diff --git a/src-tauri/Cargo.lock b/src-tauri/Cargo.lock
index 8f0016d..85f26b9 100644
--- a/src-tauri/Cargo.lock
+++ b/src-tauri/Cargo.lock
@@ -480,10 +480,57 @@ version = "0.18.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "4ddef33a339a91ea89fb53151bd0a4689cfce27055c291dfa69945475d22c747"
 dependencies = [
+ "percent-encoding",
  "time",
  "version_check",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "cookie_store"
+version = "0.21.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "2eac901828f88a5241ee0600950ab981148a18f2f756900ffba1b125ca6a3ef9"
+dependencies = [
+ "cookie",
+ "document-features",
+ "idna",
+ "log",
+ "publicsuffix",
+ "serde",
+ "serde_derive",
+ "serde_json",
+ "time",
+ "url",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "cookie_store"
+version = "0.22.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "3fc4bff745c9b4c7fb1e97b25d13153da2bc7796260141df62378998d070207f"
+dependencies = [
+ "cookie",
+ "document-features",
+ "idna",
+ "log",
+ "publicsuffix",
+ "serde",
+ "serde_derive",
+ "serde_json",
+ "time",
+ "url",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "core-foundation"
+version = "0.9.4"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "91e195e091a93c46f7102ec7818a2aa394e1e1771c3ab4825963fa03e45afb8f"
+dependencies = [
+ "core-foundation-sys",
+ "libc",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "core-foundation"
 version = "0.10.1"
@@ -507,7 +554,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "fa95a34622365fa5bbf40b20b75dba8dfa8c94c734aea8ac9a5ca38af14316f1"
 dependencies = [
  "bitflags 2.10.0",
- "core-foundation",
+ "core-foundation 0.10.1",
  "core-graphics-types",
  "foreign-types",
  "libc",
@@ -520,7 +567,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "3d44a101f213f6c4cdc1853d4b78aef6db6bdfa3468798cc1d9912f4735013eb"
 dependencies = [
  "bitflags 2.10.0",
- "core-foundation",
+ "core-foundation 0.10.1",
  "libc",
 ]
 
@@ -639,6 +686,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "syn 2.0.114",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "data-url"
+version = "0.3.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "be1e0bca6c3637f992fc1cc7cbc52a78c1ef6db076dbf1059c4323d6a2048376"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "deranged"
 version = "0.5.5"
@@ -745,6 +798,15 @@ dependencies = [
  "syn 2.0.114",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "document-features"
+version = "0.2.12"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "d4b8a88685455ed29a21542a33abd9cb6510b6b129abadabdcef0f4c55bc8f61"
+dependencies = [
+ "litrs",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "dpi"
 version = "0.1.2"
@@ -1209,8 +1271,10 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "ff2abc00be7fca6ebc474524697ae276ad847ad0a6b3faa4bcb027e9a4614ad0"
 dependencies = [
  "cfg-if",
+ "js-sys",
  "libc",
  "wasi 0.11.1+wasi-snapshot-preview1",
+ "wasm-bindgen",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -1220,9 +1284,11 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "899def5c37c4fd7b2664648c28120ecec138e4d395b459e5ca34f9cce2dd77fd"
 dependencies = [
  "cfg-if",
+ "js-sys",
  "libc",
  "r-efi",
  "wasip2",
+ "wasm-bindgen",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -1373,6 +1439,25 @@ dependencies = [
  "syn 2.0.114",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "h2"
+version = "0.4.13"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "2f44da3a8150a6703ed5d34e164b875fd14c2cdab9af1252a9a1020bde2bdc54"
+dependencies = [
+ "atomic-waker",
+ "bytes",
+ "fnv",
+ "futures-core",
+ "futures-sink",
+ "http",
+ "indexmap 2.13.0",
+ "slab",
+ "tokio",
+ "tokio-util",
+ "tracing",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "hashbrown"
 version = "0.12.3"
@@ -1415,11 +1500,13 @@ version = "0.2.0"
 dependencies = [
  "chrono",
  "parking_lot",
+ "semver",
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
  "tauri",
  "tauri-build",
  "tauri-plugin-dialog",
+ "tauri-plugin-http",
  "tauri-plugin-notification",
  "tauri-plugin-opener",
  "tauri-plugin-os",
@@ -1492,6 +1579,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "bytes",
  "futures-channel",
  "futures-core",
+ "h2",
  "http",
  "http-body",
  "httparse",
@@ -1503,6 +1591,23 @@ dependencies = [
  "want",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "hyper-rustls"
+version = "0.27.7"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "e3c93eb611681b207e1fe55d5a71ecf91572ec8a6705cdb6857f7d8d5242cf58"
+dependencies = [
+ "http",
+ "hyper",
+ "hyper-util",
+ "rustls",
+ "rustls-pki-types",
+ "tokio",
+ "tokio-rustls",
+ "tower-service",
+ "webpki-roots",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "hyper-util"
 version = "0.1.19"
@@ -1522,9 +1627,11 @@ dependencies = [
  "percent-encoding",
  "pin-project-lite",
  "socket2",
+ "system-configuration",
  "tokio",
  "tower-service",
  "tracing",
+ "windows-registry",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -1910,6 +2017,12 @@ version = "0.8.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "6373607a59f0be73a39b6fe456b8192fcc3585f602af20751600e974dd455e77"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "litrs"
+version = "1.0.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "11d3d7f243d5c5a8b9bb5d6dd2b1602c0cb0b9db1621bafc7ed66e35ff9fe092"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "lock_api"
 version = "0.4.14"
@@ -1925,6 +2038,12 @@ version = "0.4.29"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "5e5032e24019045c762d3c0f28f5b6b8bbf38563a65908389bf7978758920897"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "lru-slab"
+version = "0.1.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "112b39cec0b298b6c1999fee3e31427f74f676e4cb9879ed1a121b43661a4154"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "mac"
 version = "0.1.1"
@@ -2810,6 +2929,22 @@ dependencies = [
  "unicode-ident",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "psl-types"
+version = "2.0.11"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "33cb294fe86a74cbcf50d4445b37da762029549ebeea341421c7c70370f86cac"
+
+[[package]]
+name = "publicsuffix"
+version = "2.3.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "6f42ea446cab60335f76979ec15e12619a2165b5ae2c12166bef27d283a9fadf"
+dependencies = [
+ "idna",
+ "psl-types",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "quick-xml"
 version = "0.37.5"
@@ -2828,6 +2963,61 @@ dependencies = [
  "memchr",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "quinn"
+version = "0.11.9"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "b9e20a958963c291dc322d98411f541009df2ced7b5a4f2bd52337638cfccf20"
+dependencies = [
+ "bytes",
+ "cfg_aliases",
+ "pin-project-lite",
+ "quinn-proto",
+ "quinn-udp",
+ "rustc-hash",
+ "rustls",
+ "socket2",
+ "thiserror 2.0.17",
+ "tokio",
+ "tracing",
+ "web-time",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "quinn-proto"
+version = "0.11.13"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "f1906b49b0c3bc04b5fe5d86a77925ae6524a19b816ae38ce1e426255f1d8a31"
+dependencies = [
+ "bytes",
+ "getrandom 0.3.4",
+ "lru-slab",
+ "rand 0.9.2",
+ "ring",
+ "rustc-hash",
+ "rustls",
+ "rustls-pki-types",
+ "slab",
+ "thiserror 2.0.17",
+ "tinyvec",
+ "tracing",
+ "web-time",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "quinn-udp"
+version = "0.5.14"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "addec6a0dcad8a8d96a771f815f0eaf55f9d1805756410b39f5fa81332574cbd"
+dependencies = [
+ "cfg_aliases",
+ "libc",
+ "once_cell",
+ "socket2",
+ "tracing",
+ "windows-sys 0.60.2",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "quote"
 version = "1.0.43"
@@ -3036,22 +3226,32 @@ checksum = "eddd3ca559203180a307f12d114c268abf583f59b03cb906fd0b3ff8646c1147"
 dependencies = [
  "base64 0.22.1",
  "bytes",
+ "cookie",
+ "cookie_store 0.22.0",
+ "encoding_rs",
  "futures-core",
  "futures-util",
+ "h2",
  "http",
  "http-body",
  "http-body-util",
  "hyper",
+ "hyper-rustls",
  "hyper-util",
  "js-sys",
  "log",
+ "mime",
  "percent-encoding",
  "pin-project-lite",
+ "quinn",
+ "rustls",
+ "rustls-pki-types",
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
  "serde_urlencoded",
  "sync_wrapper",
  "tokio",
+ "tokio-rustls",
  "tokio-util",
  "tower",
  "tower-http",
@@ -3061,6 +3261,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "wasm-bindgen-futures",
  "wasm-streams",
  "web-sys",
+ "webpki-roots",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -3087,6 +3288,26 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-sys 0.60.2",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "ring"
+version = "0.17.14"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "a4689e6c2294d81e88dc6261c768b63bc4fcdb852be6d1352498b114f61383b7"
+dependencies = [
+ "cc",
+ "cfg-if",
+ "getrandom 0.2.17",
+ "libc",
+ "untrusted",
+ "windows-sys 0.52.0",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "rustc-hash"
+version = "2.1.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "357703d41365b4b27c590e3ed91eabb1b663f07c4c084095e60cbed4362dff0d"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "rustc_version"
 version = "0.4.1"
@@ -3109,6 +3330,41 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-sys 0.61.2",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "rustls"
+version = "0.23.36"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "c665f33d38cea657d9614f766881e4d510e0eda4239891eea56b4cadcf01801b"
+dependencies = [
+ "once_cell",
+ "ring",
+ "rustls-pki-types",
+ "rustls-webpki",
+ "subtle",
+ "zeroize",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "rustls-pki-types"
+version = "1.14.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "be040f8b0a225e40375822a563fa9524378b9d63112f53e19ffff34df5d33fdd"
+dependencies = [
+ "web-time",
+ "zeroize",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "rustls-webpki"
+version = "0.103.9"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "d7df23109aa6c1567d1c575b9952556388da57401e4ace1d15f79eedad0d8f53"
+dependencies = [
+ "ring",
+ "rustls-pki-types",
+ "untrusted",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "rustversion"
 version = "1.0.22"
@@ -3569,6 +3825,12 @@ version = "0.11.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "7da8b5736845d9f2fcb837ea5d9e2628564b3b043a70948a3f0b778838c5fb4f"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "subtle"
+version = "2.6.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "13c2bddecc57b384dee18652358fb23172facb8a2c51ccc10d74c157bdea3292"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "swift-rs"
 version = "1.0.7"
@@ -3631,6 +3893,27 @@ dependencies = [
  "libc",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "system-configuration"
+version = "0.6.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "3c879d448e9d986b661742763247d3693ed13609438cf3d006f51f5368a5ba6b"
+dependencies = [
+ "bitflags 2.10.0",
+ "core-foundation 0.9.4",
+ "system-configuration-sys",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "system-configuration-sys"
+version = "0.6.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "8e1d1b10ced5ca923a1fcb8d03e96b8d3268065d724548c0211415ff6ac6bac4"
+dependencies = [
+ "core-foundation-sys",
+ "libc",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "system-deps"
 version = "6.2.2"
@@ -3652,7 +3935,7 @@ checksum = "f3a753bdc39c07b192151523a3f77cd0394aa75413802c883a0f6f6a0e5ee2e7"
 dependencies = [
  "bitflags 2.10.0",
  "block2",
- "core-foundation",
+ "core-foundation 0.10.1",
  "core-graphics",
  "crossbeam-channel",
  "dispatch",
@@ -3872,6 +4155,30 @@ dependencies = [
  "url",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "tauri-plugin-http"
+version = "2.5.6"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "68bef611ccbfbce67c813959c11b23c1c084d201aa94222de9eba5f9edc3f897"
+dependencies = [
+ "bytes",
+ "cookie_store 0.21.1",
+ "data-url",
+ "http",
+ "regex",
+ "reqwest",
+ "schemars 0.8.22",
+ "serde",
+ "serde_json",
+ "tauri",
+ "tauri-plugin",
+ "tauri-plugin-fs",
+ "thiserror 2.0.17",
+ "tokio",
+ "url",
+ "urlpattern",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "tauri-plugin-notification"
 version = "2.3.3"
@@ -4186,6 +4493,21 @@ dependencies = [
  "zerovec",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "tinyvec"
+version = "1.10.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "bfa5fdc3bce6191a1dbc8c02d5c8bffcf557bafa17c124c5264a458f1b0613fa"
+dependencies = [
+ "tinyvec_macros",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "tinyvec_macros"
+version = "0.1.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "1f3ccbac311fea05f86f61904b462b55fb3df8837a366dfc601a0161d0532f20"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "tokio"
 version = "1.49.0"
@@ -4214,6 +4536,16 @@ dependencies = [
  "syn 2.0.114",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "tokio-rustls"
+version = "0.26.4"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "1729aa945f29d91ba541258c8df89027d5792d85a8841fb65e8bf0f4ede4ef61"
+dependencies = [
+ "rustls",
+ "tokio",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "tokio-util"
 version = "0.7.18"
@@ -4503,6 +4835,12 @@ version = "1.12.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "f6ccf251212114b54433ec949fd6a7841275f9ada20dddd2f29e9ceea4501493"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "untrusted"
+version = "0.9.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "8ecb6da28b8a351d773b68d5825ac39017e680750f980f3a1a85cd8dd28a47c1"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "url"
 version = "2.5.8"
@@ -4706,6 +5044,16 @@ dependencies = [
  "wasm-bindgen",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "web-time"
+version = "1.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "5a6580f308b1fad9207618087a65c04e7a10bc77e02c8e84e9b00dd4b12fa0bb"
+dependencies = [
+ "js-sys",
+ "wasm-bindgen",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "webkit2gtk"
 version = "2.0.1"
@@ -4750,6 +5098,15 @@ dependencies = [
  "system-deps",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "webpki-roots"
+version = "1.0.5"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "12bed680863276c63889429bfd6cab3b99943659923822de1c8a39c49e4d722c"
+dependencies = [
+ "rustls-pki-types",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "webview2-com"
 version = "0.38.2"
@@ -4977,6 +5334,17 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-link 0.2.1",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "windows-registry"
+version = "0.6.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "02752bf7fbdcce7f2a27a742f798510f3e5ad88dbe84871e5168e2120c3d5720"
+dependencies = [
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
+ "windows-result 0.4.1",
+ "windows-strings 0.5.1",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "windows-result"
 version = "0.3.4"
@@ -5022,6 +5390,15 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-targets 0.42.2",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "windows-sys"
+version = "0.52.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "282be5f36a8ce781fad8c8ae18fa3f9beff57ec1b52cb3de0789201425d9a33d"
+dependencies = [
+ "windows-targets 0.52.6",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "windows-sys"
 version = "0.59.0"
@@ -5493,6 +5870,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "synstructure",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "zeroize"
+version = "1.8.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "b97154e67e32c85465826e8bcc1c59429aaaf107c1e4a9e53c8d8ccd5eff88d0"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "zerotrie"
 version = "0.2.3"
diff --git a/src-tauri/Cargo.toml b/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
index fe46b5a..65c8351 100644
--- a/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
+++ b/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ uuid = { version = "1", features = ["v4"] }
 tauri-plugin-store = "2.4.2"
 tauri-plugin-notification = "2"
 tauri-plugin-os = "2"
+tauri-plugin-http = "2"
 tempfile = "3"
+semver = "1"
 chrono = { version = "0.4.43", features = ["serde"] }
 
 [target.'cfg(windows)'.dependencies]
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/commands.rs b/src-tauri/src/commands.rs
index d43fa01..36387dc 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/commands.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/commands.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use tauri::{AppHandle, State};
 use tauri_plugin_store::StoreExt;
+use tauri_plugin_http::reqwest;
 
 use crate::config::{ClaudeStartOptions, HikariConfig};
 use crate::stats::UsageStats;
@@ -222,3 +223,74 @@ pub async fn list_skills() -> Result<Vec<String>, String> {
 
     Ok(skills)
 }
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize)]
+pub struct UpdateInfo {
+    pub current_version: String,
+    pub latest_version: String,
+    pub has_update: bool,
+    pub release_url: String,
+    pub release_notes: Option<String>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, serde::Deserialize)]
+struct GiteaRelease {
+    tag_name: String,
+    html_url: String,
+    body: Option<String>,
+    prerelease: bool,
+}
+
+#[tauri::command]
+pub async fn check_for_updates() -> Result<UpdateInfo, String> {
+    const CURRENT_VERSION: &str = env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION");
+    const RELEASES_API: &str = "https://git.nhcarrigan.com/api/v1/repos/nhcarrigan/hikari-desktop/releases";
+
+    // Fetch releases from Gitea API
+    let client = reqwest::Client::new();
+    let response = client
+        .get(RELEASES_API)
+        .header("Accept", "application/json")
+        .send()
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to fetch releases: {}", e))?;
+
+    if !response.status().is_success() {
+        return Err(format!("API returned status: {}", response.status()));
+    }
+
+    let text = response
+        .text()
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to read response: {}", e))?;
+
+    let releases: Vec<GiteaRelease> = serde_json::from_str(&text)
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to parse releases: {}", e))?;
+
+    // Find the latest non-prerelease, or fall back to latest prerelease
+    let latest = releases
+        .iter()
+        .find(|r| !r.prerelease)
+        .or_else(|| releases.first());
+
+    let latest = match latest {
+        Some(r) => r,
+        None => return Err("No releases found".to_string()),
+    };
+
+    // Parse version strings (remove 'v' prefix if present)
+    let current = semver::Version::parse(CURRENT_VERSION)
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to parse current version: {}", e))?;
+
+    let latest_tag = latest.tag_name.trim_start_matches('v');
+    let latest_ver = semver::Version::parse(latest_tag)
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to parse latest version: {}", e))?;
+
+    Ok(UpdateInfo {
+        current_version: CURRENT_VERSION.to_string(),
+        latest_version: latest.tag_name.clone(),
+        has_update: latest_ver > current,
+        release_url: latest.html_url.clone(),
+        release_notes: latest.body.clone(),
+    })
+}
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/config.rs b/src-tauri/src/config.rs
index 5ab84fc..baac7d5 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/config.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/config.rs
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ pub struct HikariConfig {
 
     #[serde(default)]
     pub always_on_top: bool,
+
+    #[serde(default = "default_update_checks_enabled")]
+    pub update_checks_enabled: bool,
 }
 
 impl Default for HikariConfig {
@@ -77,10 +80,15 @@ impl Default for HikariConfig {
             notifications_enabled: true,
             notification_volume: 0.7,
             always_on_top: false,
+            update_checks_enabled: true,
         }
     }
 }
 
+fn default_update_checks_enabled() -> bool {
+    true
+}
+
 fn default_greeting_enabled() -> bool {
     true
 }
@@ -117,6 +125,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(config.greeting_enabled);
         assert!(config.greeting_custom_prompt.is_none());
         assert!(!config.always_on_top);
+        assert!(config.update_checks_enabled);
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -133,6 +142,7 @@ mod tests {
             notifications_enabled: true,
             notification_volume: 0.7,
             always_on_top: true,
+            update_checks_enabled: true,
         };
 
         let json = serde_json::to_string(&config).unwrap();
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index 61bbfba..6a369ec 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ pub fn run() {
         .plugin(tauri_plugin_store::Builder::new().build())
         .plugin(tauri_plugin_notification::init())
         .plugin(tauri_plugin_os::init())
+        .plugin(tauri_plugin_http::init())
         .manage(bridge_manager.clone())
         .setup(move |app| {
             // Initialize the app handle in the bridge manager
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ pub fn run() {
             send_vbs_notification,
             validate_directory,
             list_skills,
+            check_for_updates,
         ])
         .run(tauri::generate_context!())
         .expect("error while running tauri application");
diff --git a/src/lib/components/ConfigSidebar.svelte b/src/lib/components/ConfigSidebar.svelte
index 2ae9fc5..e831a9d 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/ConfigSidebar.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/ConfigSidebar.svelte
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
     notifications_enabled: true,
     notification_volume: 0.7,
     always_on_top: false,
+    update_checks_enabled: true,
   });
 
   let isOpen = $state(false);
@@ -427,6 +428,21 @@
           Keep the window above other windows
         </p>
       </div>
+
+      <!-- Update Checks Toggle -->
+      <div class="mb-4">
+        <label class="flex items-center gap-3 cursor-pointer">
+          <input
+            type="checkbox"
+            bind:checked={config.update_checks_enabled}
+            class="w-4 h-4 text-[var(--accent-primary)] bg-[var(--bg-primary)] border-[var(--border-color)] rounded focus:ring-[var(--accent-primary)] focus:ring-2"
+          />
+          <span class="text-sm text-[var(--text-primary)]">Check for updates on startup</span>
+        </label>
+        <p class="text-xs text-[var(--text-tertiary)] mt-1 ml-7">
+          Notify when a new version is available
+        </p>
+      </div>
     </section>
 
     <!-- Notifications Section -->
diff --git a/src/lib/components/InputBar.svelte b/src/lib/components/InputBar.svelte
index bd819c5..d8b3d2b 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/InputBar.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/InputBar.svelte
@@ -365,11 +365,7 @@ User: ${formattedMessage}`;
         onSelect={selectCommand}
       />
       <!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_static_element_interactions -->
-      <div
-        class="resize-handle"
-        onmousedown={handleResizeStart}
-        title="Drag to resize"
-      ></div>
+      <div class="resize-handle" onmousedown={handleResizeStart} title="Drag to resize"></div>
       <textarea
         bind:value={inputValue}
         onkeydown={handleKeyDown}
diff --git a/src/lib/components/StatusBar.svelte b/src/lib/components/StatusBar.svelte
index cfb485d..ab20ff0 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/StatusBar.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/StatusBar.svelte
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
     notifications_enabled: true,
     notification_volume: 0.5,
     always_on_top: false,
+    update_checks_enabled: true,
   });
 
   onMount(async () => {
diff --git a/src/lib/components/UpdateNotification.svelte b/src/lib/components/UpdateNotification.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ca2bd2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/components/UpdateNotification.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { invoke } from "@tauri-apps/api/core";
+  import { openUrl } from "@tauri-apps/plugin-opener";
+  import type { UpdateInfo } from "$lib/types/messages";
+  import { configStore } from "$lib/stores/config";
+
+  let updateInfo = $state<UpdateInfo | null>(null);
+  let dismissed = $state(false);
+
+  export async function checkForUpdates() {
+    // Check if update checks are enabled
+    const config = configStore.getConfig();
+    if (!config.update_checks_enabled) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    try {
+      const info = await invoke<UpdateInfo>("check_for_updates");
+      if (info.has_update) {
+        updateInfo = info;
+        dismissed = false;
+      }
+    } catch (err) {
+      const errorMessage = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+      console.error("Failed to check for updates:", errorMessage);
+    }
+  }
+
+  function dismiss() {
+    dismissed = true;
+  }
+
+  async function openRelease() {
+    if (updateInfo?.release_url) {
+      await openUrl(updateInfo.release_url);
+    }
+  }
+</script>
+
+{#if updateInfo && !dismissed}
+  <div
+    class="fixed bottom-4 right-4 max-w-sm bg-[var(--bg-tertiary)] border border-[var(--accent-primary)] rounded-lg shadow-lg p-4 z-50"
+  >
+    <div class="flex items-start gap-3">
+      <div class="text-2xl">🎉</div>
+      <div class="flex-1">
+        <h3 class="text-[var(--text-primary)] font-semibold mb-1">Update Available!</h3>
+        <p class="text-[var(--text-secondary)] text-sm mb-2">
+          A new version of Hikari Desktop is available:
+          <span class="text-[var(--accent-primary)] font-mono">{updateInfo.latest_version}</span>
+        </p>
+        <p class="text-[var(--text-muted)] text-xs mb-3">
+          Current version: {updateInfo.current_version}
+        </p>
+        <div class="flex gap-2">
+          <button
+            onclick={openRelease}
+            class="px-3 py-1.5 bg-[var(--accent-primary)] text-white rounded text-sm hover:brightness-110 transition-all"
+          >
+            View Release
+          </button>
+          <button
+            onclick={dismiss}
+            class="px-3 py-1.5 bg-[var(--bg-secondary)] text-[var(--text-secondary)] rounded text-sm hover:bg-[var(--bg-primary)] transition-all"
+          >
+            Later
+          </button>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+      <button
+        onclick={dismiss}
+        class="text-[var(--text-muted)] hover:text-[var(--text-primary)] transition-colors"
+        aria-label="Dismiss"
+      >
+        <svg
+          class="w-4 h-4"
+          fill="none"
+          stroke="currentColor"
+          viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+          xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+        >
+          <path
+            stroke-linecap="round"
+            stroke-linejoin="round"
+            stroke-width="2"
+            d="M6 18L18 6M6 6l12 12"
+          ></path>
+        </svg>
+      </button>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+{/if}
diff --git a/src/lib/stores/config.ts b/src/lib/stores/config.ts
index 9dd41b3..446c8ee 100644
--- a/src/lib/stores/config.ts
+++ b/src/lib/stores/config.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export interface HikariConfig {
   notifications_enabled: boolean;
   notification_volume: number;
   always_on_top: boolean;
+  update_checks_enabled: boolean;
 }
 
 const defaultConfig: HikariConfig = {
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ const defaultConfig: HikariConfig = {
   notifications_enabled: true,
   notification_volume: 0.7,
   always_on_top: false,
+  update_checks_enabled: true,
 };
 
 function createConfigStore() {
diff --git a/src/lib/types/messages.ts b/src/lib/types/messages.ts
index 9eb6834..2985bd0 100644
--- a/src/lib/types/messages.ts
+++ b/src/lib/types/messages.ts
@@ -141,3 +141,11 @@ export interface UserQuestionEvent {
 }
 
 export type ConnectionStatus = "disconnected" | "connecting" | "connected" | "error";
+
+export interface UpdateInfo {
+  current_version: string;
+  latest_version: string;
+  has_update: boolean;
+  release_url: string;
+  release_notes?: string;
+}
diff --git a/src/routes/+page.svelte b/src/routes/+page.svelte
index 1d6e0d9..e0ba4ef 100644
--- a/src/routes/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/+page.svelte
@@ -18,8 +18,10 @@
   import ConfigSidebar from "$lib/components/ConfigSidebar.svelte";
   import AchievementNotification from "$lib/components/AchievementNotification.svelte";
   import AchievementsPanel from "$lib/components/AchievementsPanel.svelte";
+  import UpdateNotification from "$lib/components/UpdateNotification.svelte";
 
   let initialized = false;
+  let updateNotification: UpdateNotification;
   let achievementPanelOpen = $state(false);
 
   // Global keyboard shortcuts
@@ -108,6 +110,11 @@
 
       // Add global keyboard shortcut listener
       window.addEventListener("keydown", handleGlobalKeydown);
+
+      // Check for updates on startup
+      if (config.update_checks_enabled) {
+        updateNotification?.checkForUpdates();
+      }
     }
   });
 
@@ -147,6 +154,7 @@
     bind:isOpen={achievementPanelOpen}
     onClose={() => (achievementPanelOpen = false)}
   />
+  <UpdateNotification bind:this={updateNotification} />
 </div>
 
 <style>