diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 7c89a3f..1c4b794 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@fieldlens/print",
-  "version": "0.1.26",
+  "version": "0.1.27",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/src-tauri/Cargo.toml b/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
index 6ba90f3..f059ffd 100644
--- a/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
+++ b/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "fieldlens-print"
-version = "0.1.26"
+version = "0.1.27"
 description = "FieldLens print-stream barcode capture companion"
 authors = ["Arrowstack"]
 edition = "2021"
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/printers.rs b/src-tauri/src/printers.rs
index b271f6b..ea08358 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/printers.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/printers.rs
@@ -407,21 +407,51 @@ if ($null -ne $targetConfig -and $targetConfig.PrintTicketXML) {{
 
     fs::write(&script_path, script).context("write Windows printer setup script")?;
 
+    // First run the script directly. This is the reliable path when FieldLens
+    // itself was started as administrator and avoids a second hidden RunAs
+    // process plus fragile nested PowerShell argument quoting.
+    let direct = hidden_windows_command("powershell.exe")
+        .args([
+            "-NoProfile",
+            "-NonInteractive",
+            "-ExecutionPolicy",
+            "Bypass",
+            "-File",
+        ])
+        .arg(&script_path)
+        .args(["-TargetPrinter", target_printer])
+        .output()
+        .context("run Windows printer setup")?;
+
+    if direct.status.success() {
+        let _ = fs::remove_file(&script_path);
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+
+    // If the app is not elevated, retry through UAC. Keep this as a fallback
+    // rather than the primary path so admin-launched builds never depend on a
+    // nested hidden RunAs process.
     let path = ps_quote(&script_path.to_string_lossy());
     let elevated = format!(
-        "$p = Start-Process -FilePath powershell.exe -Verb RunAs -WindowStyle Hidden -Wait -PassThru -ArgumentList @('-NoProfile','-NonInteractive','-WindowStyle','Hidden','-ExecutionPolicy','Bypass','-File','{path}','-TargetPrinter','{target}'); exit $p.ExitCode"
+        "$p = Start-Process -FilePath powershell.exe -Verb RunAs -Wait -PassThru -ArgumentList @('-NoProfile','-NonInteractive','-ExecutionPolicy','Bypass','-File','{path}','-TargetPrinter','{target}'); exit $p.ExitCode"
     );
 
-    let status = hidden_windows_command("powershell.exe")
-        .args(["-NoProfile", "-NonInteractive", "-WindowStyle", "Hidden", "-Command", &elevated])
+    let elevated_status = hidden_windows_command("powershell.exe")
+        .args(["-NoProfile", "-NonInteractive", "-Command", &elevated])
         .status()
         .context("launch elevated Windows printer setup")?;
 
     let _ = fs::remove_file(&script_path);
 
-    if !status.success() {
+    if !elevated_status.success() {
+        let stderr = String::from_utf8_lossy(&direct.stderr).trim().to_string();
         return Err(anyhow!(
-            "printer setup was cancelled or failed; Windows administrator approval may be required"
+            "Windows printer setup failed{}",
+            if stderr.is_empty() {
+                "; administrator approval may be required".to_string()
+            } else {
+                format!(": {stderr}")
+            }
         ));
     }
 
@@ -450,17 +480,42 @@ if (Get-PrinterPort -Name $portName -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) {{
         uuid::Uuid::new_v4()
     ));
     fs::write(&script_path, script)?;
+    let direct = hidden_windows_command("powershell.exe")
+        .args([
+            "-NoProfile",
+            "-NonInteractive",
+            "-ExecutionPolicy",
+            "Bypass",
+            "-File",
+        ])
+        .arg(&script_path)
+        .output()
+        .context("run Windows printer removal")?;
+
+    if direct.status.success() {
+        let _ = fs::remove_file(&script_path);
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+
     let path = ps_quote(&script_path.to_string_lossy());
     let elevated = format!(
-        "$p = Start-Process -FilePath powershell.exe -Verb RunAs -WindowStyle Hidden -Wait -PassThru -ArgumentList @('-NoProfile','-NonInteractive','-WindowStyle','Hidden','-ExecutionPolicy','Bypass','-File','{path}'); exit $p.ExitCode"
+        "$p = Start-Process -FilePath powershell.exe -Verb RunAs -Wait -PassThru -ArgumentList @('-NoProfile','-NonInteractive','-ExecutionPolicy','Bypass','-File','{path}'); exit $p.ExitCode"
     );
     let status = hidden_windows_command("powershell.exe")
-        .args(["-NoProfile", "-NonInteractive", "-WindowStyle", "Hidden", "-Command", &elevated])
+        .args(["-NoProfile", "-NonInteractive", "-Command", &elevated])
         .status()?;
     let _ = fs::remove_file(&script_path);
 
     if !status.success() {
-        return Err(anyhow!("removing FieldLens Print was cancelled or failed"));
+        let stderr = String::from_utf8_lossy(&direct.stderr).trim();
+        return Err(anyhow!(
+            "removing FieldLens Print failed{}",
+            if stderr.is_empty() {
+                String::new()
+            } else {
+                format!(": {stderr}")
+            }
+        ));
     }
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json b/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
index e3e3a90..db11405 100644
--- a/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
+++ b/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://schema.tauri.app/config/2",
   "productName": "FieldLens Print",
-  "version": "0.1.26",
+  "version": "0.1.27",
   "identifier": "dev.arrowstack.fieldlens.print",
   "build": {
     "beforeDevCommand": "npm run dev",
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index f2e0167..8c5d1d8 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ let config: AppConfig
 let jobs: Job[] = []
 let status: Status = { running: false, mode: 'raw-proxy', pending: 0, jobs: 0 }
 let loginTimer: number | undefined
-let currentVersion = '0.1.25'
+let currentVersion = '0.1.27'
 let bundleType: BundleType | null = null
 let availableUpdate: Update | null = null
 let availableManualUpdate: ManualUpdate | null = null