diff --git a/extensions/memory-lancedb/config.ts b/extensions/memory-lancedb/config.ts
index 4caa48cdce..339e5c8cd7 100644
--- a/extensions/memory-lancedb/config.ts
+++ b/extensions/memory-lancedb/config.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ export const MEMORY_CATEGORIES = ["preference", "fact", "decision", "entity", "o
 export type MemoryCategory = (typeof MEMORY_CATEGORIES)[number];
 
 const DEFAULT_MODEL = "text-embedding-3-small";
-const DEFAULT_CAPTURE_MAX_CHARS = 1500;
+export const DEFAULT_CAPTURE_MAX_CHARS = 500;
 const LEGACY_STATE_DIRS: string[] = [];
 
 function resolveDefaultDbPath(): string {
diff --git a/extensions/memory-lancedb/index.test.ts b/extensions/memory-lancedb/index.test.ts
index b5261f848a..c2cb431e78 100644
--- a/extensions/memory-lancedb/index.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/memory-lancedb/index.test.ts
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ describe("memory plugin e2e", () => {
     expect(config).toBeDefined();
     expect(config?.embedding?.apiKey).toBe(OPENAI_API_KEY);
     expect(config?.dbPath).toBe(dbPath);
-    expect(config?.captureMaxChars).toBe(1500);
+    expect(config?.captureMaxChars).toBe(500);
   });
 
   test("config schema resolves env vars", async () => {
@@ -105,6 +105,21 @@ describe("memory plugin e2e", () => {
     }).toThrow("captureMaxChars must be between 100 and 10000");
   });
 
+  test("config schema accepts captureMaxChars override", async () => {
+    const { default: memoryPlugin } = await import("./index.js");
+
+    const config = memoryPlugin.configSchema?.parse?.({
+      embedding: {
+        apiKey: OPENAI_API_KEY,
+        model: "text-embedding-3-small",
+      },
+      dbPath,
+      captureMaxChars: 1800,
+    });
+
+    expect(config?.captureMaxChars).toBe(1800);
+  });
+
   test("shouldCapture applies real capture rules", async () => {
     const { shouldCapture } = await import("./index.js");
 
@@ -117,10 +132,14 @@ describe("memory plugin e2e", () => {
     expect(shouldCapture("<relevant-memories>injected</relevant-memories>")).toBe(false);
     expect(shouldCapture("<system>status</system>")).toBe(false);
     expect(shouldCapture("Here is a short **summary**\n- bullet")).toBe(false);
-    const longButAllowed = `I always prefer this style. ${"x".repeat(1200)}`;
-    const tooLong = `I always prefer this style. ${"x".repeat(1600)}`;
-    expect(shouldCapture(longButAllowed, { maxChars: 1500 })).toBe(true);
-    expect(shouldCapture(tooLong, { maxChars: 1500 })).toBe(false);
+    const defaultAllowed = `I always prefer this style. ${"x".repeat(400)}`;
+    const defaultTooLong = `I always prefer this style. ${"x".repeat(600)}`;
+    expect(shouldCapture(defaultAllowed)).toBe(true);
+    expect(shouldCapture(defaultTooLong)).toBe(false);
+    const customAllowed = `I always prefer this style. ${"x".repeat(1200)}`;
+    const customTooLong = `I always prefer this style. ${"x".repeat(1600)}`;
+    expect(shouldCapture(customAllowed, { maxChars: 1500 })).toBe(true);
+    expect(shouldCapture(customTooLong, { maxChars: 1500 })).toBe(false);
   });
 
   test("detectCategory classifies using production logic", async () => {
diff --git a/extensions/memory-lancedb/index.ts b/extensions/memory-lancedb/index.ts
index aa53d834dd..0778006c7b 100644
--- a/extensions/memory-lancedb/index.ts
+++ b/extensions/memory-lancedb/index.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import { Type } from "@sinclair/typebox";
 import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
 import OpenAI from "openai";
 import {
+  DEFAULT_CAPTURE_MAX_CHARS,
   MEMORY_CATEGORIES,
   type MemoryCategory,
   memoryConfigSchema,
@@ -195,7 +196,7 @@ const MEMORY_TRIGGERS = [
 ];
 
 export function shouldCapture(text: string, options?: { maxChars?: number }): boolean {
-  const maxChars = options?.maxChars ?? 1500;
+  const maxChars = options?.maxChars ?? DEFAULT_CAPTURE_MAX_CHARS;
   if (text.length < 10 || text.length > maxChars) {
     return false;
   }
diff --git a/extensions/memory-lancedb/openclaw.plugin.json b/extensions/memory-lancedb/openclaw.plugin.json
index 007ea3d63d..44ee0dcd04 100644
--- a/extensions/memory-lancedb/openclaw.plugin.json
+++ b/extensions/memory-lancedb/openclaw.plugin.json
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
       "label": "Capture Max Chars",
       "help": "Maximum message length eligible for auto-capture",
       "advanced": true,
-      "placeholder": "1500"
+      "placeholder": "500"
     }
   },
   "configSchema": {