diff --git a/electron/entitlements.mac.plist b/electron/entitlements.mac.plist
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8fd2022
--- /dev/null
+++ b/electron/entitlements.mac.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+  <dict>
+    <key>com.apple.security.device.audio-input</key>
+    <true/>
+    <key>com.apple.security.cs.allow-jit</key>
+    <true/>
+    <key>com.apple.security.cs.allow-unsigned-executable-memory</key>
+    <true/>
+    <key>com.apple.security.cs.disable-library-validation</key>
+    <true/>
+  </dict>
+</plist>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/electron/main.js b/electron/main.js
index c5eb290..7bb0e12 100644
--- a/electron/main.js
+++ b/electron/main.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { app, BrowserWindow } from 'electron';
+import { app, BrowserWindow, systemPreferences } from 'electron';
 import path from 'path';
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'url';
 
@@ -6,6 +6,26 @@ const isDev = !app.isPackaged;
 const __filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url);
 const __dirname = path.dirname(__filename);
 
+async function handlePermissions() {
+  // macOS requires an explicit request for microphone access in packaged apps
+  if (process.platform === 'darwin') {
+    try {
+      const status = systemPreferences.getMediaAccessStatus('microphone');
+      console.log(`[Main Process] Current Microphone Status: ${status}`);
+
+      if (status !== 'granted') {
+        const granted = await systemPreferences.askForMediaAccess('microphone');
+        console.log(`[Main Process] Microphone permission granted after request: ${granted}`);
+      }
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.error('[Main Process] Error checking/requesting microphone access:', err);
+    }
+  } else {
+    // Windows/Linux typically grant access by default or via the Renderer process
+    console.log(`[Main Process] Platform is ${process.platform}, skipping native macOS permission prompt.`);
+  }
+}
+
 function createWindow() {
   const win = new BrowserWindow({
     width: 1024,
@@ -13,20 +33,28 @@ function createWindow() {
     webPreferences: {
       preload: path.join(__dirname, 'preload.cjs'),
       contextIsolation: true,
-      nodeIntegration: false
+      nodeIntegration: false,
+      // Ensure the browser engine treats the app as "secure" to allow microphone access
+      sandbox: false 
     }
   });
 
   if (isDev) {
     const devUrl = process.env.ELECTRON_START_URL || 'http://localhost:5173';
     win.loadURL(devUrl);
+    // Open DevTools automatically in dev
     win.webContents.openDevTools();
   } else {
+    // In production, load the built index.html from the dist folder
+    // This path assumes your structure is /electron/main.js and /dist/index.html
     win.loadFile(path.join(__dirname, '..', 'dist', 'index.html'));
   }
 }
 
-app.whenReady().then(createWindow);
+app.whenReady().then(async () => {
+  await handlePermissions();
+  createWindow();
+});
 
 app.on('window-all-closed', () => {
   if (process.platform !== 'darwin') app.quit();
@@ -34,4 +62,4 @@ app.on('window-all-closed', () => {
 
 app.on('activate', () => {
   if (BrowserWindow.getAllWindows().length === 0) createWindow();
-});
+});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 885ac53..9d76447 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -34,6 +34,39 @@
   "build": {
     "appId": "com.whattheflat.app",
     "productName": "WhatTheFlat",
+    "mac": {
+      "hardenedRuntime": true,
+      "entitlements": "electron/entitlements.mac.plist",
+      "entitlementsInherit": "electron/entitlements.mac.plist",
+      "extendInfo": {
+        "NSMicrophoneUsageDescription": "WhatTheFlat needs access to your microphone to detect pitch and provide the tuner."
+      }
+    },
+    "win": {
+      "target": [
+        {
+          "target": "nsis",
+          "arch": [
+            "x64",
+            "ia32"
+          ]
+        },
+        "zip"
+      ]
+    },
+    "nsis": {
+      "oneClick": false,
+      "perMachine": false,
+      "allowElevation": true,
+      "allowToChangeInstallationDirectory": true
+    },
+    "linux": {
+      "target": [
+        "AppImage",
+        "deb"
+      ],
+      "category": "Audio"
+    },
     "files": [
       "dist/**/*",
       "electron/**/*",
@@ -45,4 +78,4 @@
       "output": "release"
     }
   }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file