diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/01-bug-report.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/01-bug-report.yml
index 58f563774..980c7ee99 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/01-bug-report.yml
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/01-bug-report.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: Bug report
 description: Report a reproducible problem with the Desktop app, CLI, or source build.
 title: "[Bug]: "
-labels: ["bug"]
+labels: ["bug", "needs-triage"]
 body:
   - type: markdown
     attributes:
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/02-feature-request.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/02-feature-request.yml
index b2a5875c8..7d8c4d279 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/02-feature-request.yml
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/02-feature-request.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: Feature request
 description: Suggest an improvement to the Desktop app, CLI, or source distribution.
 title: "[Feature]: "
-labels: ["enhancement"]
+labels: ["enhancement", "needs-triage"]
 body:
   - type: dropdown
     id: product
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/03-question.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/03-question.yml
index 6ec6aef52..a200f16c2 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/03-question.yml
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/03-question.yml
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
-name: Usage question
-description: Ask about the Desktop app, CLI, or building from source.
+name: Usage or repository policy question
+description: Ask about the Desktop app, CLI, source builds, or contribution policy.
 title: "[Question]: "
-labels: ["question"]
+labels: ["question", "needs-triage"]
 body:
   - type: dropdown
     id: product
     attributes:
       label: Product or interface
+      description: Leave blank if unsure or asking about repository policy.
       options:
         - Desktop app
         - CLI - interactive TUI
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ body:
         - CLI - ACP
         - Source build or repository tooling
     validations:
-      required: true
+      required: false
   - type: textarea
     id: question
     attributes:
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ body:
     id: platform
     attributes:
       label: Platform
+      description: Leave blank if unknown or not applicable.
       options:
         - macOS
         - Windows
@@ -32,11 +34,11 @@ body:
         - WSL
         - Multiple platforms
     validations:
-      required: true
+      required: false
   - type: textarea
     id: context
     attributes:
-      label: Version and what you have tried
-      description: Include documentation you followed and relevant redacted output. Do not include keys or account data.
+      label: Version or policy context
+      description: For usage questions, include your version and what you tried. For policy questions, link the relevant policy. Do not include keys or account data.
     validations:
       required: true
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/config.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/config.yml
index e224f2597..27fe16a2c 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/config.yml
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/config.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 blank_issues_enabled: false
 contact_links:
+  - name: Contribution policy
+    url: https://github.com/MiniMax-AI/minimax-code/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md
+    about: Everyone may report issues and suggest improvements. Pull requests are accepted only from repository collaborators; external PRs are not accepted.
   - name: CLI quick start and troubleshooting
     url: https://agent.minimax.io/docs/cli/quick-start
     about: Installation, account regions, first tasks, and links to troubleshooting.
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/docs.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/docs.yml
index 1923400d2..1982f5826 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/docs.yml
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/docs.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 name: Documentation issue
 description: Report missing, incorrect, or unclear documentation.
 title: "[Docs] "
+labels: ["documentation", "needs-triage"]
 body:
   - type: input
     id: location
diff --git a/docs/maintainers.md b/docs/maintainers.md
index 8056c4eef..23b709825 100644
--- a/docs/maintainers.md
+++ b/docs/maintainers.md
@@ -11,6 +11,29 @@
 
 These are repository maintenance responsibilities, not an assertion that an account owns the product's copyright. Every PR that requires approval needs a reviewer other than the author, and security reports need a working private response path. Review maintainer additions and policy changes in a PR; do not silently grant repository access.
 
+## Issue triage
+
+Published source covers the standalone CLI (interactive TUI, headless and ACP). The issue tracker also collects Desktop app feedback; accepting those reports does not expand the published source scope.
+
+Everyone may report bugs, request features, ask questions, and flag documentation problems. Code and documentation PRs are accepted only from repository collaborators. Opening an issue or having a proposal accepted does not grant collaborator access or permission to submit a PR. Do not use `good first issue` or `help wanted` while external PRs are closed.
+
+Use these labels independently:
+
+| Category | Labels and meaning |
+| --- | --- |
+| Type | `bug`: reported malfunction; `enhancement`: requested improvement; `documentation`: missing or incorrect docs; `question`: usage or project-policy question |
+| Product | `desktop`: Desktop app; `cli`: standalone mcode, including TUI, headless, ACP and its source builds/tooling |
+| Triage | `needs-triage`: awaiting maintainer assessment; `needs-info`: a maintainer has asked the reporter for specific missing information |
+
+1. Start with [needs-triage](https://github.com/MiniMax-AI/minimax-code/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+label%3Aneeds-triage) and [unlabelled issues](https://github.com/MiniMax-AI/minimax-code/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+no%3Alabel). Templates add a type and `needs-triage`; reports created through other routes may need both added manually. A type label describes the report and does not confirm a defect or commit to implementation.
+2. Confirm one primary type and apply `desktop` or `cli` from the report. Product dropdowns stay in the body; maintainers apply product labels manually. Use both only when the report establishes that both are affected. Leave product labels unset for unclear reports or repository-policy questions. The existing `tui` label may supplement `cli` for interactive-terminal-specific issues; it does not cover headless or ACP.
+3. If information is missing, ask for the specific version, reproduction, or expected behavior, replace `needs-triage` with `needs-info`, and retain any known type/product labels. When the reporter replies, remove `needs-info` and reassess. Do not automatically close issues for inactivity.
+4. Once assessed, remove `needs-triage` and record the next step in a comment. Assign a collaborator when someone takes responsibility; classification alone does not promise a fix or release date. For duplicates, link the original issue before closing with `duplicate`. For declined requests, explain the reason before closing with `wontfix`.
+
+Route security reports through [Security](../SECURITY.md). Do not ask for secrets or unredacted logs in public issues. Label setup is a separate repository operation: ensure the labels above exist before merging template changes, since forms cannot create missing labels. The Feishu workflow sends notifications only; it does not perform triage.
+
+This small label set draws on the type and information-request handling in [VS Code's triage guide](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/wiki/Issues-Triaging) and the `needs-triage`/`needs-info` states used by [Ruff](https://github.com/astral-sh/ruff/labels). Contribution eligibility follows this repository's policy.
+
 ## Review and merge
 
 1. Repository collaborators open an issue for substantial scope or submit a focused feature-branch PR. Other users may open issues to discuss ideas and proposals. Security details follow the private reporting process.
diff --git a/test/source-sync.test.mjs b/test/source-sync.test.mjs
index c1085e1aa..3b7a5f653 100644
--- a/test/source-sync.test.mjs
+++ b/test/source-sync.test.mjs
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ test('public support forms preserve destination URLs and separate Desktop from C
   for (const name of forms) {
     const form = parseYaml(readFileSync(new URL(`../.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/${name}`, import.meta.url), 'utf8'));
     const product = form.body.find(field => field.id === 'product');
-    assert.equal(product.validations.required, true);
+    assert.equal(product.validations.required, name !== '03-question.yml');
     assert.ok(product.attributes.options.includes('Desktop app'));
     assert.ok(product.attributes.options.includes('CLI - ACP'));
     assert.ok(product.attributes.options.includes('CLI - headless'));
@@ -440,6 +440,24 @@ test('public support forms preserve destination URLs and separate Desktop from C
   assert.equal(classifyChanges(['README_ZH.md', 'README.md']).docsOnly, true);
 });
 
+test('issue forms label incoming reports for triage and retain collaborator-only PR guidance', () => {
+  for (const [name, type] of [
+    ['01-bug-report.yml', 'bug'], ['02-feature-request.yml', 'enhancement'],
+    ['03-question.yml', 'question'], ['docs.yml', 'documentation'],
+  ]) {
+    const form = parseYaml(readFileSync(new URL(`../.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/${name}`, import.meta.url), 'utf8'));
+    assert.deepEqual(form.labels, [type, 'needs-triage']);
+  }
+  const config = parseYaml(readFileSync(new URL('../.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/config.yml', import.meta.url), 'utf8'));
+  assert.equal(config.blank_issues_enabled, false);
+  const policy = config.contact_links.find(link => link.url.endsWith('/CONTRIBUTING.md'));
+  assert.match(policy.about, /only from repository collaborators/);
+  assert.match(policy.about, /external PRs are not accepted/);
+  const question = parseYaml(readFileSync(new URL('../.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/03-question.yml', import.meta.url), 'utf8'));
+  assert.equal(question.body.find(field => field.id === 'platform').validations.required, false);
+  assert.equal(question.body.find(field => field.id === 'question').validations.required, true);
+});
+
 test('issue notification is restricted to public destination events and builds payloads offline', t => {
   const workflow = parseYaml(readFileSync(new URL('../.github/workflows/sync-issue-to-feishu.yml', import.meta.url), 'utf8'));
   assert.deepEqual(workflow.on, { issues: { types: ['opened'] } });