diff --git a/src/api/services/index.ts b/src/api/services/index.ts
index 8b213e17..f4e00c66 100644
--- a/src/api/services/index.ts
+++ b/src/api/services/index.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,13 @@
  */
 
 // Validation services
-export { validateApiName, validateUrl, getUrlWarning, sanitizeBaseUrl } from './validation-service';
+export {
+  validateApiName,
+  validateApiNameSyntax,
+  validateUrl,
+  getUrlWarning,
+  sanitizeBaseUrl,
+} from './validation-service';
 
 // Profile types
 export {
diff --git a/src/api/services/profile-lifecycle-service.ts b/src/api/services/profile-lifecycle-service.ts
index 39c6cf82..a9cf061d 100644
--- a/src/api/services/profile-lifecycle-service.ts
+++ b/src/api/services/profile-lifecycle-service.ts
@@ -9,14 +9,19 @@ import * as path from 'path';
 import type { Config, Settings } from '../../types';
 import type { TargetType } from '../../targets/target-adapter';
 import { getPersistedTargetChoices, isPersistedTargetType } from '../../targets/target-metadata';
+import { ConfigError, ProfileError } from '../../errors/error-types';
 import { getConfigPath } from '../../utils/config-manager';
 import { ensureWebSearchMcpOrThrow } from '../../utils/websearch-manager';
 import { ensureImageAnalysisMcpOrThrow } from '../../utils/image-analysis';
 import { isSensitiveKey } from '../../utils/sensitive-keys';
-import { isReservedName } from '../../config/reserved-names';
+import {
+  canOverwriteGrandfatheredReservedProfileName,
+  isGrandfatheredReservedProfileName,
+  isReservedName,
+} from '../../config/reserved-names';
 
-import { validateApiName } from './validation-service';
-import { listApiProfiles } from './profile-reader';
+import { validateApiName, validateApiNameSyntax } from './validation-service';
+import { apiProfileExists, listApiProfiles } from './profile-reader';
 import { validateApiProfileSettingsPayload } from './profile-lifecycle-validation';
 import type {
   ApiProfileExportBundle,
@@ -44,7 +49,7 @@ function parseTargetValue(value: unknown): TargetType | null {
 }
 
 function validateProfileNameForPath(name: string, label: string): string | null {
-  const validationError = validateApiName(name);
+  const validationError = validateApiNameSyntax(name);
   if (validationError) {
     return `Invalid ${label} profile name "${name}": ${validationError}`;
   }
@@ -70,7 +75,7 @@ function registerApiProfileInConfig(name: string, target: TargetType, force = fa
   if (isUnifiedMode()) {
     mutateConfig((config) => {
       if (config.profiles[name] && !force) {
-        throw new Error(`API profile already exists: ${name}`);
+        throw new ProfileError(`API profile already exists: ${name}`, name);
       }
 
       config.profiles[name] = {
@@ -85,7 +90,7 @@ function registerApiProfileInConfig(name: string, target: TargetType, force = fa
   const configPath = getConfigPath();
   const config = loadConfigSafe() as Config;
   if (config.profiles[name] && !force) {
-    throw new Error(`API profile already exists: ${name}`);
+    throw new ProfileError(`API profile already exists: ${name}`, name);
   }
 
   config.profiles[name] = `~/.ccs/${name}${SETTINGS_FILE_SUFFIX}`;
@@ -124,7 +129,7 @@ function readJsonObject(filePath: string): Record<string, unknown> {
   const raw = fs.readFileSync(filePath, 'utf8');
   const parsed = JSON.parse(raw);
   if (typeof parsed !== 'object' || parsed === null || Array.isArray(parsed)) {
-    throw new Error('Settings file must contain a JSON object.');
+    throw new ConfigError('Settings file must contain a JSON object.', filePath);
   }
   return parsed as Record<string, unknown>;
 }
@@ -158,7 +163,10 @@ export function discoverApiProfileOrphans(): DiscoverApiProfileOrphansResult {
     .filter((file) => !registeredSettings.has(file))
     .filter((file) => !file.startsWith('base-'))
     .filter((file) => !ignoredNames.has(file))
-    .filter((file) => !isReservedName(file.slice(0, -SETTINGS_FILE_SUFFIX.length)))
+    .filter((file) => {
+      const name = file.slice(0, -SETTINGS_FILE_SUFFIX.length);
+      return !isReservedName(name) || isGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(name);
+    })
     .map((file) => {
       const name = file.slice(0, -SETTINGS_FILE_SUFFIX.length);
       const settingsPath = path.join(ccsDir, file);
@@ -206,7 +214,7 @@ export function registerApiProfileOrphans(options?: {
 
   const result: RegisterApiProfileOrphansResult = { registered: [], skipped: [] };
   for (const orphan of selected) {
-    const nameError = validateApiName(orphan.name);
+    const nameError = validateApiNameSyntax(orphan.name);
     if (nameError) {
       result.skipped.push({
         name: orphan.name,
@@ -247,7 +255,16 @@ export function copyApiProfile(
   if (sourceError) return { success: false, error: sourceError };
 
   const destinationError = validateApiName(destination);
-  if (destinationError) return { success: false, error: destinationError };
+  const canOverwriteGrandfatheredDestination = canOverwriteGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(
+    destination,
+    {
+      force: options?.force === true,
+      exists: apiProfileExists(destination),
+    }
+  );
+  if (destinationError && !canOverwriteGrandfatheredDestination) {
+    return { success: false, error: destinationError };
+  }
 
   const sourceSettingsPath = getProfileSettingsPath(source);
   if (!fs.existsSync(sourceSettingsPath)) {
@@ -363,7 +380,13 @@ export function importApiProfileBundle(
 
   const name = options?.name || input.profile.name;
   const nameError = validateApiName(name);
-  if (nameError) return { success: false, error: nameError };
+  const canOverwriteGrandfatheredProfile = canOverwriteGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(name, {
+    force: options?.force === true,
+    exists: apiProfileExists(name),
+  });
+  if (nameError && !canOverwriteGrandfatheredProfile) {
+    return { success: false, error: nameError };
+  }
 
   const bundleTarget = parseTargetValue(input.profile.target);
   if (input.profile.target !== undefined && bundleTarget === null) {
diff --git a/src/api/services/profile-writer.ts b/src/api/services/profile-writer.ts
index dc366eae..2683d170 100644
--- a/src/api/services/profile-writer.ts
+++ b/src/api/services/profile-writer.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,10 @@ import { ensureWebSearchMcpOrThrow } from '../../utils/websearch-manager';
 import { ensureImageAnalysisMcpOrThrow } from '../../utils/image-analysis';
 import type { TargetType } from '../../targets/target-adapter';
 import { resolveDroidProvider } from '../../targets/droid-provider';
-import { isReservedName } from '../../config/reserved-names';
+import {
+  canOverwriteGrandfatheredReservedProfileName,
+  isReservedName,
+} from '../../config/reserved-names';
 import { mapExternalProviderName } from '../../cliproxy/provider-capabilities';
 import {
   extractProviderFromPathname,
@@ -266,8 +269,18 @@ export function createApiProfile(
   models: ModelMapping,
   target: TargetType = 'claude',
   provider?: string,
-  extraModels?: string[]
+  extraModels?: string[],
+  options?: { force?: boolean }
 ): CreateApiProfileResult {
+  const nameError = validateApiName(name);
+  const canOverwriteGrandfatheredProfile = canOverwriteGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(name, {
+    force: options?.force === true,
+    exists: apiProfileExists(name),
+  });
+  if (nameError && !canOverwriteGrandfatheredProfile) {
+    return { success: false, settingsFile: '', error: nameError };
+  }
+
   try {
     const deniedReason = getDeniedModelReason(baseUrl, models);
     if (deniedReason) {
@@ -304,10 +317,17 @@ export function createCliproxyBridgeProfile(
   const providedName = options.name?.trim();
   if (providedName) {
     const nameError = validateApiName(providedName);
-    if (nameError) {
+    const canOverwriteGrandfatheredProfile = canOverwriteGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(
+      providedName,
+      {
+        force: options.force === true,
+        exists: apiProfileExists(providedName),
+      }
+    );
+    if (nameError && !canOverwriteGrandfatheredProfile) {
       return { success: false, settingsFile: '', error: nameError };
     }
-    if (isReservedName(providedName)) {
+    if (isReservedName(providedName) && !canOverwriteGrandfatheredProfile) {
       return {
         success: false,
         settingsFile: '',
@@ -332,7 +352,9 @@ export function createCliproxyBridgeProfile(
     resolved.apiKey,
     resolved.models,
     resolved.target,
-    provider
+    provider,
+    undefined,
+    { force: options.force }
   );
   const detectedBridge = resolveCliproxyBridgeMetadata({
     env: {
diff --git a/src/api/services/validation-service.ts b/src/api/services/validation-service.ts
index e9b830ce..1487a85c 100644
--- a/src/api/services/validation-service.ts
+++ b/src/api/services/validation-service.ts
@@ -8,10 +8,13 @@
 import { isReservedName, isWindowsReservedName } from '../../config/reserved-names';
 
 /**
- * Validate API profile name
+ * Validate API profile name syntax for an existing profile reference.
+ *
+ * Existing profiles may use a name that became reserved after they were
+ * created, so this validator intentionally excludes built-in-name policy.
  * @returns Error message if invalid, null if valid
  */
-export function validateApiName(name: string): string | null {
+export function validateApiNameSyntax(name: string): string | null {
   if (!name) {
     return 'API name is required';
   }
@@ -21,15 +24,27 @@ export function validateApiName(name: string): string | null {
   if (name.length > 32) {
     return 'API name must be 32 characters or less';
   }
-  if (isReservedName(name)) {
-    return `'${name}' is a reserved name`;
-  }
   if (isWindowsReservedName(name)) {
     return `'${name}' is a Windows reserved device name and cannot be used`;
   }
   return null;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Validate a name for creation of a new API profile.
+ * @returns Error message if invalid or reserved, null if valid
+ */
+export function validateApiName(name: string): string | null {
+  const syntaxError = validateApiNameSyntax(name);
+  if (syntaxError) {
+    return syntaxError;
+  }
+  if (isReservedName(name)) {
+    return `'${name}' is a reserved name`;
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
 /**
  * Validate URL format
  * @returns Error message if invalid, null if valid
diff --git a/src/auth/account-context.ts b/src/auth/account-context.ts
index 52ce2eb8..6c030b4c 100644
--- a/src/auth/account-context.ts
+++ b/src/auth/account-context.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
  * project workspace context with other accounts in the same context group.
  */
 
+import { isReservedName } from '../config/reserved-names';
+
 export type AccountContextMode = 'isolated' | 'shared';
 export type AccountContinuityMode = 'standard' | 'deeper';
 
@@ -36,7 +38,6 @@ export const DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_CONTEXT_GROUP = 'default';
 export const DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_CONTINUITY_MODE: AccountContinuityMode = 'standard';
 export const MAX_CONTEXT_GROUP_LENGTH = 64;
 export const ACCOUNT_PROFILE_NAME_PATTERN = /^[a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z0-9_-]*$/;
-const RESERVED_ACCOUNT_PROFILE_NAMES = new Set(['default']);
 
 const CONTEXT_GROUP_PATTERN = /^[a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z0-9_-]*$/;
 
@@ -58,10 +59,7 @@ export function isValidContextGroupName(value: string): boolean {
  * Validate account profile naming constraints.
  */
 export function isValidAccountProfileName(value: string): boolean {
-  return (
-    ACCOUNT_PROFILE_NAME_PATTERN.test(value) &&
-    !RESERVED_ACCOUNT_PROFILE_NAMES.has(value.toLowerCase())
-  );
+  return ACCOUNT_PROFILE_NAME_PATTERN.test(value) && !isReservedName(value);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/auth/commands/create-command.ts b/src/auth/commands/create-command.ts
index ee78ffba..dd958b99 100644
--- a/src/auth/commands/create-command.ts
+++ b/src/auth/commands/create-command.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import {
   maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint,
   countNativeClaudeProfiles,
 } from '../../cliproxy/routing/pool-onboarding-hint';
+import { canOverwriteGrandfatheredReservedProfileName } from '../../config/reserved-names';
 
 function sanitizeProfileNameForInstance(name: string): string {
   return name.replace(/[^a-zA-Z0-9_-]/g, '-').toLowerCase();
@@ -63,7 +64,19 @@ export async function handleCreate(ctx: CommandContext, args: string[]): Promise
     exitWithError('Profile name is required', ExitCode.PROFILE_ERROR);
   }
 
-  if (!isValidAccountProfileName(profileName)) {
+  // Check exact account ownership before applying the narrow grandfathered
+  // repair exception. API profiles and case variants do not qualify.
+  const existsLegacy = ctx.registry.hasProfile(profileName);
+  const existsUnified = ctx.registry.hasAccountUnified(profileName);
+  const canOverwriteGrandfatheredProfile = canOverwriteGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(
+    profileName,
+    {
+      force: force === true,
+      exists: existsLegacy || existsUnified,
+    }
+  );
+
+  if (!isValidAccountProfileName(profileName) && !canOverwriteGrandfatheredProfile) {
     exitWithError(
       'Invalid profile name. Use letters/numbers/dash/underscore and start with a letter.',
       ExitCode.PROFILE_ERROR
@@ -71,8 +84,6 @@ export async function handleCreate(ctx: CommandContext, args: string[]): Promise
   }
 
   // Check if profile already exists (check both legacy and unified)
-  const existsLegacy = ctx.registry.hasProfile(profileName);
-  const existsUnified = ctx.registry.hasAccountUnified(profileName);
   if (!force && (existsLegacy || existsUnified)) {
     // Keep the --force hint in the exitWithError message so it appears in the single output line
     exitWithError(
diff --git a/src/auth/profile-detector.ts b/src/auth/profile-detector.ts
index dbac96b3..e596a0cc 100644
--- a/src/auth/profile-detector.ts
+++ b/src/auth/profile-detector.ts
@@ -26,8 +26,11 @@ import { getProfileLookupCandidates, isLegacyProfileAlias } from '../utils/profi
 import type { CLIProxyProvider } from '../cliproxy/types';
 import {
   CLIPROXY_PROVIDER_IDS,
+  isCLIProxyProvider,
   resolveCLIProxyProviderShortcut,
 } from '../cliproxy/provider-capabilities';
+import { isGrandfatheredReservedProfileName } from '../config/reserved-names';
+import { ConfigError } from '../errors/error-types';
 import { LEGACY_CURSOR_PROFILE_NAME } from '../cursor/constants';
 import { normalizeCopilotModelId } from '../copilot/copilot-model-normalizer';
 import type { TargetType } from '../targets/target-adapter';
@@ -85,6 +88,50 @@ export interface ProfileNotFoundError extends Error {
   availableProfiles: string;
 }
 
+function hasOwnEntry(value: unknown, key: string): boolean {
+  return (
+    typeof value === 'object' && value !== null && Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(value, key)
+  );
+}
+
+function isObjectRecord(value: unknown): value is Record<string, unknown> {
+  return typeof value === 'object' && value !== null && !Array.isArray(value);
+}
+
+function isResolvableCompositeVariant(value: unknown): value is CompositeVariantConfig {
+  if (!isObjectRecord(value) || value.type !== 'composite') {
+    return false;
+  }
+  if (
+    value.default_tier !== 'opus' &&
+    value.default_tier !== 'sonnet' &&
+    value.default_tier !== 'haiku'
+  ) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  if (!isObjectRecord(value.tiers)) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  const tiers = value.tiers;
+
+  return (['opus', 'sonnet', 'haiku'] as const).every((tierName) => {
+    const tier = tiers[tierName];
+    return (
+      isObjectRecord(tier) &&
+      typeof tier.provider === 'string' &&
+      isCLIProxyProvider(tier.provider) &&
+      typeof tier.model === 'string' &&
+      tier.model.trim().length > 0
+    );
+  });
+}
+
+function isResolvableAccountProfile(value: unknown): value is ProfileMetadata {
+  return (
+    isObjectRecord(value) && typeof value.created === 'string' && value.created.trim().length > 0
+  );
+}
+
 /**
  * Profile Detector Class
  */
@@ -133,28 +180,22 @@ class ProfileDetector {
     config: UnifiedConfig
   ): ProfileDetectionResult | null {
     // Check CLIProxy variants first
-    if (config.cliproxy?.variants?.[profileName]) {
-      const variant = config.cliproxy.variants[profileName];
+    if (hasOwnEntry(config.cliproxy?.variants, profileName)) {
+      const variant = config.cliproxy?.variants?.[profileName];
+      if (!isObjectRecord(variant)) {
+        return null;
+      }
 
       // Handle composite variants
       if ('type' in variant && variant.type === 'composite') {
-        const composite = variant as CompositeVariantConfig;
-
-        // Defensive: check for missing tiers or default_tier
-        if (!composite.tiers || !composite.default_tier) {
+        if (!isResolvableCompositeVariant(variant)) {
           console.warn(
-            `[!] Warning: Composite variant '${profileName}' has missing tiers or default_tier`
+            `[!] Warning: Composite variant '${profileName}' has invalid or incomplete tiers/default_tier`
           );
           return null;
         }
-
+        const composite = variant;
         const defaultTierConfig = composite.tiers[composite.default_tier];
-        if (!defaultTierConfig) {
-          console.warn(
-            `[!] Warning: Composite variant '${profileName}' missing config for default tier '${composite.default_tier}'`
-          );
-          return null;
-        }
 
         return {
           type: 'cliproxy',
@@ -170,6 +211,9 @@ class ProfileDetector {
       }
 
       const singleVariant = variant as CLIProxyVariantConfig;
+      if (!isCLIProxyProvider(singleVariant.provider)) {
+        return null;
+      }
       return {
         type: 'cliproxy',
         name: profileName,
@@ -182,11 +226,18 @@ class ProfileDetector {
 
     // Check API profiles (supports compatibility aliases, e.g. km -> kimi)
     for (const candidate of getProfileLookupCandidates(profileName)) {
-      if (!config.profiles?.[candidate]) {
+      if (!hasOwnEntry(config.profiles, candidate)) {
         continue;
       }
 
       const profile = config.profiles[candidate];
+      if (
+        !isObjectRecord(profile) ||
+        typeof profile.settings !== 'string' ||
+        profile.settings.trim().length === 0
+      ) {
+        return null;
+      }
       const settingsPath = profile.settings;
       const settingsEnv = loadSettingsFromFile(settingsPath);
       const viaLegacyAlias = isLegacyProfileAlias(profileName, candidate);
@@ -204,8 +255,11 @@ class ProfileDetector {
     }
 
     // Check accounts
-    if (config.accounts?.[profileName]) {
+    if (hasOwnEntry(config.accounts, profileName)) {
       const account = config.accounts[profileName];
+      if (!isResolvableAccountProfile(account)) {
+        return null;
+      }
       return {
         type: 'account',
         name: profileName,
@@ -225,6 +279,20 @@ class ProfileDetector {
     return null;
   }
 
+  private hasUnifiedConfiguredProfile(profileName: string, config: UnifiedConfig): boolean {
+    return (
+      hasOwnEntry(config.cliproxy?.variants, profileName) ||
+      hasOwnEntry(config.profiles, profileName) ||
+      hasOwnEntry(config.accounts, profileName)
+    );
+  }
+
+  private createConfiguredCollisionError(profileName: string, source: string): ConfigError {
+    return new ConfigError(
+      `Configured profile "${profileName}" in ${source} is invalid and cannot be resolved as a grandfathered profile.`
+    );
+  }
+
   /**
    * Read settings-based config (config.json)
    */
@@ -264,11 +332,12 @@ class ProfileDetector {
    *
    * Priority order:
    * 0. Hardcoded special runtime profiles (copilot, cursor)
-   * 0.5. Hardcoded CLIProxy profiles (gemini, codex, agy, qwen, ...)
+   * 0.5. Hardcoded CLIProxy profiles (except grandfathered xai/grok collisions)
    * 1. Unified config profiles (if config.yaml exists or CCS_UNIFIED_CONFIG=1)
    * 2. User-defined CLIProxy variants (config.cliproxy section) [legacy]
    * 3. Settings-based profiles (config.profiles section) [legacy]
    * 4. Account-based profiles (profiles.json) [legacy]
+   * 5. Built-in xai/grok shortcut fallback when no configured profile exists
    */
   detectProfileType(profileName: string | null | undefined): ProfileDetectionResult {
     // Special case: 'default' means use default profile
@@ -336,7 +405,8 @@ class ProfileDetector {
 
     // Priority 0.5: Check CLIProxy profiles (gemini, codex, agy, qwen, ...)
     const builtinProvider = resolveCLIProxyProviderShortcut(profileName);
-    if (builtinProvider) {
+    const shouldGrandfatherConfiguredProfile = builtinProvider === 'xai';
+    if (builtinProvider && !shouldGrandfatherConfiguredProfile) {
       return {
         type: 'cliproxy',
         name: builtinProvider,
@@ -349,6 +419,12 @@ class ProfileDetector {
     if (unifiedConfig) {
       const result = this.resolveFromUnifiedConfig(profileName, unifiedConfig);
       if (result) return result;
+      if (
+        isGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(profileName) &&
+        this.hasUnifiedConfiguredProfile(profileName, unifiedConfig)
+      ) {
+        throw this.createConfiguredCollisionError(profileName, 'config.yaml');
+      }
       // Fall through to legacy if not found in unified config
     }
 
@@ -357,22 +433,36 @@ class ProfileDetector {
     const legacyTargetMap = (config as { profile_targets?: Record<string, TargetType> })
       .profile_targets;
 
-    if (config.cliproxy && config.cliproxy[profileName]) {
-      const variant = config.cliproxy[profileName];
-      return {
-        type: 'cliproxy',
-        name: profileName,
-        target: variant.target,
-        provider: variant.provider as CLIProxyProfileName,
-        settingsPath: variant.settings,
-        port: variant.port,
-      };
+    if (hasOwnEntry(config.cliproxy, profileName)) {
+      const variant = config.cliproxy?.[profileName];
+      if (!isObjectRecord(variant) || !isCLIProxyProvider(variant.provider as string)) {
+        if (isGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(profileName)) {
+          throw this.createConfiguredCollisionError(profileName, 'config.json');
+        }
+      } else {
+        return {
+          type: 'cliproxy',
+          name: profileName,
+          target: variant.target,
+          provider: variant.provider,
+          settingsPath: variant.settings,
+          port: variant.port,
+        };
+      }
     }
 
     // Priority 3: Check settings-based profiles (glm, km) - LEGACY FALLBACK
     if (config.profiles) {
       for (const candidate of getProfileLookupCandidates(profileName)) {
-        if (!config.profiles[candidate]) {
+        if (!hasOwnEntry(config.profiles, candidate)) {
+          continue;
+        }
+
+        const settingsPath = config.profiles[candidate];
+        if (typeof settingsPath !== 'string' || settingsPath.trim().length === 0) {
+          if (candidate === profileName && isGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(profileName)) {
+            throw this.createConfiguredCollisionError(profileName, 'config.json');
+          }
           continue;
         }
 
@@ -380,7 +470,7 @@ class ProfileDetector {
         return {
           type: 'settings',
           name: profileName,
-          settingsPath: config.profiles[candidate],
+          settingsPath,
           target: legacyTargetMap?.[candidate],
           message: viaLegacyAlias
             ? `Using legacy API profile "${candidate}" for "${profileName}".`
@@ -392,11 +482,28 @@ class ProfileDetector {
     // Priority 4: Check account-based profiles (work, personal) - LEGACY FALLBACK
     const profiles = this.readProfiles();
 
-    if (profiles.profiles && profiles.profiles[profileName]) {
+    if (hasOwnEntry(profiles.profiles, profileName)) {
+      const profile = profiles.profiles[profileName];
+      if (!isResolvableAccountProfile(profile)) {
+        if (isGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(profileName)) {
+          throw this.createConfiguredCollisionError(profileName, 'profiles.json');
+        }
+      } else {
+        return {
+          type: 'account',
+          name: profileName,
+          profile,
+        };
+      }
+    }
+
+    // xai and grok became reserved when the built-in xAI provider shipped. Existing
+    // configured profiles keep working, while new installs still get the shortcuts.
+    if (builtinProvider) {
       return {
-        type: 'account',
-        name: profileName,
-        profile: profiles.profiles[profileName],
+        type: 'cliproxy',
+        name: builtinProvider,
+        provider: builtinProvider,
       };
     }
 
@@ -426,25 +533,49 @@ class ProfileDetector {
     if (unifiedConfig?.default) {
       const result = this.resolveFromUnifiedConfig(unifiedConfig.default, unifiedConfig);
       if (result) return result;
+      if (
+        isGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(unifiedConfig.default) &&
+        this.hasUnifiedConfiguredProfile(unifiedConfig.default, unifiedConfig)
+      ) {
+        throw this.createConfiguredCollisionError(unifiedConfig.default, 'config.yaml');
+      }
     }
 
     // Check if account-based default exists (legacy)
     const profiles = this.readProfiles();
 
-    if (unifiedConfig?.default && profiles.profiles[unifiedConfig.default]) {
-      return {
-        type: 'account',
-        name: unifiedConfig.default,
-        profile: profiles.profiles[unifiedConfig.default],
-      };
+    if (unifiedConfig?.default && hasOwnEntry(profiles.profiles, unifiedConfig.default)) {
+      const profile = profiles.profiles[unifiedConfig.default];
+      if (
+        isGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(unifiedConfig.default) &&
+        !isResolvableAccountProfile(profile)
+      ) {
+        throw this.createConfiguredCollisionError(unifiedConfig.default, 'profiles.json');
+      }
+      if (profile) {
+        return {
+          type: 'account',
+          name: unifiedConfig.default,
+          profile,
+        };
+      }
     }
 
-    if (profiles.default && profiles.profiles[profiles.default]) {
-      return {
-        type: 'account',
-        name: profiles.default,
-        profile: profiles.profiles[profiles.default],
-      };
+    if (profiles.default && hasOwnEntry(profiles.profiles, profiles.default)) {
+      const profile = profiles.profiles[profiles.default];
+      if (
+        isGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(profiles.default) &&
+        !isResolvableAccountProfile(profile)
+      ) {
+        throw this.createConfiguredCollisionError(profiles.default, 'profiles.json');
+      }
+      if (profile) {
+        return {
+          type: 'account',
+          name: profiles.default,
+          profile,
+        };
+      }
     }
 
     // Check if settings-based default exists
diff --git a/src/commands/api-command/create-command.ts b/src/commands/api-command/create-command.ts
index 77b585f3..1dc86cd7 100644
--- a/src/commands/api-command/create-command.ts
+++ b/src/commands/api-command/create-command.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import {
   isCLIProxyProvider,
 } from '../../cliproxy/provider-capabilities';
 import { syncToLocalConfig } from '../../cliproxy/sync/local-config-sync';
+import { canOverwriteGrandfatheredReservedProfileName } from '../../config/reserved-names';
 import type { TargetType } from '../../targets/target-adapter';
 import { color, dim, fail, header, info, infoBox, initUI, warn } from '../../utils/ui';
 import { InteractivePrompt } from '../../utils/prompt';
@@ -63,7 +64,8 @@ function showPresetDeprecationNotice(presetId?: string): void {
 
 async function resolveProfileName(
   providedName: string | undefined,
-  preset: ProviderPreset | null
+  preset: ProviderPreset | null,
+  force: boolean
 ): Promise<string> {
   const name = providedName || preset?.defaultProfileName;
   if (!name) {
@@ -73,7 +75,11 @@ async function resolveProfileName(
   }
 
   const error = validateApiName(name);
-  if (error) {
+  const canOverwriteGrandfatheredProfile = canOverwriteGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(name, {
+    force,
+    exists: apiProfileExists(name),
+  });
+  if (error && !canOverwriteGrandfatheredProfile) {
     console.log(fail(error));
     process.exit(1);
   }
@@ -83,11 +89,19 @@ async function resolveProfileName(
 async function resolveCliproxyProfileName(
   provider: string,
   providedName: string | undefined,
-  yes: boolean | undefined
+  yes: boolean | undefined,
+  force: boolean
 ): Promise<string | undefined> {
   if (providedName) {
     const error = validateApiName(providedName);
-    if (error) {
+    const canOverwriteGrandfatheredProfile = canOverwriteGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(
+      providedName,
+      {
+        force,
+        exists: apiProfileExists(providedName),
+      }
+    );
+    if (error && !canOverwriteGrandfatheredProfile) {
       console.log(fail(error));
       process.exit(1);
     }
@@ -368,7 +382,8 @@ export async function handleApiCreateCommand(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
     const name = await resolveCliproxyProfileName(
       cliproxyProvider,
       parsedArgs.name,
-      parsedArgs.yes
+      parsedArgs.yes,
+      parsedArgs.force === true
     );
     const target = await resolveDefaultTarget(null, parsedArgs.target, parsedArgs.yes);
 
@@ -456,7 +471,7 @@ export async function handleApiCreateCommand(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
 
   showPresetDeprecationNotice(parsedArgs.preset);
   const preset = resolvePresetOrExit(parsedArgs.preset);
-  const name = await resolveProfileName(parsedArgs.name, preset);
+  const name = await resolveProfileName(parsedArgs.name, preset, parsedArgs.force === true);
 
   if (apiProfileExists(name) && !parsedArgs.force) {
     console.log(fail(`API '${name}' already exists`));
@@ -503,7 +518,8 @@ export async function handleApiCreateCommand(args: string[]): Promise<void> {
     finalModels,
     target,
     undefined,
-    parsedArgs.extraModels
+    parsedArgs.extraModels,
+    { force: parsedArgs.force === true }
   );
   if (!result.success) {
     console.log(fail(`Failed to create API profile: ${result.error}`));
diff --git a/src/commands/cliproxy/variant-subcommand.ts b/src/commands/cliproxy/variant-subcommand.ts
index 2f9fdb11..c979691b 100644
--- a/src/commands/cliproxy/variant-subcommand.ts
+++ b/src/commands/cliproxy/variant-subcommand.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../cliproxy/services';
 import { DEFAULT_BACKEND } from '../../cliproxy/binary/platform-detector';
 import { CompositeTierConfig } from '../../config/unified-config-types';
+import { canOverwriteGrandfatheredReservedProfileName } from '../../config/reserved-names';
 import { formatAccountDisplayName } from '../../cliproxy/accounts/email-account-identity';
 import { isUnifiedMode } from '../../config/config-loader-facade';
 
@@ -120,6 +121,24 @@ export function parseProfileArgs(args: string[]): CliproxyProfileArgs {
   return result;
 }
 
+export function validateVariantCreateName(
+  name: string,
+  force: boolean,
+  exists: boolean = variantExists(name)
+): string | null {
+  const error = validateProfileName(name);
+  if (
+    error &&
+    !canOverwriteGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(name, {
+      force,
+      exists,
+    })
+  ) {
+    return error;
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
 function formatModelOption(model: ModelEntry): string {
   const tierBadge =
     model.tier === 'ultra'
@@ -306,7 +325,7 @@ export async function handleCreate(
       validate: validateProfileName,
     });
   } else {
-    const error = validateProfileName(name);
+    const error = validateVariantCreateName(name, parsedArgs.force === true);
     if (error) {
       console.log(fail(error));
       process.exit(1);
diff --git a/src/config/reserved-names.ts b/src/config/reserved-names.ts
index dacfb97d..42e7b6d5 100644
--- a/src/config/reserved-names.ts
+++ b/src/config/reserved-names.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import { ConfigError } from '../errors/error-types';
+
 /**
  * Reserved profile names that cannot be used for user-defined profiles.
  * These names are reserved for CLIProxy providers and CLI commands.
@@ -6,6 +8,8 @@ export const RESERVED_PROFILE_NAMES = [
   // CLIProxy providers (built-in OAuth)
   'gemini',
   'codex',
+  'xai',
+  'grok',
   'agy',
   'qwen',
   'iflow',
@@ -32,6 +36,14 @@ export const RESERVED_PROFILE_NAMES = [
 
 export type ReservedProfileName = (typeof RESERVED_PROFILE_NAMES)[number];
 
+/**
+ * Reserved names that may still identify profiles created before the
+ * corresponding built-in provider shortcuts shipped.
+ */
+export const GRANDFATHERED_RESERVED_PROFILE_NAMES = ['xai', 'grok'] as const;
+export type GrandfatheredReservedProfileName =
+  (typeof GRANDFATHERED_RESERVED_PROFILE_NAMES)[number];
+
 /**
  * Windows reserved device names - cannot be used as filenames on Windows.
  * Case-insensitive on Windows filesystem.
@@ -70,6 +82,27 @@ export function isReservedName(name: string): boolean {
   return RESERVED_PROFILE_NAMES.includes(name.toLowerCase() as ReservedProfileName);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Check whether a reserved name may identify an existing grandfathered profile.
+ * This does not permit creating a new profile with the name.
+ */
+export function isGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(name: string): boolean {
+  return GRANDFATHERED_RESERVED_PROFILE_NAMES.includes(
+    name.toLowerCase() as GrandfatheredReservedProfileName
+  );
+}
+
+/**
+ * Allow a reserved grandfathered name only for an explicit overwrite of the
+ * exact profile that already owns it.
+ */
+export function canOverwriteGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(
+  name: string,
+  options: { force: boolean; exists: boolean }
+): boolean {
+  return options.force && options.exists && isGrandfatheredReservedProfileName(name);
+}
+
 /**
  * Check if a name is a Windows reserved device name.
  * These cause filesystem errors on Windows systems.
@@ -89,7 +122,7 @@ export function isWindowsReservedName(name: string): boolean {
  */
 export function validateProfileName(name: string): void {
   if (isReservedName(name)) {
-    throw new Error(
+    throw new ConfigError(
       `Profile name '${name}' is reserved. Reserved names: ${RESERVED_PROFILE_NAMES.join(', ')}`
     );
   }
diff --git a/src/web-server/routes/profile-routes.ts b/src/web-server/routes/profile-routes.ts
index a5ea70ac..1b0b940a 100644
--- a/src/web-server/routes/profile-routes.ts
+++ b/src/web-server/routes/profile-routes.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import {
   apiProfileExists,
   listCliproxyBridgeProviders,
   listApiProfiles,
-  validateApiName,
+  validateApiNameSyntax,
 } from '../../api/services';
 import { normalizeDroidProvider } from '../../targets/droid-provider';
 import { getPersistedTargetChoices } from '../../targets/target-metadata';
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ router.post('/orphans/register', (req: Request, res: Response): void => {
     }
 
     names = payload.names.map((value) => value.trim());
-    const invalidName = names.find((name) => validateApiName(name) !== null);
+    const invalidName = names.find((name) => validateApiNameSyntax(name) !== null);
     if (invalidName) {
       res.status(400).json({ error: `Invalid profile name in names: ${invalidName}` });
       return;
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ router.post('/:name/copy', (req: Request, res: Response): void => {
   }
 
   const { name } = req.params;
-  const sourceNameError = validateApiName(name);
+  const sourceNameError = validateApiNameSyntax(name);
   if (sourceNameError) {
     res.status(400).json({ error: sourceNameError });
     return;
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ router.post('/:name/export', (req: Request, res: Response): void => {
   }
 
   const { name } = req.params;
-  const profileNameError = validateApiName(name);
+  const profileNameError = validateApiNameSyntax(name);
   if (profileNameError) {
     res.status(400).json({ error: profileNameError });
     return;
diff --git a/tests/unit/account-context.test.ts b/tests/unit/account-context.test.ts
index affb01b3..89a4854d 100644
--- a/tests/unit/account-context.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/account-context.test.ts
@@ -21,8 +21,9 @@ describe('account context helpers', () => {
   });
 
   it('rejects reserved account profile names', () => {
-    expect(isValidAccountProfileName('default')).toBe(false);
-    expect(isValidAccountProfileName('Default')).toBe(false);
+    for (const name of ['default', 'Default', 'xai', 'XAI', 'grok', 'GROK']) {
+      expect(isValidAccountProfileName(name)).toBe(false);
+    }
   });
 
   it('falls back to default shared group for invalid persisted metadata', () => {
diff --git a/tests/unit/api/profile-lifecycle-service.test.ts b/tests/unit/api/profile-lifecycle-service.test.ts
index 310d9af5..5d984973 100644
--- a/tests/unit/api/profile-lifecycle-service.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/api/profile-lifecycle-service.test.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
   importApiProfileBundle,
   registerApiProfileOrphans,
 } from '../../../src/api/services/profile-lifecycle-service';
+import { createApiProfile } from '../../../src/api/services/profile-writer';
 import {
   loadConfigSafe,
   runWithScopedConfigDir,
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ describe('profile lifecycle service', () => {
     }
   });
 
-  it('discovers only API profile orphans (skips registered and reserved names)', async () => {
+  it('discovers grandfathered xai/grok orphans while skipping other reserved names', async () => {
     const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
     fs.mkdirSync(ccsDir, { recursive: true });
 
@@ -101,9 +102,59 @@ describe('profile lifecycle service', () => {
         2
       ) + '\n'
     );
+    for (const profileName of ['xai', 'grok']) {
+      fs.writeFileSync(
+        path.join(ccsDir, `${profileName}.settings.json`),
+        JSON.stringify(
+          {
+            env: {
+              ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: 'https://api.example.com',
+              ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN: 'token',
+            },
+          },
+          null,
+          2
+        ) + '\n'
+      );
+    }
 
     const result = await runInScopedCcsDir(() => discoverApiProfileOrphans());
-    expect(result.orphans.map((orphan) => orphan.name)).toEqual(['extra']);
+    expect(result.orphans.map((orphan) => orphan.name).sort()).toEqual(['extra', 'grok', 'xai']);
+  });
+
+  it('registers a grandfathered xai orphan without opening general reserved-name creation', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    fs.mkdirSync(ccsDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'xai.settings.json'),
+      JSON.stringify(
+        { env: { ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: 'https://api.example.com', ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN: 'token' } },
+        null,
+        2
+      ) + '\n'
+    );
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'gemini.settings.json'),
+      JSON.stringify(
+        { env: { ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: 'https://api.example.com', ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN: 'token' } },
+        null,
+        2
+      ) + '\n'
+    );
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({ profiles: {} }, null, 2) + '\n'
+    );
+
+    const result = await runInScopedCcsDir(() =>
+      registerApiProfileOrphans({ names: ['xai', 'gemini'] })
+    );
+    const config = await runInScopedCcsDir(() => loadConfigSafe());
+
+    expect(result.registered).toEqual(['xai']);
+    expect(result.skipped).toEqual([]);
+    expect(config.profiles.xai).toBe('~/.ccs/xai.settings.json');
+    expect(config.profiles.gemini).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
   it('treats explicit empty names list as no-op during orphan registration', async () => {
@@ -140,7 +191,10 @@ describe('profile lifecycle service', () => {
         2
       ) + '\n'
     );
-    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'), JSON.stringify({ profiles: {} }, null, 2) + '\n');
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({ profiles: {} }, null, 2) + '\n'
+    );
 
     const copyFileSpy = spyOn(fs, 'copyFileSync').mockImplementation(() => {
       throw new Error('copy failed');
@@ -168,8 +222,15 @@ describe('profile lifecycle service', () => {
         2
       ) + '\n'
     );
-    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'), JSON.stringify({ profiles: {} }, null, 2) + '\n');
-    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'config.yaml'), 'version: 12\nwebsearch:\n  enabled: false\n', 'utf8');
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({ profiles: {} }, null, 2) + '\n'
+    );
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'config.yaml'),
+      'version: 12\nwebsearch:\n  enabled: false\n',
+      'utf8'
+    );
 
     const originalCopyFileSync = fs.copyFileSync.bind(fs);
     const copyFileSpy = spyOn(fs, 'copyFileSync').mockImplementation((source, destination) => {
@@ -195,7 +256,10 @@ describe('profile lifecycle service', () => {
 
     const malformedPath = path.join(ccsDir, 'bad.settings.json');
     fs.writeFileSync(malformedPath, '{ invalid json', 'utf8');
-    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'), JSON.stringify({ profiles: {} }, null, 2) + '\n');
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({ profiles: {} }, null, 2) + '\n'
+    );
 
     const result = await runInScopedCcsDir(() =>
       registerApiProfileOrphans({ names: ['bad'], force: true })
@@ -247,6 +311,173 @@ describe('profile lifecycle service', () => {
     expect(result.error).toContain('Invalid source profile name');
   });
 
+  it('copies and exports grandfathered sources but rejects reserved destinations', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    fs.mkdirSync(ccsDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({ profiles: { xai: '~/.ccs/xai.settings.json' } }, null, 2) + '\n'
+    );
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'xai.settings.json'),
+      JSON.stringify(
+        { env: { ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: 'https://api.example.com', ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN: 'token' } },
+        null,
+        2
+      ) + '\n'
+    );
+
+    const exported = await runInScopedCcsDir(() => exportApiProfile('xai'));
+    const copied = await runInScopedCcsDir(() => copyApiProfile('xai', 'xai-backup'));
+    const rejectedDestination = await runInScopedCcsDir(() => copyApiProfile('xai', 'GROK'));
+
+    expect(exported.success).toBe(true);
+    expect(exported.bundle?.profile.name).toBe('xai');
+    expect(copied.success).toBe(true);
+    expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'xai-backup.settings.json'))).toBe(true);
+    expect(rejectedDestination.success).toBe(false);
+    expect(rejectedDestination.error).toContain('reserved name');
+    expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'GROK.settings.json'))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('allows force copy only onto an exact existing grandfathered destination', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    fs.mkdirSync(ccsDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'),
+      JSON.stringify(
+        {
+          profiles: {
+            source: '~/.ccs/source.settings.json',
+            xai: '~/.ccs/xai.settings.json',
+          },
+        },
+        null,
+        2
+      ) + '\n'
+    );
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'source.settings.json'),
+      JSON.stringify(
+        {
+          env: {
+            ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: 'https://source.example.com',
+            ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN: 'source-token',
+          },
+        },
+        null,
+        2
+      ) + '\n'
+    );
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'xai.settings.json'),
+      JSON.stringify(
+        { env: { ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: 'https://old.example.com', ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN: 'old' } },
+        null,
+        2
+      ) + '\n'
+    );
+
+    const nonForced = await runInScopedCcsDir(() => copyApiProfile('source', 'xai'));
+    const forced = await runInScopedCcsDir(() => copyApiProfile('source', 'xai', { force: true }));
+    const absentForced = await runInScopedCcsDir(() =>
+      copyApiProfile('source', 'grok', { force: true })
+    );
+
+    expect(nonForced.success).toBe(false);
+    expect(nonForced.error).toContain('reserved name');
+    expect(forced.success).toBe(true);
+    expect(absentForced.success).toBe(false);
+    expect(absentForced.error).toContain('reserved name');
+    expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'grok.settings.json'))).toBe(false);
+
+    const copiedSettings = JSON.parse(
+      fs.readFileSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'xai.settings.json'), 'utf8')
+    ) as {
+      env: Record<string, string>;
+    };
+    expect(copiedSettings.env.ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL).toBe('https://source.example.com');
+    expect(copiedSettings.env.ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN).toBe('source-token');
+  });
+
+  it('rejects an absent reserved name even when profile creation is forced', async () => {
+    const result = await runInScopedCcsDir(() =>
+      createApiProfile(
+        'XAI',
+        'https://api.example.com',
+        'token',
+        {
+          default: 'model',
+          opus: 'model',
+          sonnet: 'model',
+          haiku: 'model',
+        },
+        'claude',
+        undefined,
+        undefined,
+        { force: true }
+      )
+    );
+
+    expect(result.success).toBe(false);
+    expect(result.error).toContain('reserved name');
+    expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(getScopedCcsDir(), 'XAI.settings.json'))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('allows force to repair an exact existing xai API profile', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    fs.mkdirSync(ccsDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({ profiles: { xai: '~/.ccs/xai.settings.json' } }, null, 2) + '\n'
+    );
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'xai.settings.json'),
+      JSON.stringify(
+        { env: { ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: 'https://old.example.com', ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN: 'old' } },
+        null,
+        2
+      ) + '\n'
+    );
+
+    const nonForced = await runInScopedCcsDir(() =>
+      createApiProfile('xai', 'https://new.example.com', 'new-token', {
+        default: 'model',
+        opus: 'model',
+        sonnet: 'model',
+        haiku: 'model',
+      })
+    );
+    const forced = await runInScopedCcsDir(() =>
+      createApiProfile(
+        'xai',
+        'https://new.example.com',
+        'new-token',
+        {
+          default: 'model',
+          opus: 'model',
+          sonnet: 'model',
+          haiku: 'model',
+        },
+        'claude',
+        undefined,
+        undefined,
+        { force: true }
+      )
+    );
+
+    expect(nonForced.success).toBe(false);
+    expect(nonForced.error).toContain('reserved name');
+    expect(forced.success).toBe(true);
+    const settings = JSON.parse(
+      fs.readFileSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'xai.settings.json'), 'utf8')
+    ) as {
+      env: Record<string, string>;
+    };
+    expect(settings.env.ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL).toBe('https://new.example.com');
+    expect(settings.env.ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN).toBe('new-token');
+  });
+
   it('rolls back copied settings when local WebSearch tool setup fails', async () => {
     const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
     fs.mkdirSync(ccsDir, { recursive: true });
@@ -294,6 +525,62 @@ describe('profile lifecycle service', () => {
     expect(result.error).toContain('Invalid bundle profile target');
   });
 
+  it('allows force import only for an exact existing grandfathered profile', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    fs.mkdirSync(ccsDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({ profiles: { xai: '~/.ccs/xai.settings.json' } }, null, 2) + '\n'
+    );
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'xai.settings.json'),
+      JSON.stringify(
+        { env: { ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: 'https://old.example.com', ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN: 'old' } },
+        null,
+        2
+      ) + '\n'
+    );
+
+    const bundle = {
+      schemaVersion: 1,
+      exportedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+      profile: { name: 'xai', target: 'claude' },
+      settings: {
+        env: {
+          ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: 'https://repaired.example.com',
+          ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN: 'repaired-token',
+        },
+      },
+    };
+
+    const nonForced = await runInScopedCcsDir(() => importApiProfileBundle(bundle));
+    const forced = await runInScopedCcsDir(() => importApiProfileBundle(bundle, { force: true }));
+    const absentForced = await runInScopedCcsDir(() =>
+      importApiProfileBundle(
+        {
+          ...bundle,
+          profile: { ...bundle.profile, name: 'grok' },
+        },
+        { force: true }
+      )
+    );
+
+    expect(nonForced.success).toBe(false);
+    expect(nonForced.error).toContain('reserved name');
+    expect(forced.success).toBe(true);
+    expect(absentForced.success).toBe(false);
+    expect(absentForced.error).toContain('reserved name');
+    expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'grok.settings.json'))).toBe(false);
+
+    const settings = JSON.parse(
+      fs.readFileSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'xai.settings.json'), 'utf8')
+    ) as {
+      env: Record<string, string>;
+    };
+    expect(settings.env.ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL).toBe('https://repaired.example.com');
+    expect(settings.env.ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN).toBe('repaired-token');
+  });
+
   it('rolls back imported settings when local WebSearch tool setup fails', async () => {
     const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
     fs.mkdirSync(ccsDir, { recursive: true });
diff --git a/tests/unit/auth-resources-command.test.ts b/tests/unit/auth-resources-command.test.ts
index 2264ed3d..a81b8965 100644
--- a/tests/unit/auth-resources-command.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/auth-resources-command.test.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, spyOn } from 'bun:test';
 import * as fs from 'fs';
 import * as os from 'os';
 import * as path from 'path';
+import * as childProcess from 'child_process';
 import ProfileRegistry from '../../src/auth/profile-registry';
 import InstanceManager from '../../src/management/instance-manager';
 import { handleResources } from '../../src/auth/commands/resources-command';
@@ -227,6 +228,103 @@ describe('auth resources command', () => {
     expect(output).toContain('Unknown option(s): "--mode"');
   });
 
+  it('rejects reserved xai and grok account profile names on auth create', async () => {
+    for (const profileName of ['xai', 'GROK']) {
+      const registry = new ProfileRegistry();
+      const instanceMgr = new InstanceManager();
+
+      const output = await expectProfileExit(() =>
+        handleCreate(
+          {
+            registry,
+            instanceMgr,
+            version: 'test',
+          },
+          [profileName]
+        )
+      );
+
+      expect(output).toContain('Invalid profile name');
+      expect(registry.hasAccountUnified(profileName)).toBe(false);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('rejects --force for an absent reserved account profile', async () => {
+    const registry = new ProfileRegistry();
+    const instanceMgr = new InstanceManager();
+
+    const output = await expectProfileExit(() =>
+      handleCreate(
+        {
+          registry,
+          instanceMgr,
+          version: 'test',
+        },
+        ['xai', '--force']
+      )
+    );
+
+    expect(output).toContain('Invalid profile name');
+    expect(registry.hasAccountUnified('xai')).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('allows --force to repair an exact existing xai account profile', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempRoot, '.ccs');
+    fs.mkdirSync(ccsDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'config.yaml'),
+      [
+        'version: 12',
+        'accounts:',
+        '  xai:',
+        '    created: "2026-02-01T00:00:00.000Z"',
+        '    last_used: null',
+        'profiles: {}',
+        'cliproxy:',
+        '  oauth_accounts: {}',
+        '  providers: {}',
+        '  variants: {}',
+      ].join('\n'),
+      'utf8'
+    );
+
+    const claudeDetector = await import('../../src/utils/claude-detector');
+    const cliSpy = spyOn(claudeDetector, 'getClaudeCliInfo').mockReturnValue({
+      path: '/usr/bin/claude',
+      isWindows: false,
+      needsShell: false,
+    });
+    const child = {
+      on: () => child,
+    } as unknown as ReturnType<typeof childProcess.spawn>;
+    const spawnSpy = spyOn(childProcess, 'spawn').mockReturnValue(child);
+    const ensureSpy = spyOn(InstanceManager.prototype, 'ensureInstance').mockResolvedValue(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'instances', 'xai')
+    );
+    const logSpy = spyOn(console, 'log').mockImplementation(() => {});
+
+    try {
+      const registry = new ProfileRegistry();
+      const instanceMgr = new InstanceManager();
+      await handleCreate(
+        {
+          registry,
+          instanceMgr,
+          version: 'test',
+        },
+        ['xai', '--force']
+      );
+
+      expect(spawnSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(registry.hasAccountUnified('xai')).toBe(true);
+    } finally {
+      logSpy.mockRestore();
+      ensureSpy.mockRestore();
+      spawnSpy.mockRestore();
+      cliSpy.mockRestore();
+    }
+  });
+
   it('rejects --mode on non-resources auth commands instead of silently ignoring it', async () => {
     const registry = new ProfileRegistry();
     const instanceMgr = new InstanceManager();
diff --git a/tests/unit/auth/profile-detector.test.ts b/tests/unit/auth/profile-detector.test.ts
index c028453a..66b4f0da 100644
--- a/tests/unit/auth/profile-detector.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/auth/profile-detector.test.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import * as path from 'path';
 import * as os from 'os';
 import ProfileDetector, { loadSettingsFromFile } from '../../../src/auth/profile-detector';
 import * as unifiedConfigLoader from '../../../src/config/unified-config-loader';
+import { ConfigError } from '../../../src/errors/error-types';
 
 describe('ProfileDetector', () => {
   const tempDir = path.join(os.tmpdir(), `ccs-test-profile-detector-${process.pid}`);
@@ -101,11 +102,186 @@ describe('ProfileDetector', () => {
       expect(detector.detectProfileType('qoder').provider).toBe('qoder');
     });
 
-    it('should resolve the grok CLI alias to canonical xai routing', () => {
-      const result = detector.detectProfileType('grok');
-      expect(result.type).toBe('cliproxy');
-      expect(result.name).toBe('xai');
-      expect(result.provider).toBe('xai');
+    it('should resolve xai and grok to built-in xai routing when no configured profile exists', () => {
+      const isUnifiedModeSpy = spyOn(unifiedConfigLoader, 'isUnifiedMode').mockReturnValue(false);
+      const existsSyncSpy = spyOn(fs, 'existsSync').mockReturnValue(false);
+
+      try {
+        for (const shortcut of ['xai', 'grok']) {
+          const result = detector.detectProfileType(shortcut);
+          expect(result.type).toBe('cliproxy');
+          expect(result.name).toBe('xai');
+          expect(result.provider).toBe('xai');
+        }
+      } finally {
+        isUnifiedModeSpy.mockRestore();
+        existsSyncSpy.mockRestore();
+      }
+    });
+
+    it('should preserve configured xai and grok profiles from unified config', () => {
+      const xaiSettingsPath = path.join(tempDir, 'xai.settings.json');
+      const grokSettingsPath = path.join(tempDir, 'grok.settings.json');
+      fs.writeFileSync(
+        xaiSettingsPath,
+        JSON.stringify({ env: { ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: 'https://legacy-xai.example' } })
+      );
+      fs.writeFileSync(
+        grokSettingsPath,
+        JSON.stringify({ env: { ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: 'https://legacy-grok.example' } })
+      );
+
+      const mockUnifiedConfig = {
+        version: 2,
+        profiles: {
+          xai: { settings: xaiSettingsPath, type: 'api' },
+          grok: { settings: grokSettingsPath, type: 'api' },
+        },
+      };
+
+      const isUnifiedModeSpy = spyOn(unifiedConfigLoader, 'isUnifiedMode').mockReturnValue(true);
+      const loadUnifiedConfigSpy = spyOn(unifiedConfigLoader, 'loadUnifiedConfig').mockReturnValue(
+        mockUnifiedConfig as any
+      );
+
+      try {
+        for (const profileName of ['xai', 'grok']) {
+          const result = detector.detectProfileType(profileName);
+          expect(result.type).toBe('settings');
+          expect(result.name).toBe(profileName);
+          expect(result.settingsPath).toBe(
+            profileName === 'xai' ? xaiSettingsPath : grokSettingsPath
+          );
+        }
+      } finally {
+        isUnifiedModeSpy.mockRestore();
+        loadUnifiedConfigSpy.mockRestore();
+      }
+    });
+
+    it('should reject a malformed unified xai composite instead of using the built-in shortcut', () => {
+      const mockUnifiedConfig = {
+        version: 12,
+        profiles: {},
+        accounts: {},
+        cliproxy: {
+          variants: {
+            xai: {
+              type: 'composite',
+              default_tier: 'opus',
+              tiers: {},
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      };
+
+      const isUnifiedModeSpy = spyOn(unifiedConfigLoader, 'isUnifiedMode').mockReturnValue(true);
+      const loadUnifiedConfigSpy = spyOn(unifiedConfigLoader, 'loadUnifiedConfig').mockReturnValue(
+        mockUnifiedConfig as any
+      );
+      const warningSpy = spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {});
+
+      try {
+        expect(() => detector.detectProfileType('xai')).toThrow(ConfigError);
+        expect(() => detector.detectProfileType('xai')).toThrow(
+          /Configured profile "xai" in config.yaml is invalid/
+        );
+      } finally {
+        warningSpy.mockRestore();
+        isUnifiedModeSpy.mockRestore();
+        loadUnifiedConfigSpy.mockRestore();
+      }
+    });
+
+    it('should reject a malformed legacy grok variant instead of using the built-in shortcut', () => {
+      const originalCcsHome = process.env.CCS_HOME;
+      process.env.CCS_HOME = tempDir;
+      const ccsDir = path.join(tempDir, '.ccs');
+      fs.mkdirSync(ccsDir, { recursive: true });
+      fs.writeFileSync(
+        path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'),
+        JSON.stringify({ profiles: {}, cliproxy: { grok: {} } }, null, 2)
+      );
+
+      const isUnifiedModeSpy = spyOn(unifiedConfigLoader, 'isUnifiedMode').mockReturnValue(false);
+
+      try {
+        const localDetector = new ProfileDetector();
+        expect(() => localDetector.detectProfileType('grok')).toThrow(ConfigError);
+        expect(() => localDetector.detectProfileType('grok')).toThrow(
+          /Configured profile "grok" in config.json is invalid/
+        );
+      } finally {
+        isUnifiedModeSpy.mockRestore();
+        if (originalCcsHome !== undefined) {
+          process.env.CCS_HOME = originalCcsHome;
+        } else {
+          delete process.env.CCS_HOME;
+        }
+      }
+    });
+
+    it('should reject a malformed unified xai default instead of using the native default', () => {
+      const mockUnifiedConfig = {
+        version: 12,
+        default: 'xai',
+        profiles: {},
+        accounts: {},
+        cliproxy: {
+          variants: {
+            xai: {
+              type: 'composite',
+              default_tier: 'opus',
+              tiers: {},
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      };
+
+      const isUnifiedModeSpy = spyOn(unifiedConfigLoader, 'isUnifiedMode').mockReturnValue(true);
+      const loadUnifiedConfigSpy = spyOn(unifiedConfigLoader, 'loadUnifiedConfig').mockReturnValue(
+        mockUnifiedConfig as any
+      );
+      const warningSpy = spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {});
+
+      try {
+        expect(() => detector.resolveDefaultProfileResult()).toThrow(ConfigError);
+        expect(() => detector.resolveDefaultProfileResult()).toThrow(
+          /Configured profile "xai" in config.yaml is invalid/
+        );
+      } finally {
+        warningSpy.mockRestore();
+        isUnifiedModeSpy.mockRestore();
+        loadUnifiedConfigSpy.mockRestore();
+      }
+    });
+
+    it('should reject a malformed legacy xai account default', () => {
+      const originalCcsHome = process.env.CCS_HOME;
+      process.env.CCS_HOME = tempDir;
+      const ccsDir = path.join(tempDir, '.ccs');
+      fs.mkdirSync(ccsDir, { recursive: true });
+      fs.writeFileSync(
+        path.join(ccsDir, 'profiles.json'),
+        JSON.stringify({ default: 'xai', profiles: { xai: {} } }, null, 2)
+      );
+
+      const isUnifiedModeSpy = spyOn(unifiedConfigLoader, 'isUnifiedMode').mockReturnValue(false);
+
+      try {
+        const localDetector = new ProfileDetector();
+        expect(() => localDetector.resolveDefaultProfileResult()).toThrow(ConfigError);
+        expect(() => localDetector.resolveDefaultProfileResult()).toThrow(
+          /Configured profile "xai" in profiles.json is invalid/
+        );
+      } finally {
+        isUnifiedModeSpy.mockRestore();
+        if (originalCcsHome !== undefined) {
+          process.env.CCS_HOME = originalCcsHome;
+        } else {
+          delete process.env.CCS_HOME;
+        }
+      }
     });
 
     it('should detect settings-based profile from unified config', () => {
diff --git a/tests/unit/commands/api-create-grandfathered-force.test.ts b/tests/unit/commands/api-create-grandfathered-force.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8795562f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/commands/api-create-grandfathered-force.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, spyOn } from 'bun:test';
+import * as fs from 'fs';
+import * as os from 'os';
+import * as path from 'path';
+import { handleApiCreateCommand } from '../../../src/commands/api-command/create-command';
+
+describe('api create grandfathered force policy', () => {
+  let tempHome = '';
+  let originalCcsHome: string | undefined;
+  let originalUnifiedMode: string | undefined;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    tempHome = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'ccs-api-create-grandfathered-'));
+    originalCcsHome = process.env.CCS_HOME;
+    originalUnifiedMode = process.env.CCS_UNIFIED_CONFIG;
+    process.env.CCS_HOME = tempHome;
+    delete process.env.CCS_UNIFIED_CONFIG;
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    if (originalCcsHome === undefined) {
+      delete process.env.CCS_HOME;
+    } else {
+      process.env.CCS_HOME = originalCcsHome;
+    }
+    if (originalUnifiedMode === undefined) {
+      delete process.env.CCS_UNIFIED_CONFIG;
+    } else {
+      process.env.CCS_UNIFIED_CONFIG = originalUnifiedMode;
+    }
+    if (tempHome && fs.existsSync(tempHome)) {
+      fs.rmSync(tempHome, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('allows ccs api create --force to repair an exact existing xai profile', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    fs.mkdirSync(ccsDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({ profiles: { xai: '~/.ccs/xai.settings.json' } }, null, 2) + '\n'
+    );
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'xai.settings.json'),
+      JSON.stringify(
+        { env: { ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: 'https://old.example.com', ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN: 'old' } },
+        null,
+        2
+      ) + '\n'
+    );
+    const logSpy = spyOn(console, 'log').mockImplementation(() => {});
+
+    try {
+      await handleApiCreateCommand([
+        'xai',
+        '--force',
+        '--yes',
+        '--base-url',
+        'https://new.example.com',
+        '--api-key',
+        'new-token',
+        '--model',
+        'new-model',
+      ]);
+    } finally {
+      logSpy.mockRestore();
+    }
+
+    const settings = JSON.parse(
+      fs.readFileSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'xai.settings.json'), 'utf8')
+    ) as {
+      env: Record<string, string>;
+    };
+    expect(settings.env.ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL).toBe('https://new.example.com');
+    expect(settings.env.ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN).toBe('new-token');
+  });
+
+  it('rejects ccs api create --force when the reserved profile is absent', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    fs.mkdirSync(ccsDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({ profiles: {} }, null, 2) + '\n'
+    );
+
+    const originalExit = process.exit;
+    const logSpy = spyOn(console, 'log').mockImplementation(() => {});
+    process.exit = ((code?: number) => {
+      throw new Error(`process.exit(${code ?? 0})`);
+    }) as typeof process.exit;
+
+    try {
+      await expect(
+        handleApiCreateCommand([
+          'grok',
+          '--force',
+          '--yes',
+          '--base-url',
+          'https://new.example.com',
+          '--api-key',
+          'new-token',
+          '--model',
+          'new-model',
+        ])
+      ).rejects.toThrow('process.exit(1)');
+    } finally {
+      process.exit = originalExit;
+      logSpy.mockRestore();
+    }
+
+    expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'grok.settings.json'))).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/unit/commands/cliproxy-variant-args.test.ts b/tests/unit/commands/cliproxy-variant-args.test.ts
index 5e3f514c..54b5aa75 100644
--- a/tests/unit/commands/cliproxy-variant-args.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/commands/cliproxy-variant-args.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import { describe, expect, test } from 'bun:test';
 
-import { parseProfileArgs } from '../../../src/commands/cliproxy/variant-subcommand';
+import {
+  parseProfileArgs,
+  validateVariantCreateName,
+} from '../../../src/commands/cliproxy/variant-subcommand';
 
 describe('cliproxy variant arg parser', () => {
   test('parses --target value form', () => {
@@ -56,3 +59,16 @@ describe('cliproxy variant arg parser', () => {
     expect(parsed.errors).toEqual([]);
   });
 });
+
+describe('cliproxy variant create name policy', () => {
+  test('allows force repair of an exact existing grandfathered variant', () => {
+    expect(validateVariantCreateName('xai', true, true)).toBeNull();
+    expect(validateVariantCreateName('GROK', true, true)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  test('keeps absent, non-force, and other reserved variant names blocked', () => {
+    expect(validateVariantCreateName('xai', true, false)).toContain('reserved name');
+    expect(validateVariantCreateName('xai', false, true)).toContain('reserved name');
+    expect(validateVariantCreateName('gemini', true, true)).toContain('reserved name');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/unit/unified-config.test.ts b/tests/unit/unified-config.test.ts
index b8566a28..095195bb 100644
--- a/tests/unit/unified-config.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/unified-config.test.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ describe('reserved-names', () => {
       expect(RESERVED_PROFILE_NAMES).toContain('agy');
       expect(RESERVED_PROFILE_NAMES).toContain('qwen');
       expect(RESERVED_PROFILE_NAMES).toContain('iflow');
+      expect(RESERVED_PROFILE_NAMES).toContain('xai');
+      expect(RESERVED_PROFILE_NAMES).toContain('grok');
     });
 
     it('should include CLI commands', () => {
@@ -57,12 +59,16 @@ describe('reserved-names', () => {
     it('should return true for reserved names', () => {
       expect(isReservedName('gemini')).toBe(true);
       expect(isReservedName('codex')).toBe(true);
+      expect(isReservedName('xai')).toBe(true);
+      expect(isReservedName('grok')).toBe(true);
       expect(isReservedName('default')).toBe(true);
     });
 
     it('should be case-insensitive', () => {
       expect(isReservedName('GEMINI')).toBe(true);
       expect(isReservedName('Codex')).toBe(true);
+      expect(isReservedName('XAI')).toBe(true);
+      expect(isReservedName('GROK')).toBe(true);
       expect(isReservedName('DEFAULT')).toBe(true);
     });
 
@@ -76,6 +82,8 @@ describe('reserved-names', () => {
   describe('validateProfileName', () => {
     it('should throw for reserved names', () => {
       expect(() => validateProfileName('gemini')).toThrow(/reserved/i);
+      expect(() => validateProfileName('xai')).toThrow(/reserved/i);
+      expect(() => validateProfileName('grok')).toThrow(/reserved/i);
       expect(() => validateProfileName('default')).toThrow(/reserved/i);
     });
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/web-server/profile-routes-lifecycle.test.ts b/tests/unit/web-server/profile-routes-lifecycle.test.ts
index a79ae8e1..d215cf71 100644
--- a/tests/unit/web-server/profile-routes-lifecycle.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/web-server/profile-routes-lifecycle.test.ts
@@ -76,11 +76,17 @@ describe('profile-routes lifecycle endpoints', () => {
   it('does not register all orphans when names=[] is explicitly passed', async () => {
     const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
     fs.mkdirSync(ccsDir, { recursive: true });
-    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'), JSON.stringify({ profiles: {} }, null, 2) + '\n');
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({ profiles: {} }, null, 2) + '\n'
+    );
     fs.writeFileSync(
       path.join(ccsDir, 'lonely.settings.json'),
-      JSON.stringify({ env: { ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: 'https://api.example.com', ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN: 'token' } }, null, 2) +
-        '\n'
+      JSON.stringify(
+        { env: { ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: 'https://api.example.com', ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN: 'token' } },
+        null,
+        2
+      ) + '\n'
     );
 
     const response = await fetch(`${baseUrl}/api/profiles/orphans/register`, {
@@ -142,4 +148,85 @@ describe('profile-routes lifecycle endpoints', () => {
     const body = (await response.json()) as { error: string };
     expect(body.error).toContain('API name must start with letter');
   });
+
+  it('keeps grandfathered profiles exportable, copyable, and removable', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    fs.mkdirSync(ccsDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({ profiles: { xai: '~/.ccs/xai.settings.json' } }, null, 2) + '\n'
+    );
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'xai.settings.json'),
+      JSON.stringify(
+        { env: { ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: 'https://api.example.com', ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN: 'token' } },
+        null,
+        2
+      ) + '\n'
+    );
+
+    const exportResponse = await fetch(`${baseUrl}/api/profiles/xai/export`, {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+      body: JSON.stringify({}),
+    });
+    expect(exportResponse.status).toBe(200);
+
+    const copyResponse = await fetch(`${baseUrl}/api/profiles/xai/copy`, {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+      body: JSON.stringify({ destination: 'xai-backup' }),
+    });
+    expect(copyResponse.status).toBe(201);
+
+    const reservedDestinationResponse = await fetch(`${baseUrl}/api/profiles/xai/copy`, {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+      body: JSON.stringify({ destination: 'GROK' }),
+    });
+    expect(reservedDestinationResponse.status).toBe(400);
+    const reservedDestinationBody = (await reservedDestinationResponse.json()) as {
+      error: string;
+    };
+    expect(reservedDestinationBody.error).toContain('reserved name');
+
+    const deleteResponse = await fetch(`${baseUrl}/api/profiles/xai`, {
+      method: 'DELETE',
+    });
+    expect(deleteResponse.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'xai.settings.json'))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('recovers a grandfathered xai orphan through the route', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    fs.mkdirSync(ccsDir, { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({ profiles: {} }, null, 2) + '\n'
+    );
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(ccsDir, 'xai.settings.json'),
+      JSON.stringify(
+        { env: { ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: 'https://api.example.com', ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN: 'token' } },
+        null,
+        2
+      ) + '\n'
+    );
+
+    const response = await fetch(`${baseUrl}/api/profiles/orphans/register`, {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+      body: JSON.stringify({ names: ['xai'] }),
+    });
+
+    expect(response.status).toBe(200);
+    const body = (await response.json()) as { registered: string[]; skipped: unknown[] };
+    expect(body.registered).toEqual(['xai']);
+    expect(body.skipped).toEqual([]);
+
+    const config = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'config.json'), 'utf8')) as {
+      profiles: Record<string, string>;
+    };
+    expect(config.profiles.xai).toBe('~/.ccs/xai.settings.json');
+  });
 });