diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-desktop.yml b/.github/workflows/release-desktop.yml
index dfceac2..aeb6d6b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-desktop.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-desktop.yml
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ jobs:
             --arch "${{ matrix.goarch }}" \
             --outdir dist/desktop
 
-      - name: Package Windows EXE + ZIP
+      - name: Package Windows ZIP
         if: matrix.artifact == 'windows'
         shell: bash
         run: |
@@ -108,6 +108,5 @@ jobs:
           path: |
             dist/desktop/*.dmg
             dist/desktop/*.zip
-            dist/desktop/*.exe
             dist/desktop/*.deb
           if-no-files-found: error
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-ship.yml b/.github/workflows/release-ship.yml
index 7db884e..ef01e38 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-ship.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-ship.yml
@@ -133,7 +133,6 @@ jobs:
             artifacts/*.tar.gz
             artifacts/*.dmg
             artifacts/*.zip
-            artifacts/*.exe
             artifacts/*.deb
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9480c7f..dc7043d 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ WEB_DIR := server-ui
 
 web:
 	cd $(WEB_DIR) && npm install && npm run build
-	@echo "dashboard assets → server/assets"
+	@echo "dashboard assets -> server/assets"
 
 build:
 	cargo build -p orbien-server -p orbien-client
@@ -43,18 +43,18 @@ desktop-build:
 desktop-app desktop-dmg: desktop-build
 	chmod +x scripts/pack-desktop-macos.sh
 	./scripts/pack-desktop-macos.sh
-	@echo "app → dist/Orbien Desktop.app"
-	@echo "dmg → dist/orbien-desktop_*_darwin_*.dmg"
+	@echo "app -> dist/Orbien Desktop.app"
+	@echo "dmg -> dist/orbien-desktop_*_darwin_*.dmg"
 
 desktop-windows: desktop-build
 	chmod +x scripts/pack-desktop-windows.sh
 	./scripts/pack-desktop-windows.sh
-	@echo "exe/zip → dist/orbien-desktop_*_windows_*"
+	@echo "exe/zip -> dist/orbien-desktop_*_windows_*"
 
 desktop-deb: desktop-build
 	chmod +x scripts/pack-desktop-linux-deb.sh
 	./scripts/pack-desktop-linux-deb.sh
-	@echo "deb → dist/orbien-desktop_*_linux_*.deb"
+	@echo "deb -> dist/orbien-desktop_*_linux_*.deb"
 
 test:
 	cargo test --workspace
diff --git a/Makefile.md b/Makefile.md
index 21ce2b8..1f0899b 100644
--- a/Makefile.md
+++ b/Makefile.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ Run from the repository root. Build artifacts go to `target/`; packages go to `d
 | `make desktop-font-subset-full`         | Full SC regional fonts (~16 MB)                          |
 | `make desktop-build`                    | Release-build the desktop app                            |
 | `make desktop-app` / `make desktop-dmg` | Package macOS `.app` / `.dmg`                            |
-| `make desktop-windows`                  | Package Windows exe / zip (run on Windows)               |
+| `make desktop-windows`                  | Package Windows portable zip (run on Windows)            |
 | `make desktop-deb`                      | Package Linux `.deb` (run on Debian/Ubuntu)              |
 | `make package`                          | Run `release`, then copy binaries and `conf/` to `dist/` |
 | `make test`                             | Run workspace tests                                      |
diff --git a/scripts/pack-desktop-windows.sh b/scripts/pack-desktop-windows.sh
index 17ed27b..1ec2596 100755
--- a/scripts/pack-desktop-windows.sh
+++ b/scripts/pack-desktop-windows.sh
@@ -81,8 +81,6 @@ mkdir -p "$STAGE"
 
 EXE_NAME="Orbien-Desktop.exe"
 cp "$BIN" "${STAGE}/${EXE_NAME}"
-STANDALONE="${OUTDIR}/orbien-desktop_${VERSION}_windows_${ARCH_LABEL}.exe"
-cp "$BIN" "$STANDALONE"
 
 cat > "${STAGE}/README.txt" <<EOF
 Orbien Desktop ${VERSION}
@@ -118,6 +116,5 @@ else
 fi
 
 rm -rf "$STAGE"
-echo "wrote ${STANDALONE}"
 echo "wrote ${ZIP_PATH}"
-ls -lh "$STANDALONE" "$ZIP_PATH"
+ls -lh "$ZIP_PATH"