diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9e2fe6b..22c974a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,6 +22,14 @@ bun run preview    # serve dist/
 | Theme tokens | top of `src/styles/global.css` |
 | Pages | `src/pages/` |
 
+### Direct downloads
+
+Every download button links straight to the file (`platforms.linux.url` in `src/config.ts`), with no
+intermediate page. Only visitors on Windows, macOS or a phone are sent to `/download/`, because the
+Linux AppImage is no use to them yet. Point `url` at any direct file URL. By default it is the GitHub
+Releases asset, which is a plain download link. Don't host the 157 MB file with the site itself on
+GitHub Pages (100 MB per-file limit) or Cloudflare Pages (25 MB); use Releases, R2/S3 or a CDN.
+
 ### Releasing a new version
 
 1. Build the app (`bun run dist` in the Ink repo) and upload the AppImage to your release page.
diff --git a/src/components/DownloadButton.astro b/src/components/DownloadButton.astro
index dd23eba..52bb5c2 100644
--- a/src/components/DownloadButton.astro
+++ b/src/components/DownloadButton.astro
@@ -1,17 +1,21 @@
 ---
+// A direct download: the href is the file itself, in the HTML, so it works without JS and never
+// bounces through another page. Only visitors on Windows, macOS or a phone (detected in
+// scripts/site.ts) are sent to /download/ instead, because the Linux AppImage is no use to them yet.
 import { config, formatSize } from '../config';
 import { href } from '../lib/url';
 
 interface Props { variant?: 'primary' | 'default'; note?: boolean; center?: boolean }
 const { variant = 'primary', note = true, center = false } = Astro.props;
 const linux = config.platforms.linux;
+const meta = `v${config.version} · ${linux.format} · ${formatSize(linux.bytes)}`;
 ---
-<div class:list={['dl', { center }]} data-download data-linux-url={linux.url} data-linux-meta={`v${config.version} · ${linux.format} · ${formatSize(linux.bytes)}`}>
-  <a class:list={['btn', variant]} href={href('/download/')} data-download-btn>
+<div class:list={['dl', { center }]} data-download data-meta={meta}>
+  <a class:list={['btn', variant]} href={linux.url} download={linux.file} data-dl-link data-info={href('/download/')}>
     <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path d="M12 4v11m0 0l-4.5-4.5M12 15l4.5-4.5M5 19h14" /></svg>
-    <span data-download-label>Download Ink</span>
+    <span data-download-label>Download for Linux</span>
   </a>
-  {note && <p class="muted" data-download-note>Linux AppImage available · Windows &amp; macOS coming soon</p>}
+  {note && <p class="muted" data-download-note>{meta} · Windows &amp; macOS coming soon</p>}
 </div>
 <style>
   .dl { display: grid; gap: 0.7rem; justify-items: start; }
@@ -19,29 +23,3 @@ const linux = config.platforms.linux;
   p { font-size: 0.88rem; }
   .dl.center { justify-items: center; text-align: center; }
 </style>
-<script>
-  // Progressive enhancement: without JS the button goes to /download/ and lists every platform.
-  import { detectOS } from '../lib/os';
-  const os = detectOS();
-
-  document.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>('[data-download]').forEach((box) => {
-    const btn = box.querySelector<HTMLAnchorElement>('[data-download-btn]');
-    const label = box.querySelector<HTMLElement>('[data-download-label]');
-    const note = box.querySelector<HTMLElement>('[data-download-note]');
-    if (!btn || !label) return;
-    if (os === 'linux') {
-      label.textContent = 'Download for Linux';
-      btn.href = box.dataset.linuxUrl || btn.href;
-      if (note) note.textContent = box.dataset.linuxMeta ?? '';
-    } else if (os === 'windows') {
-      label.textContent = 'Download options';
-      if (note) note.textContent = 'The Windows version is not ready yet. The Linux AppImage is available now.';
-    } else if (os === 'macos') {
-      label.textContent = 'Download options';
-      if (note) note.textContent = 'The macOS version is not ready yet. The Linux AppImage is available now.';
-    } else if (os === 'mobile') {
-      label.textContent = 'Download options';
-      if (note) note.textContent = 'Ink is a desktop app. Open this page on your computer to download it.';
-    }
-  });
-</script>
diff --git a/src/components/Footer.astro b/src/components/Footer.astro
index f247288..011d5f9 100644
--- a/src/components/Footer.astro
+++ b/src/components/Footer.astro
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import { href } from '../lib/url';
       <a href={href('/download/')}>Download</a>
       <a href={href('/changelog/')}>Changelog</a>
       <a href={href('/docs/')}>Docs &amp; FAQ</a>
-      <a href={config.repo} rel="noopener">Source &amp; issues</a>
+      <a href={config.releases} rel="noopener">Releases</a>
     </nav>
   </div>
 </footer>
diff --git a/src/components/Header.astro b/src/components/Header.astro
index 499e414..770e07f 100644
--- a/src/components/Header.astro
+++ b/src/components/Header.astro
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 ---
 import Wordmark from './Wordmark.astro';
 import { href } from '../lib/url';
+import { config, formatSize } from '../config';
 
 const { current = '' } = Astro.props as { current?: string };
 const links = [
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ const links = [
         <span class="s-label">Search</span>
         <span class="s-keys" aria-hidden="true"><kbd data-mod>Ctrl</kbd><kbd>K</kbd></span>
       </button>
-      <a class="get" href={href('/download/')}>Get Ink</a>
+      <a class="get" href={config.platforms.linux.url} download={config.platforms.linux.file} data-dl-link data-info={href('/download/')} title={`Ink ${config.version} for Linux · ${config.platforms.linux.format} · ${formatSize(config.platforms.linux.bytes)}`}>Get Ink</a>
       <button type="button" class="menu" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="site-nav" data-menu>
         <span class="sr-only">Menu</span>
         <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path class="l1" d="M5 9h14" /><path class="l2" d="M5 15h14" /></svg>
diff --git a/src/components/Palette.astro b/src/components/Palette.astro
index 39a2569..5c4c636 100644
--- a/src/components/Palette.astro
+++ b/src/components/Palette.astro
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ const items: Item[] = [
   { group: 'Page', label: 'Docs & FAQ', url: href('/docs/'), keys: 'help questions' },
   { group: 'Action', label: `Download Ink ${config.version} for Linux`, url: config.platforms.linux.url, keys: 'appimage linux get' },
   { group: 'Action', label: 'Verify the download (SHA-256)', url: href('/download/#verify'), keys: 'checksum sha256 hash' },
-  { group: 'Action', label: 'Report a bug or request a feature', url: config.issues, keys: 'issue github' },
   { group: 'Features', label: 'Writing: block editor', url: href('/features/#writing'), keys: 'slash menu markdown code math katex mermaid callout table' },
   { group: 'Features', label: 'Linking: wiki links, embeds, backlinks', url: href('/features/#linking'), keys: '[[ ]] link rename' },
   { group: 'Features', label: 'Canvas', url: href('/features/#canvas'), keys: 'json canvas arrows groups export png svg pdf' },
diff --git a/src/config.ts b/src/config.ts
index 3a3bd15..37755c0 100644
--- a/src/config.ts
+++ b/src/config.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,10 @@
 
 const version = '0.1.0';
 
-/** TODO: set to the real repository once it is public. Release links derive from it. */
+/**
+ * TODO: set to the real repository once it is public. The download links below derive from it and are
+ * used as direct links by every download button. Replace `url` with any direct file URL if you host it elsewhere.
+ */
 const repo = 'https://github.com/OWNER/ink';
 
 export const config = {
@@ -14,7 +17,6 @@ export const config = {
   version,
   releaseDate: '2026-10-11',
   repo,
-  issues: `${repo}/issues`,
   releases: `${repo}/releases`,
   license: 'TODO',
   platforms: {
diff --git a/src/pages/404.astro b/src/pages/404.astro
index efe7d5f..455b863 100644
--- a/src/pages/404.astro
+++ b/src/pages/404.astro
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 ---
 import Base from '../layouts/Base.astro';
+import DownloadButton from '../components/DownloadButton.astro';
 import { href } from '../lib/url';
 ---
 <Base title="Page not found" noindex description="This page does not exist.">
@@ -7,7 +8,8 @@ import { href } from '../lib/url';
     <p class="eyebrow">404</p>
     <h1>This page is blank.</h1>
     <p class="lede">The page you were after is not here. It may have moved, or the link may be mistyped.</p>
-    <p class="links"><a class="btn primary" href={href('/')}>Back to home</a><a class="btn" href={href('/download/')}>Download</a></p>
+    <p class="links"><a class="btn primary" href={href('/')}>Back to home</a></p>
+    <DownloadButton variant="default" note={false} />
   </section>
 </Base>
 <style>
diff --git a/src/pages/docs.astro b/src/pages/docs.astro
index 920dac6..a99c127 100644
--- a/src/pages/docs.astro
+++ b/src/pages/docs.astro
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 ---
 import Base from '../layouts/Base.astro';
-import { config } from '../config';
 import { href } from '../lib/url';
 
 const shortcuts: [string, string][] = [
@@ -91,8 +90,6 @@ const shortcuts: [string, string][] = [
       <p>Code-signing certificates cost money and effort that a small project has not spent yet. Use the checksum on the download page to verify your file.</p>
       <h3>Can I export my notes?</h3>
       <p>They are already Markdown files. You can also export a page to Markdown, HTML or PDF, and a canvas to PNG, SVG or PDF.</p>
-      <h3>How do I report a bug or ask for something?</h3>
-      <p>Open an issue on the <a href={config.issues} rel="noopener">issue tracker</a>.</p>
     </section>
   </div>
 </Base>
diff --git a/src/pages/download.astro b/src/pages/download.astro
index 78c41b0..121a104 100644
--- a/src/pages/download.astro
+++ b/src/pages/download.astro
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ const soon: PlatformId[] = ['windows', 'macos'];
       <h2>Linux</h2>
       <p class="meta">{linux.format} · {linux.arch} · {formatSize(linux.bytes)} · v{config.version}</p>
       <p>A single file. No install step, no root needed.</p>
-      <a class="btn primary" href={linux.url}>
+      <a class="btn primary" href={linux.url} download={linux.file}>
         <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path d="M12 4v11m0 0l-4.5-4.5M12 15l4.5-4.5M5 19h14" /></svg>
         Download AppImage
       </a>
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ const soon: PlatformId[] = ['windows', 'macos'];
         <h2 id={`${id}-h`}>{p[id].label}</h2>
         <p class="meta">{p[id].format}</p>
         <p>Not built or tested yet. There is no download to offer, so there is no link here.</p>
-        <p><a href={config.issues} rel="noopener">Watch the issue tracker</a> for news. No sign-up, nothing collected.</p>
+        <p>News will show up in the <a href={href('/changelog/')}>changelog</a>. No sign-up, nothing collected.</p>
       </article>
     ))}
   </section>
diff --git a/src/scripts/site.ts b/src/scripts/site.ts
index 88ba7c9..bbeb252 100644
--- a/src/scripts/site.ts
+++ b/src/scripts/site.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 // Small, site-wide enhancements. Every page reads fine without them.
 
+import { detectOS } from '../lib/os';
+
 const reduce = matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)');
 const finePointer = matchMedia('(hover: hover) and (pointer: fine)');
 
@@ -80,3 +82,20 @@ document.querySelectorAll<HTMLPreElement>('pre[data-copy], .prose pre').forEach(
 if (/mac|iphone|ipad/i.test(navigator.platform || navigator.userAgent)) {
   document.querySelectorAll('[data-mod]').forEach((k) => (k.textContent = '⌘'));
 }
+
+/* Download links are direct file links in the HTML. Visitors on Windows, macOS or a phone can't use the
+   Linux AppImage yet, so for them (and only them) the same buttons point at the page that explains why. */
+const os = detectOS();
+if (os === 'windows' || os === 'macos' || os === 'mobile') {
+  document.querySelectorAll<HTMLAnchorElement>('[data-dl-link]').forEach((a) => {
+    if (a.dataset.info) a.href = a.dataset.info;
+    a.removeAttribute('download');
+  });
+  const what = { windows: 'The Windows version is not ready yet.', macos: 'The macOS version is not ready yet.', mobile: 'Ink is a desktop app. Open this page on your computer to download it.' }[os];
+  document.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>('[data-download]').forEach((box) => {
+    const label = box.querySelector<HTMLElement>('[data-download-label]');
+    const note = box.querySelector<HTMLElement>('[data-download-note]');
+    if (label) label.textContent = 'Download options';
+    if (note) note.textContent = `${what} The Linux AppImage is available now.`;
+  });
+}