diff --git a/.stow_local_ignore b/.stow_local_ignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8dfd8ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.stow_local_ignore
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+install.sh
+README.md
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 38743dd..5ea5a68 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,21 +2,74 @@
 
 mangoWC dotfiles with DMS integration
 
+## auto-install
+
+clone the repository into your home (~) directory:
+
+`cd ~`
 
-clone the repo and place the mango and sdgos folders in your .config folder:
 `git clone https://git.sdgcloud.nl/SDGDen/SDG-OS.git`
 
+make the install script executable
+
 `cd SDG-OS`
+
+`chmod a+x install.sh`
+
+run the install script
+
+`./install.sh`
+
+this will also set up automatic updates. any files you manually alter will stop auto-updating.
+
+updates run automatically on startup via git pull, you can update manually by going into the SDG-OS directory and running `git pull`
+
+to turn updates off, run the following command:
+
+`echo "off" > ~/.coinfig/SDGupdate.state`
+
+## manual install
+
+clone the repo.
+
+`git clone https://git.sdgcloud.nl/SDGDen/SDG-OS.git`
+
+copy the files to your .config folder if you want to modify them yourself
+
+`cd SDG-OS`
+
 `cp -r mango ~/.config`
+
 `cp -r sdgos ~/.config`
 
+or use stow to symlink them if you want automatic updates
+
+`cd SDG-OS`
+
+`stow .`
+
+or manually symlink them
+
+`sudo ln -sf /home/$(whoami)/SDG-OS/mango /home/$(whoami)/.config`
+
+`sudo ln -sf /home/$(whoami)/SDG-OS/sdgos /home/$(whoami)/.config`
+
 then make the scripts in the sdgos folder executable:
+
 `sudo chmod -R a+x ~/.config/sdgos`
 
-you can also use stow to symlink these to your .config folder instead, this allows you to store the files anywhere and also update via git pull, but means you cannot personally alter the config. 
+lastly, pick whether you want to use automatic updates or not (only relevant if you used stow or symlinks)
+
+`echo "on" > ~/.config/SDGupdate.state`
+
+use "on" for automatic updates on boot or "off" to not have automatic updates
 
 
-you may need totweak around with some stuff to get application auto-theming to work, reference the DMS docs:
+
+manual updates can be done by CDing into the SDG-OS directory and running `git pull`
+
+
+you may need to tweak around with some stuff to get application auto-theming to work, reference the DMS docs:
 https://danklinux.com/docs/dankmaterialshell/application-themes
 
 as well as the mangoWM docs: 
@@ -67,7 +120,10 @@ this script has a variable for the editor, it uses micro by default, but you can
 
 # Updates:
 
+17-05-2026 - added auto-updater as well as install script.
+
 17-05-2026 - added screenshot capability through scripts, first run modal (opens settings and keybinds popup on first boot) and added a somewhat-simple mango config editor script.
 
 
 
+
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5986595
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+echo "installing pre-requisites"
+
+sudo pacman -Syu ghostty firefox dms-shell yay git nautilus brightnessctl pipewire-pulse pipewire matugen adw-gtk-theme wl-copy hyprshot grim satty stow
+
+yay -S mangowm-git dsearch-bin
+
+WORKINGDIR=$(pwd)
+
+if [ $WORKINGDIR != "/home/$(whoami)/SDG-OS"]; then
+    ln -sf $WORKINGDIR /home/$(whoami)
+fi
+
+stow .
+
+echo "on" > ~/.config/SDGupdate.state
+
+chmod -R a+x ~/.config/sdgos
+
+echo "installation complete! you should now be able to log out and switch to \"mango\""
diff --git a/mango/autostart.conf b/mango/autostart.conf
index b73b9e9..a6c8676 100644
--- a/mango/autostart.conf
+++ b/mango/autostart.conf
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ exec-once=dsearch serve --workers 1 --root ~
 exec-once=systemctl --user start hyprpolkitagent
 ## first-run UI
 exec-once=~/.config/sdgos/firstrun.sh
+## auto-updates (toggle off by either removing ~/.config/SDGupdate.state or running "echo 'off' > ~/.config/SDGupdate.state")
+exec-once=~/.config/sdgos/auto-update.sh
 
 # UI
 exec-once=ghostty
diff --git a/mango/dms/colors.conf b/mango/dms/colors.conf
index 1cfc190..c4239d4 100644
--- a/mango/dms/colors.conf
+++ b/mango/dms/colors.conf
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # ! Auto-generated file. Do not edit directly.
 # Remove source = ./dms/colors.conf from your config to override.
 
-bordercolor = 0x958e9bff
-focuscolor  = 0xd6baffff
+bordercolor = 0x8e909cff
+focuscolor  = 0xb4c5ffff
 urgentcolor = 0xffb4abff
diff --git a/sdgos/auto-update.sh b/sdgos/auto-update.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..43ad0cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sdgos/auto-update.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+state=$(cat ~/.config/SDGupdate.state)
+
+if [ "$state" == "on" ]; then
+    cd /home/$(whoami)/SDG-OS
+    git pull
+    mmsg -d reload-config
+fi