diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index f04be0e..0dac5e0 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -2950,6 +2950,9 @@ ipcMain.handle("find-stop", () => {
   const t = activeTab(); if (!t) return false;
   try { t.view.webContents.stopFindInPage("clearSelection"); return true; } catch { return false; }
 });
+// Just the app version — no network. Used by Settings > General so the
+// user can see which Theseus they're on without clicking "Check for updates".
+ipcMain.handle("app-version", () => app.getVersion());
 ipcMain.handle("recheck-update", async () => {
   // Manual "Check for updates" also un-dismisses any chip the user closed
   // in this session — they're actively asking to see the status, so honour
diff --git a/settings-preload.js b/settings-preload.js
index 8025ad8..029583a 100644
--- a/settings-preload.js
+++ b/settings-preload.js
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld("cfg", {
   // Manual "Check for updates" — un-dismisses any existing chip and re-
   // fetches the release manifest. Returns { updateAvailable, currentVersion }.
   recheckUpdate: () => ipcRenderer.invoke("recheck-update"),
+  appVersion: () => ipcRenderer.invoke("app-version"),
   // Add-ons management (Settings > Add-ons tab).
   listAddons: () => ipcRenderer.invoke("addons-list"),
   setAddonEnabled: (id, enabled) => ipcRenderer.invoke("addons-set-enabled", id, !!enabled),
diff --git a/settings.html b/settings.html
index 64ca2d0..2da89be 100644
--- a/settings.html
+++ b/settings.html
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@
           <div class="t">Updates</div>
           <div class="d">Theseus already checks the release manifest at boot and every 6h. Click below to check right now.</div>
         </div>
-        <div id="updStatus" class="pmuted" style="font-size:12.5px">—</div>
+        <div id="updStatus" class="pmuted" style="font-size:12.5px">Loading…</div>
         <div style="display:flex;gap:8px;flex-wrap:wrap">
           <button id="updCheck" class="btn">Check for updates</button>
         </div>
@@ -972,6 +972,11 @@
     // release manifest. Renders either "you're on the latest (vN.M.O)" or
     // "vX.Y.Z is available — the update chip in the toolbar will offer it".
     const updStatus = document.getElementById("updStatus");
+    // Show the current version by default so the user doesn't have to
+    // click "Check for updates" just to find out which Theseus they're on.
+    if (C && C.appVersion) C.appVersion().then((v) => {
+      if (v) updStatus.textContent = `You're on v${v}.`;
+    }).catch(() => {});
     const updCheck  = document.getElementById("updCheck");
     updCheck.onclick = async () => {
       const orig = updCheck.textContent;