diff --git a/src/App.tsx b/src/App.tsx
index 046bc961..5cd7c3ca 100644
--- a/src/App.tsx
+++ b/src/App.tsx
@@ -277,6 +277,18 @@ function App() {
   const zoom = useZoom()
   const buildNumber = useBuildNumber()
 
+  const { status: updateStatus, actions: updateActions } = useUpdater()
+
+  const handleCheckForUpdates = useCallback(async () => {
+    const result = await updateActions.checkForUpdates()
+    if (result === 'up-to-date') {
+      setToastMessage("You're on the latest version")
+    } else if (result === 'error') {
+      setToastMessage('Could not check for updates')
+    }
+    // 'available' → UpdateBanner handles it automatically
+  }, [updateActions, setToastMessage])
+
   const commands = useAppCommands({
     activeTabPath: notes.activeTabPath, activeTabPathRef: notes.activeTabPathRef,
     handleCloseTabRef: notes.handleCloseTabRef, tabs: notes.tabs,
@@ -314,10 +326,10 @@ function App() {
     },
     onOpenVault: vaultSwitcher.handleOpenLocalFolder,
     onToggleAIChat: dialogs.toggleAIChat,
+    onCheckForUpdates: handleCheckForUpdates,
+    isUpdating: updateStatus.state === 'downloading' || updateStatus.state === 'ready',
   })
 
-  const { status: updateStatus, actions: updateActions } = useUpdater()
-
   const activeTab = notes.tabs.find((t) => t.entry.path === notes.activeTabPath) ?? null
 
   // Show welcome/onboarding screen when vault doesn't exist
diff --git a/src/hooks/useAppCommands.ts b/src/hooks/useAppCommands.ts
index 3ecbb77d..d4c364b7 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useAppCommands.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useAppCommands.ts
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ interface AppCommandsConfig {
   onOpenTheme?: (themeId: string) => void
   onOpenVault?: () => void
   onToggleAIChat?: () => void
+  onCheckForUpdates?: () => void
+  isUpdating?: boolean
 }
 
 /** Sets up keyboard shortcuts, command registry, menu events, and keyboard navigation. */
@@ -151,6 +153,8 @@ export function useAppCommands(config: AppCommandsConfig): CommandAction[] {
     onOpenTheme: config.onOpenTheme,
     onOpenVault: config.onOpenVault,
     onToggleAIChat: config.onToggleAIChat,
+    onCheckForUpdates: config.onCheckForUpdates,
+    isUpdating: config.isUpdating,
   })
 
   useKeyboardNavigation({
diff --git a/src/hooks/useCommandRegistry.test.ts b/src/hooks/useCommandRegistry.test.ts
index 78493c16..7c817fb3 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useCommandRegistry.test.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useCommandRegistry.test.ts
@@ -281,6 +281,41 @@ describe('useCommandRegistry', () => {
     expect(onOpenDailyNote).toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
+  describe('check-updates command', () => {
+    it('has check-updates command in Settings group', () => {
+      const { result } = renderHook(() => useCommandRegistry(makeConfig()))
+      const cmd = result.current.find(c => c.id === 'check-updates')
+      expect(cmd).toBeDefined()
+      expect(cmd!.label).toBe('Check for Updates')
+      expect(cmd!.group).toBe('Settings')
+      expect(cmd!.keywords).toContain('update')
+      expect(cmd!.keywords).toContain('version')
+    })
+
+    it('is enabled when not updating', () => {
+      const { result } = renderHook(() =>
+        useCommandRegistry(makeConfig({ isUpdating: false })),
+      )
+      expect(result.current.find(c => c.id === 'check-updates')!.enabled).toBe(true)
+    })
+
+    it('is disabled when updating', () => {
+      const { result } = renderHook(() =>
+        useCommandRegistry(makeConfig({ isUpdating: true })),
+      )
+      expect(result.current.find(c => c.id === 'check-updates')!.enabled).toBe(false)
+    })
+
+    it('calls onCheckForUpdates when executed', () => {
+      const onCheckForUpdates = vi.fn()
+      const { result } = renderHook(() =>
+        useCommandRegistry(makeConfig({ onCheckForUpdates })),
+      )
+      result.current.find(c => c.id === 'check-updates')!.execute()
+      expect(onCheckForUpdates).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    })
+  })
+
   describe('type-aware commands', () => {
     it('generates "New [Type]" commands from vault entries', () => {
       const entries = [
diff --git a/src/hooks/useCommandRegistry.ts b/src/hooks/useCommandRegistry.ts
index 60f26c3e..ee9453ee 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useCommandRegistry.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useCommandRegistry.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ interface CommandRegistryConfig {
   onToggleInspector: () => void
   onToggleRawEditor?: () => void
   onToggleAIChat?: () => void
+  onCheckForUpdates?: () => void
+  isUpdating?: boolean
   onZoomIn: () => void
   onZoomOut: () => void
   onZoomReset: () => void
@@ -175,6 +177,7 @@ export function useCommandRegistry(config: CommandRegistryConfig): CommandAction
     onSelect, onOpenDailyNote, onCloseTab,
     onGoBack, onGoForward, canGoBack, canGoForward,
     themes, activeThemeId, onSwitchTheme, onCreateTheme, onOpenTheme,
+    onCheckForUpdates, isUpdating,
   } = config
 
   const hasActiveNote = activeTabPath !== null
@@ -229,6 +232,7 @@ export function useCommandRegistry(config: CommandRegistryConfig): CommandAction
       // Settings
       { id: 'open-settings', label: 'Open Settings', group: 'Settings', shortcut: '⌘,', keywords: ['preferences', 'config'], enabled: true, execute: onOpenSettings },
       { id: 'open-vault', label: 'Open Vault…', group: 'Settings', keywords: ['vault', 'folder', 'switch', 'open', 'workspace'], enabled: true, execute: () => onOpenVault?.() },
+      { id: 'check-updates', label: 'Check for Updates', group: 'Settings', keywords: ['update', 'version', 'upgrade', 'release'], enabled: !isUpdating, execute: () => onCheckForUpdates?.() },
 
       // Type-aware: "New [Type]" and "List [Type]"
       ...buildTypeCommands(vaultTypes, onCreateNoteOfType, onSelect),
@@ -240,6 +244,7 @@ export function useCommandRegistry(config: CommandRegistryConfig): CommandAction
     onQuickOpen, onCreateNote, onCreateNoteOfType, onSave, onOpenSettings,
     onTrashNote, onRestoreNote, onArchiveNote, onUnarchiveNote,
     onCommitPush, onSetViewMode, onToggleInspector, onToggleRawEditor, onToggleAIChat, onOpenVault,
+    onCheckForUpdates, isUpdating,
     onZoomIn, onZoomOut, onZoomReset, zoomLevel,
     onSelect, onOpenDailyNote, onCloseTab,
     onGoBack, onGoForward, canGoBack, canGoForward,
diff --git a/src/hooks/useUpdater.test.ts b/src/hooks/useUpdater.test.ts
index de1b8c5a..d50f599c 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useUpdater.test.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useUpdater.test.ts
@@ -199,4 +199,73 @@ describe('useUpdater', () => {
     expect(result.current.status).toEqual({ state: 'ready', version: '1.2.0' })
     expect(mockDownload).toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
+
+  describe('checkForUpdates (manual)', () => {
+    it('returns up-to-date when no update is available', async () => {
+      vi.mocked(isTauri).mockReturnValue(true)
+      mockCheck.mockResolvedValue(null)
+
+      const { result } = renderHook(() => useUpdater())
+
+      let checkResult: string | undefined
+      await act(async () => {
+        checkResult = await result.current.actions.checkForUpdates()
+      })
+
+      expect(checkResult).toBe('up-to-date')
+      expect(result.current.status).toEqual({ state: 'idle' })
+    })
+
+    it('returns available and sets status when update exists', async () => {
+      vi.mocked(isTauri).mockReturnValue(true)
+      mockCheck.mockResolvedValue({
+        version: '3.0.0',
+        body: 'Major release',
+        downloadAndInstall: vi.fn(),
+      })
+
+      const { result } = renderHook(() => useUpdater())
+
+      let checkResult: string | undefined
+      await act(async () => {
+        checkResult = await result.current.actions.checkForUpdates()
+      })
+
+      expect(checkResult).toBe('available')
+      expect(result.current.status).toEqual({
+        state: 'available',
+        version: '3.0.0',
+        notes: 'Major release',
+      })
+    })
+
+    it('returns error on network failure', async () => {
+      vi.mocked(isTauri).mockReturnValue(true)
+      mockCheck.mockRejectedValue(new Error('No internet'))
+
+      const { result } = renderHook(() => useUpdater())
+
+      let checkResult: string | undefined
+      await act(async () => {
+        checkResult = await result.current.actions.checkForUpdates()
+      })
+
+      expect(checkResult).toBe('error')
+      expect(console.warn).toHaveBeenCalledWith('[updater] Failed to check for updates')
+    })
+
+    it('returns up-to-date when not in Tauri', async () => {
+      vi.mocked(isTauri).mockReturnValue(false)
+
+      const { result } = renderHook(() => useUpdater())
+
+      let checkResult: string | undefined
+      await act(async () => {
+        checkResult = await result.current.actions.checkForUpdates()
+      })
+
+      expect(checkResult).toBe('up-to-date')
+      expect(mockCheck).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    })
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/hooks/useUpdater.ts b/src/hooks/useUpdater.ts
index 2a1575fa..d8632063 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useUpdater.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useUpdater.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,10 @@ export type UpdateStatus =
   | { state: 'ready'; version: string }
   | { state: 'error' }
 
+export type UpdateCheckResult = 'up-to-date' | 'available' | 'error'
+
 export interface UpdateActions {
+  checkForUpdates: () => Promise<UpdateCheckResult>
   startDownload: () => void
   openReleaseNotes: () => void
   dismiss: () => void
@@ -21,31 +24,32 @@ export function useUpdater(): { status: UpdateStatus; actions: UpdateActions } {
   const [status, setStatus] = useState<UpdateStatus>({ state: 'idle' })
   const updateRef = useRef<unknown>(null)
 
+  const checkForUpdates = useCallback(async (): Promise<UpdateCheckResult> => {
+    if (!isTauri()) return 'up-to-date'
+
+    try {
+      const { check } = await import('@tauri-apps/plugin-updater')
+      const update = await check()
+      if (!update) return 'up-to-date'
+
+      updateRef.current = update
+      setStatus({
+        state: 'available',
+        version: update.version,
+        notes: update.body ?? undefined,
+      })
+      return 'available'
+    } catch {
+      console.warn('[updater] Failed to check for updates')
+      return 'error'
+    }
+  }, [])
+
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!isTauri()) return
-
-    const checkForUpdates = async () => {
-      try {
-        const { check } = await import('@tauri-apps/plugin-updater')
-        const update = await check()
-        if (!update) return // up to date
-
-        updateRef.current = update
-        setStatus({
-          state: 'available',
-          version: update.version,
-          notes: update.body ?? undefined,
-        })
-      } catch {
-        // Network error or 404 — fail silently
-        console.warn('[updater] Failed to check for updates')
-      }
-    }
-
-    // Delay so the app can render first
-    const timer = setTimeout(checkForUpdates, 3000)
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => { checkForUpdates() }, 3000)
     return () => clearTimeout(timer)
-  }, [])
+  }, [checkForUpdates])
 
   const startDownload = useCallback(async () => {
     const update = updateRef.current as {
@@ -88,7 +92,7 @@ export function useUpdater(): { status: UpdateStatus; actions: UpdateActions } {
     setStatus({ state: 'idle' })
   }, [])
 
-  return { status, actions: { startDownload, openReleaseNotes, dismiss } }
+  return { status, actions: { checkForUpdates, startDownload, openReleaseNotes, dismiss } }
 }
 
 /**