diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 7224196..ccc3484 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-.PHONY: build run test
+.PHONY: build run install test
 
 APP := .build/Conjure.app
+INSTALL_DIR ?= /Applications
 
 build:
 	swift build -c release
@@ -12,5 +13,8 @@ build:
 run: build
 	swift Scripts/run.swift "$(APP)"
 
+install: build
+	swift Scripts/install.swift "$(APP)" "$(INSTALL_DIR)"
+
 test:
 	swift test
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index dcbbb6d..dbcef1f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 A native macOS application launcher. Open it normally, search for an application, and press Return to open it or bring its existing instance forward. Global shortcuts are deliberately deferred.
 
-## Build and run
+## Build, run, and install
 
 Requires macOS 14 or later and a Swift 6 toolchain (Xcode 16 or later).
 
@@ -14,9 +14,18 @@ This builds a release executable, assembles an ad-hoc-signed application at `.bu
 
 ```sh
 make build   # Build the application without opening it.
-make test    # Run the discovery and search behavior tests.
+make install # Install the application at /Applications/Conjure.app.
+make test    # Run behavior and installation safety tests.
 ```
 
+`make install` rebuilds the signed bundle and installs it without launching it. To install for your user only, or if `/Applications` is not writable:
+
+```sh
+make install INSTALL_DIR="$HOME/Applications"
+```
+
+Installation verifies a temporary copy before replacing the entire existing bundle, so removed resources do not linger. Quit the app at the destination before reinstalling; other running copies are left alone. Unrelated apps and symbolic-link destinations are not replaced. Installation does not request administrator privileges, and the signature remains local/ad-hoc rather than notarized.
+
 Open `Package.swift` in Xcode to edit the project. Use the bundled app above to run it with its application identity and metadata.
 
 ## Controls
diff --git a/Scripts/install.swift b/Scripts/install.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0422a8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Scripts/install.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+import AppKit
+
+struct InstallError: LocalizedError {
+    let errorDescription: String?
+}
+
+do {
+    guard CommandLine.arguments.count == 3, !CommandLine.arguments[2].isEmpty else {
+        throw InstallError(errorDescription: "Usage: swift Scripts/install.swift <Conjure.app> <installation directory>")
+    }
+    let manager = FileManager.default
+    let identifier = "dev.conjure.launcher"
+    let source = URL(fileURLWithPath: CommandLine.arguments[1], isDirectory: true)
+        .standardizedFileURL.resolvingSymlinksInPath()
+    let directory = URL(fileURLWithPath: (CommandLine.arguments[2] as NSString).expandingTildeInPath, isDirectory: true)
+        .standardizedFileURL.resolvingSymlinksInPath()
+    let destination = directory.appendingPathComponent("Conjure.app", isDirectory: true)
+    guard source.path != destination.path else {
+        throw InstallError(errorDescription: "The build and installation paths must be different.")
+    }
+    guard Bundle(url: source)?.bundleIdentifier == identifier else {
+        throw InstallError(errorDescription: "The source is not a Conjure application bundle.")
+    }
+
+    func validateDestination() throws -> Bool {
+        let exists = manager.fileExists(atPath: destination.path)
+        if exists {
+            guard try destination.resourceValues(forKeys: [.isSymbolicLinkKey]).isSymbolicLink != true,
+                  Bundle(url: destination)?.bundleIdentifier == identifier else {
+                throw InstallError(errorDescription: "Refusing to replace an unrelated app or symbolic link at \(destination.path).")
+            }
+        }
+        let running = NSRunningApplication.runningApplications(withBundleIdentifier: identifier)
+            .contains { $0.bundleURL?.resolvingSymlinksInPath().path == destination.path }
+        guard !running else {
+            throw InstallError(errorDescription: "Quit the installed Conjure at \(destination.path) before reinstalling.")
+        }
+        return exists
+    }
+
+    _ = try validateDestination()
+    try manager.createDirectory(at: directory, withIntermediateDirectories: true)
+    let staging = directory.appendingPathComponent(".Conjure-install-\(UUID().uuidString).app", isDirectory: true)
+    defer { try? manager.removeItem(at: staging) }
+    try manager.copyItem(at: source, to: staging)
+    let verification = Process()
+    verification.executableURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: "/usr/bin/codesign")
+    verification.arguments = ["--verify", "--strict", staging.path]
+    try verification.run()
+    verification.waitUntilExit()
+    guard verification.terminationStatus == 0 else {
+        throw InstallError(errorDescription: "Bundle signature verification failed; the installed app was not changed.")
+    }
+    if try validateDestination() {
+        _ = try manager.replaceItemAt(destination, withItemAt: staging, options: .usingNewMetadataOnly)
+    } else {
+        try manager.moveItem(at: staging, to: destination)
+    }
+    print("Installed Conjure at \(destination.path).")
+} catch {
+    FileHandle.standardError.write(Data("Installation failed: \(error.localizedDescription)\n".utf8))
+    exit(1)
+}
diff --git a/Tests/ConjureKitTests/InstallationTests.swift b/Tests/ConjureKitTests/InstallationTests.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..911a387
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Tests/ConjureKitTests/InstallationTests.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+import Foundation
+import Testing
+
+@Test func installationRefusesToReplaceAnUnrelatedApplication() throws {
+    let manager = FileManager.default
+    let root = manager.temporaryDirectory.appendingPathComponent(UUID().uuidString, isDirectory: true)
+    defer { try? manager.removeItem(at: root) }
+    let source = root.appendingPathComponent("Source/Conjure.app", isDirectory: true)
+    let contents = source.appendingPathComponent("Contents", isDirectory: true)
+    let executables = contents.appendingPathComponent("MacOS", isDirectory: true)
+    try manager.createDirectory(at: executables, withIntermediateDirectories: true)
+    try manager.copyItem(at: URL(fileURLWithPath: "/usr/bin/true"), to: executables.appendingPathComponent("Conjure"))
+    let info: [String: Any] = [
+        "CFBundleIdentifier": "dev.conjure.launcher",
+        "CFBundleExecutable": "Conjure",
+        "CFBundlePackageType": "APPL",
+        "CFBundleName": "Conjure",
+    ]
+    try PropertyListSerialization.data(fromPropertyList: info, format: .xml, options: 0)
+        .write(to: contents.appendingPathComponent("Info.plist"))
+    let signing = try installationCommand("/usr/bin/codesign", ["--force", "--sign", "-", source.path])
+    guard signing.status == 0 else { throw InstallationFixtureError(output: signing.output) }
+
+    let directory = root.appendingPathComponent("Applications", isDirectory: true)
+    let unrelated = directory.appendingPathComponent("Conjure.app", isDirectory: true)
+    let unrelatedContents = unrelated.appendingPathComponent("Contents", isDirectory: true)
+    try manager.createDirectory(at: unrelatedContents, withIntermediateDirectories: true)
+    try PropertyListSerialization.data(fromPropertyList: ["CFBundleIdentifier": "example.unrelated"], format: .xml, options: 0)
+        .write(to: unrelatedContents.appendingPathComponent("Info.plist"))
+    let marker = unrelated.appendingPathComponent("UserData.txt")
+    try Data("Keep this unrelated app".utf8).write(to: marker)
+    let repository = URL(fileURLWithPath: #filePath).deletingLastPathComponent()
+        .deletingLastPathComponent().deletingLastPathComponent()
+    let result = try installationCommand("/usr/bin/swift", [repository.appendingPathComponent("Scripts/install.swift").path, source.path, directory.path])
+    #expect(result.status != 0)
+    #expect(try String(contentsOf: marker, encoding: .utf8) == "Keep this unrelated app")
+    #expect(Bundle(url: unrelated)?.bundleIdentifier == "example.unrelated")
+}
+
+private struct InstallationFixtureError: Error {
+    let output: String
+}
+
+private func installationCommand(_ executable: String, _ arguments: [String]) throws -> (status: Int32, output: String) {
+    let process = Process()
+    process.executableURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: executable)
+    process.arguments = arguments
+    let output = Pipe()
+    process.standardOutput = output
+    process.standardError = output
+    try process.run()
+    let data = output.fileHandleForReading.readDataToEndOfFile()
+    process.waitUntilExit()
+    return (process.terminationStatus, String(decoding: data, as: UTF8.self))
+}