsightPayload(cached);
       annotate({
         action: { name: "insights.generate.read" },
-        meta: { cached: true, legacyPayload, revalidating },
+        meta: { cached: true, legacyPayload, revalidating, hasProvider },
       });
       return apiSuccess({
         insights: cached,
@@ -297,6 +307,10 @@ export const GET = apiHandler(async (request: NextRequest) => {
         // briefing lands instead of sitting on the stale payload for the
         // rest of the session.
         revalidating,
+        // v1.18.9 (#4) — false when no AI provider is configured anywhere:
+        // the served briefing can never refresh, so the UI pairs its age
+        // with a connect-provider affordance.
+        hasProvider,
       });
     } catch {
       // Invalid cache row — fall through to the empty payload below. The
@@ -307,13 +321,15 @@ export const GET = apiHandler(async (request: NextRequest) => {
 
   annotate({
     action: { name: "insights.generate.read" },
-    meta: { cached: false, revalidating },
+    meta: { cached: false, revalidating, hasProvider },
   });
   return apiSuccess({
     insights: null,
     cached: false,
     legacyPayload: false,
     revalidating,
+    // v1.18.9 (#4) — see the cached branch above.
+    hasProvider,
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/src/app/insights/page.tsx b/src/app/insights/page.tsx
index 36ec5ed8e..0f3a51e94 100644
--- a/src/app/insights/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/insights/page.tsx
@@ -426,6 +426,12 @@ export default function InsightsPage() {
         // as its own outcome; swap the futile regenerate CTA for a quiet
         // Settings → AI hint instead of an eternal "preparing" loop.
         noProvider={advisor.readOutcome === "no-provider"}
+        // v1.18.9 (#4) — a (stale) cached briefing is shown but no provider
+        // is connected, so it can never refresh. Pair the relative-age
+        // footer with a discreet connect-provider hint. Only fires when a
+        // briefing is actually rendered (the empty-state path owns the
+        // `noProvider` branch above).
+        noProviderStale={briefingPayload !== null && !advisor.hasProvider}
       />
     ) : null,
     vitals: <VitalsDashboard batch={dashboardDerived} layout={layout} />,
@@ -480,6 +486,11 @@ export default function InsightsPage() {
         // settles false on success AND error, so a no-score account
         // collapses the column exactly once.
         healthScorePending={analyticsQuery.isPending && !analytics}
+        // v1.18.9 (#4) — the hero subtitle is the cached briefing paragraph;
+        // when it can never refresh (no AI provider) pair the "Generated
+        // <relative>" line with a discreet connect-provider hint, matching
+        // the briefing card footer. Only when a briefing is actually shown.
+        noProviderStale={briefingPayload !== null && !advisor.hasProvider}
       />
 
       {/* v1.15.18 — the inline "Anpassen" toggle was removed. Customising the
diff --git a/src/components/insights/daily-briefing.tsx b/src/components/insights/daily-briefing.tsx
index 7af72f65f..9c3442bce 100644
--- a/src/components/insights/daily-briefing.tsx
+++ b/src/components/insights/daily-briefing.tsx
@@ -108,6 +108,15 @@ interface DailyBriefingProps {
    * linking to Settings → AI instead of an eternal "preparing" loop.
    */
   noProvider?: boolean;
+  /**
+   * v1.18.9 (#4) — no AI provider configured WHILE a (stale) cached
+   * briefing is still shown. The read path serves the last good briefing
+   * regardless of provider state, so a provider-less account keeps seeing
+   * a days-old briefing. When true, the footer pairs the honest relative
+   * age with a discreet "this can't refresh — connect a provider" hint so
+   * the staleness reads as intentional, not as a live report.
+   */
+  noProviderStale?: boolean;
   /**
    * Optional slot for a meta control mounted in the card header — the
    * comparison toggle migrates here from the hero in commit 5.
@@ -323,6 +332,7 @@ export function DailyBriefing({
   onRegenerate,
   regenerating = false,
   noProvider = false,
+  noProviderStale = false,
   metaSlot,
 }: DailyBriefingProps) {
   const { t } = useTranslations();
@@ -407,15 +417,40 @@ export function DailyBriefing({
                   </div>
                 </div>
               )}
-              {updatedAt && (
-                <p
-                  data-slot="daily-briefing-updated"
-                  className="text-muted-foreground border-border/60 border-t pt-3 text-right text-xs"
-                >
-                  {t("insights.heroGenerated", {
-                    time: formatRelativeTime(updatedAt, t),
-                  })}
-                </p>
+              {(updatedAt || noProviderStale) && (
+                <div className="border-border/60 space-y-1.5 border-t pt-3">
+                  {updatedAt && (
+                    <p
+                      data-slot="daily-briefing-updated"
+                      className="text-muted-foreground text-right text-[11px]"
+                    >
+                      {t("insights.heroGenerated", {
+                        time: formatRelativeTime(updatedAt, t),
+                      })}
+                    </p>
+                  )}
+                  {/* v1.18.9 (#4) — a stale briefing that can never refresh
+                      because no AI provider is connected. State that plainly
+                      and point at Settings → AI, so the days-old read is
+                      understood as held, not presented as current. */}
+                  {noProviderStale && (
+                    <p
+                      data-slot="daily-briefing-stale-no-provider"
+                      className="text-muted-foreground flex flex-wrap items-center justify-end gap-x-1.5 gap-y-1 text-right text-[11px]"
+                    >
+                      <span>
+                        {t("insights.dailyBriefing.staleNoProviderHint")}
+                      </span>
+                      <Link
+                        href="/settings/ai"
+                        data-slot="daily-briefing-stale-no-provider-link"
+                        className="text-foreground/80 hover:text-foreground underline underline-offset-2"
+                      >
+                        {t("insights.dailyBriefing.noProviderAction")}
+                      </Link>
+                    </p>
+                  )}
+                </div>
               )}
             </div>
           ) : noProvider ? (
diff --git a/src/components/insights/hero-strip.tsx b/src/components/insights/hero-strip.tsx
index 0e2f1ba6d..63557622a 100644
--- a/src/components/insights/hero-strip.tsx
+++ b/src/components/insights/hero-strip.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 "use client";
 
+import Link from "next/link";
 import { Sparkles } from "lucide-react";
 import { Skeleton } from "@/components/ui/skeleton";
 import { useTranslations } from "@/lib/i18n/context";
@@ -51,6 +52,15 @@ interface HeroStripProps {
    * Defaults to `new Date()`. Production callers omit this.
    */
   now?: Date;
+  /**
+   * v1.18.9 (#4) — true when the hero subtitle is drawn from a cached
+   * briefing that can never refresh because no AI provider is connected.
+   * The meta row then appends a discreet "connect a provider" link beside
+   * the "Generated <relative>" age, so the score-area context reads as
+   * honestly held rather than current. Consistent with the DailyBriefing
+   * footer hint below.
+   */
+  noProviderStale?: boolean;
   /**
    * v1.4.20 phase B5 — Personal Health Score panel data. When supplied
    * the right side of the hero band paints the score card. When the
@@ -108,6 +118,7 @@ export function HeroStrip({
   now,
   healthScore,
   healthScorePending = false,
+  noProviderStale = false,
 }: HeroStripProps) {
   const { t } = useTranslations();
   // v1.18.0 R4 — mood-module state so the score card hides its Mood row
@@ -205,6 +216,32 @@ export function HeroStrip({
                   </span>
                 </>
               )}
+              {/* v1.18.9 (#4) — the subtitle is a cached briefing that can
+                  never refresh (no AI provider). Append a discreet hint +
+                  Settings → AI link so the relative age above reads as
+                  intentionally held, consistent with the briefing card. */}
+              {noProviderStale && (
+                <>
+                  <span aria-hidden="true" className="opacity-50">
+                    ·
+                  </span>
+                  <span
+                    data-slot="insights-hero-strip-stale-no-provider"
+                    className="inline-flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-1.5"
+                  >
+                    <span>
+                      {t("insights.dailyBriefing.staleNoProviderHint")}
+                    </span>
+                    <Link
+                      href="/settings/ai"
+                      data-slot="insights-hero-strip-stale-no-provider-link"
+                      className="text-foreground/80 hover:text-foreground underline underline-offset-2"
+                    >
+                      {t("insights.dailyBriefing.noProviderAction")}
+                    </Link>
+                  </span>
+                </>
+              )}
             </div>
           </div>
 
diff --git a/src/components/insights/use-insights-advisor.ts b/src/components/insights/use-insights-advisor.ts
index 3ccf5e425..64dd690d2 100644
--- a/src/components/insights/use-insights-advisor.ts
+++ b/src/components/insights/use-insights-advisor.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,16 @@ export interface InsightAdvisorPayload {
    * instead of waiting for the next mount.
    */
   revalidating?: boolean;
+  /**
+   * v1.18.9 (#4) — false when no AI provider is configured anywhere. The
+   * read path serves the last cached briefing regardless (no provider is
+   * needed to READ the cache), so a provider-less account keeps seeing a
+   * days-old briefing presented as current. When this is false the
+   * surfaces pair the briefing's honest relative age with a discreet
+   * "connect a provider" affordance. Undefined on a cached payload that
+   * predates the field — treated as "provider present" (no hint).
+   */
+  hasProvider?: boolean;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -259,6 +269,16 @@ export interface UseInsightsAdvisorResult {
    * regenerate CTA.
    */
   readOutcome: AdvisorFetchOutcome | null;
+  /**
+   * v1.18.9 (#4) — false when the GET reported no usable AI provider. The
+   * read path still serves the last cached briefing (no provider is
+   * needed to read the cache), so this is the ONLY honest signal that a
+   * shown-but-stale briefing can never refresh. Surfaces pair it with the
+   * relative-age line to add a discreet connect-provider hint. Defaults
+   * true (no hint) when the field is absent — a pre-field cached payload
+   * or an unsettled query.
+   */
+  hasProvider: boolean;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -331,5 +351,9 @@ export function useInsightsAdvisorQuery(
     regenerateError: (mutation.error as Error | null) ?? null,
     regenerateOutcome: mutation.data?.outcome ?? null,
     readOutcome: query.data?.outcome ?? null,
+    // Absent field (pre-v1.18.9 cached payload, or query still settling) →
+    // assume a provider is present so a transient unknown never flashes a
+    // false "no provider" hint.
+    hasProvider: query.data?.payload?.hasProvider ?? true,
   };
 }