diff --git a/src/tui/main.py b/src/tui/main.py
index 51418786..e0f60df2 100644
--- a/src/tui/main.py
+++ b/src/tui/main.py
@@ -497,6 +497,18 @@ def copy_compose_files(*, force: bool = False) -> None:
 
 def run_tui():
     """Run the OpenRAG TUI application."""
+    # Check for native Windows before launching TUI
+    from .utils.platform import PlatformDetector
+    platform_detector = PlatformDetector()
+
+    if platform_detector.is_native_windows():
+        print("\n" + "=" * 60)
+        print("⚠️  Native Windows Not Supported")
+        print("=" * 60)
+        print(platform_detector.get_wsl_recommendation())
+        print("=" * 60 + "\n")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
     app = None
     try:
         # Keep bundled assets aligned with the packaged versions
diff --git a/src/tui/screens/diagnostics.py b/src/tui/screens/diagnostics.py
index bad456e4..a01ae302 100644
--- a/src/tui/screens/diagnostics.py
+++ b/src/tui/screens/diagnostics.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from rich.text import Text
 
 from ..managers.container_manager import ContainerManager
 from ..utils.clipboard import copy_text_to_clipboard
+from ..utils.platform import PlatformDetector
 
 
 class DiagnosticsScreen(Screen):
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ class DiagnosticsScreen(Screen):
     def __init__(self):
         super().__init__()
         self.container_manager = ContainerManager()
+        self.platform_detector = PlatformDetector()
         self._logger = logging.getLogger("openrag.diagnostics")
         self._status_timer = None
 
@@ -199,6 +201,23 @@ class DiagnosticsScreen(Screen):
         """Get system information text."""
         info_text = Text()
 
+        # Platform information
+        info_text.append("Platform Information\n", style="bold")
+        info_text.append("=" * 30 + "\n")
+        info_text.append(f"System: {self.platform_detector.platform_system}\n")
+        info_text.append(f"Machine: {self.platform_detector.platform_machine}\n")
+
+        # Windows-specific warning
+        if self.platform_detector.is_native_windows():
+            info_text.append("\n")
+            info_text.append("⚠️  Native Windows Detected\n", style="bold yellow")
+            info_text.append("-" * 30 + "\n")
+            info_text.append(self.platform_detector.get_wsl_recommendation())
+            info_text.append("\n")
+
+        info_text.append("\n")
+
+        # Container runtime information
         runtime_info = self.container_manager.get_runtime_info()
 
         info_text.append("Container Runtime Information\n", style="bold")
diff --git a/src/tui/utils/platform.py b/src/tui/utils/platform.py
index 176c60c6..5b2edbab 100644
--- a/src/tui/utils/platform.py
+++ b/src/tui/utils/platform.py
@@ -30,6 +30,15 @@ class PlatformDetector:
         self.platform_system = platform.system()
         self.platform_machine = platform.machine()
 
+    def is_native_windows(self) -> bool:
+        """
+        Check if running on native Windows (not WSL).
+
+        Returns True if running on native Windows, False otherwise.
+        WSL environments will return False since they identify as Linux.
+        """
+        return self.platform_system == "Windows"
+
     def detect_runtime(self) -> RuntimeInfo:
         """Detect available container runtime and compose capabilities."""
         # First check if we have podman installed
@@ -166,6 +175,23 @@ class PlatformDetector:
         ) as e:
             return False, 0, f"Error checking Podman VM memory: {e}"
 
+    def get_wsl_recommendation(self) -> str:
+        """Get recommendation message for native Windows users to use WSL."""
+        return """
+⚠️  Running on native Windows detected.
+
+For the best experience, we recommend using Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).
+
+To set up WSL:
+  1. Open PowerShell or Command Prompt as Administrator
+  2. Run: wsl --install
+  3. Restart your computer
+  4. Set up your Linux distribution (Ubuntu recommended)
+  5. Install Docker or Podman in WSL
+
+Learn more: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install
+"""
+
     def get_installation_instructions(self) -> str:
         if self.platform_system == "Darwin":
             return """
@@ -200,6 +226,10 @@ Docker Desktop for Windows:
 
 Or Podman Desktop:
   https://podman-desktop.io/downloads
+
+For better performance, consider using WSL:
+  Run: wsl --install
+  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install
 """
         else:
             return """