diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 87c1217..a8148e3 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@
 
 This changelog is maintained from git history plus the published Gitea release series. Future releases should update this file and publish matching release notes on the release page.
 
+## v0.9.4
+
+Doctor release.
+
+- Add `doctor` to check Photos access and optional backup health.
+- Add `doctor --out <dir>` to report backup directory, manifest entries, and failure count.
+- Add `doctor --json` for scriptable diagnostics.
+
 ## v0.9.3
 
 Cleanup release.
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9bf4c13..92cb673 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 BINARY     := ./bin/photoscli
 MODULE     := gitea.k3s.k0.nu/tools/photocli
-VERSION    := 0.9.3
+VERSION    := 0.9.4
 RELEASE_ZIP := ./bin/photoscli-$(VERSION)-macos-arm64.zip
 RELEASE_NOTES := RELEASE_NOTES.md
 BRIDGE_DIR := bridge
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5f95381..b54dc90 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ Verify a backup later:
 ./bin/photoscli verify --out ./photos-backup --deep
 ./bin/photoscli manifest repair --out ./photos-backup --checksum sha256 --dry-run
 ./bin/photoscli cleanup --out ./photos-backup --dry-run
+./bin/photoscli doctor --out ./photos-backup
 ```
 
 ## Commands
diff --git a/RELEASE_NOTES.md b/RELEASE_NOTES.md
index 99b9e2c..696ae36 100644
--- a/RELEASE_NOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASE_NOTES.md
@@ -1,18 +1,18 @@
-# v0.9.3
+# v0.9.4
 
-This release adds safe cleanup for manifest-backed backups.
+This release adds `doctor` diagnostics for Photos access and backups.
 
 ## Highlights
 
-- Add `cleanup --out <dir>` to remove files not referenced by the manifest.
-- Add `cleanup --dry-run` to preview orphaned files before deletion.
-- Preserve manifest/log/failure files, `.photoscli`, and sidecars for manifest-referenced media.
-- Cleanup works with JSONL and SQLite manifests.
+- Add `doctor` to check Photos access.
+- Add `doctor --out <dir>` to report backup directory, manifest entries, and failure count.
+- Add `doctor --json` for scriptable diagnostics.
+- `doctor` is read-only and does not modify backup data.
 
 ## Assets
 
 - `photoscli`: Apple Silicon macOS binary (`darwin/arm64`).
-- `photoscli-0.9.3-macos-arm64.zip`: Apple Silicon binary plus README, USERGUIDE, and CHANGELOG.
+- `photoscli-0.9.4-macos-arm64.zip`: Apple Silicon binary plus README, USERGUIDE, and CHANGELOG.
 - `USERGUIDE.md`: standalone user guide.
 
 Intel Macs are not currently a supported release target.
diff --git a/USERGUIDE.md b/USERGUIDE.md
index ec7f12d..5548da4 100644
--- a/USERGUIDE.md
+++ b/USERGUIDE.md
@@ -856,6 +856,16 @@ Preview and remove files not referenced by the manifest:
 
 Cleanup preserves manifest/log/failure files, `.photoscli`, and sidecars next to manifest-referenced media.
 
+Run read-only diagnostics:
+
+```bash
+./bin/photoscli doctor
+./bin/photoscli doctor --out ./PhotosBackup
+./bin/photoscli doctor --out ./PhotosBackup --json
+```
+
+Doctor checks Photos access and, when `--out` is provided, backup directory status, manifest entries, and failure count.
+
 ## Safe Operating Practices
 
 - Run `--dry-run` before the first large backup.
diff --git a/cmd/photoscli/main.go b/cmd/photoscli/main.go
index f5ac17f..90e3454 100644
--- a/cmd/photoscli/main.go
+++ b/cmd/photoscli/main.go
@@ -97,6 +97,8 @@ func run(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer, bridge photos.Bridge) int {
 		return cmdManifest(args[1:], stdout, stderr)
 	case "cleanup":
 		return cmdCleanup(args[1:], stdout, stderr)
+	case "doctor":
+		return cmdDoctor(args[1:], stdout, stderr, bridge)
 	case "retry-failed":
 		return cmdRetryFailed(args[1:], stdout, stderr, bridge)
 	case "failures":
@@ -144,6 +146,7 @@ USAGE
   photoscli verify --out <dir> [--manifest jsonl|sqlite]
   photoscli manifest repair --out <dir> [--manifest jsonl|sqlite] [--checksum sha256] [--dry-run]
   photoscli cleanup --out <dir> [--manifest jsonl|sqlite] [--dry-run]
+  photoscli doctor [--out <dir>] [--manifest jsonl|sqlite] [--json]
   photoscli retry-failed --out <dir>
   photoscli retry-failed --out <dir> --clear-on-success
   photoscli failures list --out <dir>
@@ -195,6 +198,9 @@ COMMANDS
   cleanup --out <dir> [--manifest jsonl|sqlite] [--dry-run]
       Remove files not referenced by the manifest. Use --dry-run first.
 
+  doctor [--out <dir>] [--manifest jsonl|sqlite] [--json]
+      Check Photos access and optional backup/manifest health without changing data.
+
   retry-failed --out <dir>
       Retry assets previously written to failures.jsonl.
 
@@ -2396,6 +2402,64 @@ func verifySidecar(stdout io.Writer, outDir, id, checkPath string, strict bool)
 	return 0
 }
 
+func cmdDoctor(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer, bridge photos.Bridge) int {
+	result := map[string]any{"photos_access": "ok"}
+	problems := 0
+	if rc := mustAuth(stderr, bridge); rc != exitOK {
+		result["photos_access"] = "denied"
+		problems++
+	}
+	outDir := flagVal(args, "--out")
+	if outDir != "" {
+		result["out"] = outDir
+		if info, err := statFunc(outDir); err != nil || !info.IsDir() {
+			result["backup_dir"] = "missing"
+			problems++
+		} else {
+			result["backup_dir"] = "ok"
+			mf, err := manifest.ParseFormat(flagValWithDefault(args, "--manifest", "jsonl"))
+			if err != nil {
+				fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "error: %v\n", err)
+				return exitErr
+			}
+			entries, err := loadManifestEntries(outDir, mf)
+			if err != nil {
+				result["manifest"] = "error"
+				problems++
+			} else {
+				result["manifest"] = string(mf)
+				result["entries"] = len(entries)
+			}
+			failures := loadFailures(outDir)
+			result["failures"] = len(failures)
+			if len(failures) > 0 {
+				problems++
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if hasFlag(args, "--json") {
+		result["problems"] = problems
+		if err := json.NewEncoder(stdout).Encode(result); err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(stderr, "error: %v\n", err)
+			return exitErr
+		}
+	} else {
+		keys := make([]string, 0, len(result))
+		for k := range result {
+			keys = append(keys, k)
+		}
+		sort.Strings(keys)
+		for _, k := range keys {
+			fmt.Fprintf(stdout, "%s\t%v\n", k, result[k])
+		}
+		fmt.Fprintf(stdout, "problems\t%d\n", problems)
+	}
+	if problems > 0 {
+		return exitPartial
+	}
+	return exitOK
+}
+
 func cmdCleanup(args []string, stdout, stderr io.Writer) int {
 	outDir := flagVal(args, "--out")
 	if outDir == "" {
diff --git a/cmd/photoscli/main_test.go b/cmd/photoscli/main_test.go
index bf77ef4..ce442ee 100644
--- a/cmd/photoscli/main_test.go
+++ b/cmd/photoscli/main_test.go
@@ -4506,6 +4506,53 @@ func TestCleanupErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestDoctor(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	m := manifest.LoadJSONL(dir)
+	if err := m.OpenAppend(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	m.AddEntry(manifest.Entry{ID: "x1", Filename: "photo.jpg", Path: "photo.jpg", Size: 4, Cloud: "local", Exported: time.Now().Unix()})
+	m.Close()
+	out, stderr, rc := runWith([]string{"doctor", "--out", dir}, &mockBridge{})
+	if rc != exitOK || !strings.Contains(stderr, "access granted") || !strings.Contains(out, "backup_dir\tok") || !strings.Contains(out, "entries\t1") || !strings.Contains(out, "problems\t0") {
+		t.Fatalf("doctor rc=%d out=%q stderr=%q", rc, out, stderr)
+	}
+	out, stderr, rc = runWith([]string{"doctor", "--out", dir, "--json"}, &mockBridge{})
+	if rc != exitOK || !strings.Contains(out, `"entries":1`) || !strings.Contains(out, `"problems":0`) {
+		t.Fatalf("doctor json rc=%d out=%q stderr=%q", rc, out, stderr)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDoctorProblems(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	appendFailure(dir, pendingAsset{asset: photos.Asset{ID: "x1", Filename: "photo.jpg"}}, fmt.Errorf("failed"))
+	out, stderr, rc := runWith([]string{"doctor", "--out", dir}, &mockBridge{accessErr: fmt.Errorf("denied")})
+	if rc != exitPartial || !strings.Contains(stderr, "denied") || !strings.Contains(out, "photos_access\tdenied") || !strings.Contains(out, "failures\t1") {
+		t.Fatalf("doctor problems rc=%d out=%q stderr=%q", rc, out, stderr)
+	}
+	_, stderr, rc = runWith([]string{"doctor", "--out", dir, "--manifest", "bad"}, &mockBridge{})
+	if rc != exitErr || !strings.Contains(stderr, "manifest") {
+		t.Fatalf("doctor bad manifest rc=%d stderr=%q", rc, stderr)
+	}
+	out, stderr, rc = runWith([]string{"doctor", "--out", filepath.Join(dir, "missing")}, &mockBridge{})
+	if rc != exitPartial || !strings.Contains(out, "backup_dir\tmissing") {
+		t.Fatalf("doctor missing dir rc=%d out=%q stderr=%q", rc, out, stderr)
+	}
+	badDBDir := t.TempDir()
+	if err := os.WriteFile(manifest.SQLitePath(badDBDir), []byte("not sqlite"), 0644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	out, stderr, rc = runWith([]string{"doctor", "--out", badDBDir, "--manifest", "sqlite"}, &mockBridge{})
+	if rc != exitPartial || !strings.Contains(out, "manifest\terror") {
+		t.Fatalf("doctor manifest error rc=%d out=%q stderr=%q", rc, out, stderr)
+	}
+	stderrBuf := &bytes.Buffer{}
+	if rc := cmdDoctor([]string{"--json"}, errWriter{}, stderrBuf, &mockBridge{}); rc != exitErr || !strings.Contains(stderrBuf.String(), "error:") {
+		t.Fatalf("doctor json writer error rc=%d stderr=%q", rc, stderrBuf.String())
+	}
+}
+
 func TestVerifySidecarBranches(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	subdir := filepath.Join(dir, "sub")