diff --git a/src-tauri/src/tray.rs b/src-tauri/src/tray.rs
index 016264c..511ac17 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/tray.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/tray.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ use tauri::{
 const EVENT_STATE_CHANGED: &str = "loomrouter://state-changed";
 /// Event carrying a route the UI should navigate to, e.g. "/providers".
 const EVENT_NAVIGATE: &str = "loomrouter://navigate";
+/// Event requesting an explicit updater check in the main window.
+const EVENT_CHECK_UPDATES: &str = "loomrouter://check-updates";
 
 /// The pages the tray can jump to, as (menu id suffix, route, label).
 const PAGES: &[(&str, &str, &str)] = &[
@@ -168,6 +170,13 @@ fn build_menu(
     )?;
     let config_folder =
         MenuItem::with_id(app, "open-config", "Open Config Folder", true, None::<&str>)?;
+    let check_updates = MenuItem::with_id(
+        app,
+        "check-updates",
+        "Check for Updates",
+        true,
+        None::<&str>,
+    )?;
     let quit = MenuItem::with_id(app, "quit", "Quit LoomRouter", true, None::<&str>)?;
 
     // Only built after something failed, so it costs nothing in the normal
@@ -205,6 +214,7 @@ fn build_menu(
         &open,
         &go_to,
         &config_folder,
+        &check_updates,
         &separators[3],
         &quit,
     ]);
@@ -469,6 +479,12 @@ pub(crate) fn notify_state_changed(app: &tauri::AppHandle) {
 fn on_tray_menu_event(app: &tauri::AppHandle, id: &str) {
     match id {
         "show" => show_main_window(app),
+        "check-updates" => {
+            show_main_window(app);
+            if let Err(e) = app.emit(EVENT_CHECK_UPDATES, ()) {
+                tracing::warn!("check-updates event failed: {e}");
+            }
+        }
         // AppHandle::exit() does not fire CloseRequested, so this is a
         // real quit (the window is not just hidden again).
         "quit" => app.exit(0),
diff --git a/src/components/UpdateChecker.tsx b/src/components/UpdateChecker.tsx
index b9c0641..60321e7 100644
--- a/src/components/UpdateChecker.tsx
+++ b/src/components/UpdateChecker.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ import type { Update } from '@tauri-apps/plugin-updater'
 
 type Phase =
   | { kind: 'idle' }
+  | { kind: 'checking' }
+  | { kind: 'current' }
+  | { kind: 'error' }
   | { kind: 'available'; version: string }
   | { kind: 'downloading'; percent: number }
   | { kind: 'ready' }
@@ -21,6 +24,26 @@ export default function UpdateChecker() {
   const [update, setUpdate] = useState<Update | null>(null)
   const [dismissed, setDismissed] = useState(false)
 
+  const checkForUpdates = async (manual = false) => {
+    if (!isTauri) return
+    if (manual) {
+      setDismissed(false)
+      setPhase({ kind: 'checking' })
+    }
+    try {
+      const { check } = await import('@tauri-apps/plugin-updater')
+      const found = await check()
+      if (found) {
+        setUpdate(found)
+        setPhase({ kind: 'available', version: found.version })
+      } else if (manual) {
+        setPhase({ kind: 'current' })
+      }
+    } catch {
+      if (manual) setPhase({ kind: 'error' })
+    }
+  }
+
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!isTauri) return
     let cancelled = false
@@ -33,10 +56,20 @@ export default function UpdateChecker() {
         }
       })
       .catch(() => {
-        // Offline or no release published yet: stay silent.
+        // Automatic checks stay silent when offline or already current.
       })
+    let unlisten: (() => void) | undefined
+    import('@tauri-apps/api/event').then(({ listen }) =>
+      listen('loomrouter://check-updates', () => {
+        if (!cancelled) void checkForUpdates(true)
+      }).then((dispose) => {
+        if (cancelled) dispose()
+        else unlisten = dispose
+      }),
+    )
     return () => {
       cancelled = true
+      unlisten?.()
     }
   }, [])
 
@@ -77,6 +110,9 @@ export default function UpdateChecker() {
   return (
     <div className="sticky top-0 z-10 flex items-center gap-3 border-b border-border bg-accent/90 px-4 py-2 text-sm backdrop-blur">
       <RefreshCw className="h-4 w-4 shrink-0" />
+      {phase.kind === 'checking' && <span className="flex-1">{s.updater.checking}</span>}
+      {phase.kind === 'current' && <span className="flex-1">{s.updater.current}</span>}
+      {phase.kind === 'error' && <span className="flex-1">{s.updater.error}</span>}
       {phase.kind === 'available' && (
         <>
           <span className="flex-1">
@@ -108,6 +144,14 @@ export default function UpdateChecker() {
           </Button>
         </>
       )}
+      {(phase.kind === 'current' || phase.kind === 'error') && (
+        <button
+          onClick={() => setDismissed(true)}
+          className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground"
+        >
+          <X className="h-4 w-4" />
+        </button>
+      )}
     </div>
   )
 }
diff --git a/src/i18n/en.ts b/src/i18n/en.ts
index 09cb0a4..d9f2ce5 100644
--- a/src/i18n/en.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/en.ts
@@ -297,6 +297,9 @@ const en = {
     zoomReset: 'Reset zoom to 100%',
   },
   updater: {
+    checking: 'Checking for updates...',
+    current: 'LoomRouter is up to date',
+    error: 'Could not check for updates',
     available: 'Version {{version}} is available',
     install: 'Download & install',
     downloading: 'Downloading update…',
diff --git a/src/i18n/es.ts b/src/i18n/es.ts
index 54c7388..7a71919 100644
--- a/src/i18n/es.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/es.ts
@@ -295,6 +295,9 @@ const es: DeepPartial<Strings> = {
     zoomReset: 'Restablecer zoom al 100%',
   },
   updater: {
+    checking: 'Buscando actualizaciones...',
+    current: 'LoomRouter está actualizado',
+    error: 'No se pudieron buscar actualizaciones',
     available: 'Versión {{version}} disponible',
     install: 'Descargar e instalar',
     downloading: 'Descargando actualización…',
diff --git a/src/i18n/pt.ts b/src/i18n/pt.ts
index 30bfeba..f378845 100644
--- a/src/i18n/pt.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/pt.ts
@@ -294,6 +294,9 @@ const pt: DeepPartial<Strings> = {
     zoomReset: 'Redefinir zoom para 100%',
   },
   updater: {
+    checking: 'Verificando atualizações...',
+    current: 'O LoomRouter está atualizado',
+    error: 'Não foi possível verificar atualizações',
     available: 'Versão {{version}} disponível',
     install: 'Baixar e instalar',
     downloading: 'Baixando atualização…',
diff --git a/src/i18n/zh.ts b/src/i18n/zh.ts
index e7359d6..e17205b 100644
--- a/src/i18n/zh.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/zh.ts
@@ -293,6 +293,9 @@ const zh: DeepPartial<Strings> = {
     zoomReset: '重置缩放为 100%',
   },
   updater: {
+    checking: '正在检查更新...',
+    current: 'LoomRouter 已是最新版本',
+    error: '无法检查更新',
     available: '新版本 {{version}} 可用',
     install: '下载并安装',
     downloading: '正在下载更新…',