diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index ec25806..25821f2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ jobs:
             '## Requirements'
             ''
             '- **Windows 10/11 (x64)**'
+            '- **Windows App SDK 2.4** runtime'
             '- **.NET 10 Desktop Runtime** — https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet/10.0'
             ''
             '## Notes'
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 58259cb..c156b77 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ All notable changes to Reentry are documented here. The format follows
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+- Launch on Windows 11 25H2: use the installed WASDK 2.4 runtime instead of the self-contained CoreMessagingXP payload (0xC0000602). Give the tray icon a generated glyph so ForceCreate has an IconSource.
+
 ## [0.1.0-alpha1] - 2026-08-20
 
 First scaffold — a Windows startup / session-restore monitor.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6a9f49d..06cc234 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -62,8 +62,7 @@ pwsh ./publish.ps1 -SelfContained  # bundles the .NET runtime (portable, larger)
 
 → `publish/Reentry.exe`
 
-The Windows App SDK runtime is bundled (`WindowsAppSDKSelfContained=true`); the
-app is unpackaged (`WindowsPackageType=None`).
+The app is unpackaged (`WindowsPackageType=None`) and uses the installed Windows App SDK 2.4 runtime (`WindowsAppSDKSelfContained=false`). The self-contained 2.4 CoreMessagingXP payload fail-fasts on Windows 11 25H2.
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/publish.ps1 b/publish.ps1
index 4c9b28c..988eef0 100644
--- a/publish.ps1
+++ b/publish.ps1
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Publishes Reentry as a framework-dependent Windows app into .\publish\.
 # Requires the .NET 10 Desktop Runtime on the target machine.
-# The Windows App SDK runtime is bundled (WindowsAppSDKSelfContained=true).
+# Requires the Windows App SDK 2.4 runtime (WindowsAppSDKSelfContained=false; the self-contained 2.4 CoreMessagingXP payload fail-fasts on Windows 11 25H2).
 #
 # Usage: pwsh ./publish.ps1                 (framework-dependent .NET, small)
 #        pwsh ./publish.ps1 -SelfContained  (bundles the .NET runtime, large but portable)
diff --git a/src/Reentry.App/Reentry.App.csproj b/src/Reentry.App/Reentry.App.csproj
index a06691f..b38354c 100644
--- a/src/Reentry.App/Reentry.App.csproj
+++ b/src/Reentry.App/Reentry.App.csproj
@@ -13,7 +13,10 @@
     <UseWinUI>true</UseWinUI>
     <WinUISDKReferences>false</WinUISDKReferences>
     <WindowsPackageType>None</WindowsPackageType>
-    <WindowsAppSDKSelfContained>true</WindowsAppSDKSelfContained>
+    <!-- Self-contained WASDK 2.4.0 ships CoreMessagingXP 10.0.27200.1048, which
+         fail-fasts (0xC0000602) on Windows 11 25H2 (26200) at the first Window().
+         Use the installed Microsoft.WindowsAppRuntime.2 2.4.0 framework package. -->
+    <WindowsAppSDKSelfContained>false</WindowsAppSDKSelfContained>
     <WindowsAppSdkBootstrapInitialize>true</WindowsAppSdkBootstrapInitialize>
     <EnableMsixTooling>false</EnableMsixTooling>
     <ApplicationManifest>app.manifest</ApplicationManifest>
@@ -38,7 +41,6 @@
       <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
     </PackageReference>
     <PackageReference Include="CommunityToolkit.Mvvm" Version="8.4.2" />
-    <PackageReference Include="CommunityToolkit.WinUI" Version="7.1.2" />
     <PackageReference Include="H.NotifyIcon.WinUI" Version="2.4.1" />
     <PackageReference Include="System.Diagnostics.EventLog" Version="10.0.0" />
   </ItemGroup>
@@ -50,4 +52,4 @@
     <Content Include="..\..\README.md" Link="README.md" CopyToOutputDirectory="PreserveNewest" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
-</Project>
+</Project>
diff --git a/src/Reentry.App/Services/TrayIconHost.cs b/src/Reentry.App/Services/TrayIconHost.cs
index b0ba7da..53e921b 100644
--- a/src/Reentry.App/Services/TrayIconHost.cs
+++ b/src/Reentry.App/Services/TrayIconHost.cs
@@ -19,18 +19,26 @@ public TrayIconHost(Action showHud, Action showSettings, Action exit)
 
     public void Show()
     {
-        var menu = new MenuFlyout();
-        menu.Items.Add(Item("Show progress", _showHud));
-        menu.Items.Add(Item("Settings", _showSettings));
-        menu.Items.Add(new MenuFlyoutSeparator());
-        menu.Items.Add(Item("Exit", _exit));
+        try
+        {
+            var menu = new MenuFlyout();
+            menu.Items.Add(Item("Show progress", _showHud));
+            menu.Items.Add(Item("Settings", _showSettings));
+            menu.Items.Add(new MenuFlyoutSeparator());
+            menu.Items.Add(Item("Exit", _exit));
 
-        _icon = new TaskbarIcon
+            _icon = new TaskbarIcon
+            {
+                ToolTipText = "Reentry",
+                ContextFlyout = menu,
+                IconSource = new GeneratedIconSource { Text = "R" },
+            };
+            _icon.ForceCreate();
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex)
         {
-            ToolTipText = "Reentry",
-            ContextFlyout = menu,
-        };
-        _icon.ForceCreate();
+            System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(ex);
+        }
     }
 
     private static MenuFlyoutItem Item(string text, Action action)
@@ -41,4 +49,4 @@ private static MenuFlyoutItem Item(string text, Action action)
     }
 
     public void Dispose() => _icon?.Dispose();
-}
+}