diff --git a/setup-windows.bat b/setup-windows.bat
index d87b126..7d27df5 100644
--- a/setup-windows.bat
+++ b/setup-windows.bat
@@ -139,6 +139,19 @@ REM its major version separates a real interpreter from the stub. The py
 REM launcher is preferred when present - it is not shadowed by the stub.
 :py_probe
 set "PYCMD="
+for /f "tokens=*" %%v in ('py -3 -c "import sys;print(sys.version_info[0])" 2^>nul') do if "%%v"=="3" set "PYCMD=py -3"
+if not defined PYCMD for /f "tokens=*" %%v in ('python -c "import sys;print(sys.version_info[0])" 2^>nul') do if "%%v"=="3" set "PYCMD=python"
+if defined PYCMD goto :py_found
+
+REM Not on PATH. Same story as Git and Node: a Python installed just now - or
+REM installed without "Add to PATH" ticked - is invisible to this session, which
+REM inherited its PATH at start. Prepend the standard install homes and retry.
+REM The version is globbed rather than hardcoded so a 3.13 install still works.
+for /d %%D in ("%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Python\Python3*") do if exist "%%~D\python.exe" set "PATH=%%~D;%%~D\Scripts;%PATH%"
+for /d %%D in ("%ProgramFiles%\Python3*") do if exist "%%~D\python.exe" set "PATH=%%~D;%%~D\Scripts;%PATH%"
+if exist "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Python\Launcher\py.exe" set "PATH=%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Python\Launcher;%PATH%"
+if exist "%SystemRoot%\py.exe" set "PATH=%SystemRoot%;%PATH%"
+
 for /f "tokens=*" %%v in ('py -3 -c "import sys;print(sys.version_info[0])" 2^>nul') do if "%%v"=="3" set "PYCMD=py -3"
 if not defined PYCMD for /f "tokens=*" %%v in ('python -c "import sys;print(sys.version_info[0])" 2^>nul') do if "%%v"=="3" set "PYCMD=python"
 if defined PYCMD goto :py_found
@@ -156,8 +169,12 @@ winget install --id Python.Python.3.12 -e --source winget --accept-source-agreem
 goto :py_probe
 
 :py_skip
-echo  [--] python not found - the dashboard will still work.
-echo       Needed only for the clicker ^(clicker\runner.py^).
+echo  [--] python not found on PATH, and not in any of:
+echo        %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Python\Python3*
+echo        %ProgramFiles%\Python3*
+echo       The dashboard will still work - python is only needed for the
+echo       clicker ^(clicker\runner.py^). If you just installed it, close this
+echo       window and re-run to pick up the new PATH.
 goto :py_end
 
 :py_found