diff --git a/backend/server.js b/backend/server.js
index 6d100ca..ee39ef2 100644
--- a/backend/server.js
+++ b/backend/server.js
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ logger.info('Server starting up', {
   timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
 });
 
+const fs = require('fs');
 const express = require('express');
 const helmet = require('helmet');
 const cors = require('cors');
@@ -219,6 +220,22 @@ app.use('/api/public', require('./src/routes/publicCMS'));
 app.use('/api/images', require('./src/routes/protectedImages'));
 app.use('/api/secure-images', secureImagesRoutes);
 
+// Optional: Serve built frontend (native installs)
+try {
+  const serveFrontend = process.env.SERVE_FRONTEND === 'true';
+  const frontendDir = process.env.FRONTEND_DIR || path.join(__dirname, '../frontend/dist');
+  if (serveFrontend && fs.existsSync(frontendDir)) {
+    logger.info(`Serving frontend from ${frontendDir}`);
+    app.use(express.static(frontendDir));
+    // SPA fallback for non-API routes
+    app.get([ '/', '/admin', '/admin/*', '/gallery/*' ], (req, res) => {
+      res.sendFile(path.join(frontendDir, 'index.html'));
+    });
+  }
+} catch (e) {
+  logger.warn('Failed to enable frontend static serving', { error: e.message });
+}
+
 // Error handling middleware
 app.use((err, req, res, next) => {
   console.error('EXPRESS ERROR HANDLER:', err);
diff --git a/scripts/setup.sh b/scripts/setup.sh
index 56466b7..7b93fa4 100755
--- a/scripts/setup.sh
+++ b/scripts/setup.sh
@@ -602,9 +602,19 @@ setup_native_installation() {
     # Install backend production dependencies
     cd "$NATIVE_APP_DIR/app/backend"
     npm install --production
-    
     # Ensure SQLite data directory exists for native installs
     mkdir -p "$NATIVE_APP_DIR/app/backend/data"
+
+    # Build frontend for native serving
+    log_step "Building frontend..."
+    if [[ -d "$NATIVE_APP_DIR/app/frontend" ]]; then
+      cd "$NATIVE_APP_DIR/app/frontend"
+      # Try ci (faster/clean) then fallback to install
+      run_as_user "npm ci --include=dev" || run_as_user "npm install"
+      run_as_user "npm run build"
+    else
+      log_warn "Frontend directory not found; admin UI will not be served by backend"
+    fi
     
     # Generate secrets
     local jwt_secret=$(generate_jwt_secret)
@@ -654,6 +664,10 @@ DEFAULT_EXPIRY_DAYS=30
 # Logging
 LOG_DIR=$NATIVE_APP_DIR/logs
 LOG_LEVEL=info
+
+# Frontend serving (native installs)
+SERVE_FRONTEND=true
+FRONTEND_DIR=$NATIVE_APP_DIR/app/frontend/dist
 EOF
     
     # Set permissions