diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 47bc8b4..d60e14e 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ Module-level `@tool` handlers. Call `set_workspace_root()` before use.
 
 - **`workspace`**: path resolve under root; path substring denylist; command basename denylist; clearer deny messages.
 - **`file`**: `read_file`, `write_file`, `listdir`, `tree` (VCS + default noise dirs + optional `skip_dirs` / denylist walk), `glob_paths`, `grep_files` (regex, skip VCS/binary), `edit_replace`, `edit_lineno` (1-based range), `copy_path` / `move_path` / `delete_path`.
-- **`process`**: `run_command` (argv, no shell, timeout, optional stdin/env); PTY `open_pty` / `read_pty` / `write_pty` / `close_pty` (POSIX: `pty`+`fork`; Windows: ConPTY via `pywinpty` env marker dep).
-- PTY: backend in `pty_backend.py`; structured status (`alive`/`exit_code`/`data`); `read_pty(..., until=)` (CSI sanitized for host safety); `write_pty` key escapes (`\xHH`, `ctrl+x`, `key=esc`); session limit/idle TTL/output budget; close terminate→kill + **host TTY restore**.
+- **`process`**: `run_command` (argv, no shell, timeout, optional stdin/env); PTY `open_pty` / `read_pty` / `write_pty` (literal) / `write_pty_keys` (escapes) / `close_pty` (POSIX: `pty`+`fork`; Windows: ConPTY via `pywinpty` env marker dep).
+- PTY: backend in `pty_backend.py`; structured status (`alive`/`exit_code`/`data`); `read_pty(..., until=)` (CSI sanitized for host safety); keys via `write_pty_keys` only (`\xHH`, `ctrl+x`, `key=esc`); session limit/idle TTL/output budget; close terminate→kill + **host TTY restore**.
 - CLI limit hooks: interactive confirm to raise tool-loop rounds, PTY session cap, or PTY output budget.
 - Destructive confirms: `classify_danger` + `ToolRegistry(on_confirm=…)`; CLI default deny; config `confirm_destructive` / `path_denylist`. Session YOLO: `/yolo on|off|once` and `--yes` (skip soft confirms; hard denylists unchanged; `once` expires after the next user turn).
 - **`vcs`**: read-only VCS tools (`vcs_kind` / `vcs_status` / `vcs_diff` / `vcs_log` / `vcs_branch`) via `VcsBackend` protocol; **git** implemented; detectors are pluggable for other systems.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 172211c..a468412 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ Safety defaults:
 - PTY sessions: caps, idle TTL, output budget; master FD is non-inheritable; sessions closed on chat exit.
   Prefer file tools over full-screen editors (`vim`/`nano`) for edits. `read_pty` escapes CSI so tool
   results cannot reprogram the host TTY; `close_pty` / chat exit also restore the host terminal.
-  `write_pty` accepts escapes: `\xHH`, `ctrl+x`, `key=esc|enter|…`.
+  `write_pty` is literal text only; use `write_pty_keys` for `\xHH`, `ctrl+x`, `key=esc|enter|…`.
 
 ## Usage / context (CLI)
 
diff --git a/src/plyngent/tools/__init__.py b/src/plyngent/tools/__init__.py
index eee6f40..7c740a8 100644
--- a/src/plyngent/tools/__init__.py
+++ b/src/plyngent/tools/__init__.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from .process import open_pty as open_pty
 from .process import read_pty as read_pty
 from .process import run_command as run_command
 from .process import write_pty as write_pty
+from .process import write_pty_keys as write_pty_keys
 from .todo import TODO_TOOLS as TODO_TOOLS
 from .todo import get_todo_stack as get_todo_stack
 from .todo import set_todo_stack as set_todo_stack
diff --git a/src/plyngent/tools/process/__init__.py b/src/plyngent/tools/process/__init__.py
index 7cf8366..d4adb25 100644
--- a/src/plyngent/tools/process/__init__.py
+++ b/src/plyngent/tools/process/__init__.py
@@ -6,5 +6,6 @@ from .pty_terminal import sanitize_pty_output_for_tool as sanitize_pty_output_fo
 from .read_pty import read_pty as read_pty
 from .run_command import run_command as run_command
 from .write_pty import write_pty as write_pty
+from .write_pty_keys import write_pty_keys as write_pty_keys
 
-PROCESS_TOOLS = [run_command, open_pty, read_pty, write_pty, close_pty]
+PROCESS_TOOLS = [run_command, open_pty, read_pty, write_pty, write_pty_keys, close_pty]
diff --git a/src/plyngent/tools/process/write_pty.py b/src/plyngent/tools/process/write_pty.py
index 7d629dd..49f09c5 100644
--- a/src/plyngent/tools/process/write_pty.py
+++ b/src/plyngent/tools/process/write_pty.py
@@ -4,25 +4,12 @@ from plyngent.agent import tool
 from plyngent.tools.workspace import WorkspaceError
 
 from .pty_session import PtyManager
-from .pty_terminal import decode_write_data
 
 
-@tool
-def write_pty(session_id: int, data: str) -> str:
-    """Write text to a PTY session (interactive input). Does not append a newline.
-
-    Escapes (literal backslash sequences in ``data``): ``\\n`` ``\\r`` ``\\t``
-    ``\\e``/``\\E`` (ESC), ``\\xHH``, ``\\uHHHH``, ``ctrl+x`` / ``ctrl+c``, and
-    ``key=esc|enter|tab|up|down|left|right``.
-    """
-    try:
-        raw = decode_write_data(data)
-        PtyManager.write(session_id, raw)
-        session = PtyManager.refresh(session_id)
-    except WorkspaceError as exc:
-        return f"error: {exc}"
-    except OSError as exc:
-        return f"error: failed to write PTY: {exc}"
+def write_pty_payload(session_id: int, raw: str) -> str:
+    """Write raw bytes (as str) to the PTY and format the tool status string."""
+    PtyManager.write(session_id, raw)
+    session = PtyManager.refresh(session_id)
     exit_disp = "" if session.exit_code is None else str(session.exit_code)
     return "\n".join(
         [
@@ -32,3 +19,18 @@ def write_pty(session_id: int, data: str) -> str:
             f"wrote={len(raw.encode())}",
         ]
     )
+
+
+@tool
+def write_pty(session_id: int, data: str) -> str:
+    """Write **literal** text to a PTY session. Does not append a newline.
+
+    ``data`` is sent unchanged (no ``ctrl+x`` / ``\\\\xHH`` expansion). For
+    control sequences use :func:`write_pty_keys`.
+    """
+    try:
+        return write_pty_payload(session_id, data)
+    except WorkspaceError as exc:
+        return f"error: {exc}"
+    except OSError as exc:
+        return f"error: failed to write PTY: {exc}"
diff --git a/src/plyngent/tools/process/write_pty_keys.py b/src/plyngent/tools/process/write_pty_keys.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7472c21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plyngent/tools/process/write_pty_keys.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from plyngent.agent import tool
+from plyngent.tools.workspace import WorkspaceError
+
+from .pty_terminal import decode_write_data
+from .write_pty import write_pty_payload
+
+
+@tool
+def write_pty_keys(session_id: int, data: str) -> str:
+    """Write to a PTY after expanding key escapes (never for normal typing).
+
+    Use this only for control sequences. Prefer :func:`write_pty` for plain text
+    so strings like ``press ctrl+c`` are not rewritten.
+
+    Escapes (literal characters in ``data``):
+
+    - ``\\\\n`` ``\\\\r`` ``\\\\t`` ``\\\\e``/``\\\\E`` (ESC) ``\\\\0``
+    - ``\\\\xHH`` byte, ``\\\\uHHHH`` Unicode code point
+    - ``ctrl+c`` / ``ctrl+x`` ... (case-insensitive)
+    - ``key=esc|enter|tab|up|down|left|right``
+    """
+    try:
+        raw = decode_write_data(data)
+        return write_pty_payload(session_id, raw)
+    except WorkspaceError as exc:
+        return f"error: {exc}"
+    except OSError as exc:
+        return f"error: failed to write PTY: {exc}"
diff --git a/tests/test_tools/test_process.py b/tests/test_tools/test_process.py
index 3d940e2..2d36c0a 100644
--- a/tests/test_tools/test_process.py
+++ b/tests/test_tools/test_process.py
@@ -6,7 +6,14 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 import pytest
 
-from plyngent.tools.process import close_pty, open_pty, read_pty, run_command, write_pty
+from plyngent.tools.process import (
+    close_pty,
+    open_pty,
+    read_pty,
+    run_command,
+    write_pty,
+    write_pty_keys,
+)
 from plyngent.tools.process.pty_session import PtyManager
 from plyngent.tools.workspace import set_command_denylist
 from tests.test_tools.helpers import call_async, call_sync
@@ -375,7 +382,7 @@ async def test_read_pty_sanitizes_esc(workspace: object) -> None:
         PtyManager.close_all()
 
 
-async def test_write_pty_ctrl_escape(workspace: object) -> None:
+async def test_write_pty_keys_ctrl_escape(workspace: object) -> None:
     del workspace
     try:
         opened = call_sync(
@@ -388,17 +395,29 @@ async def test_write_pty_ctrl_escape(workspace: object) -> None:
             ),
         )
         session_id = _session_id(opened)
-        written = call_sync(write_pty, session_id, "ctrl+c")
+        written = call_sync(write_pty_keys, session_id, "ctrl+c")
         assert "wrote=1" in written
         text = await call_async(read_pty, session_id, timeout=2.0)
-        # ESC sanitized; Ctrl+C is 0x03 — may appear as raw or escaped depending
-        # on printable; just ensure write succeeded and process got input.
         assert "error" not in text.lower() or "alive=" in text
         _ = await call_async(close_pty, session_id)
     finally:
         PtyManager.close_all()
 
 
+def test_write_pty_is_literal() -> None:
+    """Plain write_pty must not call the keys decoder."""
+    import inspect
+
+    from plyngent.tools.process.pty_terminal import decode_write_data
+
+    # Decoder is intentionally aggressive; that is why write_pty stays literal.
+    assert decode_write_data("press ctrl+c to cancel") == "press \x03 to cancel"
+    src = inspect.getsource(write_pty.handler)
+    assert "decode_write_data" not in src
+    doc = write_pty.description or write_pty.handler.__doc__ or ""
+    assert "literal" in doc.lower()
+
+
 def test_pty_backend_available() -> None:
     from plyngent.tools.process.pty_backend import pty_available