diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 34a36c5b0..e1fce3c8c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -34,8 +34,10 @@ jobs:
           mkdir -p AppDir/usr/bin
           mkdir -p AppDir/usr/share/applications
           mkdir -p AppDir/usr/share/icons/hicolor/256x256/apps
+          mkdir -p AppDir/usr/share/metainfo
           cp target/release/OpenCADStudio AppDir/usr/bin/OpenCADStudio
           cp packaging/OpenCADStudio.desktop AppDir/usr/share/applications/io.github.HakanSeven12.OpenCadStudio.desktop
+          cp packaging/io.github.HakanSeven12.OpenCadStudio.metainfo.xml AppDir/usr/share/metainfo/
           rsvg-convert -w 256 -h 256 assets/logo.svg \
             -o AppDir/usr/share/icons/hicolor/256x256/apps/io.github.HakanSeven12.OpenCadStudio.png
 
@@ -60,8 +62,10 @@ jobs:
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         run: |
-          mv OpenCADStudio.AppImage OpenCADStudio-${{ github.ref_name }}-linux-x86_64.AppImage
-          gh release upload ${{ github.ref_name }} OpenCADStudio-${{ github.ref_name }}-linux-x86_64.AppImage --clobber --repo ${{ github.repository }}
+          ASSET=OpenCADStudio-${{ github.ref_name }}-linux-x86_64.AppImage
+          mv OpenCADStudio.AppImage "$ASSET"
+          sha256sum "$ASSET" > "$ASSET.sha256"
+          gh release upload ${{ github.ref_name }} "$ASSET" "$ASSET.sha256" --clobber --repo ${{ github.repository }}
 
   build-windows:
     runs-on: windows-latest
@@ -179,11 +183,16 @@ jobs:
           # .msi (installer with Start Menu shortcut + .dwg / .dxf
           # file association). The `-portable` / `-installer` suffix
           # makes the distinction obvious on the release page.
-          Move-Item target\release\OpenCADStudio.exe "OpenCADStudio-$tag-windows-x86_64-portable.exe"
-          Move-Item OpenCADStudio.msi "OpenCADStudio-$tag-windows-x86_64-installer.msi"
+          $exe = "OpenCADStudio-$tag-windows-x86_64-portable.exe"
+          $msi = "OpenCADStudio-$tag-windows-x86_64-installer.msi"
+          Move-Item target\release\OpenCADStudio.exe $exe
+          Move-Item OpenCADStudio.msi $msi
+          # SHA256 sidecars so downloads can be verified.
+          (Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256 $exe).Hash.ToLower() + "  $exe" | Out-File -Encoding ascii "$exe.sha256"
+          (Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256 $msi).Hash.ToLower() + "  $msi" | Out-File -Encoding ascii "$msi.sha256"
           gh release upload $tag `
-            "OpenCADStudio-$tag-windows-x86_64-portable.exe" `
-            "OpenCADStudio-$tag-windows-x86_64-installer.msi" `
+            $exe "$exe.sha256" `
+            $msi "$msi.sha256" `
             --clobber --repo ${{ github.repository }}
 
   build-macos:
@@ -272,8 +281,10 @@ jobs:
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         run: |
-          mv OpenCADStudio.dmg OpenCADStudio-${{ github.ref_name }}-macos-arm64.dmg
-          gh release upload ${{ github.ref_name }} OpenCADStudio-${{ github.ref_name }}-macos-arm64.dmg --clobber --repo ${{ github.repository }}
+          ASSET=OpenCADStudio-${{ github.ref_name }}-macos-arm64.dmg
+          mv OpenCADStudio.dmg "$ASSET"
+          shasum -a 256 "$ASSET" > "$ASSET.sha256"
+          gh release upload ${{ github.ref_name }} "$ASSET" "$ASSET.sha256" --clobber --repo ${{ github.repository }}
 
       - name: Emit Homebrew cask sha256
         if: github.event_name == 'release'
diff --git a/packaging/io.github.HakanSeven12.OpenCadStudio.metainfo.xml b/packaging/io.github.HakanSeven12.OpenCadStudio.metainfo.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..115d01086
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packaging/io.github.HakanSeven12.OpenCadStudio.metainfo.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<!-- AppStream metadata: integrates the AppImage with Linux software centres
+     (name, summary, icon, categories, screenshots). Installed into
+     /usr/share/metainfo/ inside the AppDir by the release workflow. -->
+<component type="desktop-application">
+  <id>io.github.HakanSeven12.OpenCadStudio</id>
+  <metadata_license>CC0-1.0</metadata_license>
+  <project_license>GPL-3.0-or-later</project_license>
+
+  <name>Open CAD Studio</name>
+  <summary>2D/3D CAD application for DWG and DXF drawings</summary>
+
+  <description>
+    <p>
+      Open CAD Studio is a 2D/3D CAD application for creating and editing
+      technical drawings. It reads and writes the standard DWG and DXF file
+      formats so drawings stay compatible with other CAD software.
+    </p>
+  </description>
+
+  <launchable type="desktop-id">io.github.HakanSeven12.OpenCadStudio.desktop</launchable>
+
+  <categories>
+    <category>Graphics</category>
+    <category>Engineering</category>
+  </categories>
+
+  <keywords>
+    <keyword>CAD</keyword>
+    <keyword>DWG</keyword>
+    <keyword>DXF</keyword>
+    <keyword>drawing</keyword>
+    <keyword>design</keyword>
+    <keyword>engineering</keyword>
+  </keywords>
+
+  <url type="homepage">https://github.com/HakanSeven12/OpenCADStudio</url>
+  <url type="bugtracker">https://github.com/HakanSeven12/OpenCADStudio/issues</url>
+
+  <developer id="io.github.hakanseven12">
+    <name>Hakan Seven</name>
+  </developer>
+
+  <content_rating type="oars-1.1" />
+
+  <provides>
+    <mediatype>image/vnd.dwg</mediatype>
+    <mediatype>image/vnd.dxf</mediatype>
+  </provides>
+</component>
diff --git a/packaging/windows/main.wxs b/packaging/windows/main.wxs
index efbf5abeb..ec91c907f 100644
--- a/packaging/windows/main.wxs
+++ b/packaging/windows/main.wxs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
   Provides:
     * Per-machine install under Program Files\Open CAD Studio.
     * Start Menu shortcut under Programs\Open CAD Studio.
+    * Desktop shortcut.
     * File associations for .dwg and .dxf via a single ProgID; both
       route through `OpenCADStudio.exe "%1"` so the OS hands the file
       path to the app as argv[1] (consumed in OpenCADStudio::boot).
@@ -51,6 +52,15 @@
     <Property Id='ARPPRODUCTICON' Value='AppIcon.ico' />
     <Property Id='ARPHELPLINK' Value='https://github.com/HakanSeven12/OpenCADStudio' />
     <Property Id='ARPURLINFOABOUT' Value='https://github.com/HakanSeven12/OpenCADStudio' />
+    <Property Id='ARPURLUPDATEINFO' Value='https://github.com/HakanSeven12/OpenCADStudio/releases' />
+    <Property Id='ARPCONTACT' Value='Hakan Seven' />
+    <Property Id='ARPCOMMENTS' Value='2D/3D CAD application for DWG and DXF drawings.' />
+    <!--
+      Hide "Repair" from the Apps & Features entry — there is no repair flow.
+      "Modify" is deliberately left enabled: WixUI_FeatureTree supports it, so
+      users can add/remove the optional Desktop shortcut feature later.
+    -->
+    <Property Id='ARPNOREPAIR' Value='1' />
 
     <Directory Id='TARGETDIR' Name='SourceDir'>
       <Directory Id='ProgramFiles64Folder'>
@@ -195,14 +205,66 @@
           </Component>
         </Directory>
       </Directory>
+
+      <!--
+        Desktop shortcut. A non-advertised shortcut with an explicit Target;
+        the HKCU registry value is the component KeyPath (a shortcut on its own
+        cannot be a KeyPath for a per-user resource).
+      -->
+      <Directory Id='DesktopFolder' Name='Desktop'>
+        <Component Id='DesktopShortcutComp' Guid='c5c7f1c4-3d8a-4efd-b049-4662d9143dcd'>
+          <Shortcut
+            Id='DesktopShortcut'
+            Name='Open CAD Studio'
+            Description='Launch Open CAD Studio'
+            Target='[APPLICATIONROOTDIRECTORY]OpenCADStudio.exe'
+            WorkingDirectory='APPLICATIONROOTDIRECTORY'
+            Icon='AppIcon.ico'
+            IconIndex='0' />
+          <RegistryValue
+            Root='HKCU'
+            Key='Software\Open CAD Studio'
+            Name='desktop_shortcut'
+            Type='integer'
+            Value='1'
+            KeyPath='yes' />
+        </Component>
+      </Directory>
     </Directory>
 
-    <Feature Id='Complete' Title='Open CAD Studio' Level='1'>
+    <Feature Id='Complete' Title='Open CAD Studio' Level='1' Display='expand'>
       <ComponentRef Id='MainExecutable' />
       <ComponentRef Id='DefaultPrograms' />
       <ComponentRef Id='ProgramMenuDirComp' />
+      <!-- Optional, user-deselectable in the feature tree (default on). -->
+      <Feature
+        Id='DesktopShortcut'
+        Title='Desktop shortcut'
+        Description='Add a shortcut to Open CAD Studio on the desktop.'
+        Level='1'
+        Absent='allow'>
+        <ComponentRef Id='DesktopShortcutComp' />
+      </Feature>
     </Feature>
 
+    <!--
+      Refresh the shell after install so the new .dwg / .dxf file-type icons
+      and associations appear immediately instead of only after a reboot or an
+      icon-cache rebuild. `ie4uinit -show` rebuilds the per-user icon cache.
+      Immediate execution keeps property access ([SystemFolder]); Return='ignore'
+      means it can never fail the install, and the NOT REMOVE condition skips it
+      on uninstall.
+    -->
+    <CustomAction
+      Id='RefreshShellIcons'
+      Directory='APPLICATIONROOTDIRECTORY'
+      ExeCommand='"[SystemFolder]ie4uinit.exe" -show'
+      Execute='immediate'
+      Return='ignore' />
+    <InstallExecuteSequence>
+      <Custom Action='RefreshShellIcons' After='InstallFinalize'>NOT REMOVE</Custom>
+    </InstallExecuteSequence>
+
     <!-- Installer UI + finish-screen launch checkbox (see ui.wxs). -->
     <UIRef Id='OpenCADStudioUI' />
 
diff --git a/packaging/windows/ui.wxs b/packaging/windows/ui.wxs
index 026ebba3e..1814d9af2 100644
--- a/packaging/windows/ui.wxs
+++ b/packaging/windows/ui.wxs
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@
   (which needs `-ext WixUIExtension` for the WixUI_Minimal dialog set).
 
   Provides:
-    * WixUI_Minimal wizard (Welcome → Progress → Finish).
+    * WixUI_FeatureTree wizard (Welcome → License → Features → Progress →
+      Finish). The Features page lets the user deselect the optional Desktop
+      shortcut feature (default on).
     * A pre-ticked "Launch Open CAD Studio" checkbox on the finish screen
       that starts the freshly installed exe when the user clicks Finish.
 -->
@@ -41,7 +43,7 @@
       Impersonate='yes' />
 
     <UI Id='OpenCADStudioUI'>
-      <UIRef Id='WixUI_Minimal' />
+      <UIRef Id='WixUI_FeatureTree' />
       <Publish
         Dialog='ExitDialog'
         Control='Finish'