diff --git a/change/@microsoft-fast-element-a2febdf1-f514-4603-8aaa-8ac580c5e3ad.json b/change/@microsoft-fast-element-a2febdf1-f514-4603-8aaa-8ac580c5e3ad.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..69bee5ecddc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/change/@microsoft-fast-element-a2febdf1-f514-4603-8aaa-8ac580c5e3ad.json
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+  "type": "prerelease",
+  "comment": "fix: add update scheduler fallback",
+  "packageName": "@microsoft/fast-element",
+  "email": "7559015+janechu@users.noreply.github.com",
+  "dependentChangeType": "none"
+}
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/DESIGN.md b/packages/fast-element/DESIGN.md
index 752c5f110e5..51d160ace2b 100644
--- a/packages/fast-element/DESIGN.md
+++ b/packages/fast-element/DESIGN.md
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ For deep dives into specific areas, see the linked detailed documents.
 | Declarative templating | `html` tagged template literal → `ViewTemplate` → compiled `HTMLView` |
 | Declarative HTML runtime | `@microsoft/fast-element/declarative.js` → `declarativeTemplate()`, `TemplateParser`; `@microsoft/fast-element/schema.js` → `Schema` |
 | Schema-driven extensions | `@microsoft/fast-element/attribute-map.js` and `@microsoft/fast-element/observer-map.js` → map helpers usable with declarative or manually supplied schemas |
-| Async DOM updates | `Updates` queue (batched, `requestAnimationFrame`-aligned) |
+| Async DOM updates | `Updates` queue (batched, `requestAnimationFrame`-aligned with a `setTimeout` fallback) |
 | Scoped styles | `css` tagged template literal → `ElementStyles` → `adoptedStylesheets` / `<style>` |
 | Dependency injection | `DI` container, `@inject`, `@singleton`, `@transient`, resolvers |
 | Context protocol | W3C community Context protocol (`Context.create`, `Context.for`) |
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ See [docs/template-bindings.md](./docs/template-bindings.md) for the full bindin
 - `Updates.next()` – returns a `Promise` that resolves after the next flush.
 - `Updates.setMode(isAsync)` – toggle async (default) vs. synchronous mode.
 
-In async mode, the first `enqueue` call schedules a `requestAnimationFrame` callback that drains up to 1024 tasks per frame. Errors in tasks are deferred via `setTimeout` so they don't abort the remaining tasks.
+In async mode, the first `enqueue` call schedules a `requestAnimationFrame` callback that drains up to 1024 tasks per frame. If `requestAnimationFrame` is unavailable, the queue falls back to `setTimeout` so non-browser runtimes still process async updates. Errors in tasks are deferred via `setTimeout` so they don't abort the remaining tasks.
 
 Observable setters and `attributeChangedCallback` enqueue their DOM mutations through `Updates`, ensuring that multiple synchronous property changes result in only one DOM update per frame.
 
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ flowchart TD
     NOTIFY["PropertyChangeNotifier.notify(propertyName)"]
     SUBS["For each Subscriber in SubscriberSet\nsubscriber.handleChange(subject, propertyName)"]
     ENQ["Updates.enqueue(binding task)"]
-    RAF["requestAnimationFrame fires\nUpdates.process()"]
+    RAF["requestAnimationFrame/setTimeout fires\nUpdates.process()"]
     EVAL["ExpressionNotifier re-evaluates expression"]
     DOM["DOM aspect updated\n(attribute / property / content / event)"]
 
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/MIGRATION.md b/packages/fast-element/MIGRATION.md
index a36f369d1d3..06d777ed418 100644
--- a/packages/fast-element/MIGRATION.md
+++ b/packages/fast-element/MIGRATION.md
@@ -26,8 +26,9 @@
 
 - **Native `globalThis` required**: `@microsoft/fast-element` no longer installs
   a `globalThis` polyfill as a side effect. The package only keeps the
-  `requestIdleCallback` / `cancelIdleCallback` fallback for environments that
-  still lack those APIs.
+  `requestIdleCallback` / `cancelIdleCallback` fallback and the async update
+  scheduler's `requestAnimationFrame` fallback for environments that still lack
+  those APIs.
 
 ### Migration steps
 
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/SIZES.md b/packages/fast-element/SIZES.md
index e6ac7937aa9..5c76ad51330 100644
--- a/packages/fast-element/SIZES.md
+++ b/packages/fast-element/SIZES.md
@@ -4,22 +4,22 @@ Bundle sizes for `@microsoft/fast-element` exports.
 
 | Export | Minified | Gzip | Brotli |
 |--------|----------|------|--------|
-| CDN Rollup Bundle | 76.36 KB | 22.91 KB | 20.35 KB |
-| FASTElement (@microsoft/fast-element/fast-element.js) | 23.73 KB | 7.36 KB | 6.63 KB |
-| Updates (@microsoft/fast-element/updates.js) | 473 B | 335 B | 288 B |
-| Observable (@microsoft/fast-element/observable.js) | 6.70 KB | 2.50 KB | 2.22 KB |
-| observable (@microsoft/fast-element/observable.js) | 6.74 KB | 2.51 KB | 2.23 KB |
+| CDN Rollup Bundle | 76.42 KB | 22.91 KB | 20.32 KB |
+| FASTElement (@microsoft/fast-element/fast-element.js) | 23.81 KB | 7.37 KB | 6.65 KB |
+| Updates (@microsoft/fast-element/updates.js) | 554 B | 361 B | 306 B |
+| Observable (@microsoft/fast-element/observable.js) | 6.78 KB | 2.52 KB | 2.24 KB |
+| observable (@microsoft/fast-element/observable.js) | 6.82 KB | 2.53 KB | 2.25 KB |
 | attr (@microsoft/fast-element/attr.js) | 477 B | 288 B | 244 B |
 | children (@microsoft/fast-element/children.js) | 4.81 KB | 1.86 KB | 1.64 KB |
 | ref (@microsoft/fast-element/ref.js) | 3.78 KB | 1.52 KB | 1.34 KB |
 | slotted (@microsoft/fast-element/slotted.js) | 4.60 KB | 1.79 KB | 1.58 KB |
-| volatile (@microsoft/fast-element/volatile.js) | 6.79 KB | 2.53 KB | 2.25 KB |
+| volatile (@microsoft/fast-element/volatile.js) | 6.87 KB | 2.54 KB | 2.27 KB |
 | when (@microsoft/fast-element/when.js) | 1.82 KB | 712 B | 565 B |
-| html (@microsoft/fast-element/html.js) | 25.92 KB | 8.50 KB | 7.61 KB |
-| repeat (@microsoft/fast-element/repeat.js) | 29.57 KB | 9.41 KB | 8.48 KB |
+| html (@microsoft/fast-element/html.js) | 26.00 KB | 8.51 KB | 7.63 KB |
+| repeat (@microsoft/fast-element/repeat.js) | 29.65 KB | 9.43 KB | 8.50 KB |
 | css (@microsoft/fast-element/css.js) | 2.43 KB | 1.00 KB | 911 B |
-| enableHydration (@microsoft/fast-element/hydration.js) | 43.27 KB | 13.19 KB | 11.88 KB |
-| declarativeTemplate (@microsoft/fast-element/declarative.js) | 58.77 KB | 18.45 KB | 16.46 KB |
-| ArrayObserver (@microsoft/fast-element/array-observer.js) | 12.51 KB | 4.45 KB | 4.01 KB |
-| observerMap (@microsoft/fast-element/observer-map.js) | 20.41 KB | 7.24 KB | 6.52 KB |
-| attributeMap (@microsoft/fast-element/attribute-map.js) | 15.78 KB | 5.58 KB | 5.04 KB |
+| enableHydration (@microsoft/fast-element/hydration.js) | 43.35 KB | 13.21 KB | 11.90 KB |
+| declarativeTemplate (@microsoft/fast-element/declarative.js) | 58.85 KB | 18.47 KB | 16.48 KB |
+| ArrayObserver (@microsoft/fast-element/array-observer.js) | 12.59 KB | 4.47 KB | 4.03 KB |
+| observerMap (@microsoft/fast-element/observer-map.js) | 20.49 KB | 7.26 KB | 6.54 KB |
+| attributeMap (@microsoft/fast-element/attribute-map.js) | 15.86 KB | 5.60 KB | 5.06 KB |
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/docs/architecture/updates.md b/packages/fast-element/docs/architecture/updates.md
index 6d2502d3d18..8f2666f0de2 100644
--- a/packages/fast-element/docs/architecture/updates.md
+++ b/packages/fast-element/docs/architecture/updates.md
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 The `Updates` API is part of the `FAST` global. The updates that are queued include updates to attributes, observables, and observed arrays.
 
+## Scheduling
+
+Asynchronous updates are batched through `requestAnimationFrame` when it is available. In runtimes that do not provide `requestAnimationFrame`, the queue falls back to `setTimeout` so pending updates still flush outside browsers.
+
 ## Attributes
 
 An attribute change may be queued when the value of the attribute is updated. This change is triggered by `HTMLElement` lifecycle hook `attributeChangedCallback`. The `Updates` queue is used to try to reflect the attribute with the updated value onto the element using `DOM` APIs.
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/src/observation/update-queue.pw.spec.ts b/packages/fast-element/src/observation/update-queue.pw.spec.ts
index 50dbf591f1e..fdb0a7f0966 100644
--- a/packages/fast-element/src/observation/update-queue.pw.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/fast-element/src/observation/update-queue.pw.spec.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,69 @@
 import { expect, test } from "@playwright/test";
+import { Updates } from "./update-queue.js";
 
 const waitMilliseconds = 100;
 const maxRecursion = 10;
 
 test.describe("The UpdateQueue", () => {
     test.describe("when updating DOM asynchronously", () => {
+        test("batches tasks with requestAnimationFrame when available", () => {
+            const originalRequestAnimationFrame = globalThis.requestAnimationFrame;
+            const callbacks: FrameRequestCallback[] = [];
+
+            globalThis.requestAnimationFrame = callback => {
+                callbacks.push(callback);
+                return callbacks.length;
+            };
+
+            try {
+                const calls: number[] = [];
+
+                Updates.enqueue(() => {
+                    calls.push(0);
+                });
+                Updates.enqueue(() => {
+                    calls.push(1);
+                });
+                Updates.enqueue(() => {
+                    calls.push(2);
+                });
+
+                expect(callbacks.length).toBe(1);
+                expect(calls).toEqual([]);
+
+                callbacks[0]!(0);
+
+                expect(calls).toEqual([0, 1, 2]);
+            } finally {
+                globalThis.requestAnimationFrame = originalRequestAnimationFrame;
+                Updates.process();
+            }
+        });
+
+        test("falls back when requestAnimationFrame is unavailable", async () => {
+            const originalRequestAnimationFrame = globalThis.requestAnimationFrame;
+
+            globalThis.requestAnimationFrame = undefined as any;
+
+            try {
+                let called = false;
+
+                Updates.enqueue(() => {
+                    called = true;
+                });
+
+                const calledBefore = called;
+
+                await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, waitMilliseconds));
+
+                expect(calledBefore).toBe(false);
+                expect(called).toBe(true);
+            } finally {
+                globalThis.requestAnimationFrame = originalRequestAnimationFrame;
+                Updates.process();
+            }
+        });
+
         test("calls task in a future turn", async ({ page }) => {
             await page.goto("/");
 
@@ -151,12 +210,12 @@ test.describe("The UpdateQueue", () => {
                 const target = 1060;
                 const targetList: number[] = [];
 
-                for (var i = 0; i < target; i++) {
+                for (let i = 0; i < target; i++) {
                     targetList.push(i);
                 }
 
                 const newList: number[] = [];
-                for (var i = 0; i < target; i++) {
+                for (let i = 0; i < target; i++) {
                     (function (i) {
                         Updates.enqueue(() => {
                             newList.push(i);
@@ -182,12 +241,12 @@ test.describe("The UpdateQueue", () => {
                 const target = 2060;
                 const targetList: number[] = [];
 
-                for (var i = 0; i < target; i++) {
+                for (let i = 0; i < target; i++) {
                     targetList.push(i);
                 }
 
                 const newList: number[] = [];
-                for (var i = 0; i < target; i++) {
+                for (let i = 0; i < target; i++) {
                     (function (i) {
                         Updates.enqueue(() => {
                             newList.push(i);
diff --git a/packages/fast-element/src/observation/update-queue.ts b/packages/fast-element/src/observation/update-queue.ts
index 683c4fba8d7..78bed467907 100644
--- a/packages/fast-element/src/observation/update-queue.ts
+++ b/packages/fast-element/src/observation/update-queue.ts
@@ -40,9 +40,16 @@ export interface UpdateQueue {
 
 const tasks: Callable[] = [];
 const pendingErrors: any[] = [];
-const rAF = globalThis.requestAnimationFrame;
 let updateAsync = true;
 
+function schedule(): void {
+    if (typeof globalThis.requestAnimationFrame === "function") {
+        globalThis.requestAnimationFrame(process);
+    } else {
+        setTimeout(process, 0);
+    }
+}
+
 function throwFirstError(): void {
     if (pendingErrors.length) {
         throw pendingErrors.shift();
@@ -92,7 +99,7 @@ function enqueue(callable: Callable): void {
     tasks.push(callable);
 
     if (tasks.length < 2) {
-        updateAsync ? rAF(process) : process();
+        updateAsync ? schedule() : process();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/sites/website/src/docs/3.x/resources/browser-support.md b/sites/website/src/docs/3.x/resources/browser-support.md
index 427583d08a8..208d2e7c005 100644
--- a/sites/website/src/docs/3.x/resources/browser-support.md
+++ b/sites/website/src/docs/3.x/resources/browser-support.md
@@ -30,3 +30,7 @@ The following browsers have native support for the Web Components features used
 FAST Element v3 no longer polyfills `globalThis` for older engines. If you need
 to support an environment below these minimums, load a `globalThis` polyfill
 before importing FAST.
+
+The async update scheduler uses `requestAnimationFrame` in browsers. Runtimes
+without `requestAnimationFrame` use a `setTimeout` fallback so queued updates
+still flush outside browser environments.