diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 71b5795d..2b98c9c4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -31,11 +31,22 @@ OpenJarvis is that stack. It is a framework for local-first personal AI, built a
 
 ## Installation
 
+**macOS / Linux:**
+
 ```bash
 curl -fsSL https://openjarvis.ai/install.sh | bash
 ```
 
-> **If you see `sslv3 alert handshake failure` on `openjarvis.ai`** ([issue #337](https://github.com/open-jarvis/OpenJarvis/issues/337)), use the GitHub mirror until the domain is restored:
+**Windows:** the installer is a `bash` script and won't run in PowerShell or `cmd`. Pick one of:
+
+- **WSL2 (recommended for the CLI / Python SDK)** — one-time setup in an admin PowerShell, then run the same `curl … | bash` inside Ubuntu:
+  ```powershell
+  wsl --install -d Ubuntu-24.04
+  ```
+  Open the Ubuntu shell that gets installed, then follow [WSL2 install instructions](https://open-jarvis.github.io/OpenJarvis/getting-started/wsl2/).
+- **Desktop app** — download the `.exe` from the [Releases page](https://github.com/open-jarvis/OpenJarvis/releases) for the GUI experience, no terminal required.
+
+> **If `curl` fails on `openjarvis.ai` with `sslv3 alert handshake failure`** ([issue #337](https://github.com/open-jarvis/OpenJarvis/issues/337)), use the GitHub mirror until the domain is restored:
 >
 > ```bash
 > curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-jarvis/OpenJarvis/main/scripts/install/install.sh | bash
@@ -51,7 +62,7 @@ jarvis
 
 The Rust extension and bigger models continue downloading in the background while you chat. Run `jarvis doctor` to see status.
 
-**Platforms:** macOS (Intel + Apple Silicon), Linux, WSL2 on Windows.
+**Platforms:** macOS (Intel + Apple Silicon), Linux, WSL2 on Windows. Native Windows is not supported — use WSL2 or the desktop binary.
 
 **Manual install / contributors:** see [docs/getting-started/install.md](docs/getting-started/install.md).
 
diff --git a/frontend/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/frontend/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index 5108979d..5643640f 100644
--- a/frontend/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/frontend/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -495,14 +495,33 @@ async fn boot_backend(backend: SharedBackend, status: SharedStatus) {
 
     let uv_bin = resolve_bin("uv");
 
-    // Verify uv is actually installed
+    // Verify uv is actually installed. Concrete per-OS instructions —
+    // the generic "install it from astral.sh" was the #1 source of
+    // confusion on the Discord support thread; users couldn't tell whether
+    // to use winget, scoop, pip, or the official installer.
     if !std::path::Path::new(&uv_bin).exists() && uv_bin == "uv" {
         let mut s = status.lock().await;
-        s.error = Some(
-            "Could not find 'uv' (Python package manager). \
-             Install it from https://astral.sh/uv then relaunch."
-                .into(),
-        );
+        #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+        let msg = "Could not find 'uv' (Python package manager). \
+                   To install on Windows, open PowerShell and run:\n\n\
+                   powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -c \"irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex\"\n\n\
+                   Then close and relaunch this app. \
+                   (If the install completes but the app still can't find uv, \
+                   you may need to log out and back in so PATH refreshes.)";
+        #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+        let msg = "Could not find 'uv' (Python package manager). \
+                   To install on macOS, open Terminal and run:\n\n\
+                   curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh\n\n\
+                   Then relaunch this app.";
+        #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+        let msg = "Could not find 'uv' (Python package manager). \
+                   To install on Linux, open a terminal and run:\n\n\
+                   curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh\n\n\
+                   Then relaunch this app.";
+        #[cfg(not(any(target_os = "windows", target_os = "macos", target_os = "linux")))]
+        let msg = "Could not find 'uv' (Python package manager). \
+                   Install it from https://astral.sh/uv then relaunch.";
+        s.error = Some(msg.into());
         return;
     }
 
diff --git a/scripts/install/install.sh b/scripts/install/install.sh
index 2fa0d0d9..ef3c4041 100755
--- a/scripts/install/install.sh
+++ b/scripts/install/install.sh
@@ -29,6 +29,40 @@ for arg in "$@"; do
     esac
 done
 
+# ---- non-WSL Windows refusal ----
+# Running the installer in Git Bash / MSYS2 / Cygwin on native Windows
+# (i.e. NOT inside WSL2) gets the user into a confusing failure state:
+# uv/git tooling installs to Windows paths the rest of OpenJarvis can't
+# reach, and Ollama integration silently breaks. The supported Windows
+# path is WSL2. Bail early with a clear next step rather than letting
+# users discover this 3 minutes into a doomed install.
+case "$(uname -s 2>/dev/null)" in
+    MINGW*|MSYS*|CYGWIN*)
+        cat >&2 <<'EOF'
+install.sh: native Windows (Git Bash / MSYS2 / Cygwin) is not supported.
+
+OpenJarvis runs on Windows via WSL2. Two paths:
+
+  1. WSL2 (recommended for the CLI). One-time setup in an admin PowerShell:
+
+       wsl --install -d Ubuntu-24.04
+
+     Open the Ubuntu shell that gets installed, then re-run:
+
+       curl -fsSL https://openjarvis.ai/install.sh | bash
+
+     (or the github mirror — see README if openjarvis.ai is down.)
+
+  2. Desktop app — download the .exe from the Releases page:
+     https://github.com/open-jarvis/OpenJarvis/releases
+
+See the WSL2 install guide for the full walkthrough:
+  https://open-jarvis.github.io/OpenJarvis/getting-started/wsl2/
+EOF
+        exit 1
+        ;;
+esac
+
 # ---- root refusal ----
 if [[ "$(id -u)" -eq 0 ]]; then
     cat >&2 <<'EOF'