diff --git a/src/app/features/toast/LotusToastContainer.tsx b/src/app/features/toast/LotusToastContainer.tsx
index 070d0953e..23634ed91 100644
--- a/src/app/features/toast/LotusToastContainer.tsx
+++ b/src/app/features/toast/LotusToastContainer.tsx
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ function ToastCard({ toast }: ToastCardProps) {
 
   const handleDismiss = (e: React.MouseEvent) => {
     e.stopPropagation();
+    toast.onDismiss?.();
     dismiss(toast.id);
   };
 
diff --git a/src/app/hooks/usePwaInstallPrompt.ts b/src/app/hooks/usePwaInstallPrompt.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d818fefc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/hooks/usePwaInstallPrompt.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+import { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
+import { useSetAtom } from 'jotai';
+import { Icons } from 'folds';
+import { isTauri } from './useTauri';
+import { ua } from '../utils/user-agent';
+import { dismissToastAtom, toastQueueAtom } from '../state/toast';
+import { installHintKind, shouldShowInstallHint } from '../utils/pwaInstall';
+
+const VISITS_KEY = 'pwa-install-visits';
+const DISMISSED_KEY = 'pwa-install-dismissed-at';
+const SESSION_COUNTED_KEY = 'pwa-install-visit-counted';
+const TOAST_ID = 'pwa-install-hint';
+// Give the browser a moment to fire beforeinstallprompt (Chromium does so
+// shortly after load once the manifest checks pass) before deciding which hint.
+const DECIDE_DELAY_MS = 6000;
+
+type BeforeInstallPromptEvent = Event & {
+  prompt: () => Promise<void>;
+  userChoice: Promise<{ outcome: 'accepted' | 'dismissed' }>;
+};
+
+const readNumber = (key: string): number | null => {
+  try {
+    const raw = localStorage.getItem(key);
+    if (raw === null) return null;
+    const n = Number(raw);
+    return Number.isFinite(n) ? n : null;
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+};
+
+const write = (key: string, value: string): void => {
+  try {
+    localStorage.setItem(key, value);
+  } catch {
+    /* blocked storage — the hint just won't be remembered */
+  }
+};
+
+/** One visit per browser session (tab lifetime), not per React mount. */
+const countVisit = (): number => {
+  try {
+    if (sessionStorage.getItem(SESSION_COUNTED_KEY)) return readNumber(VISITS_KEY) ?? 1;
+    sessionStorage.setItem(SESSION_COUNTED_KEY, '1');
+  } catch {
+    return readNumber(VISITS_KEY) ?? 1;
+  }
+  const next = (readNumber(VISITS_KEY) ?? 0) + 1;
+  write(VISITS_KEY, String(next));
+  return next;
+};
+
+const isStandalone = (): boolean =>
+  window.matchMedia?.('(display-mode: standalone)').matches === true ||
+  (navigator as Navigator & { standalone?: boolean }).standalone === true;
+
+const isIosSafari = (): boolean => {
+  const { os, browser } = ua();
+  return os.name === 'iOS' && (browser.name ?? '').includes('Safari');
+};
+
+/**
+ * [Gitea #116] Offer to install the PWA: a real prompt on Chromium (deferred
+ * `beforeinstallprompt`), Share-sheet instructions on iOS Safari, nothing
+ * elsewhere. Shown as a sticky toast from the second visit, snoozed 30 days on
+ * dismiss, never in Tauri or an installed PWA. Mount once for signed-in users.
+ */
+export function usePwaInstallPrompt(): void {
+  const enqueueToast = useSetAtom(toastQueueAtom);
+  const dismissToast = useSetAtom(dismissToastAtom);
+  const deferredRef = useRef<BeforeInstallPromptEvent | null>(null);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (isTauri() || isStandalone()) return undefined;
+
+    const onBeforeInstall = (evt: Event) => {
+      evt.preventDefault();
+      deferredRef.current = evt as BeforeInstallPromptEvent;
+    };
+    const onInstalled = () => {
+      deferredRef.current = null;
+      dismissToast(TOAST_ID);
+      write(DISMISSED_KEY, String(Date.now()));
+    };
+    window.addEventListener('beforeinstallprompt', onBeforeInstall);
+    window.addEventListener('appinstalled', onInstalled);
+
+    const visits = countVisit();
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+      const show = shouldShowInstallHint({
+        isTauri: false,
+        isStandalone: isStandalone(),
+        visits,
+        dismissedAt: readNumber(DISMISSED_KEY),
+        now: Date.now(),
+      });
+      if (!show) return;
+      const kind = installHintKind(deferredRef.current !== null, isIosSafari());
+      if (kind === 'none') return;
+
+      const dismiss = () => {
+        write(DISMISSED_KEY, String(Date.now()));
+        dismissToast(TOAST_ID);
+      };
+
+      enqueueToast({
+        id: TOAST_ID,
+        iconSrc: Icons.Download,
+        displayName: 'Install Lotus Chat',
+        body:
+          kind === 'prompt'
+            ? 'Add it to your home screen or desktop for faster access and its own window. Tap to install.'
+            : 'On iPhone/iPad: tap Share, then "Add to Home Screen". Tap to dismiss.',
+        roomName: '',
+        roomId: '',
+        sticky: true,
+        onDismiss: () => write(DISMISSED_KEY, String(Date.now())),
+        onClick: () => {
+          const deferred = deferredRef.current;
+          if (kind === 'prompt' && deferred) {
+            deferred
+              .prompt()
+              .then(() => deferred.userChoice)
+              .then(({ outcome }) => {
+                if (outcome === 'accepted') deferredRef.current = null;
+              })
+              .catch(() => undefined)
+              .finally(dismiss);
+            return;
+          }
+          dismiss();
+        },
+      });
+    }, DECIDE_DELAY_MS);
+
+    return () => {
+      clearTimeout(timer);
+      window.removeEventListener('beforeinstallprompt', onBeforeInstall);
+      window.removeEventListener('appinstalled', onInstalled);
+    };
+  }, [enqueueToast, dismissToast]);
+}
diff --git a/src/app/pages/client/ClientNonUIFeatures.tsx b/src/app/pages/client/ClientNonUIFeatures.tsx
index e28a885aa..85c604f16 100644
--- a/src/app/pages/client/ClientNonUIFeatures.tsx
+++ b/src/app/pages/client/ClientNonUIFeatures.tsx
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import { useSetting } from '../../state/hooks/settings';
 import { settingsAtom } from '../../state/settings';
 import { setStripTrackingOnRender } from '../../plugins/react-custom-html-parser';
 import { useSettingsSync } from '../../hooks/useSettingsSync';
+import { usePwaInstallPrompt } from '../../hooks/usePwaInstallPrompt';
 import { allInvitesAtom } from '../../state/room-list/inviteList';
 import { useMatrixClient } from '../../hooks/useMatrixClient';
 import { useHydrateMsgDrafts } from '../../hooks/useHydrateMsgDrafts';
@@ -105,6 +106,12 @@ function SettingsSyncFeature() {
   return null;
 }
 
+// [Gitea #116] Offer to install the PWA (Chromium prompt / iOS instructions).
+function PwaInstallFeature() {
+  usePwaInstallPrompt();
+  return null;
+}
+
 function PageZoomFeature() {
   const [pageZoom] = useSetting(settingsAtom, 'pageZoom');
 
@@ -906,6 +913,7 @@ export function ClientNonUIFeatures({ children }: ClientNonUIFeaturesProps) {
       <PageZoomFeature />
       <TrackingParamsFeature />
       <SettingsSyncFeature />
+      <PwaInstallFeature />
       <FaviconUpdater />
       <PresenceUpdater />
       <MuteTimerRestore />
diff --git a/src/app/state/toast.ts b/src/app/state/toast.ts
index 61da74abc..4a228d03c 100644
--- a/src/app/state/toast.ts
+++ b/src/app/state/toast.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export type ToastNotif = {
   hashPath?: string; // overrides window.location.hash navigation when set
   onClick?: () => void; // custom click handler; skips hash navigation when set
   sticky?: boolean; // when true, does not auto-dismiss — use for action toasts that require a click
+  onDismiss?: () => void; // called when the user closes the toast with its X (not on click/eviction)
   createdAt?: number; // set by toastQueueAtom when enqueued; used for #80 eviction ordering
 };
 
diff --git a/src/app/utils/pwaInstall.test.ts b/src/app/utils/pwaInstall.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3f0d06c37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/utils/pwaInstall.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import { describe, it } from 'node:test';
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import { INSTALL_HINT_SNOOZE_MS, installHintKind, shouldShowInstallHint } from './pwaInstall';
+
+const base = { isTauri: false, isStandalone: false, visits: 2, dismissedAt: null, now: 1_000_000 };
+
+describe('shouldShowInstallHint', () => {
+  it('shows from the second visit in a plain browser tab', () => {
+    assert.equal(shouldShowInstallHint(base), true);
+    assert.equal(shouldShowInstallHint({ ...base, visits: 1 }), false);
+  });
+
+  it('never shows in the desktop app or an installed PWA', () => {
+    assert.equal(shouldShowInstallHint({ ...base, isTauri: true }), false);
+    assert.equal(shouldShowInstallHint({ ...base, isStandalone: true }), false);
+  });
+
+  it('snoozes for 30 days after a dismissal', () => {
+    const dismissedAt = base.now - INSTALL_HINT_SNOOZE_MS + 1;
+    assert.equal(shouldShowInstallHint({ ...base, dismissedAt }), false);
+    assert.equal(
+      shouldShowInstallHint({ ...base, dismissedAt: base.now - INSTALL_HINT_SNOOZE_MS }),
+      true,
+    );
+  });
+});
+
+describe('installHintKind', () => {
+  it('prefers a real prompt, falls back to iOS instructions, else nothing', () => {
+    assert.equal(installHintKind(true, true), 'prompt');
+    assert.equal(installHintKind(false, true), 'ios-share');
+    assert.equal(installHintKind(false, false), 'none');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/app/utils/pwaInstall.ts b/src/app/utils/pwaInstall.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0cf6fec63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/utils/pwaInstall.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/**
+ * [Gitea #116] PWA install hint — pure decision logic.
+ *
+ * Chromium fires `beforeinstallprompt`; iOS Safari never prompts and only
+ * installs via Share → "Add to Home Screen", so people on phones simply never
+ * find it. The hint is shown once the user has come back at least once (second
+ * visit), never inside the desktop app or an already-installed PWA, and snoozes
+ * for 30 days after a dismissal.
+ */
+
+export const INSTALL_HINT_MIN_VISITS = 2;
+export const INSTALL_HINT_SNOOZE_MS = 30 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000;
+
+export type InstallHintInput = {
+  /** Running inside the Tauri desktop app. */
+  isTauri: boolean;
+  /** `display-mode: standalone` or iOS `navigator.standalone` — already installed. */
+  isStandalone: boolean;
+  /** Distinct app visits recorded so far, including this one. */
+  visits: number;
+  /** Epoch ms of the last dismissal, or null. */
+  dismissedAt: number | null;
+  now: number;
+};
+
+export const shouldShowInstallHint = ({
+  isTauri,
+  isStandalone,
+  visits,
+  dismissedAt,
+  now,
+}: InstallHintInput): boolean => {
+  if (isTauri || isStandalone) return false;
+  if (visits < INSTALL_HINT_MIN_VISITS) return false;
+  if (dismissedAt !== null && now - dismissedAt < INSTALL_HINT_SNOOZE_MS) return false;
+  return true;
+};
+
+export type InstallHintKind = 'prompt' | 'ios-share' | 'none';
+
+/**
+ * Which hint to show: a real install prompt when the browser handed us a
+ * deferred `beforeinstallprompt`, the manual Share-sheet instructions on iOS
+ * Safari, or nothing (Firefox desktop and friends have no install path — a
+ * hint there would just be noise).
+ */
+export const installHintKind = (
+  hasDeferredPrompt: boolean,
+  isIosSafari: boolean,
+): InstallHintKind => {
+  if (hasDeferredPrompt) return 'prompt';
+  if (isIosSafari) return 'ios-share';
+  return 'none';
+};