diff --git a/internal/syncer/ignore.go b/internal/syncer/ignore.go
index 8e9adec..d50925b 100644
--- a/internal/syncer/ignore.go
+++ b/internal/syncer/ignore.go
@@ -147,6 +147,9 @@ func compile(line string) (pattern, bool) {
 
 // Skip reports whether a file path should not sync.
 func (f *Filter) Skip(rel string) bool {
+	if rel == IgnoreFile {
+		return false // the ignore file itself always syncs so devices share rules
+	}
 	if f.underNestedMount(rel) || f.ignoredFile(rel) {
 		return true
 	}
diff --git a/internal/syncer/ignore_test.go b/internal/syncer/ignore_test.go
index ade0b5a..be16770 100644
--- a/internal/syncer/ignore_test.go
+++ b/internal/syncer/ignore_test.go
@@ -76,6 +76,18 @@ func TestIgnoreBeatsInclude(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestIgnoreFileAlwaysSyncs(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, f := range []*Filter{
+		filterFrom(t, ".bdriveignore\n*", nil),          // self-ignored
+		filterFrom(t, "", []string{"docs/"}),            // include list without it
+		filterFrom(t, ".bdriveignore", []string{"src"}), // both
+	} {
+		if f.Skip(IgnoreFile) {
+			t.Error(".bdriveignore must always sync")
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestPruneDir(t *testing.T) {
 	f := filterFrom(t, "node_modules/", nil)
 	if !f.PruneDir("node_modules") || !f.PruneDir("sub/node_modules") {
diff --git a/plugin/commands/install.md b/plugin/commands/install.md
index b71c11b..94aa16e 100644
--- a/plugin/commands/install.md
+++ b/plugin/commands/install.md
@@ -62,9 +62,9 @@ subfolders later, use `bdrive scope add <dir>` / `bdrive scope rm <dir>`
 from the mount root — never hand-edit `.bdrive/config.json`.
 
 After init, tell git what's what: add `.bdrive/` to `.gitignore` (per-machine
-state, never committed) and COMMIT `.bdriveignore` (on a `--shared` mount the
-root `.bdriveignore` is local-only to each clone, so git is how the team
-shares it).
+state, never committed). `.bdriveignore` always syncs through BearDrive —
+including on `--shared` mounts — so the team shares rules automatically;
+committing it to git too is fine but optional.
 
 ## 4. Teach agents about the shared folder (ask first — never do this silently)
 
diff --git a/plugin/skills/beardrive/SKILL.md b/plugin/skills/beardrive/SKILL.md
index ff18776..64d908f 100644
--- a/plugin/skills/beardrive/SKILL.md
+++ b/plugin/skills/beardrive/SKILL.md
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ Use this skill whenever the user is working with the `bdrive` CLI: initializing
 Two files at the mount root control a folder's sync behavior:
 
 - **`.bdrive/`** — the folder's settings **directory**; `config.json` inside holds the **stable mount id** (`m-xxxxxxxx`) plus `volume`, `remote`, optional `include`. Written by `bdrive init`; safe to hand-edit (a running daemon picks changes up on its next tick). It is **never synced**, holds **no credentials** (the token lives in `~/.bdrive/settings.json`), and because all state is keyed by the mount id — not the path — the folder can be **renamed or moved freely**; the daemon exits on a move and the next bdrive command at the new location resumes.
-- **`.bdriveignore`** — opt-out list, gitignore-style. On a whole-folder mount it **syncs like a normal file**, so all devices share the same rules; on a `--shared <dir>` mount the seeded root `.bdriveignore` sits OUTSIDE the include list and is **local-only** — commit it to git (or place ignore rules inside the shared dir) if the team should share it. Syntax subset: `#` comments, `*` within a segment, `**` across segments, `?`, trailing `/` for directories-only, a `/` elsewhere anchors to the mount root, `!` re-includes.
+- **`.bdriveignore`** — opt-out list, gitignore-style. It **always syncs** — even on a `--shared <dir>` mount where it sits outside the include list, and even if a rule matches it — so all devices share the same rules. Syntax subset: `#` comments, `*` within a segment, `**` across segments, `?`, trailing `/` for directories-only, a `/` elsewhere anchors to the mount root, `!` re-includes.
 
 ```jsonc
 // .bdrive/config.json
diff --git a/web/docs/src/content/docs/guides/scoping.md b/web/docs/src/content/docs/guides/scoping.md
index 27101fe..7a72984 100644
--- a/web/docs/src/content/docs/guides/scoping.md
+++ b/web/docs/src/content/docs/guides/scoping.md
@@ -71,8 +71,9 @@ build/
 Supported: `#` comments, `*`, `**`, `?`, a trailing `/` for directories, a
 leading (or any) `/` for root-anchoring, and `!` to re-include.
 
-It syncs like a normal file, so every device shares the same rules — one person
-excluding `*.tmp` fixes it for the whole team.
+It always syncs — even on an include-list mount where it sits outside the
+scope, and even if a pattern matches it — so every device shares the same
+rules: one person excluding `*.tmp` fixes it for the whole team.
 
 `bdrive init` seeds a starter one covering `node_modules`, build directories,
 caches, and `.env*`.
diff --git a/web/docs/src/content/docs/use-cases/business-context.md b/web/docs/src/content/docs/use-cases/business-context.md
index b37e94d..a411813 100644
--- a/web/docs/src/content/docs/use-cases/business-context.md
+++ b/web/docs/src/content/docs/use-cases/business-context.md
@@ -123,9 +123,8 @@ and it is also the thing to be deliberate about.
   [Turn a personal brain into a company brain](/use-cases/company-brain/) for
   how that model works.
 - **Opt things out** with `.bdriveignore` — see
-  [Scoping the folder](/guides/scoping/). On a `--shared` mount the seeded root
-  `.bdriveignore` sits outside the include list and stays local, so put shared
-  rules inside `context/` instead.
+  [Scoping the folder](/guides/scoping/). It always syncs, even on a
+  `--shared` mount, so one person's rules apply for the whole team.
 - **Watch what actually gets read.** [Read heat](/guides/what-agents-read/)
   shows which context pages agents consume. Pages nothing has read in a month
   are candidates for deletion, and deleting them makes the rest work better.