diff --git a/apps/business/src/components/OrderStepModal.module.css b/apps/business/src/components/OrderStepModal.module.css
index d8fb243..195e0aa 100644
--- a/apps/business/src/components/OrderStepModal.module.css
+++ b/apps/business/src/components/OrderStepModal.module.css
@@ -5,6 +5,17 @@
   margin-bottom: 4px;
 }
 
+.paymentHint {
+  margin: 0 0 12px;
+  padding: 10px 12px;
+  border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
+  background: rgba(var(--primary-rgb) / 0.06);
+  border: 1px solid rgba(var(--primary-rgb) / 0.18);
+  color: var(--text-muted);
+  font-size: 13px;
+  line-height: 1.45;
+}
+
 .stepOption {
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
diff --git a/apps/business/src/components/OrderStepModal.tsx b/apps/business/src/components/OrderStepModal.tsx
index 91a5683..e7c715f 100644
--- a/apps/business/src/components/OrderStepModal.tsx
+++ b/apps/business/src/components/OrderStepModal.tsx
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ import { useToast } from '../context/ToastContext'
 import { useT } from '../i18n/useT'
 import { ApiError } from '../lib/api'
 import { updateOrder, type Order } from '../services/orderService'
-import type { OrderProcessStep } from '../services/settingsService'
+import {
+  isSystemPaymentProcessStep,
+  type OrderProcessStep,
+} from '../services/settingsService'
 import { defaultStepColorForId, normalizeStepColor, stepBadgeStyle } from '../utils/stepColors'
 import modalStyles from './VariationsModal.module.css'
 import styles from './OrderStepModal.module.css'
@@ -71,6 +74,7 @@ export function OrderStepModal({
 
   async function handleSelectStep(stepId: string) {
     if (!order || savingStepId) return
+    if (isSystemPaymentProcessStep(stepId)) return
 
     if (stepId === order.processStepId) {
       onClose()
@@ -104,6 +108,8 @@ export function OrderStepModal({
     order.processStepLabel?.trim() ||
     currentStep?.label ||
     order.processStepId
+  const selectableSteps = steps.filter((step) => !isSystemPaymentProcessStep(step.id))
+  const paymentIsCurrent = isSystemPaymentProcessStep(order.processStepId)
 
   return createPortal(
     <div
@@ -151,8 +157,12 @@ export function OrderStepModal({
             </div>
           )}
 
+          {paymentIsCurrent && (
+            <p className={styles.paymentHint}>{t('orderStep.paymentHint')}</p>
+          )}
+
           <div className={styles.stepList} role="listbox" aria-label={t('orderStep.listAria')}>
-            {steps.map((step, index) => {
+            {selectableSteps.map((step, index) => {
               const selected = order.processStepId === step.id
               const saving = savingStepId === step.id
               const color = normalizeStepColor(step.color, defaultStepColorForId(step.id, index))
@@ -178,7 +188,7 @@ export function OrderStepModal({
             })}
           </div>
 
-          {!steps.length && (
+          {!selectableSteps.length && (
             <p className={styles.emptyText}>{t('orderStep.empty')}</p>
           )}
         </div>
diff --git a/apps/business/src/i18n/messages.ts b/apps/business/src/i18n/messages.ts
index 6b1d557..4f168df 100644
--- a/apps/business/src/i18n/messages.ts
+++ b/apps/business/src/i18n/messages.ts
@@ -1270,6 +1270,8 @@ const en = {
   'orderStep.empty': 'No order steps configured. Add steps in Store settings first.',
   'orderStep.updated': 'Order {orderNumber} step updated.',
   'orderStep.error': 'Unable to update order step.',
+  'orderStep.paymentHint':
+    'Payment status is set automatically by the payment gateway. Choose a fulfillment step below.',
 
   'orderItems.title': 'Order items',
   'orderItems.customer': 'Customer',
@@ -4143,6 +4145,8 @@ const fa: Record<MessageKey, string> = {
   'orderStep.empty': 'وضعیتی تعریف نشده است. ابتدا در تنظیمات فروشگاه وضعیت‌ها را اضافه کنید.',
   'orderStep.updated': 'وضعیت سفارش {orderNumber} به‌روزرسانی شد.',
   'orderStep.error': 'به‌روزرسانی وضعیت سفارش ممکن نشد.',
+  'orderStep.paymentHint':
+    'وضعیت پرداخت فقط توسط درگاه پرداخت به‌صورت خودکار تنظیم می‌شود. یکی از وضعیت‌های آماده‌سازی را انتخاب کنید.',
 
   'orderItems.title': 'اقلام سفارش',
   'orderItems.customer': 'مشتری',
diff --git a/apps/business/src/services/settingsService.ts b/apps/business/src/services/settingsService.ts
index fdd87f7..10c338f 100644
--- a/apps/business/src/services/settingsService.ts
+++ b/apps/business/src/services/settingsService.ts
@@ -146,6 +146,16 @@ export interface SettingsResponse {
   settings: BusinessSettings
 }
 
+/** Set by payment gateway only — not selectable in admin status change. */
+export const SYSTEM_PAYMENT_PROCESS_STEP_IDS = [
+  'awaiting-payment',
+  'payment-successful',
+] as const
+
+export function isSystemPaymentProcessStep(stepId: string): boolean {
+  return (SYSTEM_PAYMENT_PROCESS_STEP_IDS as readonly string[]).includes(stepId)
+}
+
 export const DEFAULT_ORDER_PROCESS_STEPS: OrderProcessStep[] = [
   {
     id: 'awaiting-payment',