diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 1614065..e8bd689 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -22,8 +22,7 @@ previews/
 # Local code intelligence (CodeGraph index)
 .codegraph/
 
-# Local-only launcher + unrelated coursework kept in this folder
-launch-pixelcat.vbs
+# Unrelated coursework kept in this folder
 CODEPATH Proj/
 
 # OS
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 716e207..52c937b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ Notable changes to **pixelpets**. All art and sound are original/procedural (no
 
 ### Added
 - **`--shot --note="<text>"`** pins a speech bubble open in a preview capture, so wrapping and edge clamping can be checked against a real font.
+- **`launch-pixelpets.vbs`**, a silent Windows launcher for running from source, is now part of the repo instead of a local-only file. `npm start` leaves a console window sitting behind the pet, which is why a shortcut wants this instead. It resolves the project from its own location rather than a hard-coded path, so moving or renaming the folder cannot leave the shortcut pointing at nothing, and it says what is wrong if dependencies were never installed rather than failing silently.
 
 ## [0.3.0] - 2026-08-03
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fcafa30..f1678cf 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -131,6 +131,11 @@ Either way your pet appears in the corner and registers itself to start at login
 `npm run autostart:off` turns that off, and the installed version uninstalls like
 any other program, from Windows Settings > Apps.
 
+> **Windows, running from source:** `npm start` leaves a console window open behind
+> the pet. `launch-pixelpets.vbs` starts the same thing silently, so it works as a
+> desktop shortcut (point one at `wscript.exe "<path>\launch-pixelpets.vbs"`). It
+> locates the project from its own path, so moving the folder does not break it.
+
 > **macOS (beta):** same commands. On first run, grant Accessibility permission
 > (System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility) so your pet can react to your
 > typing and cursor. Input is only detected, never logged or sent anywhere. The mac
diff --git a/launch-pixelpets.vbs b/launch-pixelpets.vbs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bfb7a28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/launch-pixelpets.vbs
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+' Silent launcher for pixelpets (runs the app from source with the latest code, no
+' packaging needed). Launched by the desktop shortcut. Window style 0 = hidden.
+'
+' Paths are derived from THIS script's own location instead of being hard-coded, so
+' moving or renaming the project folder cannot silently break the launcher again -
+' which is exactly what happened when C:\pixelcat became C:\pixel_pet.
+Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
+root = fso.GetParentFolderName(WScript.ScriptFullName)
+electron = fso.BuildPath(root, "node_modules\electron\dist\electron.exe")
+
+' Say what is wrong rather than failing mute: a missing electron means the deps were
+' never installed in this copy, which looks identical to "the pet just didn't start".
+If Not fso.FileExists(electron) Then
+  MsgBox "pixelpets could not start: electron is missing at" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & _
+         electron & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & "Run  npm install  in " & root & vbCrLf, _
+         vbExclamation, "pixelpets"
+  WScript.Quit 1
+End If
+
+Set sh = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
+sh.CurrentDirectory = root
+sh.Run """" & electron & """ """ & root & """", 0, False