diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f1d6329a6..9c80d9318 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ It saves a JSON snapshot to `.context/retros/` so the next run can show trends.
 ## Troubleshooting
 
 **Skill not showing up in Claude Code?**
-Run `cd ~/.claude/skills/gstack && ./setup` (or `cd .claude/skills/gstack && ./setup` for project installs). This rebuilds symlinks so Claude can discover the skills.
+Run `cd ~/.claude/skills/gstack && ./setup` (or `cd .claude/skills/gstack && ./setup` for project installs). This rebuilds skill directories so Claude can discover the skills.
 
 **`/browse` fails or binary not found?**
 Run `cd ~/.claude/skills/gstack && bun install && bun run build`. This compiles the browser binary. Requires Bun v1.0+.
@@ -420,13 +420,13 @@ Paste this into Claude Code:
 
 > Update gstack: run `cd ~/.claude/skills/gstack && git fetch origin && git reset --hard origin/main && ./setup`. If this project also has gstack at .claude/skills/gstack, update it too: run `for s in browse plan-ceo-review plan-eng-review review ship retro; do rm -f .claude/skills/$s; done && rm -rf .claude/skills/gstack && cp -Rf ~/.claude/skills/gstack .claude/skills/gstack && rm -rf .claude/skills/gstack/.git && cd .claude/skills/gstack && ./setup`
 
-The `setup` script rebuilds the browser binary and re-symlinks skills. It takes a few seconds.
+The `setup` script rebuilds the browser binary and re-registers skills. It takes a few seconds.
 
 ## Uninstalling
 
 Paste this into Claude Code:
 
-> Uninstall gstack: remove the skill symlinks by running `for s in browse plan-ceo-review plan-eng-review review ship retro; do rm -f ~/.claude/skills/$s; done` then run `rm -rf ~/.claude/skills/gstack` and remove the gstack section from CLAUDE.md. If this project also has gstack at .claude/skills/gstack, remove it by running `for s in browse plan-ceo-review plan-eng-review review ship retro; do rm -f .claude/skills/$s; done && rm -rf .claude/skills/gstack` and remove the gstack section from the project CLAUDE.md too.
+> Uninstall gstack: remove the skill directories by running `for s in browse plan-ceo-review plan-eng-review review ship retro; do rm -rf ~/.claude/skills/$s; done` then run `rm -rf ~/.claude/skills/gstack` and remove the gstack section from CLAUDE.md. If this project also has gstack at .claude/skills/gstack, remove it by running `for s in browse plan-ceo-review plan-eng-review review ship retro; do rm -rf .claude/skills/$s; done && rm -rf .claude/skills/gstack` and remove the gstack section from the project CLAUDE.md too.
 
 ## Development
 
diff --git a/setup b/setup
index 73c6503e0..f76fcd0d9 100755
--- a/setup
+++ b/setup
@@ -32,31 +32,32 @@ if [ ! -x "$BROWSE_BIN" ]; then
   exit 1
 fi
 
-# 2. Only create skill symlinks if we're inside a .claude/skills directory
+# 2. Only register skills if we're inside a .claude/skills directory
+# Uses real directory copies instead of symlinks so skills are discoverable
+# by Claude Desktop, which mounts ~/.claude/skills/ but does not follow symlinks.
 SKILLS_BASENAME="$(basename "$SKILLS_DIR")"
 if [ "$SKILLS_BASENAME" = "skills" ]; then
-  linked=()
+  registered=()
   for skill_dir in "$GSTACK_DIR"/*/; do
     if [ -f "$skill_dir/SKILL.md" ]; then
       skill_name="$(basename "$skill_dir")"
       # Skip node_modules
       [ "$skill_name" = "node_modules" ] && continue
       target="$SKILLS_DIR/$skill_name"
-      # Create or update symlink; skip if a real file/directory exists
-      if [ -L "$target" ] || [ ! -e "$target" ]; then
-        ln -snf "gstack/$skill_name" "$target"
-        linked+=("$skill_name")
-      fi
+      # Remove any existing symlink or stale copy, then copy fresh
+      rm -rf "$target"
+      cp -Rf "$GSTACK_DIR/$skill_name" "$target"
+      registered+=("$skill_name")
     fi
   done
 
   echo "gstack ready."
   echo "  browse: $BROWSE_BIN"
-  if [ ${#linked[@]} -gt 0 ]; then
-    echo "  linked skills: ${linked[*]}"
+  if [ ${#registered[@]} -gt 0 ]; then
+    echo "  registered skills: ${registered[*]}"
   fi
 else
   echo "gstack ready."
   echo "  browse: $BROWSE_BIN"
-  echo "  (skipped skill symlinks — not inside .claude/skills/)"
+  echo "  (skipped skill registration — not inside .claude/skills/)"
 fi