diff --git a/docs/errors/DTK0035.md b/docs/errors/DTK0035.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c7b7a69e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/errors/DTK0035.md
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+---
+outline: deep
+---
+# DTK0035: Build Injection Requires Assets
+
+## Message
+> build.injection requires build.withApp: true.
+
+## Cause
+`build.injection` is enabled, but `build.withApp` is disabled.
+
+## Example
+```ts
+export default defineConfig({
+  devtools: {
+    build: {
+      injection: true,
+    },
+  },
+})
+```
+
+## Fix
+Set `devtools.build.withApp: true`.
+
+## Source
+- [`packages/core/src/node/plugins/injection.ts`](https://github.com/vitejs/devtools/blob/main/packages/core/src/node/plugins/injection.ts) — `configResolved()` validates asset generation.
diff --git a/docs/errors/index.md b/docs/errors/index.md
index d1d6a4fc..fb0409b9 100644
--- a/docs/errors/index.md
+++ b/docs/errors/index.md
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ Emitted by `@vitejs/devtools` and `@vitejs/devtools-kit`.
 | [DTK0032](./DTK0032) | error | Dock Launch Error |
 | [DTK0033](./DTK0033) | warn | DevTools Mode Persist Failed |
 | [DTK0034](./DTK0034) | error | Duplicate DevTools Plugin |
+| [DTK0035](./DTK0035) | error | Build Injection Requires Assets |
 | [DTK0050](./DTK0050) | error | Integration Install Failed |
 | [DTK0051](./DTK0051) | warn | Connection Meta Serve Failed |
 | [DTK0052](./DTK0052) | error | Launcher Process Exited Before Ready |
diff --git a/docs/guide/index.md b/docs/guide/index.md
index 14f5caa3..60d73b27 100644
--- a/docs/guide/index.md
+++ b/docs/guide/index.md
@@ -143,6 +143,21 @@ export default defineConfig({
 
 Open `/__devtools/` for the full-page UI, or load `/__devtools/embedded.js` to embed the dock in the built app.
 
+To show the dock in the built app, enable `build.injection`:
+
+```ts
+export default defineConfig({
+  devtools: {
+    build: {
+      withApp: true,
+      injection: true,
+    },
+  },
+})
+```
+
+Injection defaults to `false` and requires `build.withApp: true`. Ensure the DevTools assets are served under Vite's `base` when deployed.
+
 ## What's next
 
 - **Explore the built-in tools** — inspect Vite development with [Vite DevTools](/vite/) and production builds with [DevTools for Rolldown](/rolldown/).
diff --git a/packages/core/src/node/diagnostics.ts b/packages/core/src/node/diagnostics.ts
index ea0ba52f..da5eee65 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/node/diagnostics.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/node/diagnostics.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ export const diagnostics = /* #__PURE__ */ defineDiagnostics({
   docsBase: 'https://devtools.vite.dev/errors',
   reporters: [createConsoleReporter()],
   codes: {
+    DTK0035: {
+      why: 'build.injection requires build.withApp: true.',
+      fix: 'Set devtools.build.withApp to true.',
+    },
     DTK0008: {
       why: 'Client authentication is disabled. Any browser can connect to the devtools and access your server and filesystem.',
     },
diff --git a/packages/core/src/node/plugin-options.ts b/packages/core/src/node/plugin-options.ts
index df0f7a06..5714b87a 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/node/plugin-options.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/node/plugin-options.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ export interface DevToolsUserOptions {
      * @default false
      */
     withApp?: boolean
+    /**
+     * Inject the dock into the built app. Requires `withApp: true`.
+     * Ensure the DevTools assets are served under Vite's `base` when deployed.
+     * @default false
+     */
+    injection?: boolean
     /** Output directory relative to root. Defaults to Vite's `build.outDir`. */
     outDir?: string
   }
diff --git a/packages/core/src/node/plugins/index.ts b/packages/core/src/node/plugins/index.ts
index b1b46f0c..1de6472f 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/node/plugins/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/node/plugins/index.ts
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ export async function createDevToolsPlugins(
   const ui = { branding, embeddedVisibility, dockPreferences }
 
   const plugins = [
-    DevToolsInjection(),
+    DevToolsInjection(build),
     DevToolsServer(ui, resolvedConfig, renderers),
   ]
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/node/plugins/injection.ts b/packages/core/src/node/plugins/injection.ts
index 165d8885..da135a59 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/node/plugins/injection.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/node/plugins/injection.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import type { Plugin } from 'vite'
+import type { DevToolsUserOptions } from '../plugin-options'
 import { DEVTOOLS_MOUNT_PATH } from '@vitejs/devtools-kit/constants'
+import { diagnostics } from '../diagnostics'
 
 /**
  * Inject the `@devframes/hub-ui` embedded bootstrap into the host app's HTML.
@@ -20,14 +22,21 @@ import { DEVTOOLS_MOUNT_PATH } from '@vitejs/devtools-kit/constants'
  * keeps `<base>embedded.js` out of Vite's graph entirely, so the browser
  * fetches it straight from the hub with its real URL intact.
  */
-export function DevToolsInjection(): Plugin {
-  const src = `${DEVTOOLS_MOUNT_PATH}embedded.js`
+export function DevToolsInjection(build?: DevToolsUserOptions['build']): Plugin {
+  let src = `${DEVTOOLS_MOUNT_PATH}embedded.js`
 
   return {
     name: 'vite:devtools:injection',
     enforce: 'post',
     apply(_config, env) {
-      return env.command === 'serve' && !env.isSsrBuild
+      return !env.isSsrBuild && (env.command === 'serve' || build?.injection === true)
+    },
+    configResolved(config) {
+      if (config.command === 'build') {
+        if (!build?.withApp)
+          throw diagnostics.DTK0035({})
+        src = `${config.base.replace(/\/+$/, '')}${DEVTOOLS_MOUNT_PATH}embedded.js`
+      }
     },
     transformIndexHtml: {
       order: 'pre',