diff --git a/src-tauri/src/commands/vault.rs b/src-tauri/src/commands/vault.rs
index 0e437941..72a77926 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/commands/vault.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/commands/vault.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use crate::frontmatter::FrontmatterValue;
 use crate::search::SearchResponse;
-use crate::vault::{FolderNode, RenameResult, VaultEntry};
+use crate::vault::{DetectedRename, FolderNode, RenameResult, VaultEntry};
 use crate::{frontmatter, git, search, vault};
 
 use super::expand_tilde;
@@ -43,6 +43,18 @@ pub fn rename_note(
     vault::rename_note(&vault_path, &old_path, &new_title, old_title.as_deref())
 }
 
+#[tauri::command]
+pub fn detect_renames(vault_path: String) -> Result<Vec<DetectedRename>, String> {
+    let vault_path = expand_tilde(&vault_path);
+    vault::detect_renames(&vault_path)
+}
+
+#[tauri::command]
+pub fn update_wikilinks_for_renames(vault_path: String, renames: Vec<DetectedRename>) -> Result<usize, String> {
+    let vault_path = expand_tilde(&vault_path);
+    vault::update_wikilinks_for_renames(&vault_path, &renames)
+}
+
 #[tauri::command]
 pub fn purge_trash(vault_path: String) -> Result<Vec<String>, String> {
     let vault_path = expand_tilde(&vault_path);
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index d2f253ee..18c87c29 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -123,6 +123,8 @@ pub fn run() {
             commands::update_frontmatter,
             commands::delete_frontmatter_property,
             commands::rename_note,
+            commands::detect_renames,
+            commands::update_wikilinks_for_renames,
             commands::get_file_history,
             commands::get_modified_files,
             commands::get_file_diff,
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/vault/mod.rs b/src-tauri/src/vault/mod.rs
index 6df8844e..259b1d10 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/vault/mod.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/vault/mod.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ pub use file::{get_note_content, save_note_content};
 pub use getting_started::{create_getting_started_vault, default_vault_path, vault_exists};
 pub use image::{copy_image_to_vault, save_image};
 pub use migration::{flatten_vault, migrate_is_a_to_type, vault_health_check, VaultHealthReport};
-pub use rename::{rename_note, RenameResult};
+pub use rename::{detect_renames, rename_note, update_wikilinks_for_renames, DetectedRename, RenameResult};
 pub use title_sync::{sync_title_on_open, SyncAction};
 pub use trash::{batch_delete_notes, delete_note, empty_trash, is_file_trashed, purge_trash};
 
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/vault/rename.rs b/src-tauri/src/vault/rename.rs
index 79028150..7a632c22 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/vault/rename.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/vault/rename.rs
@@ -250,6 +250,77 @@ pub fn rename_note(
     })
 }
 
+/// A detected rename: old path → new path (both relative to vault root).
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, Clone)]
+pub struct DetectedRename {
+    pub old_path: String,
+    pub new_path: String,
+}
+
+/// Detect renamed files by comparing working tree against HEAD using git diff.
+pub fn detect_renames(vault_path: &str) -> Result<Vec<DetectedRename>, String> {
+    let vault = Path::new(vault_path);
+    let output = std::process::Command::new("git")
+        .args(["diff", "HEAD", "--name-status", "--diff-filter=R", "-M"])
+        .current_dir(vault)
+        .output()
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to run git diff: {e}"))?;
+
+    if !output.status.success() {
+        return Ok(vec![]); // No HEAD yet or other git issue — no renames
+    }
+
+    let stdout = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stdout);
+    let renames: Vec<DetectedRename> = stdout
+        .lines()
+        .filter_map(|line| {
+            let parts: Vec<&str> = line.split('\t').collect();
+            if parts.len() >= 3 && parts[0].starts_with('R') {
+                let old = parts[1].to_string();
+                let new = parts[2].to_string();
+                if old.ends_with(".md") && new.ends_with(".md") {
+                    return Some(DetectedRename { old_path: old, new_path: new });
+                }
+            }
+            None
+        })
+        .collect();
+
+    Ok(renames)
+}
+
+/// Update wikilinks across the vault for a list of detected renames.
+/// Returns the total number of files updated.
+pub fn update_wikilinks_for_renames(vault_path: &str, renames: &[DetectedRename]) -> Result<usize, String> {
+    let vault = Path::new(vault_path);
+    let mut total_updated = 0;
+
+    for rename in renames {
+        let old_stem = rename.old_path.strip_suffix(".md").unwrap_or(&rename.old_path);
+        let new_stem = rename.new_path.strip_suffix(".md").unwrap_or(&rename.new_path);
+        let old_filename_stem = old_stem.split('/').last().unwrap_or(old_stem);
+        let new_filename_stem = new_stem.split('/').last().unwrap_or(new_stem);
+
+        // Build title from filename stem (kebab-case → Title Case)
+        let old_title = super::parsing::slug_to_title(old_filename_stem);
+        let new_title = super::parsing::slug_to_title(new_filename_stem);
+
+        // The new file is the exclude target (don't rewrite wikilinks inside the renamed file itself)
+        let new_file = vault.join(&rename.new_path);
+
+        let updated = update_wikilinks_in_vault(&WikilinkReplacement {
+            vault_path: vault,
+            old_title: &old_title,
+            new_title: &new_title,
+            old_path_stem: old_filename_stem,
+            exclude_path: &new_file,
+        });
+        total_updated += updated;
+    }
+
+    Ok(total_updated)
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
diff --git a/src/App.tsx b/src/App.tsx
index 9698bda3..c3da020a 100644
--- a/src/App.tsx
+++ b/src/App.tsx
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ import { filterEntries, filterInboxEntries, type NoteListFilter } from './utils/
 import { openNoteInNewWindow } from './utils/openNoteWindow'
 import { isNoteWindow, getNoteWindowParams } from './utils/windowMode'
 import { GitRequiredModal } from './components/GitRequiredModal'
+import { RenameDetectedBanner, type DetectedRename } from './components/RenameDetectedBanner'
 import './App.css'
 
 // Type declarations for mock content storage and test overrides
@@ -132,6 +133,33 @@ function App() {
     onToast: (msg) => setToastMessage(msg),
   })
 
+  // Detect external file renames on window focus
+  const [detectedRenames, setDetectedRenames] = useState<DetectedRename[]>([])
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!isTauri() || !resolvedPath) return
+    const handleFocus = () => {
+      invoke<DetectedRename[]>('detect_renames', { vaultPath: resolvedPath })
+        .then(renames => { if (renames.length > 0) setDetectedRenames(renames) })
+        .catch(() => {}) // ignore errors (e.g., no git)
+    }
+    window.addEventListener('focus', handleFocus)
+    return () => window.removeEventListener('focus', handleFocus)
+  }, [resolvedPath])
+
+  const handleUpdateWikilinks = useCallback(async () => {
+    if (!isTauri()) return
+    try {
+      const count = await invoke<number>('update_wikilinks_for_renames', { vaultPath: resolvedPath, renames: detectedRenames })
+      setDetectedRenames([])
+      vault.reloadVault()
+      setToastMessage(`Updated wikilinks in ${count} file${count !== 1 ? 's' : ''}`)
+    } catch (err) {
+      setToastMessage(`Failed to update wikilinks: ${err}`)
+    }
+  }, [resolvedPath, detectedRenames, vault, setToastMessage])
+
+  const handleDismissRenames = useCallback(() => setDetectedRenames([]), [])
+
   const conflictResolver = useConflictResolver({
     vaultPath: resolvedPath,
     onResolved: () => {
@@ -531,6 +559,7 @@ function App() {
         />
       )}
       <UpdateBanner status={updateStatus} actions={updateActions} />
+      <RenameDetectedBanner renames={detectedRenames} onUpdate={handleUpdateWikilinks} onDismiss={handleDismissRenames} />
       <StatusBar noteCount={vault.entries.length} modifiedCount={vault.modifiedFiles.length} vaultPath={vaultSwitcher.vaultPath} vaults={vaultSwitcher.allVaults} onSwitchVault={vaultSwitcher.switchVault} onOpenSettings={dialogs.openSettings} onOpenLocalFolder={vaultSwitcher.handleOpenLocalFolder} onConnectGitHub={dialogs.openGitHubVault} onClickPending={() => handleSetSelection({ kind: 'filter', filter: 'changes' })} onClickPulse={() => handleSetSelection({ kind: 'filter', filter: 'pulse' })} onCommitPush={commitFlow.openCommitDialog} isGitVault={!vault.modifiedFilesError} hasGitHub={!!settings.github_token} syncStatus={autoSync.syncStatus} lastSyncTime={autoSync.lastSyncTime} conflictCount={autoSync.conflictFiles.length} lastCommitInfo={autoSync.lastCommitInfo} remoteStatus={autoSync.remoteStatus} onTriggerSync={autoSync.triggerSync} onPullAndPush={autoSync.pullAndPush} onOpenConflictResolver={conflictFlow.handleOpenConflictResolver} zoomLevel={zoom.zoomLevel} onZoomReset={zoom.zoomReset} buildNumber={buildNumber} onCheckForUpdates={handleCheckForUpdates} onRemoveVault={vaultSwitcher.removeVault} mcpStatus={mcpStatus} onInstallMcp={installMcp} />
       <Toast message={toastMessage} onDismiss={() => setToastMessage(null)} />
       <QuickOpenPalette open={dialogs.showQuickOpen} entries={vault.entries} onSelect={notes.handleSelectNote} onClose={dialogs.closeQuickOpen} />
diff --git a/src/components/RenameDetectedBanner.test.tsx b/src/components/RenameDetectedBanner.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b85c17af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/RenameDetectedBanner.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import { render, screen, fireEvent } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { describe, it, expect, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { RenameDetectedBanner } from './RenameDetectedBanner'
+
+describe('RenameDetectedBanner', () => {
+  const renames = [
+    { old_path: 'old-note.md', new_path: 'new-note.md' },
+    { old_path: 'folder/draft.md', new_path: 'folder/published.md' },
+  ]
+
+  it('renders nothing when renames is empty', () => {
+    const { container } = render(
+      <RenameDetectedBanner renames={[]} onUpdate={vi.fn()} onDismiss={vi.fn()} />
+    )
+    expect(container.firstChild).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('shows banner with rename count', () => {
+    render(<RenameDetectedBanner renames={renames} onUpdate={vi.fn()} onDismiss={vi.fn()} />)
+    expect(screen.getByText(/2 files? renamed/i)).toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+
+  it('shows Update wikilinks button', () => {
+    render(<RenameDetectedBanner renames={renames} onUpdate={vi.fn()} onDismiss={vi.fn()} />)
+    expect(screen.getByText('Update wikilinks')).toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+
+  it('calls onUpdate when Update button clicked', () => {
+    const onUpdate = vi.fn()
+    render(<RenameDetectedBanner renames={renames} onUpdate={onUpdate} onDismiss={vi.fn()} />)
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('Update wikilinks'))
+    expect(onUpdate).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+  })
+
+  it('calls onDismiss when Ignore button clicked', () => {
+    const onDismiss = vi.fn()
+    render(<RenameDetectedBanner renames={renames} onUpdate={vi.fn()} onDismiss={onDismiss} />)
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('Ignore'))
+    expect(onDismiss).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/components/RenameDetectedBanner.tsx b/src/components/RenameDetectedBanner.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fe6a90af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/RenameDetectedBanner.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import { ArrowsClockwise } from '@phosphor-icons/react'
+
+export interface DetectedRename {
+  old_path: string
+  new_path: string
+}
+
+interface RenameDetectedBannerProps {
+  renames: DetectedRename[]
+  onUpdate: () => void
+  onDismiss: () => void
+}
+
+export function RenameDetectedBanner({ renames, onUpdate, onDismiss }: RenameDetectedBannerProps) {
+  if (renames.length === 0) return null
+
+  const count = renames.length
+  return (
+    <div className="flex items-center gap-3 border-b border-border bg-accent/50 px-4 py-2 text-[13px]">
+      <ArrowsClockwise size={16} className="shrink-0 text-accent-foreground" />
+      <span className="flex-1 text-foreground">
+        {count} file{count !== 1 ? 's' : ''} renamed outside Laputa. Update wikilinks?
+      </span>
+      <button
+        className="shrink-0 cursor-pointer rounded-md bg-primary px-3 py-1 text-[12px] font-medium text-primary-foreground transition-colors hover:bg-primary/90"
+        onClick={onUpdate}
+      >
+        Update wikilinks
+      </button>
+      <button
+        className="shrink-0 cursor-pointer rounded-md border border-border bg-transparent px-3 py-1 text-[12px] font-medium text-muted-foreground transition-colors hover:bg-muted"
+        onClick={onDismiss}
+      >
+        Ignore
+      </button>
+    </div>
+  )
+}