diff --git a/DEVELOPMENT.md b/DEVELOPMENT.md
index 621ffc1..74af670 100644
--- a/DEVELOPMENT.md
+++ b/DEVELOPMENT.md
@@ -22,12 +22,10 @@ The Buildkite pipeline's required released-default smoke test:
 3. Uploads `.github/workflows/plugin-smoke.yml`
 4. Checks out the same commit in a generated hosted job and verifies the release defaults
 
-This lane requires Linux x86-64 Hosted Agents, but no configured secrets, provider tokens, or cache service. Cache integration is tested separately in the `buildkite/buildkite-gha` demo pipeline.
+This lane requires Linux x86-64 Hosted Agents, but no configured secrets or cache service. Cache integration is tested separately in the `buildkite/buildkite-gha` demo pipeline.
 
 Set `GITHUB_ACTIONS_SOURCE_REF` to `latest` or a full lowercase 40-character CLI commit on a manually created Buildkite build to run the optional source smoke instead. This lane uses the repository's `mise.toml` to install pinned mise 2026.5.12 and Go 1.26.5, pins the plugin to the build's exact commit, and exercises `buildkite-gha-source-ref` end to end. Ordinary builds continue to prove the released archive and installation path.
 
-The smoke tests leave `private-checkout` unset so they remain service-free. Bats covers its argument wiring; the `buildkite/buildkite-gha` repository tests its runtime behavior with GHAC minting.
-
 ## Release
 
 Plugin releases are Git tags and contain no generated assets. Before creating a `v0.x.y` tag, verify that:
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4b71d0b..01c39f8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,10 +22,11 @@ The importer step must have a `key`. Each workflow job and static matrix entry b
 | `workflow` | Yes | — | Path to the GitHub Actions workflow. |
 | `version` | No | `0.6.0` | Exact pre-1.0 `buildkite-gha` CLI version. |
 | `buildkite-gha-source-ref` | No | — | `latest` or a full lowercase commit for unreleased CLI testing. |
-| `private-checkout` | No | `false` | Enable read-only checkout of the pipeline's private GitHub repository. |
 
 The plugin release (`github-actions#v0.6.0`) and CLI `version` are independent. Set `version` only when you need a CLI release other than the default. `version` and `buildkite-gha-source-ref` are mutually exclusive.
 
+Repository checkout behavior is owned by `buildkite-gha` and Buildkite's repository-provider backend. Workflow permissions remain separate: checkout credentials do not populate `GITHUB_TOKEN` or `github.token`, enable private actions, or permit alternate repositories or refs.
+
 ## Compatibility
 
 `buildkite-gha` intentionally supports a subset of GitHub Actions. For the default CLI, see the [`v0.6.0` compatibility guide](https://github.com/buildkite/buildkite-gha/blob/v0.6.0/docs/compatibility.md) before migrating a workflow. Unsupported behavior fails explicitly rather than silently choosing a substitute.
@@ -41,24 +42,6 @@ Configure branch, tag, schedule, and pull request triggers in Buildkite. The wor
 
 Released mode downloads the selected public `buildkite/buildkite-gha` release without a GitHub token and does not require importer-side mise. Downloads and cached copies are verified before execution. Generated jobs prepare mise only when their resolved action trees can execute JavaScript; shell-only, native-adapter-only, and Docker-only jobs skip that setup.
 
-## Private repositories
-
-By default, generated `actions/checkout` steps perform a credential-free, shallow checkout, so the workflow repository must be public. Set `private-checkout` to give verified checkout jobs read-only access to the pipeline's exact GitHub repository:
-
-```yaml
-steps:
-  - label: ":github: GitHub Actions"
-    key: "github-actions"
-    plugins:
-      - github-actions#v0.6.0:
-          workflow: .github/workflows/ci.yml
-          private-checkout: true
-```
-
-This requires Buildkite's job-bound GitHub scoped access-token service. The CLI requests fixed `contents:read` authority, and the service independently requires the event repository to match the pipeline's GitHub repository. The credential is redacted before use and supplied only to Git through a one-shot askpass pipe.
-
-This option does not populate `GITHUB_TOKEN` or `github.token`, grant write access, enable private actions, or permit alternate repositories or refs.
-
 ## Caching
 
 On hosted agents, attach the plugin's cache volume to speed up the importer:
diff --git a/hooks/command b/hooks/command
index 20ffb49..8e3c8f7 100755
--- a/hooks/command
+++ b/hooks/command
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ PLUGIN_ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
 workflow="${BUILDKITE_PLUGIN_GITHUB_ACTIONS_WORKFLOW:-${BUILDKITE_PLUGIN__WORKFLOW:-}}"
 configured_version="${BUILDKITE_PLUGIN_GITHUB_ACTIONS_VERSION:-${BUILDKITE_PLUGIN__VERSION:-}}"
 source_ref="${BUILDKITE_PLUGIN_GITHUB_ACTIONS_BUILDKITE_GHA_SOURCE_REF:-${BUILDKITE_PLUGIN__BUILDKITE_GHA_SOURCE_REF:-}}"
-private_checkout="${BUILDKITE_PLUGIN_GITHUB_ACTIONS_PRIVATE_CHECKOUT:-${BUILDKITE_PLUGIN__PRIVATE_CHECKOUT:-false}}"
 
 if [[ -z "$workflow" ]]; then
   echo "github-actions plugin: workflow is required" >&2
@@ -20,12 +19,6 @@ if [[ "$workflow" == -* || "$workflow" == *$'\n'* || "$workflow" == *$'\r'* ]];
   echo "github-actions plugin: workflow must be a path, not an option or multiline value" >&2
   exit 1
 fi
-# An unrecognised value must not silently select either behaviour: treating it as
-# false hides the opt-in, and treating it as true would widen authority.
-case "$private_checkout" in
-  true|false) ;;
-  *) echo "github-actions plugin: private-checkout must be true or false" >&2; exit 1 ;;
-esac
 if [[ -n "$source_ref" && -n "$configured_version" ]]; then
   echo "github-actions plugin: version and buildkite-gha-source-ref are mutually exclusive" >&2
   exit 1
@@ -55,11 +48,7 @@ fi
 
 echo "~~~ :github: Prepare workflow"
 
-upload_args=(upload)
-if [[ "$private_checkout" == true ]]; then
-  upload_args+=(--private-checkout)
-fi
-upload_args+=(--runtime-queue hosted "$workflow")
+upload_args=(upload "$workflow")
 
 if [[ -n "$source_ref" ]]; then
   resolved_source_ref="$source_ref"
diff --git a/plugin.yml b/plugin.yml
index 32fcb2f..7deb4a3 100644
--- a/plugin.yml
+++ b/plugin.yml
@@ -27,10 +27,6 @@ configuration:
       type: string
       pattern: "^(latest|[0-9a-f]{40})$"
       description: Build buildkite-gha from the latest main commit or an exact full commit using config-free mise and pinned Go. Mutually exclusive with version.
-    private-checkout:
-      type: boolean
-      default: false
-      description: Opt verified checkout jobs into read-only authority for the pipeline's exact GitHub repository.
   required:
     - workflow
   additionalProperties: false
diff --git a/tests/command.bats b/tests/command.bats
index 9f01161..adfe234 100755
--- a/tests/command.bats
+++ b/tests/command.bats
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ setup() {
   export BUILDKITE_COMMIT=1111111111111111111111111111111111111111
   unset BUILDKITE_PLUGIN_GITHUB_ACTIONS_VERSION BUILDKITE_PLUGIN__VERSION
   unset BUILDKITE_PLUGIN_GITHUB_ACTIONS_BUILDKITE_GHA_SOURCE_REF BUILDKITE_PLUGIN__BUILDKITE_GHA_SOURCE_REF
+  unset BUILDKITE_USE_REPOSITORY_PROVIDER_GIT_CREDENTIALS BUILDKITE_USE_GITHUB_APP_GIT_CREDENTIALS
   export MOCK_LOG="$TMP/mock.log"
   mkdir -p "$TMP/bin" "$TMP/payload"
   : > "$MOCK_LOG"
@@ -94,7 +95,9 @@ teardown() { rm -rf "$TMP"; }
   mkdir -p "$TMPDIR"
   run "$REPO/hooks/command"
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ] || { echo "$output"; false; }
-  grep -Fx 'upload --runtime-queue hosted .github/workflows/ci.yml' "$MOCK_LOG"
+  grep -Fx 'upload .github/workflows/ci.yml' "$MOCK_LOG"
+  ! grep -q -- '--runtime-queue' "$MOCK_LOG"
+  ! grep -q -- '--private-checkout' "$MOCK_LOG"
   grep -Fx 'https://github.com/buildkite/buildkite-gha/releases/download/v0.6.0/buildkite-gha_Linux_x86_64.tar.gz' "$MOCK_LOG"
   grep -Fx 'https://github.com/buildkite/buildkite-gha/releases/download/v0.6.0/checksums.txt' "$MOCK_LOG"
   grep -Fx "path=$EXPECTED_PATH" "$MOCK_LOG"
@@ -131,41 +134,18 @@ teardown() { rm -rf "$TMP"; }
   ! grep -q '^upload ' "$MOCK_LOG"
 }
 
-@test "opts into private checkout only when explicitly enabled" {
-  export BUILDKITE_PLUGIN_GITHUB_ACTIONS_PRIVATE_CHECKOUT=true
-  run "$REPO/hooks/command"
-  [ "$status" -eq 0 ] || { echo "$output"; false; }
-  grep -Fx 'upload --private-checkout --runtime-queue hosted .github/workflows/ci.yml' "$MOCK_LOG"
-
-  : > "$MOCK_LOG"
-  export BUILDKITE_PLUGIN_GITHUB_ACTIONS_PRIVATE_CHECKOUT=false
-  run "$REPO/hooks/command"
-  [ "$status" -eq 0 ] || { echo "$output"; false; }
-  grep -Fx 'upload --runtime-queue hosted .github/workflows/ci.yml' "$MOCK_LOG"
-
-  : > "$MOCK_LOG"
-  unset BUILDKITE_PLUGIN_GITHUB_ACTIONS_PRIVATE_CHECKOUT
-  run "$REPO/hooks/command"
-  [ "$status" -eq 0 ] || { echo "$output"; false; }
-  grep -Fx 'upload --runtime-queue hosted .github/workflows/ci.yml' "$MOCK_LOG"
-
-  # An empty value falls back to the unprivileged default, as `version` does.
-  : > "$MOCK_LOG"
-  export BUILDKITE_PLUGIN_GITHUB_ACTIONS_PRIVATE_CHECKOUT=
-  run "$REPO/hooks/command"
-  [ "$status" -eq 0 ] || { echo "$output"; false; }
-  grep -Fx 'upload --runtime-queue hosted .github/workflows/ci.yml' "$MOCK_LOG"
-}
-
-@test "rejects a non-boolean private-checkout without running importer" {
-  for value in yes 1 TRUE ' true' '--event-path'; do
-    : > "$MOCK_LOG"
-    export BUILDKITE_PLUGIN_GITHUB_ACTIONS_PRIVATE_CHECKOUT="$value"
-    run "$REPO/hooks/command"
-    [ "$status" -ne 0 ] || { echo "accepted '$value'"; false; }
-    [[ "$output" == *"private-checkout must be true or false"* ]]
-    run grep -q '^upload ' "$MOCK_LOG"
-    [ "$status" -eq 1 ]
+@test "repository-provider credential signals do not alter the upload command" {
+  for signal in BUILDKITE_USE_REPOSITORY_PROVIDER_GIT_CREDENTIALS BUILDKITE_USE_GITHUB_APP_GIT_CREDENTIALS; do
+    for value in true false; do
+      : > "$MOCK_LOG"
+      export "$signal"="$value"
+      run "$REPO/hooks/command"
+      [ "$status" -eq 0 ] || { echo "$output"; false; }
+      grep -Fx 'upload .github/workflows/ci.yml' "$MOCK_LOG"
+      ! grep -q -- '--runtime-queue' "$MOCK_LOG"
+      ! grep -q -- '--private-checkout' "$MOCK_LOG"
+    done
+    unset "$signal"
   done
 }
 
@@ -194,7 +174,9 @@ teardown() { rm -rf "$TMP"; }
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ] || { echo "$output"; false; }
   [[ "$output" == *"buildkite-gha source latest resolved to $MOCK_SOURCE_SHA"* ]]
   grep -Fx 'git:ls-remote --exit-code --refs https://github.com/buildkite/buildkite-gha.git refs/heads/main' "$MOCK_LOG"
-  grep -Fx "mise:--no-config x go@1.26.5 -- env CGO_ENABLED=0 GOTOOLCHAIN=local go run -trimpath github.com/buildkite/buildkite-gha/cmd/buildkite-gha@$MOCK_SOURCE_SHA upload --runtime-queue hosted .github/workflows/ci.yml" "$MOCK_LOG"
+  grep -Fx "mise:--no-config x go@1.26.5 -- env CGO_ENABLED=0 GOTOOLCHAIN=local go run -trimpath github.com/buildkite/buildkite-gha/cmd/buildkite-gha@$MOCK_SOURCE_SHA upload .github/workflows/ci.yml" "$MOCK_LOG"
+  ! grep -q -- '--runtime-queue' "$MOCK_LOG"
+  ! grep -q -- '--private-checkout' "$MOCK_LOG"
   grep -Fx 'source-env:MISE_YES=1' "$MOCK_LOG"
   run grep -F 'releases/download' "$MOCK_LOG"
   [ "$status" -eq 1 ]
@@ -206,7 +188,9 @@ teardown() { rm -rf "$TMP"; }
   run "$REPO/hooks/command"
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ] || { echo "$output"; false; }
   ! grep -q '^git:' "$MOCK_LOG"
-  grep -Fx 'mise:--no-config x go@1.26.5 -- env CGO_ENABLED=0 GOTOOLCHAIN=local go run -trimpath github.com/buildkite/buildkite-gha/cmd/buildkite-gha@abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef01 upload --runtime-queue hosted .github/workflows/ci.yml' "$MOCK_LOG"
+  grep -Fx 'mise:--no-config x go@1.26.5 -- env CGO_ENABLED=0 GOTOOLCHAIN=local go run -trimpath github.com/buildkite/buildkite-gha/cmd/buildkite-gha@abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef01 upload .github/workflows/ci.yml' "$MOCK_LOG"
+  ! grep -q -- '--runtime-queue' "$MOCK_LOG"
+  ! grep -q -- '--private-checkout' "$MOCK_LOG"
 }
 
 @test "rejects invalid or ambiguous source configuration without running importer" {
@@ -362,7 +346,7 @@ EOF
   run "$REPO/hooks/command"
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ] || { echo "$output"; false; }
   [[ "$output" == *"cache '$BUILDKITE_GITHUB_ACTIONS_PLUGIN_CACHE_ROOT' is unavailable; using a temporary cache"* ]]
-  grep -Fx 'upload --runtime-queue hosted .github/workflows/ci.yml' "$MOCK_LOG"
+  grep -Fx 'upload .github/workflows/ci.yml' "$MOCK_LOG"
 }
 
 @test "continues when the verified CLI archive cannot be cached" {
@@ -379,7 +363,7 @@ EOF
   run "$REPO/hooks/command"
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ] || { echo "$output"; false; }
   [[ "$output" == *"continuing without caching"* ]]
-  grep -Fx 'upload --runtime-queue hosted .github/workflows/ci.yml' "$MOCK_LOG"
+  grep -Fx 'upload .github/workflows/ci.yml' "$MOCK_LOG"
   [ ! -e "$BUILDKITE_GITHUB_ACTIONS_PLUGIN_CACHE_ROOT/v0.6.0/Linux_x86_64" ]
 }
 
@@ -400,7 +384,7 @@ EOF
   run "$REPO/hooks/command"
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ] || { echo "$output"; false; }
   grep -Fx 'https://github.com/buildkite/buildkite-gha/releases/download/v0.6.0/buildkite-gha_Linux_x86_64.tar.gz' "$MOCK_LOG"
-  grep -Fx 'upload --runtime-queue hosted .github/workflows/ci.yml' "$MOCK_LOG"
+  grep -Fx 'upload .github/workflows/ci.yml' "$MOCK_LOG"
 }
 
 @test "concurrent installs converge on one valid cache" {
@@ -414,7 +398,7 @@ EOF
   [ -f "$cached_archive" ]
   expected="$(awk '$2 == "buildkite-gha_Linux_x86_64.tar.gz" { print $1 }' "$TMP/checksums.txt")"
   [ "$(/usr/bin/sha256sum "$cached_archive" | awk '{ print $1 }')" = "$expected" ]
-  [ "$(grep -c '^upload --runtime-queue hosted ' "$MOCK_LOG")" -eq 2 ]
+  [ "$(grep -c '^upload .github/workflows/ci.yml$' "$MOCK_LOG")" -eq 2 ]
 }
 
 @test "propagates importer failure and never runs importer after install failure" {