diff --git a/.changeset/pr-template-rewrite.md b/.changeset/pr-template-rewrite.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..40527c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/pr-template-rewrite.md
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+---
+
+Repo meta: rewrite `.github/pull_request_template.md` to reference real `pnpm` scripts (`typecheck`, `test:unit`, `test:smoke`) and the Changesets release flow. No user-visible change.
diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
index 484c80b..05fd044 100644
--- a/.github/pull_request_template.md
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -1,6 +1,41 @@
+<!--
+Thanks for opening a PR. Fill the sections below so reviewers can land
+this without context-switching.
+
+CI runs `pnpm check` (lint + typecheck + test + build) and the Playwright
+`_electron` smoke test (`pnpm test:electron`) on every PR. Releases happen
+via Changesets — when this PR lands on `main`, the release workflow opens
+(or updates) a "Version Packages" PR consolidating pending changesets.
+Merging that PR cuts a release.
+
+See CONTRIBUTING.md for the full flow.
+-->
+
 ## Summary
 
+<!-- One to three sentences: what changes and why. Link the issue if
+there is one (e.g. "Closes #42"). -->
+
+## Changes
+
+<!-- Bulleted list of concrete changes. Call out anything subtle
+(broadening a public type, touching CDP wiring, changing a tool's
+input schema, adjusting the loopback bind / HTTP defaults). -->
+
+-
+-
+
 ## Verification
 
-- [ ] `pnpm check`
-- [ ] `pnpm test:electron` if Electron/CDP behavior changed
+- [ ] `pnpm check` passes locally (lint + typecheck + test + build)
+- [ ] If this touches CDP wiring or any bundled tool, `pnpm test:electron` passes
+- [ ] A changeset is staged (`.changeset/<name>.md`) **or** this PR is genuinely no-op for users (`pnpm changeset --empty`)
+- [ ] Public API changes (exports from `src/index.ts`) are reflected in `README.md`
+- [ ] No secrets, tokens, or `.env*` files included
+
+## Notes for reviewers
+
+<!-- Anything not obvious from the diff: trade-offs considered,
+alternatives rejected, follow-ups intentionally left out. For
+security-sensitive changes, please flag explicitly — see SECURITY.md
+for the vuln disclosure process. -->