diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8b6df65..9df5133 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ It runs these steps, in this order, and every one of them is idempotent:
 | 7. systemd drop-ins | writes the shutdown timeouts, oomd thresholds, plocate prune paths, and sleep hooks under `/etc` |
 | 8. System services | enables NetworkManager, resolved, bluetooth, cups, avahi, docker, power-profiles-daemon, and oomd, and masks `NetworkManager-wait-online` |
 | 9. Login screen | installs the session entry and the SDDM config, enables `sddm.service`, and sets the default target to `graphical.target` |
-| 10. Launch | starts the login screen, so the desktop comes up without a reboot |
+| 10. Reload | reloads systemd, restarts the running user services, and in a running session re-renders the theme, reloads Hyprland, and restarts the Blob shell |
+| 11. Launch | starts the login screen, so the desktop comes up without a reboot |
 
 Step 9 is the one a plain Arch install cannot do without: SDDM's stock Wayland
 greeter runs on `weston`, which Blob does not install, so the greeter is pointed
diff --git a/docs/install.md b/docs/install.md
index d8c49e6..d530ca3 100644
--- a/docs/install.md
+++ b/docs/install.md
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ with `--check`.
 | `install/steps/services.sh` | system services, systemd drop-ins, user units |
 | `install/steps/theme.sh` | the wallpaper link, the first theme, the first background |
 | `install/steps/login.sh` | SDDM, the session entry, and the first launch |
+| `install/steps/reload.sh` | reloading systemd, the user services, and a running session |
 
 ## Steps
 
@@ -128,7 +129,15 @@ with `--check`.
 
    `--autologin` writes `zzz-blob-autologin.conf`, the only file that sorts after
    `zz-blob.conf`.
-10. **Launch.** `sddm`, `hyprland`, `quickshell` and `uwsm` are checked one last
+10. **Reload.** systemd re-reads its units and `systemd-oomd` is restarted so
+    the new drop-ins apply. The user manager is reloaded and every Blob user
+    service that is running is restarted. When a Hyprland session is running
+    for this user, the current theme is rendered again with
+    `blob-theme-refresh`, Hyprland reloads its config, and the Blob shell
+    restarts, so an install over a live desktop takes effect without logging
+    out. The shell restart is refused while the screen is locked. Nothing that
+    was stopped is started, and `--check` only reports what would reload.
+11. **Launch.** `sddm`, `hyprland`, `quickshell` and `uwsm` are checked one last
     time and any that are missing are named, because that is the whole difference
     between a desktop and a console. Then, when the installer was run from a
     console and nothing graphical is running, it starts `sddm.service` so the
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index becbabf..59a9555 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ usage() {
 Usage: ./install.sh [OPTIONS]
 
 Creates every directory Blob needs, installs the packages that are missing,
-writes the config, enables the services, and opens the login screen.
+writes the config, enables the services, reloads a running session so every
+change takes effect, and opens the login screen.
 
   --check           Report what would change, write nothing
   --force           Overwrite files that have local changes
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ source "$repo_dir/install/steps/config.sh"
 source "$repo_dir/install/steps/services.sh"
 source "$repo_dir/install/steps/theme.sh"
 source "$repo_dir/install/steps/login.sh"
+source "$repo_dir/install/steps/reload.sh"
 
 say "Blob installer"
 say "repo: $repo_dir"
@@ -88,6 +90,10 @@ report_greeter_compositor
 report_login_conflicts
 report_desktop_essentials
 
+reload_system_services
+reload_user_services
+reload_session
+
 say ""
 if [[ $check == true ]]; then
   say "$changes item(s) would change."
diff --git a/install/steps/reload.sh b/install/steps/reload.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..abcd4f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install/steps/reload.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+reloaded_system_services=(
+  systemd-oomd.service
+)
+
+session_running() {
+  pgrep -u "$UID" -x Hyprland &>/dev/null
+}
+
+reload_system_services() {
+  if [[ $check == true ]]; then
+    say "would reload systemd and restart ${reloaded_system_services[*]}"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if ! as_root systemctl daemon-reload; then
+    say "WARN  could not reload systemd"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  local unit
+  for unit in "${reloaded_system_services[@]}"; do
+    system_unit_exists "$unit" || continue
+    as_root systemctl try-restart "$unit" || say "WARN  could not restart $unit"
+  done
+
+  say "ok    system services reloaded"
+}
+
+reload_user_services() {
+  if ! user_manager_available; then
+    say "SKIP  user services reload (no user systemd manager)"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if [[ $check == true ]]; then
+    say "would restart the running user services"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  systemctl --user daemon-reload
+
+  local unit failed=()
+  for unit in "${user_services[@]}"; do
+    systemctl --user try-restart "$unit" &>/dev/null || failed+=("$unit")
+  done
+
+  if (( ${#failed[@]} > 0 )); then
+    say "WARN  could not restart: ${failed[*]}"
+  else
+    say "ok    user services reloaded"
+  fi
+}
+
+run_session_reload() {
+  local label="$1"
+  shift
+
+  if BLOB_PATH="$blob_path" PATH="$blob_path/bin:$PATH" "$@" &>/dev/null; then
+    say "ok    $label reloaded"
+  else
+    say "WARN  could not reload $label"
+  fi
+}
+
+reload_session() {
+  if ! session_running; then
+    say "SKIP  session reload (Blob is not running)"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if [[ $check == true ]]; then
+    say "would reload the theme, Hyprland, and the Blob shell"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  run_session_reload "theme" blob-theme-refresh
+  run_session_reload "Hyprland" blob-hypr-restart
+  run_session_reload "Blob shell" blob-shell-restart
+}