diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e6bd1fe..b10d7c5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 # Lumi changelog
 
+## 0.2.10
+
+- Fixed local Windows startup under Node.js 24 by invoking npm through its JavaScript CLI instead of directly spawning `npm.cmd`.
+- Added a safe command-shell fallback and focused Windows dependency-launch regression coverage.
+
 ## 0.2.9
 
 - Fixed forms containing fields named `action` or `method` being able to shadow their own submission endpoint and send requests to an invalid URL.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d6bc1a4..a0d1e32 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -62,7 +62,9 @@ Admins may also install or repair a specific core or plugin release. These
 choices use immutable version tags and verify the selected version before files
 are replaced. `npm start` and `npm run run` launch the update-aware wrapper,
 which repairs required packages from the lockfile after a core update while
-allowing unavailable optional integrations to remain disabled.
+allowing unavailable optional integrations to remain disabled. On Windows the
+wrapper invokes npm through the active Node installation, including Node.js 24,
+so dependency repair does not rely on spawning a command script directly.
 
 Recovery mode can be started with `LUMI_SAFE_MODE=1 npm run run`,
 `node run.js --safe-mode`, or `data/recovery/safe-mode.flag`. See
diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index 5b56225..4813bf2 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -677,6 +677,7 @@ This section is for Lumi chat answer feedback and AI Improvement Center work, no
 
 ## Done
 
+- 2026-07-18: Fixed core 0.2.10 local Windows startup under Node.js 24 by resolving npm's JavaScript CLI through the active Node installation, retaining a command-shell fallback, and verifying automatic dependency repair through the real launcher on port 3000.
 - 2026-07-18: Fixed core 0.2.9 and Lumi AI 0.8.5 forms whose `action` or `method` fields could shadow the form endpoint, added a shared clobber-safe resolver, and migrated the affected feedback/settings requests to it.
 - 2026-07-18: Fixed Lumi AI 0.8.4 Improvement Center state changes for no-change, dismiss, edit, and restore actions with an explicit authenticated JSON contract, actionable errors, safe diagnostics, and focused regression coverage.
 - 2026-07-18: Fixed private reverse-proxy HTTPS recognition for production diagnostics in core 0.2.5 without globally trusting client forwarding headers, and taught the local client to consume the repository's env-style `.secrets` file and short diagnostic variable names directly.
diff --git a/knowledge/core/lumi-core.md b/knowledge/core/lumi-core.md
index 595c35c..71f68e1 100644
--- a/knowledge/core/lumi-core.md
+++ b/knowledge/core/lumi-core.md
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ editable: false
 Lumi is the core web UI and bot runtime.
 ## Runtime
 Package: lumi-bot
-Version: 0.2.9
+Version: 0.2.10
 ## Routes
 - GET /api/events
 - POST /api/destructive-confirmations
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 7f5800e..7244e75 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "lumi-bot",
-  "version": "0.2.9",
+  "version": "0.2.10",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "lumi-bot",
-      "version": "0.2.9",
+      "version": "0.2.10",
       "dependencies": {
         "adm-zip": "^0.5.12",
         "better-sqlite3": "^11.5.0",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 9b1155a..81c96b1 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "lumi-bot",
-  "version": "0.2.9",
+  "version": "0.2.10",
   "private": true,
   "type": "commonjs",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/release-index.json b/release-index.json
index 977051b..270f4cc 100644
--- a/release-index.json
+++ b/release-index.json
@@ -2,6 +2,36 @@
   "schema_version": 1,
   "channel": "stable",
   "releases": [
+    {
+      "version": "0.2.10",
+      "ref": "refs/tags/v0.2.10",
+      "released_at": "2026-07-18",
+      "installable": true,
+      "rollback_safe": true,
+      "replaces_versions": [
+        "1.2.0"
+      ],
+      "data_policy": "preserve",
+      "dependency_policy": "sync_on_restart",
+      "migration_notes": "Fixes local Windows startup and automatic dependency repair under Node.js 24 while preserving all settings, databases, plugin data, models, uploads, logs, feedback, and secrets.",
+      "plugins": {
+        "auto-vc": "0.1.6",
+        "birthday": "0.1.3",
+        "economy-framework": "0.2.10",
+        "economy-games": "0.1.7",
+        "expression-interaction": "0.2.1",
+        "lumi_ai": "0.8.5",
+        "moderation": "0.1.5",
+        "okf": "0.1.1",
+        "quotes": "0.1.2",
+        "sample-plugin": "0.1.0",
+        "throne_wishlist": "0.1.2",
+        "welcome_messages": "0.1.1"
+      },
+      "tools": {
+        "lumi_ai_web_search": "0.1.1"
+      }
+    },
     {
       "version": "0.2.9",
       "ref": "refs/tags/v0.2.9",
diff --git a/scripts/verify-release-metadata.js b/scripts/verify-release-metadata.js
index 6c2ea20..757a89c 100644
--- a/scripts/verify-release-metadata.js
+++ b/scripts/verify-release-metadata.js
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ const path = require("path");
 const { findSafeTarget } = require("../src/services/versioning");
 
 const root = path.join(__dirname, "..");
-const releaseVersion = "0.2.9";
-const previousCoreVersion = "0.2.8";
+const releaseVersion = "0.2.10";
+const previousCoreVersion = "0.2.9";
 const earliestCompatibleCoreVersion = "0.1.9";
 const changedPlugins = {
   "auto-vc": { from: "0.1.5", to: "0.1.6", knowledge: "auto-vc" },
@@ -87,4 +87,4 @@ assert.equal(webSearch.minimum_lumi_version, "0.2.0");
 assert.equal(webSearch.minimum_lumi_ai_version, "0.8.2");
 assert.equal(hasVersionHeading(readText("plugins/lumi_ai_web_search/CHANGELOG.md"), webSearch.version), true);
 
-console.log("Release metadata verification passed: core 0.2.9, Lumi AI 0.8.5, and synchronized package metadata.");
+console.log("Release metadata verification passed: core 0.2.10, Lumi AI 0.8.5, and synchronized package metadata.");
diff --git a/scripts/verify-update-system.js b/scripts/verify-update-system.js
index 919e852..60d7cf3 100644
--- a/scripts/verify-update-system.js
+++ b/scripts/verify-update-system.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ const os = require("os");
 const path = require("path");
 
 const root = path.join(__dirname, "..");
-const { dependencyIssues, ensureRuntimeDependencies } = require("../src/services/dependency-manager");
+const { dependencyIssues, ensureRuntimeDependencies, npmInvocation } = require("../src/services/dependency-manager");
 const { targetForRequestedVersion } = require("../src/services/repo-update");
 const { buildStatus } = require("../src/services/update-index");
 const { normalizeRepositoryRef } = require("../src/services/update-repository");
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ function readJson(relativePath) {
 
 const releaseIndex = readJson("release-index.json");
 const releaseVersions = releaseIndex.releases.map((release) => release.version);
-assert.deepEqual(releaseVersions, ["0.2.9", "0.2.8", "0.2.7", "0.2.6", "0.2.5", "0.2.4", "0.2.3", "0.2.2", "0.2.1", "0.2.0", "0.1.9"]);
+assert.deepEqual(releaseVersions, ["0.2.10", "0.2.9", "0.2.8", "0.2.7", "0.2.6", "0.2.5", "0.2.4", "0.2.3", "0.2.2", "0.2.1", "0.2.0", "0.1.9"]);
 assert.equal(new Set(releaseVersions).size, releaseVersions.length, "release versions must be unique");
 for (const release of releaseIndex.releases) {
   assert.equal(normalizeRepositoryRef(release.ref), release.ref);
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ for (const [toolId, version] of Object.entries(currentRelease.tools)) {
 const baseTarget = {
   current_version: "0.2.4",
   available_versions: [
+    { version: "0.2.10", ref: "refs/tags/v0.2.10", rollback_safe: true },
     { version: "0.2.9", ref: "refs/tags/v0.2.9", rollback_safe: true },
     { version: "0.2.8", ref: "refs/tags/v0.2.8", rollback_safe: true },
     { version: "0.2.7", ref: "refs/tags/v0.2.7", rollback_safe: true },
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ const corrected = buildStatus({
   channel: "stable"
 });
 assert.equal(corrected.version_correction, true);
-assert.equal(corrected.safe_target_version, "0.2.9");
+assert.equal(corrected.safe_target_version, "0.2.10");
 assert.equal(corrected.update_available, true);
 assert.equal(corrected.blocked, false);
 
@@ -118,6 +119,20 @@ try {
   fs.rmSync(fixture, { recursive: true, force: true });
 }
 
+const windowsNpmFixture = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "lumi-windows-npm-"));
+try {
+  const fakeNode = path.join(windowsNpmFixture, "node.exe");
+  const fakeNpmCli = path.join(windowsNpmFixture, "node_modules", "npm", "bin", "npm-cli.js");
+  fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(fakeNpmCli), { recursive: true });
+  fs.writeFileSync(fakeNpmCli, "");
+  const invocation = npmInvocation({ platform: "win32", execPath: fakeNode, env: {} });
+  assert.equal(invocation.command, fakeNode);
+  assert.deepEqual(invocation.args, [fakeNpmCli]);
+  assert.equal(invocation.args.includes("npm.cmd"), false);
+} finally {
+  fs.rmSync(windowsNpmFixture, { recursive: true, force: true });
+}
+
 const optionalFixture = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "lumi-optional-dependency-"));
 try {
   fs.writeFileSync(path.join(optionalFixture, "package.json"), JSON.stringify({ optionalDependencies: { optional: "^1.0.0" } }));
diff --git a/src/services/dependency-manager.js b/src/services/dependency-manager.js
index b65f7dd..5d34cc7 100644
--- a/src/services/dependency-manager.js
+++ b/src/services/dependency-manager.js
@@ -49,13 +49,30 @@ function writeState(rootPath, values) {
 }
 
 function npmInvocation(options = {}) {
-  if (process.env.npm_execpath && fs.existsSync(process.env.npm_execpath)) {
-    return { command: process.execPath, args: [process.env.npm_execpath] };
+  const environment = options.env || process.env;
+  const execPath = path.resolve(options.execPath || process.execPath);
+  const configuredCli = String(environment.npm_execpath || "").trim();
+  if (configuredCli && fs.existsSync(configuredCli)) {
+    return { command: execPath, args: [configuredCli] };
   }
-  return {
-    command: options.platform === "win32" || process.platform === "win32" ? "npm.cmd" : "npm",
-    args: []
-  };
+
+  const platform = options.platform || process.platform;
+  if (platform === "win32") {
+    const candidates = [
+      path.join(path.dirname(execPath), "node_modules", "npm", "bin", "npm-cli.js"),
+      environment.ProgramFiles
+        ? path.join(environment.ProgramFiles, "nodejs", "node_modules", "npm", "bin", "npm-cli.js")
+        : null
+    ].filter(Boolean);
+    const npmCli = candidates.find((candidate) => fs.existsSync(candidate));
+    if (npmCli) return { command: execPath, args: [npmCli] };
+
+    return {
+      command: String(environment.ComSpec || environment.COMSPEC || "cmd.exe"),
+      args: ["/d", "/s", "/c", "npm.cmd"]
+    };
+  }
+  return { command: "npm", args: [] };
 }
 
 function ensureRuntimeDependencies(options = {}) {
@@ -118,5 +135,6 @@ function ensureRuntimeDependencies(options = {}) {
 module.exports = {
   dependencyFingerprint,
   dependencyIssues,
-  ensureRuntimeDependencies
+  ensureRuntimeDependencies,
+  npmInvocation
 };
diff --git a/update-manifest.json b/update-manifest.json
index e70181e..6f100e6 100644
--- a/update-manifest.json
+++ b/update-manifest.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "Lumi Core",
-  "version": "0.2.9",
+  "version": "0.2.10",
   "channel": "stable",
   "released_at": "2026-07-18",
   "compatible_from": "0.1.9",
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   "replaces_versions": [
     "1.2.0"
   ],
-  "migration_notes": "Includes the 1.2.0 version correction, production plugin-update diagnostics, secured read-only production diagnostics, Windows/network-share-safe plugin code replacement, and clobber-safe shared form submission. Lumi synchronizes runtime dependencies on restart and preserves settings, databases, plugin data, community knowledge, AI models, runtimes, uploads, logs, feedback, and secrets.",
+  "migration_notes": "Includes the 1.2.0 version correction, production plugin-update diagnostics, secured read-only production diagnostics, Windows/network-share-safe plugin replacement, clobber-safe shared form submission, and Node.js 24-compatible Windows dependency startup. Lumi synchronizes runtime dependencies on restart and preserves settings, databases, plugin data, community knowledge, AI models, runtimes, uploads, logs, feedback, and secrets.",
   "rollback_safe": true,
   "requirements": [
     "Node.js 18 or newer"
@@ -133,6 +133,18 @@
       ],
       "rollback_safe": true,
       "migration_notes": "Fixes shared browser form endpoint shadowing and Lumi AI feedback 404 responses; existing feedback, settings, models, corrections, and plugin data are preserved."
+    },
+    {
+      "version": "0.2.10",
+      "channel": "stable",
+      "released_at": "2026-07-18",
+      "compatible_from": "0.1.9",
+      "migration_kind": "patch",
+      "replaces_versions": [
+        "1.2.0"
+      ],
+      "rollback_safe": true,
+      "migration_notes": "Fixes local Windows startup and automatic dependency repair under Node.js 24; all existing data remains preserved."
     }
   ]
 }