diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-desktop.yml b/.github/workflows/release-desktop.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..be60c1d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-desktop.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+name: Build and Release Desktop Apps
+
+on:
+  push:
+    tags:
+      - 'v*.*.*'  # Trigger on version tags like v2.1.0
+  workflow_dispatch:  # Allow manual triggering
+
+permissions:
+  contents: write  # Required to create GitHub Releases
+
+jobs:
+  build-desktop:
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        os: [ubuntu-latest, windows-latest, macos-latest]
+        include:
+          - os: ubuntu-latest
+            platform: linux
+            artifact: ODIA-*.AppImage
+          - os: windows-latest
+            platform: windows
+            artifact: ODIA-Setup-*.exe
+          - os: macos-latest
+            platform: mac
+            artifact: ODIA-*.dmg
+
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Setup Node.js
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: '20'
+          cache: 'npm'
+          cache-dependency-path: desktop/package-lock.json
+
+      - name: Setup Python
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version: '3.11'
+          cache: 'pip'
+
+      - name: Install system dependencies (Linux)
+        if: matrix.os == 'ubuntu-latest'
+        run: |
+          sudo apt-get update
+          sudo apt-get install -y build-essential fakeroot rpm libfuse2
+
+      - name: Install Python dependencies
+        run: |
+          python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+          pip install -e ".[dev]"
+          pip install pyinstaller
+
+      - name: Build Python backend
+        working-directory: desktop
+        run: |
+          npm ci
+          npm run build:backend
+
+      - name: Build frontend for Electron
+        working-directory: frontend
+        shell: bash
+        env:
+          ELECTRON_BUILD: '1'
+        run: |
+          npm ci
+          npx next build
+
+      - name: Copy frontend to desktop build
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p desktop/build/frontend
+          if [ -d "frontend/out" ]; then
+            cp -r frontend/out/. desktop/build/frontend/
+          else
+            echo "Error: frontend/out not found. Ensure ELECTRON_BUILD=1 was set." >&2
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+      - name: Build Electron installer
+        working-directory: desktop
+        run: npm run build
+
+      - name: Upload artifacts
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: odia-desktop-${{ matrix.platform }}
+          path: desktop/dist/${{ matrix.artifact }}
+          retention-days: 7
+
+      - name: Upload to Release
+        if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v')
+        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v1
+        with:
+          files: desktop/dist/*
+          draft: false
+          prerelease: false
+          generate_release_notes: true
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bf7a6a1..0625011 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -17,16 +17,21 @@ Legistar-based jurisdiction or custom legal corpus.
 
 **Desktop App (no installation prerequisites):**
 
-Download the standalone desktop application — no Python, Docker, or command line
-required. All analysis runs locally on your machine.
+Pre-built installers will be available in the [Releases](https://github.com/SynTechRev/ODIA/releases) section soon. For now, build the desktop application locally:
 
-| Platform | Download |
-|----------|----------|
-| Windows  | [ODIA-Setup.exe](https://github.com/SynTechRev/ODIA/releases/latest/download/ODIA-Setup.exe) |
-| macOS    | [ODIA.dmg](https://github.com/SynTechRev/ODIA/releases/latest/download/ODIA.dmg) |
-| Linux    | [ODIA.AppImage](https://github.com/SynTechRev/ODIA/releases/latest/download/ODIA.AppImage) |
+```bash
+# Build desktop application
+cd desktop
+npm install
+npm run build:backend    # Build Python backend
+cd ../frontend
+npm ci
+ELECTRON_BUILD=1 npm run build  # Build frontend for Electron
+cd ../desktop
+npm run build            # Create installer for your platform
+```
 
-See [desktop/README.md](desktop/README.md) for usage instructions and troubleshooting.
+Installers are output to `desktop/dist/`. See [desktop/README.md](desktop/README.md) for detailed build instructions and platform-specific requirements.
 
 **With Docker (no Python/Node required):**
 ```bash
diff --git a/docs/RELEASING.md b/docs/RELEASING.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d6db8b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/RELEASING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+# Release Process
+
+## Automated Desktop Releases
+
+Desktop application releases are automated via GitHub Actions
+(`.github/workflows/release-desktop.yml`).
+
+### Creating a New Release
+
+1. **Update version** in relevant package files:
+
+   ```bash
+   # Update desktop/package.json version field to X.Y.Z
+   # Update pyproject.toml version field to X.Y.Z
+   ```
+
+2. **Commit version bump:**
+
+   ```bash
+   git add desktop/package.json pyproject.toml
+   git commit -m "chore: bump version to X.Y.Z"
+   git push
+   ```
+
+3. **Create and push tag:**
+
+   ```bash
+   git tag vX.Y.Z
+   git push origin vX.Y.Z
+   ```
+
+4. **GitHub Actions automatically:**
+   - Builds desktop installers for Windows, macOS, and Linux
+   - Creates a GitHub Release
+   - Uploads installers as release assets
+   - Generates release notes
+
+5. **Verify release:**
+   - Check <https://github.com/SynTechRev/ODIA/releases>
+   - Test download links work
+   - Download and test installers on each platform
+
+### Manual Release (Fallback)
+
+If the automated release fails:
+
+```bash
+# Build locally for your platform
+cd desktop
+npm run build:win     # Windows
+npm run build:mac     # macOS
+npm run build:linux   # Linux
+
+# Manually create a release on GitHub and upload installers from desktop/dist/
+```
+
+## Release Checklist
+
+- [ ] Version bumped in `desktop/package.json`
+- [ ] Version bumped in `pyproject.toml`
+- [ ] CHANGELOG updated (if maintained)
+- [ ] All tests passing (`pytest` and `cd desktop && npm test`)
+- [ ] Desktop app builds successfully locally
+- [ ] Tag created and pushed (`git tag vX.Y.Z && git push origin vX.Y.Z`)
+- [ ] GitHub Actions workflow completes without errors
+- [ ] Release appears on <https://github.com/SynTechRev/ODIA/releases>
+- [ ] Download links tested
+- [ ] Installers tested on target platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux)
+
+## Workflow Overview
+
+The release workflow (`.github/workflows/release-desktop.yml`) runs on:
+
+- **Version tags** matching `v*.*.*` (e.g., `v2.1.0`) — full build + release
+- **Manual dispatch** — full build + artifact upload (no release created unless on a tag)
+
+The existing CI workflow (`.github/workflows/desktop-build.yml`) handles
+continuous integration builds for pull requests and branch pushes.