diff --git a/apps/web/features/issues/components/batch-action-toolbar.tsx b/apps/web/features/issues/components/batch-action-toolbar.tsx
index edf56959..e52365f4 100644
--- a/apps/web/features/issues/components/batch-action-toolbar.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/features/issues/components/batch-action-toolbar.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 "use client";
 
 import { useState } from "react";
-import { X, Trash2, Bot, UserMinus } from "lucide-react";
+import { X, Trash2, Bot, Lock, UserMinus } from "lucide-react";
 import { toast } from "sonner";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import {
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ import {
   PopoverTrigger,
   PopoverContent,
 } from "@/components/ui/popover";
-import type { UpdateIssueRequest } from "@/shared/types";
+import type { Agent, UpdateIssueRequest } from "@/shared/types";
 import { ALL_STATUSES, STATUS_CONFIG, PRIORITY_ORDER, PRIORITY_CONFIG } from "@/features/issues/config";
+import { useAuthStore } from "@/features/auth";
 import { useWorkspaceStore, useActorName } from "@/features/workspace";
 import { useIssueStore } from "@/features/issues/store";
 import { useIssueSelectionStore } from "@/features/issues/stores/selection-store";
@@ -206,6 +207,13 @@ export function BatchActionToolbar() {
   );
 }
 
+function canAssignAgent(agent: Agent, userId: string | undefined, memberRole: string | undefined): boolean {
+  if (agent.visibility !== "private") return true;
+  if (agent.owner_id === userId) return true;
+  if (memberRole === "owner" || memberRole === "admin") return true;
+  return false;
+}
+
 function BatchAssigneePicker({
   open,
   onOpenChange,
@@ -218,10 +226,14 @@ function BatchAssigneePicker({
   loading: boolean;
 }) {
   const [filter, setFilter] = useState("");
+  const user = useAuthStore((s) => s.user);
   const members = useWorkspaceStore((s) => s.members);
   const agents = useWorkspaceStore((s) => s.agents);
   const { getActorInitials } = useActorName();
 
+  const currentMember = members.find((m) => m.user_id === user?.id);
+  const memberRole = currentMember?.role;
+
   const query = filter.toLowerCase();
   const filteredMembers = members.filter((m) =>
     m.name.toLowerCase().includes(query),
@@ -297,22 +309,30 @@ function BatchAssigneePicker({
               <div className="px-2 pt-2 pb-1 text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wider">
                 Agents
               </div>
-              {filteredAgents.map((a) => (
-                <button
-                  key={a.id}
-                  type="button"
-                  onClick={() => {
-                    onUpdate({ assignee_type: "agent", assignee_id: a.id });
-                    onOpenChange(false);
-                  }}
-                  className="flex w-full items-center gap-2 rounded-md px-2 py-1.5 text-sm hover:bg-accent transition-colors"
-                >
-                  <div className="inline-flex size-4.5 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-info/10 text-info">
-                    <Bot className="size-2.5" />
-                  </div>
-                  <span>{a.name}</span>
-                </button>
-              ))}
+              {filteredAgents.map((a) => {
+                const allowed = canAssignAgent(a, user?.id, memberRole);
+                return (
+                  <button
+                    key={a.id}
+                    type="button"
+                    disabled={!allowed}
+                    onClick={() => {
+                      if (!allowed) return;
+                      onUpdate({ assignee_type: "agent", assignee_id: a.id });
+                      onOpenChange(false);
+                    }}
+                    className={`flex w-full items-center gap-2 rounded-md px-2 py-1.5 text-sm transition-colors ${allowed ? "hover:bg-accent" : "opacity-50 cursor-not-allowed"}`}
+                  >
+                    <div className={`inline-flex size-4.5 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full ${allowed ? "bg-info/10 text-info" : "bg-muted text-muted-foreground"}`}>
+                      <Bot className="size-2.5" />
+                    </div>
+                    <span className={allowed ? "" : "text-muted-foreground"}>{a.name}</span>
+                    {a.visibility === "private" && (
+                      <Lock className="ml-auto h-3 w-3 text-muted-foreground" />
+                    )}
+                  </button>
+                );
+              })}
             </div>
           )}
         </div>
diff --git a/server/internal/handler/agent.go b/server/internal/handler/agent.go
index 9ad40468..c510d6d9 100644
--- a/server/internal/handler/agent.go
+++ b/server/internal/handler/agent.go
@@ -326,24 +326,23 @@ type UpdateAgentRequest struct {
 }
 
 // canManageAgent checks whether the current user can update or delete an agent.
-// Workspace-visible agents require owner/admin role. Private agents additionally
-// require the user to be the agent's owner (or a workspace owner/admin).
+// Workspace-visible agents can be managed by any workspace member.
+// Private agents can only be managed by their owner or workspace owner/admin.
 func (h *Handler) canManageAgent(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, agent db.Agent) bool {
 	wsID := uuidToString(agent.WorkspaceID)
 	member, ok := h.requireWorkspaceRole(w, r, wsID, "agent not found", "owner", "admin", "member")
 	if !ok {
 		return false
 	}
+	if agent.Visibility != "private" {
+		return true
+	}
 	isAdmin := roleAllowed(member.Role, "owner", "admin")
 	isAgentOwner := uuidToString(agent.OwnerID) == requestUserID(r)
-	if agent.Visibility == "private" && !isAdmin && !isAgentOwner {
+	if !isAdmin && !isAgentOwner {
 		writeError(w, http.StatusForbidden, "only the agent owner can manage this private agent")
 		return false
 	}
-	if agent.Visibility != "private" && !isAdmin && !isAgentOwner {
-		writeError(w, http.StatusForbidden, "insufficient permissions")
-		return false
-	}
 	return true
 }
 
diff --git a/server/migrations/028_agent_default_private.down.sql b/server/migrations/028_agent_default_private.down.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a7ea0a37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/migrations/028_agent_default_private.down.sql
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ALTER TABLE agent ALTER COLUMN visibility SET DEFAULT 'workspace';
diff --git a/server/migrations/028_agent_default_private.up.sql b/server/migrations/028_agent_default_private.up.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7b85faef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/migrations/028_agent_default_private.up.sql
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ALTER TABLE agent ALTER COLUMN visibility SET DEFAULT 'private';