diff --git a/apps/linux/README.md b/apps/linux/README.md
index e69838b8ccb2..fb2829e7357f 100644
--- a/apps/linux/README.md
+++ b/apps/linux/README.md
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ cargo build
 
 The app uses `OPENCLAW_DESKTOP_CLI` when set. Otherwise it checks `~/.openclaw/bin/openclaw`, then `openclaw` on `PATH`.
 
-After a first-run CLI install, the app opens the local dashboard once with onboarding mode enabled. Reconnects and later app launches use the normal dashboard URL.
+On first run, release builds automatically install the stable CLI channel, while development builds ask for a release channel and preselect Development. After the CLI install, the app opens the local dashboard once with onboarding mode enabled. Reconnects and later app launches use the normal dashboard URL.
 
 ## Updates
 
diff --git a/apps/linux/src-tauri/build.rs b/apps/linux/src-tauri/build.rs
index d005858999b4..bd4adf8500d5 100644
--- a/apps/linux/src-tauri/build.rs
+++ b/apps/linux/src-tauri/build.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ fn main() {
     // target's invoke handler, so keep the Linux-only command permission known.
     const COMMANDS: &[&str] = &[
         "bootstrap",
+        "build_info",
         "canvas_a2ui_action",
         "check_for_updates",
         "connect_discovered_gateway",
diff --git a/apps/linux/src-tauri/permissions/autogenerated/build_info.toml b/apps/linux/src-tauri/permissions/autogenerated/build_info.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..be6dbdc2ac4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/linux/src-tauri/permissions/autogenerated/build_info.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Automatically generated - DO NOT EDIT!
+
+[[permission]]
+identifier = "allow-build-info"
+description = "Enables the build_info command without any pre-configured scope."
+commands.allow = ["build_info"]
+
+[[permission]]
+identifier = "deny-build-info"
+description = "Denies the build_info command without any pre-configured scope."
+commands.deny = ["build_info"]
diff --git a/apps/linux/src-tauri/src/main.rs b/apps/linux/src-tauri/src/main.rs
index cc202a98523c..c7d3d47e6d1e 100644
--- a/apps/linux/src-tauri/src/main.rs
+++ b/apps/linux/src-tauri/src/main.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ mod updater;
 use cli::{CliError, OpenClawCli};
 use gateway::{GatewayAction, GatewaySnapshot};
 use installer::InstallChannel;
+use serde::Serialize;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 use std::thread;
@@ -19,6 +20,18 @@ use tauri::{AppHandle, Manager, State, Url, WebviewWindow};
 const CONNECTED_WATCH_INTERVAL: Duration = Duration::from_secs(15);
 const RECONNECT_INTERVAL: Duration = Duration::from_secs(3);
 
+#[derive(Serialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+struct BuildInfo {
+    version: String,
+    release_build: bool,
+}
+
+fn is_release_version(version: &str) -> bool {
+    // The committed 0.1.0 version identifies branch builds; release builds are stamped by CI.
+    version != "0.1.0"
+}
+
 #[derive(Default)]
 struct NavigationState {
     // One lock owns both fields so the intent check and WebView navigation cannot interleave.
@@ -418,7 +431,18 @@ fn local_mode(snapshot: &GatewaySnapshot) -> &'static str {
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod navigation_tests {
-    use super::NavigationState;
+    use super::{is_release_version, NavigationState};
+
+    #[test]
+    fn committed_package_version_is_a_development_build() {
+        assert!(!is_release_version("0.1.0"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn stamped_package_versions_are_release_builds() {
+        assert!(is_release_version("2026.7.2"));
+        assert!(is_release_version("2026.7.2-beta.1"));
+    }
 
     #[test]
     fn newer_remote_selection_blocks_older_local_navigation() {
@@ -502,6 +526,15 @@ fn main_window(app: &AppHandle) -> Result<WebviewWindow, String> {
         .ok_or_else(|| "Main window is unavailable.".to_string())
 }
 
+#[tauri::command]
+fn build_info(app: AppHandle) -> BuildInfo {
+    let version = app.package_info().version.to_string();
+    BuildInfo {
+        release_build: is_release_version(&version),
+        version,
+    }
+}
+
 #[tauri::command]
 async fn bootstrap(
     app: AppHandle,
@@ -567,6 +600,7 @@ fn main() {
     #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
     let builder = builder.invoke_handler(tauri::generate_handler![
         bootstrap,
+        build_info,
         canvas::canvas_a2ui_action,
         updater::check_for_updates,
         discovery::connect_discovered_gateway,
@@ -580,6 +614,7 @@ fn main() {
     #[cfg(not(target_os = "linux"))]
     let builder = builder.invoke_handler(tauri::generate_handler![
         bootstrap,
+        build_info,
         updater::check_for_updates,
         discovery::connect_discovered_gateway,
         discovery::discover_gateways,
diff --git a/apps/linux/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json b/apps/linux/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
index 4e8cce117363..be26280c66e7 100644
--- a/apps/linux/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
+++ b/apps/linux/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
           "windows": ["main"],
           "permissions": [
             "allow-bootstrap",
+            "allow-build-info",
             "allow-check-for-updates",
             "allow-connect-discovered-gateway",
             "allow-discover-gateways",
diff --git a/apps/linux/ui/main.js b/apps/linux/ui/main.js
index e2272aaebc27..f6049f35d38c 100644
--- a/apps/linux/ui/main.js
+++ b/apps/linux/ui/main.js
@@ -189,6 +189,18 @@ async function connect() {
   try {
     const snapshot = await invoke("bootstrap");
     if (snapshot.phase === "missingCli") {
+      const buildInfo = await invoke("build_info").catch(() => null);
+      if (buildInfo?.releaseBuild === false) {
+        elements.channel.value = "dev";
+        render({
+          description:
+            "This companion is a development build, so its Gateway install should usually use the matching release channel.",
+          eyebrow: "FIRST-RUN SETUP",
+          showInstall: true,
+          title: "Choose a release channel",
+        });
+        return;
+      }
       render({
         activity: "Starting the bundled installer…",
         description: "OpenClaw is installing its managed CLI and Node runtime.",
diff --git a/docs/platforms/linux.md b/docs/platforms/linux.md
index 2db04238414b..a1d191b5a2cb 100644
--- a/docs/platforms/linux.md
+++ b/docs/platforms/linux.md
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ because it does not provide `node:sqlite`.
 
 The OpenClaw Linux companion is a Tauri desktop app for a local Gateway. It:
 
-- installs the OpenClaw CLI and managed Node runtime when they are missing
+- installs the OpenClaw CLI and managed Node runtime when they are missing; release builds install the stable channel automatically, while development builds ask for the channel first
 - attaches to a healthy Gateway before attempting service changes
 - delegates install, start, stop, and restart operations to the CLI-managed systemd user service
 - discovers nearby Bonjour Gateways and opens their Control UI from the resolved service endpoint