diff --git a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index 6b005c8b..b9b8f1d2 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -115,6 +115,38 @@ pub fn run() {
                 let _ = window.set_title("Psysonic (Dev)");
             }
 
+            // ── Dev: `--theme-watch <theme.css>` live theme reload ─────────
+            // Poll a local theme.css and push it into the running app on save,
+            // so theme authors get a live loop without re-importing a zip. The
+            // frontend (dev only) installs it under the id in its
+            // `[data-theme='<id>']` selector and applies it. Dev-builds only.
+            #[cfg(debug_assertions)]
+            {
+                let args: Vec<String> = std::env::args().collect();
+                if let Some(i) = args.iter().position(|a| a == "--theme-watch") {
+                    match args.get(i + 1).cloned() {
+                        Some(path) => {
+                            eprintln!("[theme-watch] watching {path}");
+                            let handle = app.handle().clone();
+                            std::thread::spawn(move || {
+                                let p = std::path::PathBuf::from(&path);
+                                let mut last_css = String::new();
+                                loop {
+                                    if let Ok(css) = std::fs::read_to_string(&p) {
+                                        if css != last_css {
+                                            last_css = css.clone();
+                                            let _ = handle.emit("theme-watch:css", css);
+                                        }
+                                    }
+                                    std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(300));
+                                }
+                            });
+                        }
+                        None => eprintln!("[theme-watch] usage: --theme-watch <path/to/theme.css>"),
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
             // ── Analysis cache (SQLite) ───────────────────────────────────
             {
                 let cache = analysis_cache::AnalysisCache::init(app.handle())
diff --git a/src/App.tsx b/src/App.tsx
index 7193db6a..7109a497 100644
--- a/src/App.tsx
+++ b/src/App.tsx
@@ -32,6 +32,28 @@ export default function App() {
     syncInjectedThemes(installedThemes);
   }, [installedThemes]);
 
+  // Dev only: `--theme-watch <theme.css>` (debug builds) pushes a local theme's
+  // CSS in on every save. Install it under the id in its `[data-theme='<id>']`
+  // selector and apply it — the syncInjectedThemes effect above re-injects, so
+  // authoring is live without re-importing a zip. Never wired in production.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!import.meta.env.DEV) return;
+    let unlisten: (() => void) | undefined;
+    void import('@tauri-apps/api/event').then(({ listen }) => {
+      const sub = listen<string>('theme-watch:css', ({ payload }) => {
+        const id = payload.match(/\[data-theme=['"]([^'"]+)['"]\]/)?.[1];
+        if (!id) return;
+        useInstalledThemesStore.getState().install({
+          id, name: id, author: 'dev', version: '0.0.0', description: '', mode: 'dark', css: payload, installedAt: Date.now(),
+        });
+        useThemeStore.getState().setTheme(id);
+      });
+      // Guard the mocked-in-tests case where listen() isn't a promise.
+      if (sub && typeof sub.then === 'function') sub.then(u => { unlisten = u; });
+    }).catch(() => {});
+    return () => unlisten?.();
+  }, []);
+
   useEffect(() => {
     document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme', effectiveTheme);
   }, [effectiveTheme]);