diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 68e93d2..e569648 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Added
 
+- Add `mise run package-extension` to generate `vscode/runa.vsix` for manual
+  installation without installing it automatically.
 - Add `runa-dap --listen` / `RUNA_DAP_LISTEN` for loopback TCP DAP sessions,
   retaining stdio as the default transport.
 - Add `mise run install-extension` to build the debug adapter, package the VS Code
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4835a0f..eda4c7d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -266,6 +266,11 @@ Rust debug adapter and packages/installs the extension using the local `code`
 CLI. Set `VSCODE_CLI` to choose another executable, such as `code-insiders`.
 See [extension setup](vscode/README.md#run-from-source) for debugger configuration.
 
+To generate an installable file without installing it, run
+`mise run package-extension`. The output is `vscode/runa.vsix`, ready for
+VS Code's **Extensions: Install from VSIX...** command. The Rust debug adapter
+is built/installed separately.
+
 With Node.js 22+ and npm installed, run `npm --prefix vscode ci`. In VS Code,
 open this repository and launch **Run Runa Extension** from Run and Debug
 (F5). Start `mise run start`, then use **Runa: Connect to Local Image**
diff --git a/mise.toml b/mise.toml
index dd47b3e..8a3066c 100644
--- a/mise.toml
+++ b/mise.toml
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ run = "npm --prefix vscode run test:host"
 description = "Package and install the extension in local VS Code"
 run = ["cargo build -p runa-dap", "npm --prefix vscode run install:local"]
 
+[tasks.package-extension]
+description = "Generate vscode/runa.vsix for manual installation"
+run = "npm --prefix vscode run package"
+
 [tasks.start]
 description = "Start the Runa image server on localhost"
 run = "cargo run -p runa"
diff --git a/vscode/README.md b/vscode/README.md
index d07ed0a..f20dbad 100644
--- a/vscode/README.md
+++ b/vscode/README.md
@@ -27,6 +27,17 @@ your VS Code settings or start an image. The VSIX uses the local extension ID
 `runa.runa`; packaging is local-only and skips the currently absent license and
 repository metadata checks, not publication.
 
+To generate the installable file without installing it:
+
+```sh
+mise run package-extension
+```
+
+This compiles the extension and writes `vscode/runa.vsix`. Install it using
+VS Code's **Extensions: Install from VSIX...** command or
+`code --install-extension vscode/runa.vsix`. The VSIX does not bundle the Rust
+debug adapter; build or install `runa-dap` separately for debugging.
+
 From the repository root:
 
 ```sh