diff --git a/.changes/setup-single-instance-manually.md b/.changes/setup-single-instance-manually.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3036a2a92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changes/setup-single-instance-manually.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"single-instance": patch
+---
+
+Add `setup` function to run the single instance initialization manually, without waiting for the tauri setup hook to run.
diff --git a/plugins/single-instance/src/lib.rs b/plugins/single-instance/src/lib.rs
index ad840caed..26e7f33d9 100644
--- a/plugins/single-instance/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plugins/single-instance/src/lib.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 )]
 #![cfg(not(any(target_os = "android", target_os = "ios")))]
 
-use tauri::{plugin::TauriPlugin, AppHandle, Manager, Runtime};
+use tauri::{plugin, plugin::TauriPlugin, AppHandle, Manager, RunEvent, Runtime};
 
 #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
 #[path = "platform_impl/windows.rs"]
@@ -34,6 +34,17 @@ pub fn init<R: Runtime, F: FnMut(&AppHandle<R>, Vec<String>, String) + Send + Sy
     Builder::new().callback(f).build()
 }
 
+/// Runs the single-instance setup flow with the given app and callback.
+/// Use this when you need to run single-instance from your own plugin or app setup.
+/// On Linux, pass `dbus_id` (e.g. `Some("com.mycompany.myapp".into())`); on other platforms it is ignored.
+pub fn setup<R: Runtime, F: FnMut(&AppHandle<R>, Vec<String>, String) + Send + Sync + 'static>(
+    app: &AppHandle<R>,
+    callback: F,
+    dbus_id: Option<String>,
+) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    platform_impl::setup_single_instance(app, Box::new(callback), dbus_id)
+}
+
 pub fn destroy<R: Runtime, M: Manager<R>>(manager: &M) {
     platform_impl::destroy(manager)
 }
@@ -89,10 +100,18 @@ impl<R: Runtime> Builder<R> {
     }
 
     pub fn build(self) -> TauriPlugin<R> {
-        platform_impl::init(
-            self.callback,
-            #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
-            self.dbus_id,
-        )
+        let callback = self.callback;
+        let dbus_id = self.dbus_id;
+        plugin::Builder::new("single-instance")
+            .setup(move |app, _api| {
+                let _ = platform_impl::setup_single_instance(app, callback, dbus_id);
+                Ok(())
+            })
+            .on_event(|app, event| {
+                if let RunEvent::Exit = event {
+                    destroy(app);
+                }
+            })
+            .build()
     }
 }
diff --git a/plugins/single-instance/src/platform_impl/linux.rs b/plugins/single-instance/src/platform_impl/linux.rs
index 593e34b50..a929fa170 100644
--- a/plugins/single-instance/src/platform_impl/linux.rs
+++ b/plugins/single-instance/src/platform_impl/linux.rs
@@ -6,10 +6,7 @@
 use crate::semver_compat::semver_compat_string;
 
 use crate::SingleInstanceCallback;
-use tauri::{
-    plugin::{self, TauriPlugin},
-    AppHandle, Manager, RunEvent, Runtime,
-};
+use tauri::{AppHandle, Manager, Runtime};
 use zbus::{blocking::Connection, interface, names::WellKnownName};
 
 struct ConnectionHandle(Connection);
@@ -28,73 +25,68 @@ impl<R: Runtime> SingleInstanceDBus<R> {
 
 struct DBusName(String);
 
-pub fn init<R: Runtime>(
+pub fn setup_single_instance<R: Runtime>(
+    app: &AppHandle<R>,
     callback: Box<SingleInstanceCallback<R>>,
     dbus_id: Option<String>,
-) -> TauriPlugin<R> {
-    plugin::Builder::new("single-instance")
-        .setup(move |app, _api| {
-            let mut dbus_name = dbus_id.unwrap_or_else(|| app.config().identifier.clone());
-            dbus_name.push_str(".SingleInstance");
+) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    let mut dbus_name = dbus_id.unwrap_or_else(|| app.config().identifier.clone());
 
-            #[cfg(feature = "semver")]
-            {
-                dbus_name.push('_');
-                dbus_name.push_str(semver_compat_string(&app.package_info().version).as_str());
-            }
+    #[cfg(feature = "semver")]
+    {
+        dbus_name.push('_');
+        dbus_name.push_str(semver_compat_string(&app.package_info().version).as_str());
+    }
+    dbus_name.push_str(".SingleInstance");
 
-            let dbus_path = dbus_name.replace('.', "/");
+    let mut dbus_path = dbus_name.replace('.', "/").replace('-', "_");
+    if !dbus_path.starts_with('/') {
+        dbus_path = format!("/{dbus_path}");
+    }
 
-            let single_instance_dbus = SingleInstanceDBus {
-                callback,
-                app_handle: app.clone(),
-            };
+    let single_instance_dbus = SingleInstanceDBus {
+        callback,
+        app_handle: app.clone(),
+    };
 
-            match zbus::blocking::connection::Builder::session()
-                .unwrap()
-                .name(dbus_name.as_str())
-                .unwrap()
-                .replace_existing_names(false)
-                .allow_name_replacements(false)
-                .serve_at(dbus_path.as_str(), single_instance_dbus)
-                .unwrap()
-                .build()
-            {
-                Ok(connection) => {
-                    app.manage(ConnectionHandle(connection));
-                }
-                Err(zbus::Error::NameTaken) => {
-                    if let Ok(connection) = Connection::session() {
-                        let _ = connection.call_method(
-                            Some(dbus_name.as_str()),
-                            dbus_path.as_str(),
-                            Some("org.SingleInstance.DBus"),
-                            "ExecuteCallback",
-                            &(
-                                std::env::args().collect::<Vec<String>>(),
-                                std::env::current_dir()
-                                    .unwrap_or_default()
-                                    .to_str()
-                                    .unwrap_or_default(),
-                            ),
-                        );
-                    }
-                    app.cleanup_before_exit();
-                    std::process::exit(0);
-                }
-                _ => {}
-            }
-
-            app.manage(DBusName(dbus_name));
-
-            Ok(())
-        })
-        .on_event(move |app, event| {
-            if let RunEvent::Exit = event {
-                destroy(app);
-            }
-        })
+    match zbus::blocking::connection::Builder::session()
+        .unwrap()
+        .name(dbus_name.as_str())
+        .unwrap()
+        .replace_existing_names(false)
+        .allow_name_replacements(false)
+        .serve_at(dbus_path.as_str(), single_instance_dbus)
+        .unwrap()
         .build()
+    {
+        Ok(connection) => {
+            app.manage(ConnectionHandle(connection));
+        }
+        Err(zbus::Error::NameTaken) => {
+            if let Ok(connection) = Connection::session() {
+                let _ = connection.call_method(
+                    Some(dbus_name.as_str()),
+                    dbus_path.as_str(),
+                    Some("org.SingleInstance.DBus"),
+                    "ExecuteCallback",
+                    &(
+                        std::env::args().collect::<Vec<String>>(),
+                        std::env::current_dir()
+                            .unwrap_or_default()
+                            .to_str()
+                            .unwrap_or_default(),
+                    ),
+                );
+            }
+            app.cleanup_before_exit();
+            std::process::exit(0);
+        }
+        _ => {}
+    }
+
+    app.manage(DBusName(dbus_name));
+
+    Ok(())
 }
 
 pub fn destroy<R: Runtime, M: Manager<R>>(manager: &M) {
diff --git a/plugins/single-instance/src/platform_impl/macos.rs b/plugins/single-instance/src/platform_impl/macos.rs
index a2df9092e..e2ec2c93c 100644
--- a/plugins/single-instance/src/platform_impl/macos.rs
+++ b/plugins/single-instance/src/platform_impl/macos.rs
@@ -11,45 +11,37 @@ use std::{
 #[cfg(feature = "semver")]
 use crate::semver_compat::semver_compat_string;
 use crate::SingleInstanceCallback;
-use tauri::{
-    plugin::{self, TauriPlugin},
-    AppHandle, Config, Manager, RunEvent, Runtime,
-};
+use tauri::{AppHandle, Config, Manager, Runtime};
 
-pub fn init<R: Runtime>(cb: Box<SingleInstanceCallback<R>>) -> TauriPlugin<R> {
-    plugin::Builder::new("single-instance")
-        .setup(|app, _api| {
-            let socket = socket_path(app.config(), app.package_info());
+pub fn setup_single_instance<R: Runtime>(
+    app: &AppHandle<R>,
+    cb: Box<SingleInstanceCallback<R>>,
+    _dbus_id: Option<String>,
+) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    let socket = socket_path(app.config(), app.package_info());
 
-            // Notify the singleton which may or may not exist.
-            match notify_singleton(&socket) {
-                Ok(_) => {
-                    std::process::exit(0);
+    // Notify the singleton which may or may not exist.
+    match notify_singleton(&socket) {
+        Ok(_) => {
+            std::process::exit(0);
+        }
+        Err(e) => {
+            match e.kind() {
+                ErrorKind::NotFound | ErrorKind::ConnectionRefused => {
+                    // This process claims itself as singleton as likely none exists
+                    socket_cleanup(&socket);
+                    listen_for_other_instances(&socket, app.clone(), cb);
                 }
-                Err(e) => {
-                    match e.kind() {
-                        ErrorKind::NotFound | ErrorKind::ConnectionRefused => {
-                            // This process claims itself as singleton as likely none exists
-                            socket_cleanup(&socket);
-                            listen_for_other_instances(&socket, app.clone(), cb);
-                        }
-                        _ => {
-                            tracing::debug!(
-                                "single_instance failed to notify - launching normally: {}",
-                                e
-                            );
-                        }
-                    }
+                _ => {
+                    tracing::debug!(
+                        "single_instance failed to notify - launching normally: {}",
+                        e
+                    );
                 }
             }
-            Ok(())
-        })
-        .on_event(|app, event| {
-            if let RunEvent::Exit = event {
-                destroy(app);
-            }
-        })
-        .build()
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(())
 }
 
 pub fn destroy<R: Runtime, M: Manager<R>>(manager: &M) {
diff --git a/plugins/single-instance/src/platform_impl/windows.rs b/plugins/single-instance/src/platform_impl/windows.rs
index d55ec079c..8f293edc2 100644
--- a/plugins/single-instance/src/platform_impl/windows.rs
+++ b/plugins/single-instance/src/platform_impl/windows.rs
@@ -7,10 +7,7 @@ use crate::semver_compat::semver_compat_string;
 
 use crate::SingleInstanceCallback;
 use std::ffi::CStr;
-use tauri::{
-    plugin::{self, TauriPlugin},
-    AppHandle, Manager, RunEvent, Runtime,
-};
+use tauri::{AppHandle, Manager, Runtime};
 use windows_sys::Win32::{
     Foundation::{CloseHandle, GetLastError, ERROR_ALREADY_EXISTS, HWND, LPARAM, LRESULT, WPARAM},
     System::{
@@ -51,69 +48,63 @@ impl<R: Runtime> UserData<R> {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn init<R: Runtime>(callback: Box<SingleInstanceCallback<R>>) -> TauriPlugin<R> {
-    plugin::Builder::new("single-instance")
-        .setup(|app, _api| {
-            #[allow(unused_mut)]
-            let mut id = app.config().identifier.clone();
-            #[cfg(feature = "semver")]
-            {
-                id.push('_');
-                id.push_str(semver_compat_string(&app.package_info().version).as_str());
-            }
+pub fn setup_single_instance<R: Runtime>(
+    app: &AppHandle<R>,
+    callback: Box<SingleInstanceCallback<R>>,
+    _dbus_id: Option<String>,
+) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    #[allow(unused_mut)]
+    let mut id = app.config().identifier.clone();
+    #[cfg(feature = "semver")]
+    {
+        id.push('_');
+        id.push_str(semver_compat_string(&app.package_info().version).as_str());
+    }
 
-            let class_name = encode_wide(format!("{id}-sic"));
-            let window_name = encode_wide(format!("{id}-siw"));
-            let mutex_name = encode_wide(format!("{id}-sim"));
+    let class_name = encode_wide(format!("{id}-sic"));
+    let window_name = encode_wide(format!("{id}-siw"));
+    let mutex_name = encode_wide(format!("{id}-sim"));
 
-            let hmutex =
-                unsafe { CreateMutexW(std::ptr::null(), true.into(), mutex_name.as_ptr()) };
+    let hmutex = unsafe { CreateMutexW(std::ptr::null(), true.into(), mutex_name.as_ptr()) };
 
-            if unsafe { GetLastError() } == ERROR_ALREADY_EXISTS {
-                unsafe {
-                    let hwnd = FindWindowW(class_name.as_ptr(), window_name.as_ptr());
+    if unsafe { GetLastError() } == ERROR_ALREADY_EXISTS {
+        unsafe {
+            let hwnd = FindWindowW(class_name.as_ptr(), window_name.as_ptr());
 
-                    if !hwnd.is_null() {
-                        let cwd = std::env::current_dir().unwrap_or_default();
-                        let cwd = cwd.to_str().unwrap_or_default();
+            if !hwnd.is_null() {
+                let cwd = std::env::current_dir().unwrap_or_default();
+                let cwd = cwd.to_str().unwrap_or_default();
 
-                        let args = std::env::args().collect::<Vec<String>>().join("|");
+                let args = std::env::args().collect::<Vec<String>>().join("|");
 
-                        let data = format!("{cwd}|{args}\0",);
+                let data = format!("{cwd}|{args}\0",);
 
-                        let bytes = data.as_bytes();
-                        let cds = COPYDATASTRUCT {
-                            dwData: WMCOPYDATA_SINGLE_INSTANCE_DATA,
-                            cbData: bytes.len() as _,
-                            lpData: bytes.as_ptr() as _,
-                        };
-
-                        SendMessageW(hwnd, WM_COPYDATA, 0, &cds as *const _ as _);
-
-                        app.cleanup_before_exit();
-                        std::process::exit(0);
-                    }
-                }
-            } else {
-                app.manage(MutexHandle(hmutex as _));
-
-                let userdata = UserData {
-                    app: app.clone(),
-                    callback,
+                let bytes = data.as_bytes();
+                let cds = COPYDATASTRUCT {
+                    dwData: WMCOPYDATA_SINGLE_INSTANCE_DATA,
+                    cbData: bytes.len() as _,
+                    lpData: bytes.as_ptr() as _,
                 };
-                let userdata = Box::into_raw(Box::new(userdata));
-                let hwnd = create_event_target_window::<R>(&class_name, &window_name, userdata);
-                app.manage(TargetWindowHandle(hwnd as _));
-            }
 
-            Ok(())
-        })
-        .on_event(|app, event| {
-            if let RunEvent::Exit = event {
-                destroy(app);
+                SendMessageW(hwnd, WM_COPYDATA, 0, &cds as *const _ as _);
+
+                app.cleanup_before_exit();
+                std::process::exit(0);
             }
-        })
-        .build()
+        }
+    } else {
+        app.manage(MutexHandle(hmutex as _));
+
+        let userdata = UserData {
+            app: app.clone(),
+            callback,
+        };
+        let userdata = Box::into_raw(Box::new(userdata));
+        let hwnd = create_event_target_window::<R>(&class_name, &window_name, userdata);
+        app.manage(TargetWindowHandle(hwnd as _));
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
 }
 
 pub fn destroy<R: Runtime, M: Manager<R>>(manager: &M) {