diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 7a85a76..dadf335 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ RELEASE_DIR := $(BUILD_DIR)/release
 APP_BUNDLE  := $(BUILD_DIR)/$(APP_NAME).app
 INSTALL_DIR := /Applications
 CLI_INSTALL := $(HOME)/.local/bin
+CODESIGN_IDENTITY ?= -
 
 .PHONY: build run install uninstall clean dmg help
 
@@ -27,8 +28,8 @@ build:
 	cp -R Resources/zh-Hans.lproj   "$(APP_BUNDLE)/Contents/Resources/"
 	cp "$(RELEASE_DIR)/$(CLI_NAME)" "$(APP_BUNDLE)/Contents/Resources/$(CLI_NAME)"
 
-	@echo "🔏 Ad-hoc code signing…"
-	codesign --force --sign - "$(APP_BUNDLE)"
+	@echo "🔏 Code signing app bundle with identity '$(CODESIGN_IDENTITY)'…"
+	codesign --force --sign "$(CODESIGN_IDENTITY)" "$(APP_BUNDLE)"
 
 	@echo "✅ Build complete → $(APP_BUNDLE)"
 
@@ -66,6 +67,10 @@ dmg: build
 	rm -f "$(BUILD_DIR)/$(APP_NAME).dmg"
 	hdiutil create -ov -volname "$(APP_NAME)" -srcfolder "$(BUILD_DIR)/dmg_stage" -format UDZO "$(BUILD_DIR)/$(APP_NAME).dmg"
 	rm -rf "$(BUILD_DIR)/dmg_stage"
+	@if [ "$(CODESIGN_IDENTITY)" != "-" ]; then \
+		echo "🔏 Signing DMG volume…"; \
+		codesign --force --sign "$(CODESIGN_IDENTITY)" "$(BUILD_DIR)/$(APP_NAME).dmg"; \
+	fi
 	@echo "✅ DMG packaging complete → $(BUILD_DIR)/$(APP_NAME).dmg"
 
 # ── Clean ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7af063f..9bff82f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,15 +11,37 @@ A macOS menu-bar status light app — a breathing LED that lives in your status
 - **LSUIElement** — no Dock icon, pure menu-bar app
 - macOS 14+ (Sonoma)
 
-## Build & Run
+## Build & Installation
+
+### Option 1: Direct Build & Installation
+Build the app and install it to your system paths:
 
 ```bash
 make build    # Build release binary & .app bundle
-make run      # Build and launch
-make install  # Copy to /Applications + ~/.local/bin
+make run      # Build and launch immediately
+make install  # Copy .app to /Applications and CLI helper to ~/.local/bin
 make clean    # Remove build artifacts
 ```
 
+### Option 2: Package as DMG
+Build a clean, shareable disk image (.dmg) containing `Signal.app` and a shortcut to `/Applications`:
+
+```bash
+make dmg      # Packages the app into .build/Signal.dmg
+```
+
+To install:
+1. Open the DMG and drag `Signal.app` to your `Applications` folder.
+2. Launch the application.
+3. Open the status bar controls and click **"Install 'sgnl' CLI Command"** to install the `sgnl` command line tool directly to `~/.local/bin` without using terminal scripts.
+
+---
+
+## Code Signing & Troubleshooting
+
+For instructions on signing the application with an Apple Developer Account, or resolving macOS Gatekeeper warnings ("app is damaged" / "unidentified developer"), please see [SIGNING.md](SIGNING.md).
+
+
 ## CLI Usage
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/SIGNING.md b/SIGNING.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fb813e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/SIGNING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# Code Signing & Gatekeeper Guide
+
+Because Signal is distributed outside the Mac App Store and relies on ad-hoc (self) signing by default, you may see a Gatekeeper warning stating that the app is "damaged" or from an "unidentified developer" when running it on another machine.
+
+This document describes how to configure official code signing for distribution, or how to bypass these security warnings for local development and testing.
+
+---
+
+## 1. Official Code Signing (For Distribution)
+
+If you have a paid Apple Developer Account, you can sign both the application bundle and the generated DMG.
+
+### Prerequisites
+You must have a **Developer ID Application** certificate installed in your macOS Keychain. You can find its name in the Keychain Access app (e.g., `"Developer ID Application: Your Name (TEAMID)"`).
+
+### How to Sign
+Pass your signing identity when running `make dmg` or `make build`:
+
+```bash
+# Package the DMG and sign both the app bundle and the DMG file
+make dmg CODESIGN_IDENTITY="Developer ID Application: Your Name (TEAMID)"
+
+# Or build the app bundle and sign it
+make build CODESIGN_IDENTITY="Developer ID Application: Your Name (TEAMID)"
+```
+
+### Notarization & Stapling
+To completely avoid Gatekeeper blocks, you must submit the signed DMG to Apple's Notary Service:
+
+1. **Submit for Notarization**:
+   ```bash
+   xcrun notarytool submit .build/Signal.dmg --apple-id "your-apple-id" --team-id "YOUR_TEAM_ID" --password "your-app-specific-password" --wait
+   ```
+2. **Staple the Ticket**:
+   Once approved, attach the notarization ticket to the DMG:
+   ```bash
+   xcrun stapler staple .build/Signal.dmg
+   ```
+
+---
+
+## 2. Gatekeeper Bypass (For Local Testing)
+
+If you compile the app locally or download an unsigned/ad-hoc signed DMG, macOS may prevent the app from launching. You can bypass this using one of the following methods.
+
+### Method A: Right-Click Open (Recommended)
+1. Locate `Signal.app` in Finder (typically in `/Applications`).
+2. **Right-click** (or Control-click) the application icon and choose **Open** from the context menu.
+3. A warning dialog will appear. Click **Open** (or **Open Anyway**) to confirm.
+4. macOS will remember this preference, and the app will open normally in the future.
+
+### Method B: Terminal Command (Clear Quarantine Flag)
+When apps are downloaded or copied over networks, macOS attaches a `com.apple.quarantine` extended attribute. You can remove this flag using the `xattr` tool in your terminal:
+
+```bash
+xattr -d com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Signal.app
+```
+Once run, the app will launch immediately without warnings.