diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 0cdac6d89..33b20b217 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -73,3 +73,18 @@ package-lock.json
 # Generated extension bridges (created by scripts/generate-ext-bridge.mjs)
 electron/extensions/_ext-bridge.generated.ts
 src/extensions/_ext-bridge.generated.ts
+
+# Allow committing release binaries when explicitly staged under artifacts/releases/.
+!artifacts/
+artifacts/**
+!artifacts/releases/
+!artifacts/releases/**
+!artifacts/releases/**/*.exe
+!artifacts/releases/**/*.msi
+!artifacts/releases/**/*.zip
+!artifacts/releases/**/*.yml
+!artifacts/releases/**/*.blockmap
+!artifacts/releases/**/*.dmg
+!artifacts/releases/**/*.AppImage
+!artifacts/releases/**/*.deb
+!artifacts/releases/**/*.rpm
diff --git a/RELEASING.md b/RELEASING.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9b30f0ea9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/RELEASING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+# DeskClaw — Windows Builds (Installer / Portable)
+
+This repository tracks source code. If you explicitly want Windows binaries committed into git, stage them under `artifacts/releases/win/`.
+
+## Build on Windows
+
+```powershell
+corepack enable
+corepack prepare pnpm@10.31.0 --activate
+pnpm run init
+pnpm run package:win
+node scripts/stage-release-artifacts.mjs --platform=win
+git add artifacts/releases/win
+git commit -m "chore(release): add windows artifacts"
+git push
+```
+
+## Notes
+
+- `package:win` outputs to `release/` (gitignored).
+- `stage-release-artifacts.mjs` copies files from `release/` into `artifacts/releases/win/` and writes a `manifest.json`.
+- Committing binaries will significantly increase repo size; prefer Releases if possible.
+
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 9c39b4fea..f9093721e 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@
         "package:mac": "pnpm run package && electron-builder --mac --publish never",
         "package:mac:local": "SKIP_PREINSTALLED_SKILLS=1 pnpm run package && electron-builder --mac --publish never",
         "package:win": "pnpm run prep:win-binaries && pnpm run package && electron-builder --win --publish never",
+        "stage:artifacts:win": "node scripts/stage-release-artifacts.mjs --platform=win",
+        "package:win:artifacts": "pnpm run package:win && pnpm run stage:artifacts:win",
         "package:linux": "pnpm run package && electron-builder --linux --publish never",
         "release": "pnpm run uv:download && pnpm run package && electron-builder --publish always",
         "version": "node scripts/assert-release-version.mjs",
diff --git a/scripts/stage-release-artifacts.mjs b/scripts/stage-release-artifacts.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..706cb24d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/stage-release-artifacts.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+import { mkdir, readdir, rm, copyFile, stat, writeFile } from 'node:fs/promises'
+import { join, resolve } from 'node:path'
+
+function parseArgs(argv) {
+  const args = {}
+  for (const raw of argv.slice(2)) {
+    if (!raw.startsWith('--')) continue
+    const [k, v] = raw.slice(2).split('=')
+    args[k] = v ?? true
+  }
+  return args
+}
+
+async function exists(p) {
+  try {
+    await stat(p)
+    return true
+  } catch {
+    return false
+  }
+}
+
+async function main() {
+  const args = parseArgs(process.argv)
+  const platform = typeof args.platform === 'string' ? args.platform : 'unknown'
+
+  const repoRoot = resolve(process.cwd())
+  const fromDir = join(repoRoot, 'release')
+  const toDir = join(repoRoot, 'artifacts', 'releases', platform)
+
+  if (!(await exists(fromDir))) {
+    throw new Error(`Missing release/ directory at: ${fromDir}`)
+  }
+
+  await mkdir(toDir, { recursive: true })
+
+  const entries = await readdir(fromDir)
+  const copied = []
+
+  for (const name of entries) {
+    const src = join(fromDir, name)
+    const st = await stat(src)
+    if (!st.isFile()) continue
+
+    const dst = join(toDir, name)
+    await copyFile(src, dst)
+    copied.push({ name, size: st.size })
+  }
+
+  const manifest = {
+    platform,
+    sourceDir: 'release',
+    destDir: `artifacts/releases/${platform}`,
+    files: copied.sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name)),
+    createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+  }
+
+  await writeFile(join(toDir, 'manifest.json'), JSON.stringify(manifest, null, 2), 'utf8')
+  await rm(fromDir, { recursive: true, force: true })
+}
+
+main().catch((err) => {
+  console.error(err)
+  process.exit(1)
+})
+