diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 7b89da847..f6d1cbdc5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -367,7 +367,10 @@ jobs:
           version: 11
 
       - name: Install dependencies
-        run: sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y -q libgtk-4-dev libwebkitgtk-6.0-dev libsoup-3.0-dev gcc-mingw-w64-x86-64
+        # GTK4/WebKitGTK 6.0 dev libs for the default build + GTK3/WebKit2GTK 4.1
+        # dev libs for the legacy -tags gtk3 build (netbird-ui-gtk3). Both stacks
+        # coexist on the same runner; goreleaser builds both Linux variants here.
+        run: sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y -q libgtk-4-dev libwebkitgtk-6.0-dev libsoup-3.0-dev libgtk-3-dev libwebkit2gtk-4.1-dev gcc-mingw-w64-x86-64
 
       - name: Decode GPG signing key
         if: github.event_name != 'pull_request' || github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name == github.repository
diff --git a/.goreleaser_ui.yaml b/.goreleaser_ui.yaml
index 8ae969096..5df6724e8 100644
--- a/.goreleaser_ui.yaml
+++ b/.goreleaser_ui.yaml
@@ -24,6 +24,25 @@ builds:
       - -s -w -X github.com/netbirdio/netbird/version.version={{.Version}} -X main.commit={{.Commit}} -X main.date={{.CommitDate}} -X main.builtBy=goreleaser
     mod_timestamp: "{{ .CommitTimestamp }}"
 
+  # Legacy GTK3 / WebKit2GTK 4.1 build for distros without WebKitGTK 6.0
+  # (Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 12, RHEL 9, Fedora <=39). -tags gtk3 flips Wails to
+  # the GTK3 stack and drops our GTK4-only XEmbed tray host (see
+  # xembed_host_gtk3_linux.go). Removed upstream in Wails v3.1.
+  - id: netbird-ui-gtk3
+    dir: client/ui
+    binary: netbird-ui
+    env:
+      - CGO_ENABLED=1
+    goos:
+      - linux
+    goarch:
+      - amd64
+    flags:
+      - -tags=gtk3
+    ldflags:
+      - -s -w -X github.com/netbirdio/netbird/version.version={{.Version}} -X main.commit={{.Commit}} -X main.date={{.CommitDate}} -X main.builtBy=goreleaser
+    mod_timestamp: "{{ .CommitTimestamp }}"
+
   - id: netbird-ui-windows-amd64
     dir: client/ui
     binary: netbird-ui
@@ -60,6 +79,10 @@ archives:
     name_template: "{{ .ProjectName }}-linux_{{ .Version }}_{{ .Os }}_{{ .Arch }}"
     builds:
       - netbird-ui
+  - id: linux-gtk3-arch
+    name_template: "{{ .ProjectName }}-linux-gtk3_{{ .Version }}_{{ .Os }}_{{ .Arch }}"
+    builds:
+      - netbird-ui-gtk3
   - id: windows-arch
     name_template: "{{ .ProjectName }}-windows_{{ .Version }}_{{ .Os }}_{{ .Arch }}"
     builds:
@@ -116,6 +139,59 @@ nfpms:
       signature:
         key_file: '{{ if index .Env "GPG_RPM_KEY_FILE" }}{{ .Env.GPG_RPM_KEY_FILE }}{{ end }}'
 
+  # Legacy GTK3 deb for Ubuntu 22.04 / Debian 12 (no WebKitGTK 6.0). Same
+  # package_name as the GTK4 deb -- the two are mutually-exclusive alternatives
+  # served from the matching distro repo; the package manager resolves by deps.
+  - maintainer: Netbird <dev@netbird.io>
+    description: Netbird client UI.
+    homepage: https://netbird.io/
+    license: BSD-3-Clause
+    vendor: NetBird
+    id: netbird_ui_deb_gtk3
+    package_name: netbird-ui
+    builds:
+      - netbird-ui-gtk3
+    formats:
+      - deb
+    scripts:
+      postinstall: "release_files/ui-post-install.sh"
+    contents:
+      - src: client/ui/build/linux/netbird.desktop
+        dst: /usr/share/applications/org.wails.netbird.desktop
+      - src: client/ui/build/appicon.png
+        dst: /usr/share/pixmaps/netbird.png
+    dependencies:
+      - netbird
+      - libgtk-3-0
+      - libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0
+
+  # Legacy GTK3 rpm for RHEL 9 / Fedora <=39 (no WebKitGTK 6.0).
+  - maintainer: Netbird <dev@netbird.io>
+    description: Netbird client UI.
+    homepage: https://netbird.io/
+    license: BSD-3-Clause
+    vendor: NetBird
+    id: netbird_ui_rpm_gtk3
+    package_name: netbird-ui
+    builds:
+      - netbird-ui-gtk3
+    formats:
+      - rpm
+    scripts:
+      postinstall: "release_files/ui-post-install.sh"
+    contents:
+      - src: client/ui/build/linux/netbird.desktop
+        dst: /usr/share/applications/org.wails.netbird.desktop
+      - src: client/ui/build/appicon.png
+        dst: /usr/share/pixmaps/netbird.png
+    dependencies:
+      - netbird
+      - gtk3
+      - webkit2gtk4.1
+    rpm:
+      signature:
+        key_file: '{{ if index .Env "GPG_RPM_KEY_FILE" }}{{ .Env.GPG_RPM_KEY_FILE }}{{ end }}'
+
 uploads:
   - name: debian
     ids:
@@ -132,3 +208,22 @@ uploads:
     target: https://pkgs.wiretrustee.com/yum/{{ .Arch }}{{ if .Arm }}{{ .Arm }}{{ end }}
     username: dev@wiretrustee.com
     method: PUT
+
+  # Legacy GTK3 packages share the netbird-ui name, so they must live in a repo
+  # path the old distros point at -- here a dedicated `gtk3` distribution/path.
+  # TODO: confirm the final repo layout with the pkgs.wiretrustee.com owner.
+  - name: debian-gtk3
+    ids:
+      - netbird_ui_deb_gtk3
+    mode: archive
+    target: https://pkgs.wiretrustee.com/debian/pool/{{ .ArtifactName }};deb.distribution=gtk3;deb.component=main;deb.architecture={{ if .Arm }}armhf{{ else }}{{ .Arch }}{{ end }};deb.package=
+    username: dev@wiretrustee.com
+    method: PUT
+
+  - name: yum-gtk3
+    ids:
+      - netbird_ui_rpm_gtk3
+    mode: archive
+    target: https://pkgs.wiretrustee.com/yum-gtk3/{{ .Arch }}{{ if .Arm }}{{ .Arm }}{{ end }}
+    username: dev@wiretrustee.com
+    method: PUT
diff --git a/client/ui/CLAUDE.md b/client/ui/CLAUDE.md
index 62b9d6eb7..b2c81616d 100644
--- a/client/ui/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/client/ui/CLAUDE.md
@@ -123,6 +123,8 @@ Key conventions: `tray.*` / `notify.*` (Go-side), `common.* / connect.* / nav.*
 
 The in-process `StatusNotifierWatcher` + XEmbed host that lets the tray work on minimal WMs is detailed in `LINUX-TRAY.md` (sibling). Touch that doc when modifying `tray_watcher_linux.go` / `xembed_host_linux.go` / `xembed_tray_linux.{c,h}`.
 
+**Legacy `-tags gtk3` build:** Wails v3 defaults to GTK4/WebKitGTK 6.0; the legacy GTK3/WebKit2GTK 4.1 path (`-tags gtk3`, for Ubuntu 22.04 / Debian 12 / RHEL 9 / Fedora ≤39, removed upstream in Wails v3.1) is shipped as a second `netbird-ui` package built via `EXTRA_TAGS=gtk3` / a separate goreleaser lane. `xembed_host_linux.go` + `xembed_tray_linux.{c,h}` are GTK4-only (`//go:build … && !gtk3`); on gtk3 builds `xembed_host_gtk3_linux.go` stubs them out (`xembedTrayAvailable()` → false), so the minimal-WM XEmbed fallback is **absent on gtk3** (tray still works on SNI-capable desktops). Keep the C files' `//go:build` constraints in sync with the Go file.
+
 ## Wails Dialogs (frontend, `@wailsio/runtime`)
 
 The app no longer uses native `@wailsio/runtime` `Dialogs.*` message boxes — errors go through the custom Error window (see below), confirmations through the in-app `useConfirm()` modal. `WAILS-DIALOGS.md` (sibling) is retained only as reference for the native API surface and the Go-side frameless-window pattern, should a native file picker (`OpenFile`/`SaveFile`) ever be needed.
diff --git a/client/ui/LINUX-TRAY.md b/client/ui/LINUX-TRAY.md
index c48cda3ab..56ef054b6 100644
--- a/client/ui/LINUX-TRAY.md
+++ b/client/ui/LINUX-TRAY.md
@@ -6,3 +6,7 @@ Minimal WMs (Fluxbox, OpenBox, i3, dwm, vanilla GNOME without the AppIndicator e
 - `xembed_host_linux.go` + `xembed_tray_linux.{c,h}` — when an XEmbed tray (`_NET_SYSTEM_TRAY_S0`) is available, also start an in-process XEmbed host that bridges the SNI icon into the XEmbed tray. Reads `IconPixmap` over D-Bus, draws via cairo+X11, polls for clicks, fetches `com.canonical.dbusmenu.GetLayout` for the popup menu, fires `com.canonical.dbusmenu.Event` on click.
 
 Build is gated on `linux && !386`; the 386 build (no cgo) and non-Linux builds use the `tray_watcher_other.go` no-op.
+
+## Legacy GTK3 build (`-tags gtk3`)
+
+The XEmbed host (`xembed_host_linux.go` + `xembed_tray_linux.{c,h}`) hard-links GTK4 and uses GTK4-only popup-menu APIs (`GdkSurface`, `GtkEventControllerFocus`, `gtk_window_set_child`, `gdk_display_get_monitors`→`GListModel`, …), so it cannot compile against GTK3. On the legacy `-tags gtk3` build those files are excluded (`//go:build … && !gtk3`) and `xembed_host_gtk3_linux.go` provides a pure-Go stub where `xembedTrayAvailable()` returns false. The watcher probe then exits immediately, so the in-process XEmbed fallback is **absent on GTK3 builds** — the tray works only where the desktop ships its own `StatusNotifierWatcher` (KDE, GNOME+AppIndicator, Cinnamon/xapp, XFCE), not on minimal WMs. Rather than port the ~150-line C menu layer to GTK3 we accept this gap; `-tags gtk3` is removed upstream in Wails v3.1.
diff --git a/client/ui/README.md b/client/ui/README.md
index 4aeac55ab..024b2ab3f 100644
--- a/client/ui/README.md
+++ b/client/ui/README.md
@@ -13,6 +13,21 @@ WebView.
   Windows `tcp://127.0.0.1:41731`)
 - Linux only: `libwebkitgtk-6.0-dev`, `libgtk-4-dev`, `libsoup-3.0-dev`
 
+### Legacy GTK3 build
+
+Wails v3 builds on GTK4 / WebKitGTK 6.0 by default. Distros that don't ship
+WebKitGTK 6.0 yet (Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 12, RHEL 9, Fedora ≤ 39) need the
+legacy GTK3 / WebKit2GTK 4.1 build, produced with `-tags gtk3` (e.g.
+`task build EXTRA_TAGS=gtk3`). It needs `libgtk-3-dev` + `libwebkit2gtk-4.1-dev`
+instead of the GTK4 libs above. `-tags gtk3` is removed upstream in Wails v3.1.
+
+> **Tray limitation:** the GTK3 build drops the in-process XEmbed
+> `StatusNotifierWatcher` (its menu layer is GTK4-only — see
+> [`LINUX-TRAY.md`](LINUX-TRAY.md) and `xembed_host_gtk3_linux.go`). The tray
+> still works on desktops that ship their own watcher (KDE, GNOME+AppIndicator,
+> Cinnamon/xapp, XFCE, …); only the minimal-WM fallback (Fluxbox/OpenBox/i3/dwm)
+> is unavailable on GTK3 packages.
+
 ## Develop without rebuilding
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/client/ui/xembed_host_gtk3_linux.go b/client/ui/xembed_host_gtk3_linux.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b1f18cc90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/ui/xembed_host_gtk3_linux.go
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+//go:build linux && gtk3 && !(linux && 386)
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+
+	"github.com/godbus/dbus/v5"
+)
+
+// The legacy GTK3 / WebKit2GTK 4.1 build (-tags gtk3) drops the in-process
+// XEmbed StatusNotifierWatcher entirely. The real implementation
+// (xembed_host_linux.go + xembed_tray_linux.c) links GTK4 and uses GTK4-only
+// popup-menu APIs that have no drop-in GTK3 equivalent, so rather than port the
+// C layer we stub the host out on gtk3 builds. The tray still works on every
+// desktop that ships its own StatusNotifierWatcher (KDE, GNOME+AppIndicator,
+// Cinnamon/xapp, XFCE, …); only the minimal-WM fallback (Fluxbox/OpenBox/i3/
+// dwm/vanilla GNOME) is unavailable on gtk3 packages. See LINUX-TRAY.md.
+
+// xembedHost is a placeholder so the package compiles on gtk3 builds; the real
+// type (with X11/GTK4 state) lives in xembed_host_linux.go. It is never
+// instantiated here because xembedTrayAvailable always reports false.
+type xembedHost struct{}
+
+// run satisfies the call in tray_watcher_linux.go; unreachable on gtk3 because
+// newXembedHost never returns a non-nil host.
+func (*xembedHost) run() {}
+
+// xembedTrayAvailable always reports false on gtk3 builds, so the watcher probe
+// loop in startStatusNotifierWatcher exits immediately and newXembedHost is
+// never reached. recenter_linux.go's predicate becomes a harmless no-op too.
+func xembedTrayAvailable() bool {
+	return false
+}
+
+// newXembedHost exists only to satisfy the reference in tray_watcher_linux.go;
+// it is unreachable because xembedTrayAvailable returns false on gtk3.
+func newXembedHost(conn *dbus.Conn, busName string, objPath dbus.ObjectPath) (*xembedHost, error) {
+	return nil, errors.New("xembed host unsupported on gtk3 build")
+}
diff --git a/client/ui/xembed_host_linux.go b/client/ui/xembed_host_linux.go
index f94c96e43..9cfb0831d 100644
--- a/client/ui/xembed_host_linux.go
+++ b/client/ui/xembed_host_linux.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-//go:build linux && !(linux && 386)
+//go:build linux && !gtk3 && !(linux && 386)
 
 package main
 
diff --git a/client/ui/xembed_tray_linux.c b/client/ui/xembed_tray_linux.c
index b8d3a481d..a4a6995b3 100644
--- a/client/ui/xembed_tray_linux.c
+++ b/client/ui/xembed_tray_linux.c
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+//go:build linux && !gtk3 && !(linux && 386)
+
 #include "xembed_tray_linux.h"
 
 #include <X11/Xatom.h>