diff --git a/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md b/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
index de0f1ba7b84..d92892a425e 100644
--- a/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -37,12 +37,12 @@ In PowerShell, use `$env:ORCA_DEV_MAIN_SOURCEMAPS='0'` before `pnpm dev`.
 Remove the variable when debugging the main process with source maps. Renderer and
 preload settings are unaffected; production builds always keep their hidden main maps.
 
-On macOS and Linux, installs use pnpm's global virtual store: each package version is one slot
+Local installs use pnpm's global virtual store: each package version is one slot
 under `~/pnpm/store` that every worktree links to, instead of a full `node_modules` per worktree.
 An existing worktree converts on its next `pnpm install`, and an older branch without the setting
-converts back the same way. CI always uses the normal layout. Windows does too unless you set
-`ORCA_PNPM_GLOBAL_VIRTUAL_STORE=1`, because its store links are real symlinks, which may need
-administrator rights or Developer Mode. Things to know:
+converts back the same way. CI always uses the normal layout. On Windows, pnpm links with
+junctions when you lack the symlink privilege, so no administrator rights or Developer Mode are
+needed. Things to know:
 
 - Keep `~/node_modules` (and any other `node_modules` above the store) out of your home
   directory. Node resolves upward from the store slot, so a stray one there supplies
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ administrator rights or Developer Mode. Things to know:
 - Native addons are never rebuilt in place in a shared slot: each CPU gets its own build
   beside it (see [`native-build-entry.cjs`](../config/scripts/native-build-entry.cjs)), so
   cross-arch packaging is safe for other worktrees.
-- `ORCA_PNPM_GLOBAL_VIRTUAL_STORE=1` opts in on Windows and `=0` opts out anywhere. Keep it set
+- `ORCA_PNPM_GLOBAL_VIRTUAL_STORE=0` opts out. Keep it set
   in your shell: `pnpm run` re-checks the install and relinks a worktree whose layout no longer
   matches.
 
diff --git a/config/pnpmfile.cjs b/config/pnpmfile.cjs
index 8b88ee79432..0a9bba4f0b8 100644
--- a/config/pnpmfile.cjs
+++ b/config/pnpmfile.cjs
@@ -15,18 +15,14 @@ function isCi(env) {
  *
  * Off under CI, which packages from, caches, and verifies a project-local node_modules, unless
  * `ORCA_PNPM_FORCE_GLOBAL_VIRTUAL_STORE_IN_CI=1` (the dependency-isolation job).
- * Windows needs `ORCA_PNPM_GLOBAL_VIRTUAL_STORE=1` because its store links are true symlinks,
- * unverified for users without admin or Developer Mode; `=0` opts out anywhere else.
+ * On everywhere else, including Windows: without the symlink privilege pnpm links with
+ * junctions, which standard users can create. `ORCA_PNPM_GLOBAL_VIRTUAL_STORE=0` opts out.
  */
-function usesGlobalVirtualStore({ env = process.env, platform = process.platform } = {}) {
+function usesGlobalVirtualStore({ env = process.env } = {}) {
   if (isCi(env)) {
     return env[FORCE_IN_CI_ENV] === '1'
   }
-  const choice = env[GLOBAL_VIRTUAL_STORE_ENV]
-  if (choice === '0' || choice === '1') {
-    return choice === '1'
-  }
-  return platform !== 'win32'
+  return env[GLOBAL_VIRTUAL_STORE_ENV] !== '0'
 }
 
 module.exports = {
diff --git a/config/scripts/pnpmfile-global-virtual-store.test.mjs b/config/scripts/pnpmfile-global-virtual-store.test.mjs
index 902874011cd..71e2ed3142b 100644
--- a/config/scripts/pnpmfile-global-virtual-store.test.mjs
+++ b/config/scripts/pnpmfile-global-virtual-store.test.mjs
@@ -11,26 +11,23 @@ const {
 
 describe('usesGlobalVirtualStore', () => {
   const cases = [
-    // [env, platform, expected]
-    [{}, 'darwin', true],
-    [{}, 'linux', true],
-    [{}, 'win32', false],
-    [{ [STORE_ENV]: '1' }, 'win32', true],
-    [{ [STORE_ENV]: '0' }, 'win32', false],
-    [{ [STORE_ENV]: '0' }, 'darwin', false],
-    [{ [STORE_ENV]: 'yes' }, 'linux', true],
-    [{ CI: 'true' }, 'darwin', false],
-    [{ CI: '1' }, 'linux', false],
-    [{ GITHUB_ACTIONS: 'true' }, 'linux', false],
-    [{ CI: 'true', [STORE_ENV]: '1' }, 'win32', false],
-    [{ CI: 'true', [FORCE_IN_CI_ENV]: '1' }, 'linux', true],
-    [{ GITHUB_ACTIONS: 'true', [FORCE_IN_CI_ENV]: '1' }, 'win32', true],
-    [{ [FORCE_IN_CI_ENV]: '1', [STORE_ENV]: '0' }, 'darwin', false],
-    [{ CI: 'false' }, 'darwin', true],
-    [{ CI: '0' }, 'linux', true]
+    // [env, expected]; platform-independent, so Windows standard users get it too.
+    [{}, true],
+    [{ [STORE_ENV]: '1' }, true],
+    [{ [STORE_ENV]: '0' }, false],
+    [{ [STORE_ENV]: 'yes' }, true],
+    [{ CI: 'true' }, false],
+    [{ CI: '1' }, false],
+    [{ GITHUB_ACTIONS: 'true' }, false],
+    [{ CI: 'true', [STORE_ENV]: '1' }, false],
+    [{ CI: 'true', [FORCE_IN_CI_ENV]: '1' }, true],
+    [{ GITHUB_ACTIONS: 'true', [FORCE_IN_CI_ENV]: '1' }, true],
+    [{ [FORCE_IN_CI_ENV]: '1', [STORE_ENV]: '0' }, false],
+    [{ CI: 'false' }, true],
+    [{ CI: '0' }, true]
   ]
-  it.each(cases)('env %j on %s -> %s', (env, platform, expected) => {
-    expect(usesGlobalVirtualStore({ env, platform })).toBe(expected)
+  it.each(cases)('env %j -> %s', (env, expected) => {
+    expect(usesGlobalVirtualStore({ env })).toBe(expected)
   })
 })
 
diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
index 86dc68f19f2..b36756f4dbb 100644
--- a/pnpm-lock.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ overrides:
 
 packageExtensionsChecksum: sha256-TrarseUCmMKP0lVjkfyLP2TAvkGZMZzvzPxjKY48nrY=
 
-pnpmfileChecksum: sha256-568iOYVj6ZdABzEY52uLAgKwLTmlyqdEBiaV2dJCY74=
+pnpmfileChecksum: sha256-6l6qdgUHKyTLYIQLx/UGfGRnEiFXxIaSlGMgK4mttEw=
 
 patchedDependencies:
   '@vscode/windows-process-tree@0.8.0': a09f2e8b2b4e73ef20c317af91f9e06c09abf62fa2c891d99b16f53047f596fd