diff --git a/.github/workflows/track-branches.yml b/.github/workflows/track-branches.yml
index cf063b2..e661220 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/track-branches.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/track-branches.yml
@@ -9,11 +9,10 @@ name: Track upstream branches
 # and the merge publishes the artifacts. A tip that fails to build stays an
 # unmerged red PR that the next tick supersedes.
 #
-# The PR is opened with a GitHub App token, not GITHUB_TOKEN: a pull request
-# created with the workflow token gets its CI runs held for manual approval,
-# and an auto-merge it enabled would not fire the publish workflow. The App
-# needs Contents: write and Pull requests: write on this repository; its id
-# and private key live in the PKGS_BOT_APP_ID / PKGS_BOT_PRIVATE_KEY secrets.
+# The PR and auto-merge use the PAT in PKGS_BOT_TOKEN so they trigger the
+# build and publish workflows. The built-in GITHUB_TOKEN cannot drive this
+# unattended chain. The PAT needs Contents: write and Pull requests: write
+# on this repository, and its owner must be trusted by the build workflow.
 
 on:
   schedule:
@@ -39,13 +38,12 @@ jobs:
       contents: read
 
     steps:
-      - name: Require the bot App
+      - name: Require the tracking token
         env:
-          PKGS_BOT_APP_ID: ${{ secrets.PKGS_BOT_APP_ID }}
-          PKGS_BOT_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.PKGS_BOT_PRIVATE_KEY }}
+          PKGS_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.PKGS_BOT_TOKEN }}
         run: |
-          if [[ -z "$PKGS_BOT_APP_ID" || -z "$PKGS_BOT_PRIVATE_KEY" ]]; then
-            echo "::error::Set PKGS_BOT_APP_ID and PKGS_BOT_PRIVATE_KEY for a GitHub App installed on this repository with Contents: write and Pull requests: write."
+          if [[ -z "$PKGS_BOT_TOKEN" ]]; then
+            echo "::error::Set PKGS_BOT_TOKEN to a PAT with Contents: write and Pull requests: write on this repository, owned by an account trusted to trigger builds."
             exit 1
           fi
 
@@ -103,14 +101,6 @@ jobs:
             } >> "$GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY"
           fi
 
-      - name: Mint the bot token
-        if: ${{ !cancelled() && steps.changes.outputs.has_changes == 'true' }}
-        id: app
-        uses: actions/create-github-app-token@bcd2ba49218906704ab6c1aa796996da409d3eb1 # v3.2.0
-        with:
-          app-id: ${{ secrets.PKGS_BOT_APP_ID }}
-          private-key: ${{ secrets.PKGS_BOT_PRIVATE_KEY }}
-
       # The PR title names what moved, so the merged history reads like a
       # changelog: "Track upstream branches: omarchy-dev 4.0.0.r6520.g1a2b3c4, ...".
       - name: Describe the pins
@@ -123,11 +113,11 @@ jobs:
           echo "title=Track upstream branches: ${title}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
 
       - name: Open or update the tracking PR
-        if: ${{ !cancelled() && steps.changes.outputs.has_changes == 'true' && steps.app.outcome == 'success' }}
+        if: ${{ !cancelled() && steps.changes.outputs.has_changes == 'true' }}
         id: pr
         uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@5f6978faf089d4d20b00c7766989d076bb2fc7f1 # v8.1.1
         with:
-          token: ${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}
+          token: ${{ secrets.PKGS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           commit-message: ${{ steps.describe.outputs.title }}
           title: ${{ steps.describe.outputs.title }}
           body: |
@@ -148,7 +138,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Enable auto-merge
         if: ${{ !cancelled() && steps.pr.outputs.pull-request-number != '' }}
         env:
-          GH_TOKEN: ${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.PKGS_BOT_TOKEN }}
           PR: ${{ steps.pr.outputs.pull-request-number }}
         run: |
           # Idempotent across re-runs of an updated PR: enabling twice errors.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9742113..4f1cba0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -893,13 +893,13 @@ The repository includes GitHub workflows and systemd services for automated rele
 2. **sync-rebuilds.yml** (Every 6 hours): Bumps pkgrel for packages whose `rebuild_on` dependencies have moved in the official repositories and opens a PR.
 3. **track-branches.yml** (Every 2 hours): The unattended lane. Pins every `"auto_merge": true` package to the tip of its watched branch once its commit timestamp clears `min_release_age`, opens one PR for all of them, and enables auto-merge. Packages pinned from the same branch move together or not at all, including targeted syncs. The PR builds like any other; a tip that fails to build stays an open red PR until the next tick supersedes it.
 
-The tracking PR is opened with a GitHub App token (`PKGS_BOT_APP_ID` and
-`PKGS_BOT_PRIVATE_KEY` secrets; the App needs Contents and Pull requests
-write on this repository). A PR opened with the workflow's own `GITHUB_TOKEN`
-has its build and test runs held until a maintainer approves them, and an
-auto-merge it enabled would land without running the publish workflow. The
-tracker requires both App secrets before it runs. The reviewed sync workflows
-continue to use `GITHUB_TOKEN` and require maintainer approval as before.
+The tracking PR and auto-merge use the PAT stored in `PKGS_BOT_TOKEN`, with
+Contents and Pull requests write access to this repository and an owner trusted
+to trigger builds. The existing controller PAT can be reused. No GitHub App is
+required. The built-in Actions `GITHUB_TOKEN` cannot drive the unattended
+build-and-publish chain, so the tracker requires this secret before it runs.
+The reviewed sync workflows continue to use `GITHUB_TOKEN` and require
+maintainer approval as before. See [setup instructions](docs/upstream-sources.md#enable-unattended-branch-updates).
 
 To approve builds for an unvouched contributor's PR, apply **`build-approved`**.
 Until approval, the PR shows **Awaiting build approval** and its required
diff --git a/docs/upstream-sources.md b/docs/upstream-sources.md
index 1749ee9..4397336 100644
--- a/docs/upstream-sources.md
+++ b/docs/upstream-sources.md
@@ -89,21 +89,20 @@ only `omarchy-dev` also updates `omarchy-settings-dev`.
 ### Enable unattended branch updates
 
 The schedule already runs in GitHub Actions; no server cron job is needed.
-It needs a GitHub App identity so its PRs trigger builds and its merges trigger
-publishing without manual approval:
+It uses a personal access token so its PRs trigger builds and its merges trigger
+publishing without manual approval. No GitHub App is required.
 
-1. [Create an organization GitHub App](https://github.com/organizations/omacom/settings/apps/new).
-   Use this repository's URL as the homepage, disable webhooks, and grant only
-   repository **Contents: Read and write** and **Pull requests: Read and write**
-   (Metadata read access is automatic). Limit installation to this organization.
-2. Install the App on **omacom/omarchy-pkgs** only.
-3. Generate a private key from the App's settings. In the repository's
+1. Use a fine-grained PAT with access to **omacom/omarchy-pkgs** and repository
+   **Contents: Read and write** and **Pull requests: Read and write** permissions.
+   Its owner must be trusted by the build workflow (for example, a collaborator).
+   The existing controller PAT can be reused when it has these permissions.
+2. In the repository's
    [Actions secrets](https://github.com/omacom/omarchy-pkgs/settings/secrets/actions),
-   save the App ID as `PKGS_BOT_APP_ID` and the PEM key contents as
-   `PKGS_BOT_PRIVATE_KEY`.
-4. Keep **Allow auto-merge** enabled and require `result`, `self-tests`, and
-   `build-isolation` on `master`; the App does not need a protection bypass.
-5. After merging the tracker, run **Track upstream branches** once from Actions
+   save the PAT as `PKGS_BOT_TOKEN`. Update this secret when the token is rotated
+   or expires. The built-in Actions `GITHUB_TOKEN` cannot run this unattended chain.
+3. Keep **Allow auto-merge** enabled and require `result`, `self-tests`, and
+   `build-isolation` on `master`; the tracker does not request a protection bypass.
+4. After merging the tracker, run **Track upstream branches** once from Actions
    to verify that its PR builds, auto-merges, and starts **Publish merged packages**.
    Subsequent runs happen every two hours.