diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-release.yml b/.github/workflows/build-release.yml
index 5769b89..93686ac 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-release.yml
@@ -98,6 +98,33 @@ jobs:
             - name: Install dependencies
               run: bash scripts/ci/github-install-deps.sh
 
+            - name: Install Rosetta (Apple Silicon)
+              if: matrix.label == 'macos'
+              run: /usr/sbin/softwareupdate --install-rosetta --agree-to-license || true
+
+            - name: Set up Python x64 for cx_Freeze universal slice
+              id: python_x64
+              if: matrix.label == 'macos'
+              uses: actions/setup-python@a309ff8b426b58ec0e2a45f0f869d46889d02405
+              with:
+                  python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
+                  architecture: x64
+                  update-environment: false
+
+            - name: Export PYTHON_CMD_X64 for mac universal build
+              if: matrix.label == 'macos'
+              run: echo "PYTHON_CMD_X64=${{ steps.python_x64.outputs.python-path }}" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+
+            - name: Install project deps into x64 Python (mac universal cx_Freeze)
+              if: matrix.label == 'macos'
+              env:
+                  PY_X64: ${{ steps.python_x64.outputs.python-path }}
+              run: |
+                  set -euo pipefail
+                  "$PY_X64" -m pip install -U pip setuptools wheel
+                  "$PY_X64" -m pip install "cx-freeze>=7.0.0"
+                  "$PY_X64" -m pip install -e .
+
             - name: Build distributables
               run: bash "${{ matrix.build_script }}"
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 3e858c7..7d8854a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -76,5 +76,32 @@ jobs:
             - name: Install dependencies
               run: bash scripts/ci/github-install-deps.sh
 
+            - name: Install Rosetta (Apple Silicon)
+              if: matrix.label == 'macos'
+              run: /usr/sbin/softwareupdate --install-rosetta --agree-to-license || true
+
+            - name: Set up Python x64 for cx_Freeze universal slice
+              id: python_x64
+              if: matrix.label == 'macos'
+              uses: actions/setup-python@a309ff8b426b58ec0e2a45f0f869d46889d02405
+              with:
+                  python-version: ${{ env.PYTHON_VERSION }}
+                  architecture: x64
+                  update-environment: false
+
+            - name: Export PYTHON_CMD_X64 for mac universal build
+              if: matrix.label == 'macos'
+              run: echo "PYTHON_CMD_X64=${{ steps.python_x64.outputs.python-path }}" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+
+            - name: Install project deps into x64 Python (mac universal cx_Freeze)
+              if: matrix.label == 'macos'
+              env:
+                  PY_X64: ${{ steps.python_x64.outputs.python-path }}
+              run: |
+                  set -euo pipefail
+                  "$PY_X64" -m pip install -U pip setuptools wheel
+                  "$PY_X64" -m pip install "cx-freeze>=7.0.0"
+                  "$PY_X64" -m pip install -e .
+
             - name: Build distributables
               run: bash "${{ matrix.build_script }}"
diff --git a/forge.config.js b/forge.config.js
index 2969b81..7d599cf 100644
--- a/forge.config.js
+++ b/forge.config.js
@@ -2,7 +2,13 @@ const { FusesPlugin } = require("@electron-forge/plugin-fuses");
 const { FuseV1Options, FuseVersion } = require("@electron/fuses");
 
 const platform = process.env.PLATFORM || process.platform;
-const extraResourceDir = platform === "win32" || platform === "win" ? "build/exe/win32" : "build/exe/linux";
+const arch = process.env.ARCH || process.arch;
+let extraResourceDir = `build/exe/linux-${arch}`;
+if (platform === "win32" || platform === "win") {
+    extraResourceDir = `build/exe/win32-${arch}`;
+} else if (platform === "darwin") {
+    extraResourceDir = `build/exe/darwin-${arch}`;
+}
 
 module.exports = {
     packagerConfig: {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 3214c27..f88ab69 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
         "dist:zip": "pnpm run electron-postinstall && pnpm run build && electron-forge make --targets @electron-forge/maker-zip",
         "dist-prebuilt": "pnpm run electron-postinstall && pnpm run build-backend && electron-builder --publish=never",
         "dist:mac-arm64": "pnpm run electron-postinstall && pnpm run build && electron-builder --mac --arm64 --publish=never",
-        "dist:mac-universal": "pnpm run electron-postinstall && pnpm run build && electron-builder --mac --universal --publish=never",
+        "dist:mac-universal": "bash scripts/build-macos-universal.sh",
         "start": "pnpm run build && electron-forge start",
         "package": "pnpm run build && electron-forge package",
         "make": "pnpm run build && electron-forge make"
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@
             },
             "extraResources": [
                 {
-                    "from": "build/exe/linux-${arch}",
+                    "from": "build/exe/darwin-${arch}",
                     "to": "backend",
                     "filter": [
                         "**/*"
diff --git a/scripts/build-backend.js b/scripts/build-backend.js
index 22beb9d..3570e9e 100755
--- a/scripts/build-backend.js
+++ b/scripts/build-backend.js
@@ -46,14 +46,19 @@ try {
     const platform = process.env.PLATFORM || process.platform;
     const arch = process.env.ARCH || process.arch;
     const isWin = platform === "win32" || platform === "win";
+    const isDarwin = platform === "darwin";
     const targetName = isWin ? "ReticulumMeshChatX.exe" : "ReticulumMeshChatX";
 
-    // Create architecture-specific build directory
-    const platformFolder = isWin ? "win32" : "linux";
+    let platformFolder = "linux";
+    if (isWin) {
+        platformFolder = "win32";
+    } else if (isDarwin) {
+        platformFolder = "darwin";
+    }
     const buildDirRelative = `build/exe/${platformFolder}-${arch}`;
     const buildDir = path.join(__dirname, "..", buildDirRelative);
 
-    // Allow overriding the python command (e.g., to use wine python for cross-builds)
+    // Allow overriding the python command
     const pythonCmd = process.env.PYTHON_CMD || "poetry run python";
 
     console.log(
@@ -66,12 +71,23 @@ try {
         CX_FREEZE_BUILD_EXE: buildDirRelative,
     };
 
-    // Split pythonCmd to handle arguments like "wine python"
-    const cmdParts = pythonCmd.split(" ");
+    const cmdParts = pythonCmd.trim().split(/\s+/).filter(Boolean);
     const cmd = cmdParts[0];
     const args = [...cmdParts.slice(1), "cx_setup.py", "build"];
 
-    const result = spawnSync(cmd, args, {
+    let spawnCmd = cmd;
+    let spawnArgs = args;
+    const rosettaX64 =
+        isDarwin &&
+        arch === "x64" &&
+        process.arch === "arm64" &&
+        !process.env.PYTHON_CMD;
+    if (rosettaX64) {
+        spawnCmd = "arch";
+        spawnArgs = ["-x86_64", cmd, ...args];
+    }
+
+    const result = spawnSync(spawnCmd, spawnArgs, {
         stdio: "inherit",
         shell: false,
         env: env,
diff --git a/scripts/build-macos-universal.sh b/scripts/build-macos-universal.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ebf7f5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/build-macos-universal.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Build darwin-arm64 and darwin-x64 cx_Freeze backends, then electron-builder --mac --universal.
+# On Apple Silicon, the x64 backend must be built with an x86_64 Python (e.g. Homebrew in /usr/local).
+# Set PYTHON_CMD_X64 to that interpreter if Poetry's default env is arm64-only.
+set -euo pipefail
+
+ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)"
+cd "$ROOT"
+
+pnpm run electron-postinstall
+pnpm run version:sync
+pnpm run build-frontend
+cross-env ARCH=arm64 pnpm run build-backend
+if [[ -n "${PYTHON_CMD_X64:-}" ]]; then
+    cross-env ARCH=x64 PYTHON_CMD="$PYTHON_CMD_X64" pnpm run build-backend
+else
+    cross-env ARCH=x64 pnpm run build-backend
+fi
+exec pnpm exec electron-builder --mac --universal --publish=never