diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-desktop.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-desktop.yml
index 54f22c7ce7..87705c9a1c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-desktop.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-desktop.yml
@@ -155,8 +155,22 @@ jobs:
           #     → notarytool authentication for the notarization upload
           # When the secrets aren't set (forks, local), electron-builder
           # silently produces an unsigned build.
-          CSC_LINK: ${{ secrets.CSC_LINK }}
-          CSC_KEY_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.CSC_KEY_PASSWORD }}
+          #
+          # CSC_LINK / CSC_KEY_PASSWORD MUST stay scoped to the mac legs.
+          # Despite the name used here, CSC_LINK is electron-builder's
+          # cross-platform certificate variable: WinPackager falls back to it
+          # whenever WIN_CSC_LINK is unset, via
+          # platformPackager.getCscLink("WIN_CSC_LINK"). Handing the Apple
+          # Developer ID .p12 to the windows leg made electron-builder read its
+          # subject and write `publisherName: Developer ID Application: ...`
+          # into app-update.yml, so every Windows client rejected the update it
+          # had just downloaded with "New version is not signed by the
+          # application owner". Empty string is the documented "no certificate"
+          # value — WindowsSignToolManager treats `cscLink === ""` exactly like
+          # unset. The APPLE_* vars below need no such guard: they are only
+          # read by notarytool on darwin and are inert elsewhere.
+          CSC_LINK: ${{ matrix.platform == 'mac' && secrets.CSC_LINK || '' }}
+          CSC_KEY_PASSWORD: ${{ matrix.platform == 'mac' && secrets.CSC_KEY_PASSWORD || '' }}
           APPLE_API_KEY: ${{ env.APPLE_API_KEY_PATH }}
           APPLE_API_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.APPLE_API_KEY_ID }}
           APPLE_API_ISSUER: ${{ secrets.APPLE_API_ISSUER }}
diff --git a/apps/desktop/electron-builder.config.ts b/apps/desktop/electron-builder.config.ts
index 2766833954..831b92a5a8 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/electron-builder.config.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/electron-builder.config.ts
@@ -46,6 +46,27 @@ const config: Configuration = {
   // artifact only exists once a leg stages an arm64 executor for it.
   win: {
     target: ["nsis"],
+    // There is no Windows code-signing certificate yet, so these installers
+    // ship unsigned, and this flag records that fact for the updater.
+    //
+    // Left at its `true` default, electron-builder writes a `publisherName`
+    // into app-update.yml derived from the signing certificate's subject CN
+    // (PublishManager.getAppUpdatePublishConfiguration, gated on
+    // WinPackager.isForceCodeSigningVerification). electron-updater then
+    // requires every downloaded installer to carry an Authenticode signature
+    // matching that name and refuses the update otherwise
+    // (NsisUpdater.verifySignature). An unsigned build that still claims a
+    // publisher can therefore never update itself.
+    //
+    // With this false no `publisherName` is emitted, `verifySignature`
+    // returns null early, and unsigned installers update as intended. It does
+    // not disable signing: `isForceCodeSigningVerification` is only ever read
+    // when computing the updater manifest.
+    //
+    // Delete this line when a real Windows certificate lands (signtoolOptions
+    // or azureSignOptions); leaving it would keep verification off for a
+    // signed build.
+    verifyUpdateCodeSignature: false,
   },
   nsis: {
     oneClick: true,