diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 61cca8649..d2ce2ce2a 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ unic-ucd-category = "0.9.0"
 unicode-normalization = "0.1.24"
 walkdir = "2.5.0"
 which = "8.0.0"
-winapi = { version = "0.3", features = ["wincon"] }
+winapi = { version = "0.3", features = ["wincon", "errhandlingapi", "consoleapi"] }
 windows = { version = "0.61.3", features = ["Media_SpeechSynthesis", "Media_Core", "Foundation_Collections", "Storage_Streams"] }
 wiremock = "0.6.3"
 xz2 = "0.1.7"
diff --git a/qt/launcher/src/bin/build_win.rs b/qt/launcher/src/bin/build_win.rs
index 959034438..ff385d9ea 100644
--- a/qt/launcher/src/bin/build_win.rs
+++ b/qt/launcher/src/bin/build_win.rs
@@ -114,10 +114,13 @@ fn copy_files(output_dir: &Path) -> Result<()> {
     let launcher_dst = output_dir.join("anki.exe");
     copy_file(&launcher_src, &launcher_dst)?;
 
-    // Copy uv.exe
+    // Copy uv.exe and uvw.exe
     let uv_src = PathBuf::from("../../../out/extracted/uv/uv.exe");
     let uv_dst = output_dir.join("uv.exe");
     copy_file(&uv_src, &uv_dst)?;
+    let uv_src = PathBuf::from("../../../out/extracted/uv/uvw.exe");
+    let uv_dst = output_dir.join("uvw.exe");
+    copy_file(&uv_src, &uv_dst)?;
 
     println!("Copying support files...");
 
diff --git a/qt/launcher/src/main.rs b/qt/launcher/src/main.rs
index 4f397ad99..40896caa9 100644
--- a/qt/launcher/src/main.rs
+++ b/qt/launcher/src/main.rs
@@ -4,28 +4,48 @@
 #![windows_subsystem = "windows"]
 
 use std::io::stdin;
+use std::io::stdout;
+use std::io::Write;
 use std::process::Command;
+use std::time::SystemTime;
+use std::time::UNIX_EPOCH;
 
 use anki_io::copy_if_newer;
 use anki_io::create_dir_all;
 use anki_io::modified_time;
+use anki_io::read_file;
 use anki_io::remove_file;
 use anki_io::write_file;
 use anki_process::CommandExt;
 use anyhow::Context;
 use anyhow::Result;
 
+use crate::platform::ensure_terminal_shown;
 use crate::platform::exec_anki;
 use crate::platform::get_anki_binary_path;
 use crate::platform::get_exe_and_resources_dirs;
 use crate::platform::get_uv_binary_name;
 use crate::platform::handle_first_launch;
-use crate::platform::handle_terminal_launch;
 use crate::platform::initial_terminal_setup;
 use crate::platform::launch_anki_detached;
 
 mod platform;
 
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub enum VersionKind {
+    PyOxidizer(String),
+    Uv(String),
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub enum MainMenuChoice {
+    Latest,
+    KeepExisting,
+    Version(VersionKind),
+    ToggleBetas,
+    Quit,
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Default)]
 pub struct Config {
     pub show_console: bool,
@@ -33,6 +53,9 @@ pub struct Config {
 
 fn main() {
     if let Err(e) = run() {
+        let mut config: Config = Config::default();
+        initial_terminal_setup(&mut config);
+
         eprintln!("Error: {:#}", e);
         eprintln!("Press enter to close...");
         let mut input = String::new();
@@ -43,8 +66,7 @@ fn main() {
 }
 
 fn run() -> Result<()> {
-    let mut config = Config::default();
-    initial_terminal_setup(&mut config);
+    let mut config: Config = Config::default();
 
     let uv_install_root = dirs::data_local_dir()
         .context("Unable to determine data_dir")?
@@ -62,60 +84,320 @@ fn run() -> Result<()> {
 
     // Create install directory and copy project files in
     create_dir_all(&uv_install_root)?;
+    let had_user_pyproj = user_pyproject_path.exists();
+    if !had_user_pyproj {
+        // during initial launcher testing, enable betas by default
+        write_file(&prerelease_marker, "")?;
+    }
+
     copy_if_newer(&dist_pyproject_path, &user_pyproject_path)?;
     copy_if_newer(&dist_python_version_path, &user_python_version_path)?;
 
-    let pyproject_has_changed =
-        !user_pyproject_path.exists() || !sync_complete_marker.exists() || {
-            let pyproject_toml_time = modified_time(&user_pyproject_path)?;
-            let sync_complete_time = modified_time(&sync_complete_marker)?;
-            Ok::<bool, anyhow::Error>(pyproject_toml_time > sync_complete_time)
-        }
-        .unwrap_or(true);
+    let pyproject_has_changed = !sync_complete_marker.exists() || {
+        let pyproject_toml_time = modified_time(&user_pyproject_path)?;
+        let sync_complete_time = modified_time(&sync_complete_marker)?;
+        Ok::<bool, anyhow::Error>(pyproject_toml_time > sync_complete_time)
+    }
+    .unwrap_or(true);
 
     if !pyproject_has_changed {
         // If venv is already up to date, exec as normal
+        initial_terminal_setup(&mut config);
         let anki_bin = get_anki_binary_path(&uv_install_root);
         exec_anki(&anki_bin, &config)?;
         return Ok(());
     }
 
     // we'll need to launch uv; reinvoke ourselves in a terminal so the user can see
-    handle_terminal_launch()?;
+    ensure_terminal_shown()?;
+    print!("\x1B[2J\x1B[H"); // Clear screen and move cursor to top
+    println!("\x1B[1mAnki Launcher\x1B[0m\n");
 
-    // Remove sync marker before attempting sync
-    let _ = remove_file(&sync_complete_marker);
+    // Check if there's an existing installation before removing marker
+    let has_existing_install = sync_complete_marker.exists();
 
-    // Sync the venv
-    let mut command = Command::new(&uv_path);
-    command
-        .current_dir(&uv_install_root)
-        .args(["sync", "--upgrade", "--managed-python"]);
+    loop {
+        let menu_choice = get_main_menu_choice(has_existing_install, &prerelease_marker);
 
-    // Set UV_PRERELEASE=allow if prerelease file exists
-    if prerelease_marker.exists() {
-        command.env("UV_PRERELEASE", "allow");
+        match menu_choice {
+            MainMenuChoice::Quit => std::process::exit(0),
+            MainMenuChoice::KeepExisting => {
+                // Skip sync, just launch existing installation
+                break;
+            }
+            MainMenuChoice::ToggleBetas => {
+                // Toggle beta prerelease file
+                if prerelease_marker.exists() {
+                    let _ = remove_file(&prerelease_marker);
+                    println!("Beta releases disabled.");
+                } else {
+                    write_file(&prerelease_marker, "")?;
+                    println!("Beta releases enabled.");
+                }
+                println!();
+                continue;
+            }
+            _ => {
+                // For other choices, update project files and sync
+                update_pyproject_for_version(
+                    menu_choice.clone(),
+                    dist_pyproject_path.clone(),
+                    user_pyproject_path.clone(),
+                    dist_python_version_path.clone(),
+                    user_python_version_path.clone(),
+                )?;
+
+                // Remove sync marker before attempting sync
+                let _ = remove_file(&sync_complete_marker);
+
+                // Sync the venv
+                let mut command = Command::new(&uv_path);
+                command.current_dir(&uv_install_root).args([
+                    "sync",
+                    "--upgrade",
+                    "--managed-python",
+                ]);
+
+                // Add python version if .python-version file exists
+                if user_python_version_path.exists() {
+                    let python_version = read_file(&user_python_version_path)?;
+                    let python_version_str = String::from_utf8(python_version)
+                        .context("Invalid UTF-8 in .python-version")?;
+                    let python_version_trimmed = python_version_str.trim();
+                    command.args(["--python", python_version_trimmed]);
+                }
+
+                // Set UV_PRERELEASE=allow if beta mode is enabled
+                if prerelease_marker.exists() {
+                    command.env("UV_PRERELEASE", "allow");
+                }
+
+                match command.ensure_success() {
+                    Ok(_) => {
+                        // Sync succeeded, break out of loop
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    Err(e) => {
+                        // If sync fails due to things like a missing wheel on pypi,
+                        // we need to remove the lockfile or uv will cache the bad result.
+                        let _ = remove_file(&uv_lock_path);
+                        println!("Install failed: {:#}", e);
+                        println!();
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
     }
 
-    // temporarily force it on during initial beta testing
-    command.env("UV_PRERELEASE", "allow");
-
-    if let Err(e) = command.ensure_success() {
-        // If sync fails due to things like a missing wheel on pypi,
-        // we need to remove the lockfile or uv will cache the bad result.
-        let _ = remove_file(&uv_lock_path);
-        return Err(e.into());
-    }
-
-    // Write marker file to indicate successful sync
-    write_file(&sync_complete_marker, "")?;
+    // Write marker file to indicate we've completed the sync process
+    write_sync_marker(&sync_complete_marker)?;
 
     // First launch
     let anki_bin = get_anki_binary_path(&uv_install_root);
     handle_first_launch(&anki_bin)?;
 
+    println!("\nPress enter to start Anki.");
+
+    let mut input = String::new();
+    let _ = stdin().read_line(&mut input);
+
     // Then launch the binary as detached subprocess so the terminal can close
     launch_anki_detached(&anki_bin, &config)?;
 
     Ok(())
 }
+
+fn write_sync_marker(sync_complete_marker: &std::path::Path) -> Result<()> {
+    let timestamp = SystemTime::now()
+        .duration_since(UNIX_EPOCH)
+        .context("Failed to get system time")?
+        .as_secs();
+    write_file(sync_complete_marker, timestamp.to_string())?;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn get_main_menu_choice(
+    has_existing_install: bool,
+    prerelease_marker: &std::path::Path,
+) -> MainMenuChoice {
+    loop {
+        println!("1) Latest Anki (just press enter)");
+        println!("2) Choose a version");
+        if has_existing_install {
+            println!("3) Keep existing version");
+        }
+        println!();
+
+        let betas_enabled = prerelease_marker.exists();
+        println!(
+            "4) Allow betas: {}",
+            if betas_enabled { "on" } else { "off" }
+        );
+        println!("5) Quit");
+        print!("> ");
+        let _ = stdout().flush();
+
+        let mut input = String::new();
+        let _ = stdin().read_line(&mut input);
+        let input = input.trim();
+
+        println!();
+
+        return match input {
+            "" | "1" => MainMenuChoice::Latest,
+            "2" => MainMenuChoice::Version(get_version_kind()),
+            "3" => {
+                if has_existing_install {
+                    MainMenuChoice::KeepExisting
+                } else {
+                    println!("Invalid input. Please try again.\n");
+                    continue;
+                }
+            }
+            "4" => MainMenuChoice::ToggleBetas,
+            "5" => MainMenuChoice::Quit,
+            _ => {
+                println!("Invalid input. Please try again.");
+                continue;
+            }
+        };
+    }
+}
+
+fn get_version_kind() -> VersionKind {
+    loop {
+        println!("Enter the version you want to install:");
+        print!("> ");
+        let _ = stdout().flush();
+
+        let mut input = String::new();
+        let _ = stdin().read_line(&mut input);
+        let input = input.trim();
+
+        if input.is_empty() {
+            println!("Please enter a version.");
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        match parse_version_kind(input) {
+            Some(version_kind) => {
+                println!();
+                return version_kind;
+            }
+            None => {
+                println!("Invalid version format. Please enter a version like 24.10 or 25.06.1 (minimum 2.1.50)");
+                continue;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn update_pyproject_for_version(
+    menu_choice: MainMenuChoice,
+    dist_pyproject_path: std::path::PathBuf,
+    user_pyproject_path: std::path::PathBuf,
+    dist_python_version_path: std::path::PathBuf,
+    user_python_version_path: std::path::PathBuf,
+) -> Result<()> {
+    match menu_choice {
+        MainMenuChoice::Latest => {
+            let content = read_file(&dist_pyproject_path)?;
+            write_file(&user_pyproject_path, &content)?;
+            let python_version_content = read_file(&dist_python_version_path)?;
+            write_file(&user_python_version_path, &python_version_content)?;
+        }
+        MainMenuChoice::KeepExisting => {
+            // Do nothing - keep existing pyproject.toml and .python-version
+        }
+        MainMenuChoice::ToggleBetas => {
+            // This should not be reached as ToggleBetas is handled in the loop
+            unreachable!("ToggleBetas should be handled in the main loop");
+        }
+        MainMenuChoice::Version(version_kind) => {
+            let content = read_file(&dist_pyproject_path)?;
+            let content_str =
+                String::from_utf8(content).context("Invalid UTF-8 in pyproject.toml")?;
+            let updated_content = match &version_kind {
+                VersionKind::PyOxidizer(version) => {
+                    // Replace package name and add PyQt6 dependencies
+                    content_str.replace(
+                        "anki-release",
+                        &format!(
+                            concat!(
+                                "aqt[qt6]=={}\",\n",
+                                "  \"pyqt6==6.6.1\",\n",
+                                "  \"pyqt6-qt6==6.6.2\",\n",
+                                "  \"pyqt6-webengine==6.6.0\",\n",
+                                "  \"pyqt6-webengine-qt6==6.6.2\",\n",
+                                "  \"pyqt6_sip==13.6.0"
+                            ),
+                            version
+                        ),
+                    )
+                }
+                VersionKind::Uv(version) => {
+                    content_str.replace("anki-release", &format!("anki-release=={}", version))
+                }
+            };
+            write_file(&user_pyproject_path, &updated_content)?;
+
+            // Update .python-version based on version kind
+            match &version_kind {
+                VersionKind::PyOxidizer(_) => {
+                    write_file(&user_python_version_path, "3.9")?;
+                }
+                VersionKind::Uv(_) => {
+                    copy_if_newer(&dist_python_version_path, &user_python_version_path)?;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        MainMenuChoice::Quit => {
+            std::process::exit(0);
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn parse_version_kind(version: &str) -> Option<VersionKind> {
+    let numeric_chars: String = version
+        .chars()
+        .filter(|c| c.is_ascii_digit() || *c == '.')
+        .collect();
+
+    let parts: Vec<&str> = numeric_chars.split('.').collect();
+
+    if parts.len() < 2 {
+        return None;
+    }
+
+    let major: u32 = match parts[0].parse() {
+        Ok(val) => val,
+        Err(_) => return None,
+    };
+
+    let minor: u32 = match parts[1].parse() {
+        Ok(val) => val,
+        Err(_) => return None,
+    };
+
+    let patch: u32 = if parts.len() >= 3 {
+        match parts[2].parse() {
+            Ok(val) => val,
+            Err(_) => return None,
+        }
+    } else {
+        0 // Default patch to 0 if not provided
+    };
+
+    // Reject versions < 2.1.50
+    if major == 2 && (minor != 1 || patch < 50) {
+        return None;
+    }
+
+    if major < 25 || (major == 25 && minor < 6) {
+        Some(VersionKind::PyOxidizer(version.to_string()))
+    } else {
+        Some(VersionKind::Uv(version.to_string()))
+    }
+}
diff --git a/qt/launcher/src/platform/mac.rs b/qt/launcher/src/platform/mac.rs
index b5157dd4b..1e7e4a695 100644
--- a/qt/launcher/src/platform/mac.rs
+++ b/qt/launcher/src/platform/mac.rs
@@ -28,12 +28,9 @@ pub fn launch_anki_detached(anki_bin: &std::path::Path, _config: &crate::Config)
     Ok(())
 }
 
-pub fn handle_terminal_launch() -> Result<()> {
+pub fn ensure_terminal_shown() -> Result<()> {
     let stdout_is_terminal = std::io::IsTerminal::is_terminal(&std::io::stdout());
-    if stdout_is_terminal {
-        print!("\x1B[2J\x1B[H"); // Clear screen and move cursor to top
-        println!("\x1B[1mPreparing to start Anki...\x1B[0m\n");
-    } else {
+    if !stdout_is_terminal {
         // If launched from GUI, relaunch in Terminal.app
         relaunch_in_terminal()?;
     }
diff --git a/qt/launcher/src/platform/unix.rs b/qt/launcher/src/platform/unix.rs
index 4155f39d1..65a223f30 100644
--- a/qt/launcher/src/platform/unix.rs
+++ b/qt/launcher/src/platform/unix.rs
@@ -16,9 +16,7 @@ pub fn initial_terminal_setup(_config: &mut Config) {
     // No special terminal setup needed on Unix
 }
 
-pub fn handle_terminal_launch() -> Result<()> {
-    print!("\x1B[2J\x1B[H"); // Clear screen and move cursor to top
-    println!("\x1B[1mPreparing to start Anki...\x1B[0m\n");
+pub fn ensure_terminal_shown() -> Result<()> {
     // Skip terminal relaunch on non-macOS Unix systems as we don't know which
     // terminal is installed
     Ok(())
diff --git a/qt/launcher/src/platform/windows.rs b/qt/launcher/src/platform/windows.rs
index c536c8c76..4e3752d44 100644
--- a/qt/launcher/src/platform/windows.rs
+++ b/qt/launcher/src/platform/windows.rs
@@ -7,27 +7,77 @@ use std::process::Command;
 use anki_process::CommandExt;
 use anyhow::Context;
 use anyhow::Result;
+use winapi::um::consoleapi;
+use winapi::um::errhandlingapi;
+use winapi::um::wincon;
 
 use crate::Config;
 
-pub fn handle_terminal_launch() -> Result<()> {
-    // uv will do this itself
+pub fn ensure_terminal_shown() -> Result<()> {
+    ensure_console();
+    // // Check if we're already relaunched to prevent infinite recursion
+    // if std::env::var("ANKI_LAUNCHER_IN_TERMINAL").is_ok() {
+    //     println!("Recurse: Preparing to start Anki...\n");
+    //     return Ok(());
+    // }
+
+    // if have_console {
+    // } else {
+    //     relaunch_in_cmd()?;
+    // }
     Ok(())
 }
 
+fn ensure_console() {
+    unsafe {
+        if !wincon::GetConsoleWindow().is_null() {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if consoleapi::AllocConsole() == 0 {
+            let error_code = errhandlingapi::GetLastError();
+            eprintln!("unexpected AllocConsole error: {}", error_code);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // This black magic triggers Windows to switch to the new
+        // ANSI-supporting console host, which is usually only available
+        // when the app is built with the console subsystem.
+        let _ = Command::new("cmd").args(&["/C", ""]).status();
+    }
+}
+
+fn attach_to_parent_console() -> bool {
+    unsafe {
+        if !wincon::GetConsoleWindow().is_null() {
+            // we have a console already
+            println!("attach: already had console, false");
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        if wincon::AttachConsole(wincon::ATTACH_PARENT_PROCESS) != 0 {
+            // successfully attached to parent
+            println!("attach: true");
+            true
+        } else {
+            println!("attach: false");
+            false
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// If parent process has a console (eg cmd.exe), redirect our output there.
 /// Sets config.show_console to true if successfully attached to console.
 pub fn initial_terminal_setup(config: &mut Config) {
     use std::ffi::CString;
 
     use libc_stdhandle::*;
-    use winapi::um::wincon;
 
-    let console_attached = unsafe { wincon::AttachConsole(wincon::ATTACH_PARENT_PROCESS) };
-    if console_attached == 0 {
+    if !attach_to_parent_console() {
         return;
     }
 
+    // we launched without a console, so we'll need to open stdin/out/err
     let conin = CString::new("CONIN$").unwrap();
     let conout = CString::new("CONOUT$").unwrap();
     let r = CString::new("r").unwrap();
@@ -113,6 +163,5 @@ pub fn get_exe_and_resources_dirs() -> Result<(PathBuf, PathBuf)> {
 }
 
 pub fn get_uv_binary_name() -> &'static str {
-    // Windows uses standard uv binary name
     "uv.exe"
 }