diff --git a/.github/workflows/fractured-launcher-ci.yml b/.github/workflows/fractured-launcher-ci.yml
index d66a062..3339e4c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/fractured-launcher-ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/fractured-launcher-ci.yml
@@ -38,9 +38,13 @@ jobs:
           cache-dependency-path: tools/fractured-launcher-electron/package-lock.json
 
       - name: Install and pack (NSIS + portable)
+        env:
+          GITEA_BASE_URL: ${{ secrets.GITEA_BASE_URL }}
+          GITEA_OWNER: ${{ secrets.GITEA_OWNER }}
+          GITEA_REPO: ${{ secrets.GITEA_REPO }}
         run: |
           npm ci
-          npx electron-builder --win nsis portable --x64 --publish never
+          npm run pack:win
 
       - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/gitea-release-sync.yml b/.github/workflows/gitea-release-sync.yml
index e7e77fa..dd8f571 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/gitea-release-sync.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/gitea-release-sync.yml
@@ -74,11 +74,15 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Install and pack (NSIS + portable)
         working-directory: tools/fractured-launcher-electron
+        env:
+          # Same values as upload step — baked into default-launcher.json (no token).
+          GITEA_BASE_URL: ${{ secrets.GITEA_BASE_URL }}
+          GITEA_OWNER: ${{ secrets.GITEA_OWNER }}
+          GITEA_REPO: ${{ secrets.GITEA_REPO }}
         run: |
           npm ci
-          # --publish never: on tagged checkouts electron-builder otherwise tries to
-          # push to GitHub releases and fails without GH_TOKEN (we upload via Gitea).
-          npx electron-builder --win nsis portable --x64 --publish never
+          # pack:win runs inject-release-channel.js then electron-builder --publish never
+          npm run pack:win
 
       - name: Stage launcher files for upload
         shell: pwsh
diff --git a/tools/fractured-launcher-electron/README.md b/tools/fractured-launcher-electron/README.md
index 6a424e4..541ee11 100644
--- a/tools/fractured-launcher-electron/README.md
+++ b/tools/fractured-launcher-electron/README.md
@@ -35,6 +35,15 @@ Produces under **`dist/`**:
 | `Fractured-Launcher-${version}-Setup.exe` (NSIS) | **Recommended for players** — supports seamless **auto-update** and restart. |
 | `Fractured-Launcher-${version}-Windows-Portable.exe` | No installer; players replace the file manually. Auto-update is **less reliable** than NSIS. |
 
+### Baked Gitea channel (non-token)
+
+**`npm run pack:win`** runs **`scripts/inject-release-channel.js`** first. It merges **`gitea.base_url`**, **`owner`**, **`repo`**, and optional **`release_tag`** into **`default-launcher.json`** for that build only (then **electron-builder** packs that file).
+
+- **GitHub Actions** — **Sync release to Gitea** and **Fractured launcher CI** export **`GITEA_BASE_URL`**, **`GITEA_OWNER`**, **`GITEA_REPO`** (same names as your upload secrets) for the pack step, so installers match the repo you sync to. Nothing embeds **`GITEA_TOKEN`**.
+- **Local packs** — put the same values in **`fractured-release-channel.json`** (committed or personal copy) **or** export those env vars before **`npm run pack:win`**.
+
+First launch still copies **`default-launcher.json`** → **`launcher.json`** beside the exe, so players get the baked **`gitea.*`** without editing unless they override.
+
 ## Auto-update behaviour
 
 - **Packaged** builds only (`npm run pack:win` output). In `npm start` dev mode, update checks are skipped (button still explains that).
@@ -81,7 +90,7 @@ CI workflow **Sync release to Gitea** (`.github/workflows/gitea-release-sync.yml
 
 **Optional variable** (Settings → Variables): **`GITEA_TARGET_REF`** — default branch/commitish used **only when the workflow must create a new Gitea release** and Gitea needs `target_commitish` (defaults to **`main`** in the upload script if unset).
 
-**Player `launcher.json`:** set **`gitea`** so **`from_release`** files resolve on your instance:
+**Player `launcher.json`:** packaged builds should already include **`gitea.base_url` / `owner` / `repo`** from the bake step above. Players only need to set **`GITEA_TOKEN`** (or your **`token_env`**) if the Gitea repo is **private**. To point at another instance, edit **`gitea`** in **`launcher.json`**:
 
 ```json
 "gitea": {
diff --git a/tools/fractured-launcher-electron/fractured-release-channel.json b/tools/fractured-launcher-electron/fractured-release-channel.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8663169
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/fractured-launcher-electron/fractured-release-channel.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "gitea": {
+    "base_url": "",
+    "owner": "",
+    "repo": "",
+    "release_tag": "latest"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/tools/fractured-launcher-electron/package.json b/tools/fractured-launcher-electron/package.json
index e480994..3adbd44 100644
--- a/tools/fractured-launcher-electron/package.json
+++ b/tools/fractured-launcher-electron/package.json
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@
   },
   "scripts": {
     "start": "electron .",
-    "pack:win": "electron-builder --win nsis portable --x64 --publish never",
-    "publish:win": "electron-builder --win nsis portable --x64 --publish never"
+    "pack:win": "node scripts/inject-release-channel.js && electron-builder --win nsis portable --x64 --publish never",
+    "publish:win": "node scripts/inject-release-channel.js && electron-builder --win nsis portable --x64 --publish never"
   },
   "author": "",
   "license": "GPL-3.0",
diff --git a/tools/fractured-launcher-electron/scripts/inject-release-channel.js b/tools/fractured-launcher-electron/scripts/inject-release-channel.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e14f874
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/fractured-launcher-electron/scripts/inject-release-channel.js
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+'use strict';
+
+/**
+ * Merge Gitea release channel (non-token) into default-launcher.json before pack.
+ * Precedence: env → fractured-release-channel.json → leave existing default-launcher values.
+ *
+ * Env (any of these names):
+ *   FRACTURED_LAUNCHER_GITEA_BASE_URL | GITEA_BASE_URL
+ *   FRACTURED_LAUNCHER_GITEA_OWNER   | GITEA_OWNER
+ *   FRACTURED_LAUNCHER_GITEA_REPO    | GITEA_REPO
+ *   FRACTURED_LAUNCHER_GITEA_RELEASE_TAG | GITEA_RELEASE_TAG
+ */
+const fs = require('fs');
+const path = require('path');
+
+const root = path.join(__dirname, '..');
+const defPath = path.join(root, 'default-launcher.json');
+const channelPath = path.join(root, 'fractured-release-channel.json');
+
+function pickEnv() {
+  return {
+    base_url: String(
+      process.env.FRACTURED_LAUNCHER_GITEA_BASE_URL || process.env.GITEA_BASE_URL || ''
+    ).trim(),
+    owner: String(
+      process.env.FRACTURED_LAUNCHER_GITEA_OWNER || process.env.GITEA_OWNER || ''
+    ).trim(),
+    repo: String(
+      process.env.FRACTURED_LAUNCHER_GITEA_REPO || process.env.GITEA_REPO || ''
+    ).trim(),
+    release_tag: String(
+      process.env.FRACTURED_LAUNCHER_GITEA_RELEASE_TAG || process.env.GITEA_RELEASE_TAG || ''
+    ).trim(),
+  };
+}
+
+function main() {
+  const cfg = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(defPath, 'utf8'));
+  cfg.gitea = cfg.gitea && typeof cfg.gitea === 'object' ? cfg.gitea : {};
+
+  let fileGitea = {};
+  try {
+    const raw = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(channelPath, 'utf8'));
+    if (raw && raw.gitea && typeof raw.gitea === 'object') fileGitea = raw.gitea;
+  } catch (e) {
+    if (e.code !== 'ENOENT') throw e;
+  }
+
+  const env = pickEnv();
+  const keys = ['base_url', 'owner', 'repo', 'release_tag'];
+  let changed = false;
+
+  for (const k of keys) {
+    const fromEnv = env[k];
+    const fromFile =
+      fileGitea[k] != null && String(fileGitea[k]).trim() !== '' ? String(fileGitea[k]).trim() : '';
+    const val = (fromEnv && String(fromEnv).trim()) || fromFile;
+    if (!val) continue;
+    if (cfg.gitea[k] !== val) {
+      cfg.gitea[k] = val;
+      changed = true;
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (!changed) {
+    console.log(
+      'inject-release-channel: no overrides (set GITEA_* env and/or fill fractured-release-channel.json)'
+    );
+    return;
+  }
+
+  fs.writeFileSync(defPath, `${JSON.stringify(cfg, null, 2)}\n`, 'utf8');
+  console.log('inject-release-channel: wrote gitea.* into default-launcher.json for this build');
+}
+
+main();