diff --git a/qt/launcher/src/main.rs b/qt/launcher/src/main.rs
index d8903140d..e6da056cf 100644
--- a/qt/launcher/src/main.rs
+++ b/qt/launcher/src/main.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 use std::io::stdin;
 use std::io::stdout;
 use std::io::Write;
-use std::os::unix::process::CommandExt;
 use std::process::Command;
 use std::time::SystemTime;
 use std::time::UNIX_EPOCH;
@@ -25,8 +24,8 @@ use anyhow::Result;
 use crate::platform::ensure_terminal_shown;
 use crate::platform::get_exe_and_resources_dirs;
 use crate::platform::get_uv_binary_name;
-use crate::platform::launch_anki_after_update;
 use crate::platform::launch_anki_normally;
+use crate::platform::respawn_launcher;
 
 mod platform;
 
@@ -148,8 +147,8 @@ fn run() -> Result<()> {
         println!("\x1B[1mYou can close this window.\x1B[0m\n");
     }
 
-    let cmd = build_python_command(&state.uv_install_root, &[])?;
-    launch_anki_after_update(cmd)?;
+    // respawn the launcher as a disconnected subprocess for normal startup
+    respawn_launcher()?;
 
     Ok(())
 }
@@ -493,7 +492,7 @@ fn build_python_command(uv_install_root: &std::path::Path, args: &[String]) -> R
     };
 
     let mut cmd = Command::new(python_exe);
-    cmd.args(["-c", "import aqt; aqt.run()"]);
+    cmd.args(["-c", "import aqt, sys; sys.argv[0] = 'Anki'; aqt.run()"]);
     cmd.args(args);
     // tell the Python code it was invoked by the launcher, and updating is
     // available
diff --git a/qt/launcher/src/platform/mod.rs b/qt/launcher/src/platform/mod.rs
index 9dc74f8e9..c94f1d1ac 100644
--- a/qt/launcher/src/platform/mod.rs
+++ b/qt/launcher/src/platform/mod.rs
@@ -49,10 +49,32 @@ pub fn get_uv_binary_name() -> &'static str {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn launch_anki_after_update(mut cmd: std::process::Command) -> Result<()> {
+pub fn respawn_launcher() -> Result<()> {
     use std::process::Stdio;
 
-    cmd.stdin(Stdio::null())
+    let mut launcher_cmd = if cfg!(target_os = "macos") {
+        // On macOS, we need to launch the .app bundle, not the executable directly
+        let current_exe =
+            std::env::current_exe().context("Failed to get current executable path")?;
+
+        // Navigate from Contents/MacOS/launcher to the .app bundle
+        let app_bundle = current_exe
+            .parent() // MacOS
+            .and_then(|p| p.parent()) // Contents
+            .and_then(|p| p.parent()) // .app
+            .context("Failed to find .app bundle")?;
+
+        let mut cmd = std::process::Command::new("open");
+        cmd.arg(app_bundle);
+        cmd
+    } else {
+        let current_exe =
+            std::env::current_exe().context("Failed to get current executable path")?;
+        std::process::Command::new(current_exe)
+    };
+
+    launcher_cmd
+        .stdin(Stdio::null())
         .stdout(Stdio::null())
         .stderr(Stdio::null());
 
@@ -61,16 +83,16 @@ pub fn launch_anki_after_update(mut cmd: std::process::Command) -> Result<()> {
         use std::os::windows::process::CommandExt;
         const CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP: u32 = 0x00000200;
         const DETACHED_PROCESS: u32 = 0x00000008;
-        cmd.creation_flags(CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP | DETACHED_PROCESS);
+        launcher_cmd.creation_flags(CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP | DETACHED_PROCESS);
     }
 
-    #[cfg(unix)]
+    #[cfg(all(unix, not(target_os = "macos")))]
     {
         use std::os::unix::process::CommandExt;
-        cmd.process_group(0);
+        launcher_cmd.process_group(0);
     }
 
-    let child = cmd.ensure_spawn()?;
+    let child = launcher_cmd.ensure_spawn()?;
     std::mem::forget(child);
 
     Ok(())