diff --git a/apps/maple-agent/docs/desktop-builds.md b/apps/maple-agent/docs/desktop-builds.md
index 32c416a81..a6896c0fb 100644
--- a/apps/maple-agent/docs/desktop-builds.md
+++ b/apps/maple-agent/docs/desktop-builds.md
@@ -131,7 +131,17 @@ application directory at `~/.local/maple-agent.app` (Dev:
 `~/.local/maple-agent-dev.app`), a command in `~/.local/bin`, and a desktop entry.
 Python 3 is required for initial installation only. First install
 refuses existing installation or integration paths; subsequent upgrades use the
-application's updater. Its `AppRun` entrypoint starts the
+application's updater. After installation, open Activities / Show Applications
+and search for **Maple Work** (or **Maple Work Dev**); that entry can be pinned
+to the dock. The download includes `README.txt` with these instructions.
+
+On Ubuntu/GNOME, do not double-click `AppRun` or try to open it inside File Roller
+(Archive Manager). Extract the entire archive first, then run `install.sh` from
+a terminal as shown above. `AppRun` is a shell script, not a desktop launcher;
+GNOME Files need not execute it on double-click. There is no need to change file
+associations or script-execution security settings. For a portable launch without
+installing, run `./maple-agent.app/AppRun` from a terminal (Dev:
+`./maple-agent-dev.app/AppRun`). Its `AppRun` entrypoint starts the
 bundled executable and runtime directly, without an AppImage mount or FUSE.
 The host must provide its normal CA certificate trust store for TLS validation;
 existing user certificate-path overrides remain supported. The isolated CI
diff --git a/apps/maple-agent/scripts/linux-bundle-README.txt b/apps/maple-agent/scripts/linux-bundle-README.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..403b14b74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/maple-agent/scripts/linux-bundle-README.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+Maple Work for Linux
+====================
+
+Install once, then launch from your desktop's application menu.
+
+1. Extract the entire .tar.gz archive. Do not open AppRun inside Archive Manager
+   (File Roller): files inside the archive cannot be launched there.
+2. Open a terminal in the extracted application folder (the folder containing
+   this README.txt and install.sh), then run:
+
+       ./install.sh
+
+   Run as your normal desktop user, without sudo. Python 3 is required for
+   installation. If extracting in a terminal, use tar -xzpf ARCHIVE.tar.gz to
+   preserve the required file permissions.
+3. Open Activities / Show Applications and search for Maple Work (or Maple Work
+   Dev for a Dev bundle). Pin that application to your dock if desired.
+
+The installer copies the application into ~/.local and creates its application
+menu entry. Keep the extracted folder intact until installation completes; after
+that, the installed copy does not depend on the download folder.
+
+AppRun is a terminal entrypoint, not a double-click launcher. GNOME Files may
+open shell scripts instead of executing them; this does not mean Maple Work is
+unsupported. Do not change your system's file associations or script-execution
+security settings. To run without installing, use ./AppRun from a terminal in
+this extracted folder.
+
+Already installed? Launch Maple Work from the application menu and use its
+built-in updater. The first-install helper refuses to overwrite an existing
+installation and leaves account, settings and task data untouched.
diff --git a/apps/maple-agent/scripts/linux-install.py b/apps/maple-agent/scripts/linux-install.py
index db8c221d8..b3dd35e6c 100644
--- a/apps/maple-agent/scripts/linux-install.py
+++ b/apps/maple-agent/scripts/linux-install.py
@@ -254,7 +254,9 @@ def main():
              "unsafe installer lock")
         fcntl.flock(lock, fcntl.LOCK_EX | fcntl.LOCK_NB)
         paths = install(source, home)
-        print("Installed " + PROFILES[descriptor["profile"]][3] + ". Launch " + str(paths["wrapper"]))
+        display = PROFILES[descriptor["profile"]][3]
+        print("Installed " + display + ". Open your application menu and search for " + display + ".")
+        print("Or launch from a terminal: " + shlex.quote(str(paths["wrapper"])))
         print("Updates are managed by the app. Profile data was not changed.")
 
 
diff --git a/apps/maple-agent/scripts/linux-release-bundle.py b/apps/maple-agent/scripts/linux-release-bundle.py
index cd3575ec8..b7c35ae0f 100644
--- a/apps/maple-agent/scripts/linux-release-bundle.py
+++ b/apps/maple-agent/scripts/linux-release-bundle.py
@@ -203,6 +203,7 @@ def build(binary, output):
         stage.run(sys.executable, SCRIPTS / "linux-release-appimage.py", "--stage-only", binary, root)
         (root / "AppRun").write_text(bundle_apprun())
         shutil.copyfile(SCRIPTS / "linux-install.sh", root / "install.sh")
+        shutil.copyfile(SCRIPTS / "linux-bundle-README.txt", root / "README.txt")
         shutil.copyfile(SCRIPTS / "linux-install.py", root / "usr/share/maple-agent/install.py")
         (root / "bundle.json").write_text(json.dumps(value, sort_keys=True, separators=(",", ":")) + "\n")
         stage.normalize_public_permissions(root)
diff --git a/apps/maple-agent/scripts/test_linux_install.py b/apps/maple-agent/scripts/test_linux_install.py
index 04c683959..95cad0460 100644
--- a/apps/maple-agent/scripts/test_linux_install.py
+++ b/apps/maple-agent/scripts/test_linux_install.py
@@ -118,6 +118,26 @@ def test_dev_and_prod_have_distinct_bundle_commands_and_desktop_entries(self):
         self.assertIn("Name=Maple Work Dev\n", dev["desktop"].read_text())
         self.assertTrue(set(prod.values()).isdisjoint(dev.values()))
 
+    @unittest.skipUnless(sys.platform == "linux" and shutil.which("gio"),
+                         "GLib's desktop launcher is required")
+    def test_gnome_desktop_entry_launches_installed_bundle_after_download_is_removed(self):
+        home = self.root / "desktop home with 'quotes'"
+        home.mkdir()
+        for profile in ("prod", "dev"):
+            with self.subTest(profile=profile):
+                source = bundle_fixture(self.root / ("desktop-" + profile), profile)
+                paths = installer.install(source, home)
+                shutil.rmtree(source)
+                # Use the same desktop-entry implementation as GNOME, not a
+                # shell approximation of Exec. The fixture AppRun only echoes
+                # arguments; no real app, account or desktop session is used.
+                result = subprocess.run(
+                    ["gio", "launch", str(paths["desktop"]), "https://example.invalid/launch"],
+                    capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=10,
+                )
+                self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stderr)
+                self.assertEqual(result.stdout, "https://example.invalid/launch\n")
+
     def test_every_preexisting_managed_path_is_refused_without_replacement(self):
         for kind in ("bundle", "wrapper", "desktop", "icon", "receipt"):
             with self.subTest(kind=kind):
diff --git a/apps/maple-agent/scripts/test_linux_release_bundle.py b/apps/maple-agent/scripts/test_linux_release_bundle.py
index c8091296b..3cd29876e 100644
--- a/apps/maple-agent/scripts/test_linux_release_bundle.py
+++ b/apps/maple-agent/scripts/test_linux_release_bundle.py
@@ -204,6 +204,40 @@ def test_rejects_content_after_tar_end_markers(self):
 
 
 class LinuxBundleLauncherTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_built_archives_ship_readable_install_instructions_for_both_profiles(self):
+        for profile, root_name in (("prod", ROOT), ("dev", "maple-agent-dev.app")):
+            with self.subTest(profile=profile), tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temporary:
+                temporary = Path(temporary)
+                output = temporary / f"maple-agent-{profile}-0.0.4-aaaaaaaa-linux-x86_64.tar.gz"
+                metadata = {"channel": profile, "version": "0.0.4", "build_number": "42",
+                            "bundle_id": bundle.install.PROFILES[profile][2]}
+
+                def stage_fixture(*args):
+                    root = Path(args[-1])
+                    root.mkdir()
+                    for name, data, mode, kind, link in fixture_entries():
+                        relative = Path(name).relative_to(ROOT)
+                        path = root / relative
+                        if kind == tarfile.DIRTYPE:
+                            path.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
+                        elif kind == tarfile.SYMTYPE:
+                            path.symlink_to(link)
+                        else:
+                            path.write_bytes(data)
+                            path.chmod(mode)
+
+                with mock.patch.object(bundle.stage, "metadata_from_environment", return_value=metadata), \
+                     mock.patch.object(bundle.stage, "run", side_effect=stage_fixture), \
+                     mock.patch.object(bundle, "audit"), \
+                     mock.patch.dict(os.environ, MAPLE_PACKAGE_SOURCE_SHA="a" * 40, SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH="1"):
+                    bundle.build(temporary / "unused-binary", output)
+                root = bundle.extract_archive(output, temporary / "extracted", profile)
+                self.assertEqual(root.name, root_name)
+                readme = root / "README.txt"
+                self.assertEqual(readme.read_bytes(), (bundle.SCRIPTS / "linux-bundle-README.txt").read_bytes())
+                self.assertEqual(stat.S_IMODE(readme.stat().st_mode), 0o644)
+                self.assertEqual((root / "install.sh").read_bytes(), (bundle.SCRIPTS / "linux-install.sh").read_bytes())
+
     def test_clears_same_appdir_image_state_and_preserves_host_overrides(self):
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temporary:
             app = Path(temporary).resolve() / "maple-agent.app"