diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6d8e64d0..3887b2c4 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -55,6 +55,11 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ### Changed
 
+- **Every update opens the native window.** The first launch of each release
+  switches lich to the native window, falling back to the web one where it
+  cannot start; switch back in Settings and lich stays on the web window until
+  the next release. The first time the native window opens, it says it is
+  experimental and links to a bug report.
 - **A lighter status ring in the native window.** The ring around a
   session card's icon is drawn thinner, to read at the weight the web
   window gives it.
diff --git a/internal/system/native.go b/internal/system/native.go
index 4ade700d..af6c5c92 100644
--- a/internal/system/native.go
+++ b/internal/system/native.go
@@ -14,8 +14,22 @@ const (
 	WindowWeb     = "web"
 	WindowNative  = "native"
 	WindowKindKey = "window.kind"
+	// NativeReleaseKey is the release that last put lich on the native window.
+	NativeReleaseKey = "window.nativeRelease"
 )
 
+// devVersion is main.version in a build without a release tag.
+const devVersion = "dev"
+
+// SwitchesToNative reports whether a launch of version puts lich on the
+// native window, whatever was chosen before: once per release, so every
+// update is tried on it while it is experimental, and a user who switched
+// back keeps the web window until the next one. A dev build never does, nor
+// an install without the native binary, which would only fall back.
+func SwitchesToNative(version, lastSwitched string, nativeShipped bool) bool {
+	return nativeShipped && version != devVersion && version != lastSwitched
+}
+
 // NativeHooks are how lich drives the native window (`lich native`), wired by
 // main.
 type NativeHooks struct {
diff --git a/internal/system/system_test.go b/internal/system/system_test.go
index e5522553..217967b8 100644
--- a/internal/system/system_test.go
+++ b/internal/system/system_test.go
@@ -600,3 +600,21 @@ func TestNativeWindowThatCannotStartFallsBackToTheWebOne(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("launch failing: err %v, web shown %d; want the web window", err, r.shown)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestSwitchesToNativeOncePerRelease(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		name, version, last string
+		shipped, want       bool
+	}{
+		{"first launch of a release", "0.69.0", "", true, true},
+		{"an update", "0.69.0", "0.68.0", true, true},
+		{"the same release again", "0.69.0", "0.69.0", true, false},
+		{"no native binary", "0.69.0", "0.68.0", false, false},
+		{"a dev build", "dev", "", true, false},
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		if got := SwitchesToNative(c.version, c.last, c.shipped); got != c.want {
+			t.Errorf("%s: SwitchesToNative(%q, %q, %v) = %v, want %v", c.name, c.version, c.last, c.shipped, got, c.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index c4e700c1..3e1ddb5b 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -367,6 +367,7 @@ func registerServices(db *store.Service, term *terminal.Service, hub *events.Hub
 		Close:  func() { hub.Emit(windowCloseEvent, nil) },
 		Locate: func() (string, error) { return cli.NativeExecutable(os.Getenv) },
 	})
+	switchToNativeOnRelease(db)
 	sys.SetWindowChoice(func() string { return windowChoice(db) })
 	dispatcher.Register("system", sys)
 	// Deleting a session for good takes any prompt parked on it, and the row is
@@ -951,6 +952,28 @@ func windowChoice(db *store.Service) string {
 	return kind
 }
 
+// switchToNativeOnRelease chooses the native window on the first launch of a
+// release (system.SwitchesToNative). Failing to write leaves the choice the
+// user had.
+func switchToNativeOnRelease(db *store.Service) {
+	last, err := db.GetSetting(system.NativeReleaseKey, "")
+	if err != nil {
+		slog.Warn("read the release that last chose the native window", "err", err)
+		return
+	}
+	_, locateErr := cli.NativeExecutable(os.Getenv)
+	if !system.SwitchesToNative(version, last, locateErr == nil) {
+		return
+	}
+	if err := db.SetSetting(system.WindowKindKey, "", system.WindowNative); err != nil {
+		slog.Warn("choose the native window for this release", "err", err)
+		return
+	}
+	if err := db.SetSetting(system.NativeReleaseKey, "", version); err != nil {
+		slog.Warn("record the release that chose the native window", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
 // showWindow opens the chosen window where nobody waits on the answer but
 // the log: the launch and the tray.
 func showWindow(sys *system.Service, from string) {
diff --git a/native/cmd/lich-native/experimental_notice.go b/native/cmd/lich-native/experimental_notice.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..73d43479
--- /dev/null
+++ b/native/cmd/lich-native/experimental_notice.go
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"flag"
+	"log"
+	"sync/atomic"
+
+	"gioui.org/layout"
+	"gioui.org/widget"
+
+	"github.com/omartelo/lich/native/i18n"
+	"github.com/omartelo/lich/native/ui"
+)
+
+var flagExperimentalNotice = flag.Bool("experimental-notice", false, "open the experimental-window notice at start, for -shot")
+
+// experimentalNoticeSeenKey is set once the notice was closed, a global
+// setting: the notice greets the first native window a user opens, not every
+// release that switches them to it.
+const experimentalNoticeSeenKey = "native.experimentalNoticeSeen"
+
+// experimentalNotice tells a user the native window is experimental and asks
+// for an issue on anything that breaks.
+type experimentalNotice struct {
+	open          atomic.Bool
+	dialog        ui.DialogState
+	gotIt, report widget.Clickable
+}
+
+// checkExperimentalNotice opens the notice when it was never closed.
+func (u *window) checkExperimentalNotice() {
+	seen, err := u.client.GetSetting(u.ctx, experimentalNoticeSeenKey, "")
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("experimental notice: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+	if seen == "" {
+		u.beta.open.Store(true)
+		u.win.Invalidate()
+	}
+}
+
+func (u *window) closeExperimentalNotice() {
+	u.beta.open.Store(false)
+	go func() {
+		u.logErr("experimental notice: record", u.client.SetSetting(u.ctx, experimentalNoticeSeenKey, "", "1"))
+	}()
+}
+
+func (u *window) layoutExperimentalNotice(gtx C, th *ui.Theme) {
+	n := &u.beta
+	if n.gotIt.Clicked(gtx) {
+		u.closeExperimentalNotice()
+	}
+	if n.report.Clicked(gtx) {
+		u.closeExperimentalNotice()
+		go func() {
+			d, err := u.client.Diagnostics(u.ctx)
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Printf("experimental notice: diagnostics: %v", err)
+				return
+			}
+			u.logErr("experimental notice: open bug report", u.client.OpenExternal(u.ctx, bugReportURL(d)))
+		}()
+	}
+	on := th.On(th.Popover)
+	gotIt := on.Button(&n.gotIt, i18n.T("shell.experimentalNotice.gotIt"))
+	gotIt.Variant = ui.VariantGhost
+	d := th.Dialog(&n.dialog, n.open.Load(), i18n.T("shell.experimentalNotice.title"), i18n.T("shell.experimentalNotice.description"))
+	d.MaxWidth = optInWidth
+	d.Actions = []layout.Widget{gotIt.Layout, on.Button(&n.report, i18n.T("shell.experimentalNotice.reportIssue")).Layout}
+	if d.Layout(gtx) {
+		u.closeExperimentalNotice()
+	}
+}
diff --git a/native/cmd/lich-native/main.go b/native/cmd/lich-native/main.go
index e5c401d7..d1c4dba6 100644
--- a/native/cmd/lich-native/main.go
+++ b/native/cmd/lich-native/main.go
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ type window struct {
 	notifier   *notifier
 	optIn      notifyOptIn
 	gitMissing gitMissing
+	beta       experimentalNotice
 	setup      providerSetup
 	plugin     pluginGate
 	appUpdate  appUpdateGate
@@ -414,6 +415,10 @@ func (u *window) connect() error {
 		go u.checkGit(false)
 	}
 	go u.settings.startupPatchNotes()
+	u.beta.open.Store(*flagExperimentalNotice)
+	if !*flagExperimentalNotice {
+		go u.checkExperimentalNotice()
+	}
 	go u.pollAppUpdate()
 	return nil
 }
@@ -471,6 +476,7 @@ func (u *window) layout(gtx C) error {
 		u.layoutClosePrompt(gtx, u.theme)
 		u.layoutNotifyOptIn(gtx, u.theme)
 		u.layoutGitMissing(gtx, u.theme)
+		u.layoutExperimentalNotice(gtx, u.theme)
 		var edge int
 		edge, act, contentErr = u.body(gtx, v)
 		u.sidebar.flight(gtx, u.theme, u.model)
diff --git a/native/i18n/locales/en/shell.json b/native/i18n/locales/en/shell.json
index 83c1fa55..b0d4a943 100644
--- a/native/i18n/locales/en/shell.json
+++ b/native/i18n/locales/en/shell.json
@@ -51,6 +51,12 @@
     "handsOnTime": "Hands-on time",
     "handsOnFailed": "Could not read hands-on time."
   },
+  "experimentalNotice": {
+    "title": "This window is experimental",
+    "description": "The native window is new and still experimental. If anything breaks or looks wrong, please open an issue and tell us: it is how we find out what to fix.",
+    "gotIt": "Got it",
+    "reportIssue": "Report an issue"
+  },
   "gitMissingGate": {
     "title": "git is not installed",
     "description": "lich reads every branch, diff and worktree through git. Sessions still run without it — the version control surfaces stay empty.",
diff --git a/native/i18n/locales/es/shell.json b/native/i18n/locales/es/shell.json
index 1691f552..67626850 100644
--- a/native/i18n/locales/es/shell.json
+++ b/native/i18n/locales/es/shell.json
@@ -51,6 +51,12 @@
     "handsOnTime": "Tiempo activo",
     "handsOnFailed": "No se pudo leer el tiempo activo."
   },
+  "experimentalNotice": {
+    "title": "Esta ventana es experimental",
+    "description": "La ventana nativa es nueva y todavía experimental. Si algo falla o se ve mal, por favor, abre un issue y cuéntanoslo: así sabemos qué corregir.",
+    "gotIt": "Entendido",
+    "reportIssue": "Reportar un problema"
+  },
   "gitMissingGate": {
     "title": "git no está instalado",
     "description": "lich lee cada rama, diff y worktree a través de git. Las sesiones siguen funcionando sin él, pero las superficies de control de versiones quedan vacías.",
diff --git a/native/i18n/locales/ja/shell.json b/native/i18n/locales/ja/shell.json
index a66a9381..18b6b1ad 100644
--- a/native/i18n/locales/ja/shell.json
+++ b/native/i18n/locales/ja/shell.json
@@ -51,6 +51,12 @@
     "handsOnTime": "作業時間",
     "handsOnFailed": "作業時間を取得できませんでした。"
   },
+  "experimentalNotice": {
+    "title": "このウィンドウは試験的です",
+    "description": "ネイティブウィンドウは新しく、まだ試験段階です。何かが壊れたり、おかしく見えたりしたら、ぜひ issue を作成して教えてください。修正すべき点を知る手がかりになります。",
+    "gotIt": "了解",
+    "reportIssue": "問題を報告"
+  },
   "gitMissingGate": {
     "title": "git がインストールされていません",
     "description": "lich はブランチ、差分、ワークツリーをすべて git で読み取ります。git がなくてもセッションは動きますが、バージョン管理の画面は空のままです。",
diff --git a/native/i18n/locales/ko/shell.json b/native/i18n/locales/ko/shell.json
index 2b1a0aa3..593d6f93 100644
--- a/native/i18n/locales/ko/shell.json
+++ b/native/i18n/locales/ko/shell.json
@@ -51,6 +51,12 @@
     "handsOnTime": "직접 작업 시간",
     "handsOnFailed": "직접 작업 시간을 읽을 수 없습니다."
   },
+  "experimentalNotice": {
+    "title": "이 창은 실험적입니다",
+    "description": "네이티브 창은 새로 나온 실험적 기능입니다. 문제가 생기거나 이상하게 보이면 꼭 이슈를 열어 알려 주세요. 무엇을 고쳐야 할지 알 수 있는 방법입니다.",
+    "gotIt": "확인",
+    "reportIssue": "문제 보고"
+  },
   "gitMissingGate": {
     "title": "git이 설치되어 있지 않습니다",
     "description": "lich는 모든 브랜치, diff, worktree를 git으로 읽습니다. git이 없어도 세션은 실행되지만, 버전 관리 화면은 비어 있습니다.",
diff --git a/native/i18n/locales/pt-br/shell.json b/native/i18n/locales/pt-br/shell.json
index 84ec7bb0..15e6e831 100644
--- a/native/i18n/locales/pt-br/shell.json
+++ b/native/i18n/locales/pt-br/shell.json
@@ -51,6 +51,12 @@
     "handsOnTime": "Tempo de interação",
     "handsOnFailed": "Não foi possível ler o tempo de interação."
   },
+  "experimentalNotice": {
+    "title": "Esta janela é experimental",
+    "description": "A janela nativa é nova e ainda experimental. Se algo quebrar ou parecer errado, por favor, abra uma issue e conte pra gente: é assim que descobrimos o que corrigir.",
+    "gotIt": "Entendi",
+    "reportIssue": "Reportar um problema"
+  },
   "gitMissingGate": {
     "title": "O git não está instalado",
     "description": "O lich lê cada branch, diff e worktree pelo git. As sessões continuam funcionando sem ele, mas as telas de controle de versão ficam vazias.",
diff --git a/native/i18n/locales/ru/shell.json b/native/i18n/locales/ru/shell.json
index c1a95120..f2f6352a 100644
--- a/native/i18n/locales/ru/shell.json
+++ b/native/i18n/locales/ru/shell.json
@@ -51,6 +51,12 @@
     "handsOnTime": "Время за работой",
     "handsOnFailed": "Не удалось прочитать время за работой."
   },
+  "experimentalNotice": {
+    "title": "Это окно экспериментальное",
+    "description": "Нативное окно новое и пока экспериментальное. Если что-то сломается или выглядит не так, пожалуйста, создайте issue и расскажите нам: так мы узнаём, что исправить.",
+    "gotIt": "Понятно",
+    "reportIssue": "Сообщить о проблеме"
+  },
   "gitMissingGate": {
     "title": "git не установлен",
     "description": "lich читает все ветки, изменения и worktree через git. Сессии работают и без него, но разделы контроля версий остаются пустыми.",
diff --git a/native/i18n/locales/zh-cn/shell.json b/native/i18n/locales/zh-cn/shell.json
index 8552c93b..262412bc 100644
--- a/native/i18n/locales/zh-cn/shell.json
+++ b/native/i18n/locales/zh-cn/shell.json
@@ -51,6 +51,12 @@
     "handsOnTime": "亲自操作时长",
     "handsOnFailed": "无法读取亲自操作时长。"
   },
+  "experimentalNotice": {
+    "title": "此窗口为实验性功能",
+    "description": "原生窗口是新功能，仍处于实验阶段。如果遇到任何故障或显示异常，请务必提交 issue 告诉我们：这是我们了解需要修复什么的方式。",
+    "gotIt": "知道了",
+    "reportIssue": "报告问题"
+  },
   "gitMissingGate": {
     "title": "未安装 git",
     "description": "lich 通过 git 读取每个分支、差异和工作树。没有 git 时会话仍可运行，但版本控制相关界面会保持为空。",