diff --git a/patch_index.py b/patch_index.py
index 49fc35a..18292ae 100644
--- a/patch_index.py
+++ b/patch_index.py
@@ -69,14 +69,21 @@ try:
     mf["description"] = "Member-governed AI inference — private and renewable model choices."
     # Deterministic icon list: explicit any/maskable entries (no dual-purpose
     # values — some Firefox Android versions mishandle "any maskable"), and
-    # the launcher-suitable sizes first.
+    # the launcher-suitable sizes first. Each src carries a per-build version
+    # query: PWA icon URLs are served with max-age=172800, and removing/re-adding
+    # the PWA does NOT clear the phone's HTTP cache — without the query, launchers
+    # keep rendering the PREVIOUS build's icon bytes ("my icon never changes").
+    ver = str(int(time.time()))
+    def _v(src: str) -> str:
+        return f"{src}?v={ver}"
+
     mf["icons"] = [
-        {"src": "assets/icon-192x192.png", "sizes": "192x192", "type": "image/png", "purpose": "any"},
-        {"src": "assets/maskable-icon.png", "sizes": "512x512", "type": "image/png", "purpose": "any"},
-        {"src": "assets/maskable-icon.png", "sizes": "512x512", "type": "image/png", "purpose": "maskable"},
-        {"src": "assets/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png", "sizes": "180x180", "type": "image/png"},
-        {"src": "assets/favicon-32x32.png", "sizes": "32x32", "type": "image/png"},
-        {"src": "assets/favicon-16x16.png", "sizes": "16x16", "type": "image/png"},
+        {"src": _v("assets/icon-192x192.png"), "sizes": "192x192", "type": "image/png", "purpose": "any"},
+        {"src": _v("assets/maskable-icon.png"), "sizes": "512x512", "type": "image/png", "purpose": "any"},
+        {"src": _v("assets/maskable-icon.png"), "sizes": "512x512", "type": "image/png", "purpose": "maskable"},
+        {"src": _v("assets/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png"), "sizes": "180x180", "type": "image/png"},
+        {"src": _v("assets/favicon-32x32.png"), "sizes": "32x32", "type": "image/png"},
+        {"src": _v("assets/favicon-16x16.png"), "sizes": "16x16", "type": "image/png"},
     ]
     open(MPATH, "w", encoding="utf-8").write(_json.dumps(mf, indent=2))
     print("manifest: co-op identity set")