diff --git a/.github/actions/beta-notes/action.yml b/.github/actions/beta-notes/action.yml
index 94d8ca8..151b34c 100644
--- a/.github/actions/beta-notes/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/beta-notes/action.yml
@@ -1,15 +1,10 @@
 name: Beta notes
 description: >-
-  Tester notes for a beta build. Hand-written notes pass through; otherwise
-  Claude reads the pull requests and code changed since a base build, such as
+  Tester notes for a beta build. Claude reads the pull requests and code changed since a base build, such as
   the last store release, and writes short bullets. A range with no
   user-facing commits, or any Claude failure, gives the fallback, so a beta
   never waits on it.
 inputs:
-  notes:
-    description: Hand-written notes; when set, they are the output and Claude does not run.
-    required: false
-    default: ""
   app:
     description: App name Claude writes for, e.g. put.io for Apple TV.
     required: true
@@ -65,10 +60,10 @@ inputs:
     default: ${{ github.token }}
 outputs:
   notes:
-    description: Notes as one bullet per line, or the hand-written notes or fallback.
+    description: Notes as one bullet per line, or the fallback.
     value: ${{ steps.finish.outputs.notes }}
   source:
-    description: manual, claude, or fallback.
+    description: claude or fallback.
     value: ${{ steps.finish.outputs.source }}
 runs:
   using: composite
@@ -77,7 +72,6 @@ runs:
       id: plan
       shell: bash
       env:
-        NOTES: ${{ inputs.notes }}
         APP: ${{ inputs.app }}
         BASE_REF: ${{ inputs.base }}
         TAG_PATTERN: ${{ inputs.tag-pattern }}
@@ -104,7 +98,6 @@ runs:
       id: finish
       shell: bash
       env:
-        NOTES: ${{ inputs.notes }}
         RESULT: ${{ runner.temp }}/beta-notes-result.json
         MAX_LENGTH: ${{ inputs.max-length }}
         FALLBACK: ${{ inputs.fallback }}
diff --git a/.github/actions/beta-notes/finish.sh b/.github/actions/beta-notes/finish.sh
index c742e7a..6bb22ac 100755
--- a/.github/actions/beta-notes/finish.sh
+++ b/.github/actions/beta-notes/finish.sh
@@ -3,10 +3,7 @@ set -euo pipefail
 
 notes=""
 source=fallback
-if [ -n "$NOTES" ]; then
-  notes="$NOTES"
-  source=manual
-elif [ -s "$RESULT" ]; then
+if [ -s "$RESULT" ]; then
   if jq -e '.is_error' "$RESULT" > /dev/null; then
     echo "beta-notes: Claude failed: $(jq -r '.result // .subtype' "$RESULT" | head -c 300)" >&2
   fi
diff --git a/.github/actions/beta-notes/plan.sh b/.github/actions/beta-notes/plan.sh
index 342df57..23eebb9 100755
--- a/.github/actions/beta-notes/plan.sh
+++ b/.github/actions/beta-notes/plan.sh
@@ -3,11 +3,6 @@ set -euo pipefail
 
 rm -f "$RESULT"
 
-if [ -n "$NOTES" ]; then
-  echo "run=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-  exit 0
-fi
-
 head="$(git rev-parse HEAD)"
 base="$BASE_REF"
 if [ -z "$base" ] && [ -n "$TAG_PATTERN" ]; then
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f68062c..8ea96db 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -166,7 +166,6 @@ steps:
       tag-pattern: apple-tv-v* # release tags
 ```
 
-- Hand-written `notes` pass through, and Claude does not run.
 - The base build is `base`, or the newest tag matching `tag-pattern` below
   the build commit.
 - A range with no `feat`, `fix`, or `perf` commit outside the `deps`, `ci`,
@@ -176,7 +175,7 @@ steps:
 - A Claude failure, an empty list, or a missing base build gives `fallback`;
   a beta never waits on Claude.
 - Bullets past `max-length` are dropped; set `500` for Google Play.
-- `source` says whether the notes are `manual`, `claude`, or `fallback`.
+- `source` says whether the notes are `claude` or `fallback`.
 
 The action authenticates through workload identity federation: it exchanges
 the job's GitHub OIDC token, so no key is stored. Its defaults name put.io's