diff --git a/docs/docker.md b/docs/docker.md
index da5bb702..faa799fa 100644
--- a/docs/docker.md
+++ b/docs/docker.md
@@ -46,6 +46,13 @@ That's it for a real personal Docker install. Your existing `~/.hermes`
 directory is mounted, your `~/workspace` is browsable, and the WebUI
 auto-detects your UID/GID from the mounted volume.
 
+The single-container setup runs the WebUI only. It can create cron jobs and run
+them manually from the Tasks panel. In Docker, scheduled jobs require the Hermes gateway daemon
+to tick while you are away. If System Settings shows `Gateway not configured`,
+use `docker-compose.two-container.yml`,
+`docker-compose.three-container.yml`, or run `hermes gateway` separately before
+relying on offline scheduled runs.
+
 For troubleshooting, reinstall, or onboarding reproduction trials, do not mount
 your real `~/.hermes` unless you intentionally want to test real state. Use an
 isolated Hermes home and follow
diff --git a/static/index.html b/static/index.html
index 29441d25..fe54a92c 100644
--- a/static/index.html
+++ b/static/index.html
@@ -205,6 +205,7 @@
           <button class="panel-head-btn has-tooltip has-tooltip--bottom" onclick="openCronCreate()" data-tooltip="New job" data-i18n-title="new_job" aria-label="New job"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" aria-hidden="true"><line x1="12" y1="5" x2="12" y2="19"/><line x1="5" y1="12" x2="19" y2="12"/></svg></button>
         </div>
       </div>
+      <div id="cronGatewayNotice" class="detail-alert cron-gateway-notice" style="display:none"></div>
       <div class="cron-list" id="cronList"><div style="padding:12px;color:var(--muted);font-size:12px" data-i18n="loading">Loading...</div></div>
     </div>
     <!-- Kanban panel -->
diff --git a/static/panels.js b/static/panels.js
index fe034d4f..d1fa17e1 100644
--- a/static/panels.js
+++ b/static/panels.js
@@ -428,9 +428,44 @@ function _cronDiagnostics(job) {
   return JSON.stringify(fields, null, 2);
 }
 
+function _cronGatewayNoticeHtml(status) {
+  if (!status || (status.configured && status.running)) return '';
+  const notConfigured = !status.configured;
+  const title = notConfigured
+    ? 'Gateway not configured'
+    : 'Gateway not running';
+  const body = notConfigured
+    ? 'In Hermes WebUI, scheduled jobs require the Hermes gateway daemon. If this is a single-container Docker install, jobs can be created and run manually here, but scheduled ticks need a gateway container or `hermes gateway` running outside the WebUI.'
+    : 'In Hermes WebUI, scheduled jobs require the Hermes gateway daemon to be running. Start the gateway container or `hermes gateway` before relying on offline scheduled runs.';
+  return `
+    <div class="detail-alert-title">${esc(title)}</div>
+    <p>${esc(body)}</p>
+  `;
+}
+
+async function loadCronGatewayNotice() {
+  const box = $('cronGatewayNotice');
+  if (!box) return;
+  try {
+    const status = await api('/api/gateway/status');
+    const html = _cronGatewayNoticeHtml(status);
+    if (html) {
+      box.innerHTML = html;
+      box.style.display = '';
+    } else {
+      box.innerHTML = '';
+      box.style.display = 'none';
+    }
+  } catch (_) {
+    box.innerHTML = '';
+    box.style.display = 'none';
+  }
+}
+
 async function loadCrons(animate) {
   const box = $('cronList');
   const refreshBtn = $('cronRefreshBtn');
+  loadCronGatewayNotice();
   if (animate && refreshBtn) {
     refreshBtn.style.opacity = '0.5';
     refreshBtn.disabled = true;
diff --git a/static/style.css b/static/style.css
index 0f1354b9..80f1e96e 100644
--- a/static/style.css
+++ b/static/style.css
@@ -1109,6 +1109,7 @@
   .panel-view.active{display:flex;}
   /* Cron panel */
   .cron-list{flex:1;overflow-y:auto;padding:8px;}
+  .cron-gateway-notice{margin:8px 8px 0;}
   .cron-item{width:100%;min-width:0;box-sizing:border-box;border-radius:10px;border:1px solid var(--border);margin-bottom:6px;overflow:hidden;transition:border-color .15s,background .15s;background:rgba(255,255,255,.02);cursor:pointer;}
   .cron-item:hover{border-color:var(--border2);}
   .cron-header{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;padding:10px 12px;cursor:pointer;}
diff --git a/tests/test_issue2785_gateway_cron_guidance.py b/tests/test_issue2785_gateway_cron_guidance.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0fe30477
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_issue2785_gateway_cron_guidance.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+"""Coverage for cron/gateway guidance in the Tasks panel and Docker docs."""
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
+INDEX_HTML = ROOT / "static" / "index.html"
+PANELS_JS = ROOT / "static" / "panels.js"
+DOCKER_DOC = ROOT / "docs" / "docker.md"
+
+
+def test_tasks_panel_has_gateway_notice_container():
+    html = INDEX_HTML.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+    assert 'id="cronGatewayNotice"' in html
+    assert "detail-alert" in html
+
+
+def test_cron_panel_loads_gateway_status_for_scheduling_guidance():
+    panels = PANELS_JS.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+    assert "function _cronGatewayNoticeHtml" in panels
+    assert "function loadCronGatewayNotice" in panels
+    assert "api('/api/gateway/status')" in panels
+    assert "Gateway not configured" in panels
+    assert "Gateway not running" in panels
+    assert "scheduled jobs require the Hermes gateway daemon" in panels
+    assert "loadCronGatewayNotice()" in panels
+
+
+def test_docker_docs_explain_single_container_cron_gateway_boundary():
+    docs = DOCKER_DOC.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+    assert "single-container setup runs the WebUI only" in docs
+    assert "scheduled jobs require the Hermes gateway daemon" in docs
+    assert "Gateway not configured" in docs
+    assert "docker-compose.two-container.yml" in docs