diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b7ecab8..01fc146 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -57,6 +57,14 @@ Release zips are written to:
 builds/releases/
 ```
 
+## Config Files
+
+`config.json` is local runtime data and is ignored by Git. Keep your personal launcher menu there for testing.
+
+`config.example.json` is a public-safe sample config for documentation and reference. New users do not need to copy it; if `config.json` is missing, the app creates a clean starter config on first run.
+
+Personal test configs should stay in `config.json`; release packages do not include it unless the release script is run with `-IncludeCurrentConfig`.
+
 ## Versioning
 
 The app version is controlled in `TaskbarLauncher.csproj`.
diff --git a/Services/IconService.cs b/Services/IconService.cs
index 8bffac6..87a637c 100644
--- a/Services/IconService.cs
+++ b/Services/IconService.cs
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ public static class IconService
             return null;
         }
 
+        path = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables(path);
+
         try
         {
             uint flags = ShgfiIcon | (large ? ShgfiLargeIcon : ShgfiSmallIcon);
diff --git a/Services/LauncherController.cs b/Services/LauncherController.cs
index 014e479..6923cb4 100644
--- a/Services/LauncherController.cs
+++ b/Services/LauncherController.cs
@@ -95,12 +95,14 @@ public sealed class LauncherController : IDisposable
             return;
         }
 
+        string target = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables(item.Target);
+
         ProcessStartInfo startInfo = new()
         {
-            FileName = item.Target,
+            FileName = target,
             Arguments = item.Arguments ?? "",
             UseShellExecute = true,
-            WorkingDirectory = Directory.Exists(item.Target) ? item.Target : ConfigService.AppFolder
+            WorkingDirectory = Directory.Exists(target) ? target : ConfigService.AppFolder
         };
 
         Process.Start(startInfo);
diff --git a/TaskbarLauncher.csproj b/TaskbarLauncher.csproj
index 364345c..0013e36 100644
--- a/TaskbarLauncher.csproj
+++ b/TaskbarLauncher.csproj
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
     <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
     <UseWPF>true</UseWPF>
     <UseWindowsForms>true</UseWindowsForms>
-    <DefaultItemExcludes>$(DefaultItemExcludes);bin\**;obj\**;..\TaskbarLauncher-build\**</DefaultItemExcludes>
+    <DefaultItemExcludes>$(DefaultItemExcludes);bin\**;obj\**;builds\**;_*\**;..\TaskbarLauncher-build\**</DefaultItemExcludes>
     <Version>1.0.0</Version>
     <AssemblyVersion>1.0.0.0</AssemblyVersion>
     <FileVersion>1.0.0.0</FileVersion>
diff --git a/config.example.json b/config.example.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..93055a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config.example.json
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+{
+  "Hotkey": "Ctrl+Alt+Space",
+  "DisplayMode": "CompactList",
+  "Items": [
+    {
+      "Title": "Folders",
+      "Type": "Menu",
+      "Target": "",
+      "Arguments": null,
+      "IconPath": null,
+      "DisplayMode": "CompactList",
+      "Children": [
+        {
+          "Title": "Documents",
+          "Type": "Folder",
+          "Target": "%USERPROFILE%\\Documents",
+          "Arguments": null,
+          "IconPath": "%USERPROFILE%\\Documents",
+          "DisplayMode": "CompactList",
+          "Children": []
+        },
+        {
+          "Title": "Downloads",
+          "Type": "Folder",
+          "Target": "%USERPROFILE%\\Downloads",
+          "Arguments": null,
+          "IconPath": "%USERPROFILE%\\Downloads",
+          "DisplayMode": "CompactList",
+          "Children": []
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    {
+      "Title": "Apps",
+      "Type": "Menu",
+      "Target": "",
+      "Arguments": null,
+      "IconPath": null,
+      "DisplayMode": "CompactList",
+      "Children": [
+        {
+          "Title": "Notepad",
+          "Type": "App",
+          "Target": "notepad.exe",
+          "Arguments": null,
+          "IconPath": "notepad.exe",
+          "DisplayMode": "CompactList",
+          "Children": []
+        }
+      ]
+    }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/docs/INSTALL.md b/docs/INSTALL.md
index a493d4b..311e61b 100644
--- a/docs/INSTALL.md
+++ b/docs/INSTALL.md
@@ -45,3 +45,9 @@ config.json
 Keep `config.json` beside `TaskbarLauncher.exe`.
 
 If `config.json` is missing, the app creates a clean starter config on first run.
+
+## Example Config
+
+The source repository includes `config.example.json` as a public-safe example. It is not required for normal installation.
+
+Paths in config may use Windows environment variables such as `%USERPROFILE%`.