diff --git a/bot.py b/bot.py
index b24efe2..88100e2 100644
--- a/bot.py
+++ b/bot.py
@@ -2413,25 +2413,24 @@ class Bot:
 
         await self._load_room_settings(room.room_id)
 
-        # In DMs respond to all files; in groups only if bot was recently @mentioned
+        # In DMs respond to all files; in groups, silently ingest (respond only if mentioned)
         is_dm = room.member_count == 2
+        group_mentioned = False
         if not is_dm:
             body = (event.body or "").strip()
             bot_display = self.client.user_id.split(":")[0].lstrip("@")
-            # Also match display name (e.g. 'Claude') since Element uses it in mentions
             bot_displayname = (getattr(self, '_display_name', '') or bot_display).lower()
             body_lower = body.lower()
-            mentioned = (
+            group_mentioned = (
                 BOT_USER in body
                 or f"@{bot_display}" in body_lower
                 or bot_display.lower() in body_lower
                 or bot_displayname in body_lower
             )
-            if not mentioned:
-                return
 
         if not self.llm:
-            await self._send_text(room.room_id, "LLM not configured (LITELLM_BASE_URL not set).")
+            if is_dm or group_mentioned:
+                await self._send_text(room.room_id, "LLM not configured (LITELLM_BASE_URL not set).")
             return
 
         # Download file
@@ -2497,6 +2496,11 @@ class Bot:
             del docs[:-5]
 
         label = "PDF" if is_pdf else "Word document" if is_docx else "file"
+
+        # In group rooms without mention, silently ingest — respond on next @mention
+        if not is_dm and not group_mentioned:
+            logger.info("Silently ingested %s in group room %s", filename, room.room_id)
+            return
         user_message = f'The user sent a {label} named "{filename}". Here is the extracted text:\n\n{extracted}\n\nPlease summarize or answer questions about this document.'
 
         await self.client.room_typing(room.room_id, typing_state=True)
@@ -2536,14 +2540,12 @@ class Bot:
             # Also match display name (e.g. 'Claude') since Element uses it in mentions
             bot_displayname = (getattr(self, '_display_name', '') or bot_display).lower()
             body_lower = body.lower()
-            mentioned = (
+            group_mentioned = (
                 BOT_USER in body
                 or f"@{bot_display}" in body_lower
                 or bot_display.lower() in body_lower
                 or bot_displayname in body_lower
             )
-            if not mentioned:
-                return
 
         if not self.llm:
             await self._send_text(room.room_id, "LLM not configured (LITELLM_BASE_URL not set).")
@@ -2608,6 +2610,11 @@ class Bot:
             del docs[:-5]
 
         label = "PDF" if is_pdf else "Word document" if is_docx else "file"
+
+        # In group rooms without mention, silently ingest — respond on next @mention
+        if not is_dm and not group_mentioned:
+            logger.info("Silently ingested encrypted %s in group room %s", filename, room.room_id)
+            return
         user_message = f'The user sent a {label} named "{filename}". Here is the extracted text:\n\n{extracted}\n\nPlease summarize or answer questions about this document.'
 
         await self.client.room_typing(room.room_id, typing_state=True)