diff --git a/.github/workflows/windows_release.yml b/.github/workflows/windows_release.yml
index 0b40e1e..bcecc60 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/windows_release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/windows_release.yml
@@ -37,10 +37,26 @@ jobs:
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
           python -m pip install "conan>=2,<3"
           conan --version
-          # Fresh runners have no default profile; host==build for MSVC.
-          if (-not (Test-Path "$env:USERPROFILE\.conan2\profiles\default")) {
-            conan profile detect --force
-          }
+          # Fresh runners: detect MSVC (windows-latest is currently 195 / VS 18).
+          conan profile detect --force
+          $default = Join-Path $env:USERPROFILE ".conan2\profiles\default"
+          $verLine = Select-String -Path $default -Pattern 'compiler.version=' | Select-Object -First 1
+          $msvcVer = ($verLine.Line -split '=')[1].Trim()
+          if (-not $msvcVer) { throw "could not read compiler.version from default profile" }
+          # Host profile matching the runner (repo win-x86_64 still pins 194 for local Tower).
+          $p = Join-Path $env:USERPROFILE ".conan2\profiles\win-ci"
+          @"
+          [settings]
+          arch=x86_64
+          build_type=Release
+          compiler=msvc
+          compiler.cppstd=23
+          compiler.runtime=dynamic
+          compiler.version=$msvcVer
+          os=Windows
+          "@.Trim() | Set-Content -Path $p -Encoding ascii
+          Write-Host "win-ci MSVC version=$msvcVer"
+          Get-Content $p
 
       - name: Resolve version
         id: ver
@@ -61,7 +77,9 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build Windows x86_64
         shell: cmd
         run: |
-          call windowsinstall\conan_init_x86_64.bat
+          call .\conan\export_libs.bat
+          if errorlevel 1 exit /b 1
+          conan install . -of=build-x86_64 --build=missing -pr:h=win-ci -pr:b=default
           if errorlevel 1 exit /b 1
           call windowsinstall\build_x86_64.bat
           if errorlevel 1 exit /b 1
diff --git a/docs/windows-runner.md b/docs/windows-runner.md
index b0d7bbe..3e6e551 100644
--- a/docs/windows-runner.md
+++ b/docs/windows-runner.md
@@ -13,10 +13,14 @@ File: `.github/workflows/windows_release.yml`
 | | |
 |---|---|
 | Trigger | every push to `main`, plus `workflow_dispatch` |
-| Runner | `windows-latest` (GitHub-hosted) |
-| Build | `windowsinstall/conan_init_x86_64.bat` + `build_x86_64.bat` |
+| Runner | `windows-latest` (GitHub-hosted, MSVC ~195) |
+| Build | Conan profile `win-ci` (detected) + `windowsinstall/build_x86_64.bat` |
 | Output | prerelease tag **`windows-continuous`** with a portable zip |
 
+Local Tower Windows can keep using `windowsinstall/conan_init_x86_64.bat`
+(`conan/profiles/win-x86_64`, MSVC 194). CI generates a `win-ci` profile for
+whatever MSVC `windows-latest` ships.
+
 ## GitHub remote
 
 Recommended remote name: `github`
diff --git a/linuxinstall/install-local.sh b/linuxinstall/install-local.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..36f51ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/linuxinstall/install-local.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Install a built InfiniPaint binary from this repo into ~/.local
+set -euo pipefail
+ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)"
+BIN="${1:-$ROOT/build/Release/infinipaint}"
+PREFIX="${HOME}/.local"
+APPDIR="${PREFIX}/share/infinipaint"
+
+[[ -x "$BIN" ]] || { echo "missing binary: $BIN" >&2; exit 1; }
+
+mkdir -p "$APPDIR" "${PREFIX}/bin" "${PREFIX}/share/applications"
+install -m755 "$BIN" "${APPDIR}/infinipaint"
+rm -rf "${APPDIR}/data"
+cp -a "${ROOT}/assets/data" "${APPDIR}/data"
+ln -sfn "${APPDIR}/infinipaint" "${PREFIX}/bin/infinipaint"
+
+cat > "${PREFIX}/share/applications/com.infinipaint.infinipaint-fork.desktop" <<EOF
+[Desktop Entry]
+Name=InfiniPaint (fork)
+Comment=Infinite collaborative canvas (copilot fork)
+Exec=${PREFIX}/bin/infinipaint
+Icon=com.infinipaint.infinipaint
+Terminal=false
+Type=Application
+Categories=Graphics;
+EOF
+
+echo "Installed: ${PREFIX}/bin/infinipaint"
+# GUI binary may abort without a working GL context; do not fail install.
+"${PREFIX}/bin/infinipaint" --version >/dev/null 2>&1 || true