diff --git a/apps/cli/src/doctor.rs b/apps/cli/src/doctor.rs
index 4b36b0ed99..7af9261657 100644
--- a/apps/cli/src/doctor.rs
+++ b/apps/cli/src/doctor.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 use serde::Serialize;
-use std::{
-    path::{Path, PathBuf},
-    time::Duration,
-};
+use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
+#[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+use std::time::Duration;
 
 use crate::{OutputFormat, write_json};
 
@@ -456,6 +455,7 @@ fn install_check(install: &Result<cap_cli_install::CliInstallStatus, String>) ->
     }
 }
 
+#[cfg_attr(not(target_os = "macos"), allow(unused_variables))]
 fn capture_ready(permissions: &Permissions, checks: &[Check]) -> bool {
     let permission_ready = match permissions.screen_recording {
         #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/general_settings.rs b/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/general_settings.rs
index 3bc8459239..a8003c4a80 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/general_settings.rs
+++ b/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/general_settings.rs
@@ -91,12 +91,13 @@ impl MainWindowRecordingStartBehaviour {
     }
 }
 
+// NOTE: Do not add "Cap Target Select" here — on Windows, WDA_EXCLUDEFROMCAPTURE applied to that
+// hidden window causes it to reappear as a ghost overlay after recording ends.
 const DEFAULT_EXCLUDED_WINDOW_TITLES: &[&str] = &[
     "Cap",
     "Cap Settings",
     "Cap Recording Controls",
     "Cap Camera",
-    "Cap Target Select",
     "Cap Window Capture Occluder",
     "Cap Capture Area",
     "Cap Mode Selection",
@@ -417,6 +418,17 @@ pub fn init(app: &AppHandle) {
     };
 
     append_missing_default_excluded_windows(&mut store.excluded_windows);
+
+    const REMOVE_TARGET_SELECT_MIGRATION_KEY: &str = "remove_cap_target_select_exclusion_v1";
+    if let Ok(raw_store) = app.store("store")
+        && raw_store.get(REMOVE_TARGET_SELECT_MIGRATION_KEY).is_none()
+    {
+        store.excluded_windows.retain(|w| {
+            w.window_title.as_deref() != Some("Cap Target Select")
+        });
+        raw_store.set(REMOVE_TARGET_SELECT_MIGRATION_KEY, json!(true));
+    }
+
     crate::posthog::set_telemetry_enabled(store.enable_telemetry);
     register_bundled_muxer_binary(app);