diff --git a/scripts/install.ps1 b/scripts/install.ps1
index abe93a289a..6c52c72716 100644
--- a/scripts/install.ps1
+++ b/scripts/install.ps1
@@ -764,11 +764,14 @@ function Get-BootstrapPython {
     $lock = Get-Content (Join-Path $InstallDir "pm\lock.json") -Raw | ConvertFrom-Json
     $pyPin = $lock.packages.python
     $pyVersion = if ($pyPin) { ($pyPin.version -split '\+')[0] -replace '^(\d+\.\d+).*', '$1' } else { '3.14' }
-    $bootPy = (Invoke-Native { & $uv python find --managed-python --no-project $pyVersion 2>$null }) -join "`n"
+    # A bare version lets uv pick emulated x86_64 on Windows-on-ARM.
+    $pyArch = if ((Get-WindowsArch) -eq 'arm64') { 'aarch64' } else { 'x86_64' }
+    $pyRequest = "cpython-$pyVersion-windows-$pyArch-none"
+    $bootPy = (Invoke-Native { & $uv python find --managed-python --no-project $pyRequest 2>$null }) -join "`n"
     if ($LASTEXITCODE -or -not $bootPy) {
-        Invoke-Native { & $uv python install --no-bin --no-registry $pyVersion } | Out-Host
+        Invoke-Native { & $uv python install --no-bin --no-registry $pyRequest } | Out-Host
         if ($LASTEXITCODE) { Fail "bootstrap Python installation failed" }
-        $bootPy = (Invoke-Native { & $uv python find --managed-python --no-project $pyVersion }) -join "`n"
+        $bootPy = (Invoke-Native { & $uv python find --managed-python --no-project $pyRequest }) -join "`n"
     }
     if ($LASTEXITCODE -or -not $bootPy) { Fail "bootstrap Python lookup failed" }
     return $bootPy.Trim()
diff --git a/scripts/tests/test-install-ps1-node-compatibility.ps1 b/scripts/tests/test-install-ps1-node-compatibility.ps1
index dbc2fa6674..c6f4ca32fe 100644
--- a/scripts/tests/test-install-ps1-node-compatibility.ps1
+++ b/scripts/tests/test-install-ps1-node-compatibility.ps1
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ exit /b 0
     # cmd's `echo %* >> file` keeps the space before `>>` in the recorded line.
     $recorded = @(Get-Content -LiteralPath $argsFile | ForEach-Object { $_.Trim() })
     Assert-True ($recorded.Count -eq 1) 'uv locates the available bootstrap Python without reinstalling it'
-    Assert-True ($recorded[0] -eq 'python find --managed-python --no-project 3.13') 'Python minor comes from the lockfile; lookup ignores ambient project discovery'
+    $pyArch = if ((Get-WindowsArch) -eq 'arm64') { 'aarch64' } else { 'x86_64' }
+    Assert-True ($recorded[0] -eq "python find --managed-python --no-project cpython-3.13-windows-$pyArch-none") 'Python minor comes from the lockfile, pinned to the machine architecture; lookup ignores ambient project discovery'
     Assert-True ((Get-Content -LiteralPath $pythonArgsFile -Raw).Trim() -eq '-m pm.cli install') 'Python launches PM without a uv parent'
 
     # The installer owns no node stage: tool and frontend provisioning belongs
diff --git a/setup-hermes.ps1 b/setup-hermes.ps1
index 9ca6c5f249..b96b8bd77a 100644
--- a/setup-hermes.ps1
+++ b/setup-hermes.ps1
@@ -82,9 +82,11 @@ Write-Host '(first run on a fresh checkout can take 1-5 minutes)'
 Push-Location $repo
 try {
     # PM can replace its uv entry only after the bootstrap uv has exited.
-    & $uv python install --no-bin --no-registry $pyVersion
+    # A bare version lets uv pick emulated x86_64 on Windows-on-ARM.
+    $pyRequest = "cpython-$pyVersion-windows-$(if ($arch -eq 'arm64') { 'aarch64' } else { 'x86_64' })-none"
+    & $uv python install --no-bin --no-registry $pyRequest
     if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw 'bootstrap Python installation failed' }
-    $bootPy = (& $uv python find --managed-python $pyVersion) -join "`n"
+    $bootPy = (& $uv python find --managed-python $pyRequest) -join "`n"
     if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0 -or -not $bootPy) { throw 'bootstrap Python lookup failed' }
     & $bootPy.Trim() -m pm.cli install $(if ($RuntimeOnly) { '--trust-recorded' }) "--test-environment=$TestExtras"
     if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw 'pm install failed - see output above.' }
diff --git a/setup-hermes.sh b/setup-hermes.sh
index f1fbaf00ee..b169bedc09 100755
--- a/setup-hermes.sh
+++ b/setup-hermes.sh
@@ -164,8 +164,14 @@ fi
 echo -e "${CYAN}→${NC} Installing python + tools + dependencies via pm (hash-verified via uv.lock)..."
 echo -e "${CYAN}→${NC} (first run on a fresh checkout can take 1-5 minutes)"
 # PM can replace its uv entry only after the bootstrap uv has exited.
-"$uv" python install --no-bin --no-registry "$py_version"
-boot_py="$("$uv" python find --managed-python "$py_version")"
+# A bare version lets uv pick emulated x86_64 on Windows-on-ARM.
+py_request="$py_version"
+if [ "$os" = win32 ]; then
+  case "$arch" in arm64) py_request="cpython-$py_version-windows-aarch64-none" ;;
+                  *) py_request="cpython-$py_version-windows-x86_64-none" ;; esac
+fi
+"$uv" python install --no-bin --no-registry "$py_request"
+boot_py="$("$uv" python find --managed-python "$py_request")"
 boot_py="${boot_py%$'\r'}"
 # Activation trusts the recorded tool digest; a direct setup re-checks it
 # (setup-hermes.ps1 draws the same line).