diff --git a/docs/usage.md b/docs/usage.md
index 549aeef14..03c57e62a 100644
--- a/docs/usage.md
+++ b/docs/usage.md
@@ -963,7 +963,7 @@ winapp run . --no-build --detach --json
 ```
 
 - A WinUI 3 C++/WinRT app from the Visual Studio **WinUI Blank App (Packaged)** template runs packaged. Other application projects, such as a console app or a WinUI app built with `-p WindowsPackageType=None`, run unpackaged from their built `.exe`.
-- Builds `Debug` for the current architecture by default. `--arch x64|arm64|x86` or `-p Platform=x64|ARM64|Win32` selects the architecture (passing both with different architectures is an error); a custom `-p Platform` name is passed through.
+- Builds `Debug` for the current architecture by default. `-c Release` or `-p Configuration=Release` selects the configuration, and `--arch x64|arm64|x86` or `-p Platform=x64|ARM64|Win32` selects the architecture. Passing both forms with different values is an error. A custom `-p Platform` name is passed through.
 - Restores the `packages.config` NuGet packages first (skip with `--no-restore`) and installs the Windows App Runtime version the build uses, including when the Windows App SDK props are imported from a shared `.props` file rather than listed in the project's own `packages.config`. Packaged apps also get the framework packages the build references, such as the Debug VC++ runtime, installed when missing.
 - `--framework` and `--aot` apply only to .NET projects.
 - Build output shows MSBuild's warnings and errors only, with a spinner while it builds; `--verbose` shows MSBuild's full output and exact command.
diff --git a/src/winapp-CLI/WinApp.Cli.Tests/ProjectRunServiceCppTests.cs b/src/winapp-CLI/WinApp.Cli.Tests/ProjectRunServiceCppTests.cs
index 3c7874e1e..d05cca761 100644
--- a/src/winapp-CLI/WinApp.Cli.Tests/ProjectRunServiceCppTests.cs
+++ b/src/winapp-CLI/WinApp.Cli.Tests/ProjectRunServiceCppTests.cs
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ public sealed class ProjectRunServiceCppTests : IDisposable
 
     private static readonly string[] ExpectedBuildTokens = ["-restore", "-p:RestorePackagesConfig=true", "-t:Build", "-p:Configuration=Debug", "-p:Platform=x64"];
     private static readonly string[] ExpectedArm64Tokens = ["-p:Foo=Bar", "-p:Configuration=Release", "-p:Platform=ARM64"];
+    private static readonly string[] ExpectedReleaseArm64Tokens = ["-p:Platform=ARM64", "-p:Configuration=Release"];
     private static readonly string[] ExpectedPackageIds = ["Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK", "Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK.Runtime"];
 
     private DirectoryInfo _tempDir = null!;
@@ -537,6 +538,24 @@ public void CppArchitectureFromProperties_MapsStandardPlatforms()
         Assert.IsNull(ProjectRunService.CppArchitectureFromProperties([]));
     }
 
+    [TestMethod]
+    public void CppConfigurationFromProperties_ReadsLastNonEmptyValue()
+    {
+        Assert.AreEqual("Release", ProjectRunService.CppConfigurationFromProperties(["Configuration=Release"]));
+        Assert.AreEqual("Release", ProjectRunService.CppConfigurationFromProperties(["Configuration=Debug", "configuration=Release", "Configuration="]));
+        Assert.IsNull(ProjectRunService.CppConfigurationFromProperties(["Platform=ARM64"]));
+    }
+
+    [TestMethod]
+    public void BuildCppPropertyTokens_UserConfigurationProperty_EmitsOneConfiguration()
+    {
+        var options = new ProjectRunOptions("Release", "arm64", null, false, false, ["Configuration=Release", "Platform=ARM64"]);
+
+        var tokens = ProjectRunService.BuildCppPropertyTokens(options);
+
+        CollectionAssert.AreEqual(ExpectedReleaseArm64Tokens, tokens);
+    }
+
     [TestMethod]
     public void BuildCppCommandDisplay_ShowsOnlyWhatChangesTheBuild()
     {
diff --git a/src/winapp-CLI/WinApp.Cli.Tests/RunCommandProjectModeTests.cs b/src/winapp-CLI/WinApp.Cli.Tests/RunCommandProjectModeTests.cs
index d5fd748d4..ac4cfa23c 100644
--- a/src/winapp-CLI/WinApp.Cli.Tests/RunCommandProjectModeTests.cs
+++ b/src/winapp-CLI/WinApp.Cli.Tests/RunCommandProjectModeTests.cs
@@ -874,6 +874,42 @@ public async Task ProjectMode_Cpp_PlatformThisMachineCannotRun_StillBuildsWithNo
         Assert.AreEqual("arm64", _fakeProjectRunService.BuildOptions[0].Architecture);
     }
 
+    [TestMethod]
+    [DataRow(new[] { "-p", "Configuration=Release" }, DisplayName = "-p Configuration alone")]
+    [DataRow(new[] { "-c", "Release", "-p", "Configuration=Release" }, DisplayName = "-c with matching -p Configuration")]
+    public async Task ProjectMode_Cpp_ConfigurationProperty_SelectsConfiguration(string[] configArgs)
+    {
+        var vcxproj = new FileInfo(Path.Join(_tempDirectory.FullName, "App.vcxproj"));
+        File.WriteAllText(vcxproj.FullName, "<Project />");
+        _fakeProjectRunService.InputResolutionOverride = new RunInputResolution(WinAppRunMode.Project, vcxproj, _tempDirectory);
+        SetUnpackagedOutcome(vcxproj, CreateTargetDir(withManifest: false), selfContained: false, arch: "arm64");
+        GetRequiredService<RunCommand.Handler>().OsArchitecture = () => System.Runtime.InteropServices.Architecture.Arm64;
+        var command = GetRequiredService<RunCommand>();
+
+        var exitCode = await ParseAndInvokeWithCaptureAsync(command, [vcxproj.FullName, .. configArgs, "-p", "Platform=ARM64", "--detach"]);
+
+        Assert.AreEqual(0, exitCode);
+        Assert.AreEqual("Release", _fakeProjectRunService.BuildOptions[0].Configuration,
+            "-p Configuration=Release must select Release instead of the Debug default");
+        StringAssert.Contains(TestAnsiConsole.Output, "Release | arm64");
+    }
+
+    [TestMethod]
+    public async Task ProjectMode_Cpp_ConfigurationPropertyConflictingWithConfigurationOption_FailsBeforeBuilding()
+    {
+        var vcxproj = new FileInfo(Path.Join(_tempDirectory.FullName, "App.vcxproj"));
+        File.WriteAllText(vcxproj.FullName, "<Project />");
+        _fakeProjectRunService.InputResolutionOverride = new RunInputResolution(WinAppRunMode.Project, vcxproj, _tempDirectory);
+        var command = GetRequiredService<RunCommand>();
+
+        var exitCode = await ParseAndInvokeWithCaptureAsync(command, [vcxproj.FullName, "-c", "Debug", "-p", "Configuration=Release", "--detach"]);
+
+        Assert.AreEqual(1, exitCode);
+        Assert.AreEqual(0, _fakeProjectRunService.BuildAndResolveCalls.Count, "a conflicting configuration must fail before building");
+        StringAssert.Contains($"{ConsoleStdOut}{ConsoleStdErr}{TestAnsiConsole.Output}",
+            "-p Configuration=Release conflicts with -c Debug. Pass only one of them.");
+    }
+
     [TestMethod]
     public async Task ProjectMode_Unpackaged_ExeRequiringAdministrator_ExplainsElevation()
     {
diff --git a/src/winapp-CLI/WinApp.Cli/Commands/RunCommand.ProjectMode.cs b/src/winapp-CLI/WinApp.Cli/Commands/RunCommand.ProjectMode.cs
index 499b0b79b..2a7356afc 100644
--- a/src/winapp-CLI/WinApp.Cli/Commands/RunCommand.ProjectMode.cs
+++ b/src/winapp-CLI/WinApp.Cli/Commands/RunCommand.ProjectMode.cs
@@ -196,6 +196,19 @@ private async Task<int> RunProjectModeAsync(
                 return Fail($"{(aot ? "--aot" : "--framework")} applies to .NET projects and can't be used with a C++ project ({csproj.Name}).", isJson);
             }
 
+            // For C++, -p Configuration=Release is how Visual Studio users pick the configuration, so treat it
+            // like -c. Both are allowed only when they name the same configuration.
+            if (isCpp && ProjectRunService.CppConfigurationFromProperties(properties) is { } propertyConfiguration)
+            {
+                if (parseResult.GetResult(ConfigurationOption) is { Implicit: false }
+                    && !string.Equals(propertyConfiguration, configuration, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                {
+                    return Fail($"-p Configuration={propertyConfiguration} conflicts with -c {configuration}. Pass only one of them.", isJson);
+                }
+
+                configuration = propertyConfiguration;
+            }
+
             // For C++, -p Platform=ARM64 is how Visual Studio users pick the architecture, so honor it when
             // --arch/--runtime weren't given instead of defaulting to the machine's architecture.
             if (isCpp && archOption is null && runtimeOption is null
diff --git a/src/winapp-CLI/WinApp.Cli/Services/ProjectRunService.Cpp.cs b/src/winapp-CLI/WinApp.Cli/Services/ProjectRunService.Cpp.cs
index 71d84a102..e98bf55a2 100644
--- a/src/winapp-CLI/WinApp.Cli/Services/ProjectRunService.Cpp.cs
+++ b/src/winapp-CLI/WinApp.Cli/Services/ProjectRunService.Cpp.cs
@@ -108,6 +108,13 @@ internal static bool IsCppWindowsStoreProject(FileInfo project)
     internal static string? CppArchitectureFromProperties(IReadOnlyList<string> properties) =>
         TryGetUserProperty(properties, "Platform", out var platform) ? ArchitectureOfCppPlatform(platform) : null;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The configuration a user <c>-p Configuration</c> names (last non-empty value wins), or null when none
+    /// is set. Lets <c>-p Configuration=Release</c> select the configuration like <c>-c Release</c>.
+    /// </summary>
+    internal static string? CppConfigurationFromProperties(IReadOnlyList<string> properties) =>
+        TryGetUserProperty(properties, "Configuration", out var configuration) ? configuration : null;
+
     private async Task<ProjectBuildOutcome> BuildAndResolveCppAsync(
         FileInfo project,
         ProjectRunOptions options,
@@ -166,7 +173,8 @@ private async Task<ProjectBuildOutcome> BuildAndResolveCppAsync(
     /// <summary>
     /// The global properties shared by the build and evaluate passes: the user's <c>-p</c> first, then the
     /// solution context and Configuration/Platform. MSBuild is last-wins, so a user <c>-p:Platform</c> or
-    /// <c>Solution*</c> is honored by not emitting winapp's own; Configuration always follows <c>-c</c>.
+    /// <c>Solution*</c> is honored by not emitting winapp's own; Configuration always follows the resolved
+    /// configuration (<c>-c</c>, or <c>-p Configuration</c> when <c>-c</c> isn't given).
     /// </summary>
     internal static List<string> BuildCppPropertyTokens(ProjectRunOptions options)
     {