diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index da7846f..4ae8c8b 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -2859,7 +2859,15 @@ ipcMain.handle("open-update-download", (_e, url) => {
   } catch (e) { console.warn("update download failed:", e?.message); return false; }
 });
 ipcMain.handle("dismiss-update", () => { updateDismissedThisSession = true; emitUpdateAvailable(); return true; });
-ipcMain.handle("recheck-update", async () => { await checkForUpdate(); return updateAvailable; });
+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
+  // that. Report current app version too so the UI can render "you're on
+  // vN.M.O" when no newer build is out.
+  updateDismissedThisSession = false;
+  await checkForUpdate();
+  return { updateAvailable, currentVersion: app.getVersion() };
+});
 // One-click "Install & restart". Requires the silent pre-fetch to have
 // finished (updateDownloadState === "ready"). Launches the setup with /S
 // (skips the wizard; our nsis/installer.nsh's Ariadne prompt is bypassed
diff --git a/settings-preload.js b/settings-preload.js
index 7893750..749de7a 100644
--- a/settings-preload.js
+++ b/settings-preload.js
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld("cfg", {
   ariadneInstall:   ()   => ipcRenderer.invoke("ariadne-install"),
   ariadneUpdate:    ()   => ipcRenderer.invoke("ariadne-update"),
   ariadneUninstall: ()   => ipcRenderer.invoke("ariadne-uninstall"),
+  // Manual "Check for updates" — un-dismisses any existing chip and re-
+  // fetches the release manifest. Returns { updateAvailable, currentVersion }.
+  recheckUpdate: () => ipcRenderer.invoke("recheck-update"),
   // 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 11c8884..c31bb40 100644
--- a/settings.html
+++ b/settings.html
@@ -159,6 +159,16 @@
         <div class="txt"><div class="t">Open previous windows and tabs</div><div class="d">Restore the tabs from your last session when Theseus starts.</div></div>
         <label class="sw"><input type="checkbox" id="restoreSession"><span class="track"><span class="knob"></span></span></label>
       </div>
+      <div class="row" style="flex-direction:column;align-items:stretch;gap:8px">
+        <div class="txt">
+          <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 style="display:flex;gap:8px;flex-wrap:wrap">
+          <button id="updCheck" class="btn">Check for updates</button>
+        </div>
+      </div>
       <h2 class="sub">Appearance</h2>
       <p class="subd">Choose a theme for the browser. <b>System</b> follows your operating system's light/dark setting.</p>
       <div class="themeCards" id="theme" role="radiogroup" aria-label="Theme">
@@ -940,6 +950,27 @@
     arRefresh.onclick = refreshAriadne;
     refreshAriadne();
 
+    // ---- Manual "Check for updates" -----------------------------------------
+    // Fires an IPC that un-dismisses any lingering session chip and hits the
+    // 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");
+    const updCheck  = document.getElementById("updCheck");
+    updCheck.onclick = async () => {
+      const orig = updCheck.textContent;
+      updCheck.disabled = true; updCheck.textContent = "Checking…";
+      updStatus.textContent = "Checking…";
+      try {
+        const r = await C.recheckUpdate();
+        if (r && r.updateAvailable && r.updateAvailable.version) {
+          updStatus.innerHTML = `<b style="color:var(--acid)">v${r.updateAvailable.version}</b> is available — the update chip in the toolbar will offer it.`;
+        } else {
+          updStatus.textContent = `You're on the latest (v${(r && r.currentVersion) || "?"}).`;
+        }
+      } catch (e) { updStatus.textContent = "Check failed: " + (e?.message || e); }
+      finally { updCheck.disabled = false; updCheck.textContent = orig; }
+    };
+
     // ---- Passwords section: three states (setup / locked / unlocked) ---------
     // The vault lives in main.js — this UI just calls IPC. No plaintext ever
     // sits in this DOM except the value produced by a specific Show/Copy click.