diff --git a/create-startup-shortcuts.ps1 b/create-startup-shortcuts.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3562c79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/create-startup-shortcuts.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+<#
+Installs (or removes) startup shortcuts so both watchdogs launch automatically,
+minimized to the taskbar, when you log in.
+
+- Runs at LOGON in your interactive desktop session (fires on Windows auto-login,
+  so no username/password is required — unlike a "run whether logged on or not"
+  boot task, which would need stored credentials).
+- Non-elevated, matching how the watchdogs are normally run by hand. This also
+  avoids the elevated-orphan-worker problem seen with /RL HIGHEST tasks.
+- Minimized window (not hidden) so the daily restart scripts can still find the
+  console by title and send WM_CLOSE for a clean llama-server shutdown.
+
+Usage:
+    .\create-startup-shortcuts.ps1            # install
+    .\create-startup-shortcuts.ps1 -Remove    # uninstall
+#>
+param([switch]$Remove)
+
+$ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
+$scriptDir = Split-Path $PSCommandPath -Parent
+$startup   = [Environment]::GetFolderPath('Startup')
+
+# WindowStyle for .lnk: 1 = Normal, 3 = Maximized, 7 = Minimized
+$MINIMIZED = 7
+
+$shortcuts = @(
+    @{ Name = "LLAMA Chat Watchdog";  Script = "watchdog.ps1" }
+    @{ Name = "LLAMA Embed Watchdog"; Script = "watchdog-embed.ps1" }
+)
+
+if ($Remove) {
+    foreach ($s in $shortcuts) {
+        $lnk = Join-Path $startup "$($s.Name).lnk"
+        if (Test-Path $lnk) {
+            Remove-Item $lnk -Force
+            Write-Host "[OK] Removed $lnk" -ForegroundColor Green
+        } else {
+            Write-Host "[--] Not present: $lnk" -ForegroundColor DarkGray
+        }
+    }
+    return
+}
+
+$wsh = New-Object -ComObject WScript.Shell
+
+foreach ($s in $shortcuts) {
+    $target = Join-Path $scriptDir $s.Script
+    if (-not (Test-Path $target)) { throw "Watchdog script not found: $target" }
+
+    $lnkPath = Join-Path $startup "$($s.Name).lnk"
+    $lnk = $wsh.CreateShortcut($lnkPath)
+    $lnk.TargetPath       = "$env:SystemRoot\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe"
+    $lnk.Arguments        = "-NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -NoExit -File `"$target`""
+    $lnk.WorkingDirectory = $scriptDir
+    $lnk.WindowStyle      = $MINIMIZED
+    $lnk.Description      = "Auto-start $($s.Script) minimized at logon"
+    $lnk.Save()
+    Write-Host "[OK] Installed $lnkPath (minimized, launches $($s.Script))" -ForegroundColor Green
+}
+
+Write-Host ""
+Write-Host "Startup folder: $startup"
+Write-Host "They will launch minimized on your next login. To start them now:"
+Write-Host "  Start-Process powershell -WindowStyle Minimized -ArgumentList '-NoProfile','-NoExit','-File','$(Join-Path $scriptDir "watchdog.ps1")'"
+Write-Host "  Start-Process powershell -WindowStyle Minimized -ArgumentList '-NoProfile','-NoExit','-File','$(Join-Path $scriptDir "watchdog-embed.ps1")'"
+Write-Host ""
+Write-Host "To remove: .\create-startup-shortcuts.ps1 -Remove"
diff --git a/restart-watchdog-embed.ps1 b/restart-watchdog-embed.ps1
index 214a26d..6c89fd4 100644
--- a/restart-watchdog-embed.ps1
+++ b/restart-watchdog-embed.ps1
@@ -71,9 +71,9 @@ if (-not $found) {
 # --- Brief pause before restart to let ports fully release ---
 Start-Sleep -Seconds 3
 
-# --- Launch fresh embed watchdog in a visible console ---
+# --- Launch fresh embed watchdog in a minimized console ---
 Log "Starting fresh embed watchdog"
-Start-Process powershell -WindowStyle Normal `
+Start-Process powershell -WindowStyle Minimized `
     -ArgumentList "-NoExit", "-NoProfile", "-File", "`"$watchdog`"" `
     -WorkingDirectory $scriptDir
 
diff --git a/restart-watchdog.ps1 b/restart-watchdog.ps1
index dfc7d11..456a1ec 100644
--- a/restart-watchdog.ps1
+++ b/restart-watchdog.ps1
@@ -76,9 +76,9 @@ if (-not $found) {
 # --- Brief pause before restart to let ports fully release ---
 Start-Sleep -Seconds 3
 
-# --- Launch fresh watchdog in a visible console ---
+# --- Launch fresh watchdog in a minimized console ---
 Log "Starting fresh watchdog"
-Start-Process powershell -WindowStyle Normal `
+Start-Process powershell -WindowStyle Minimized `
     -ArgumentList "-NoExit", "-NoProfile", "-File", "`"$watchdog`"" `
     -WorkingDirectory $scriptDir
 
diff --git a/watchdog-embed.ps1 b/watchdog-embed.ps1
index 4e9e8e8..462fa4a 100644
--- a/watchdog-embed.ps1
+++ b/watchdog-embed.ps1
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 # Usage: .\watchdog-embed.ps1 [extra args forwarded to embed_proxy.py]
 
 $ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
+
+# Stable console title so the daily restart scripts can find this window by
+# title (matches *embed*, and deliberately contains no "watchdog" so the chat
+# restart never catches this window). Also survives minimized launches.
+$host.UI.RawUI.WindowTitle = "llama-embed-supervisor"
+
 $scriptDir = Split-Path $PSCommandPath -Parent
 $python    = Join-Path $scriptDir ".venv\Scripts\python.exe"
 $proxy     = Join-Path $scriptDir "embed_proxy.py"
diff --git a/watchdog.ps1 b/watchdog.ps1
index 7f6d368..4cf1926 100644
--- a/watchdog.ps1
+++ b/watchdog.ps1
@@ -8,6 +8,12 @@
 # --model and --ctx-size only set the fallback when a client omits the model.
 
 $ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
+
+# Stable console title so the daily restart scripts can find this window by
+# title (matches *watchdog*, and deliberately contains no "embed" so the chat
+# restart never catches the embed watchdog). Also survives minimized launches.
+$host.UI.RawUI.WindowTitle = "llama-chat-watchdog"
+
 $scriptDir = Split-Path $PSCommandPath -Parent
 $python    = Join-Path $scriptDir ".venv\Scripts\python.exe"
 $proxy     = Join-Path $scriptDir "proxy.py"