diff --git a/src/main/index.ts b/src/main/index.ts
index 6305fe0..fc0184c 100644
--- a/src/main/index.ts
+++ b/src/main/index.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   type SystemThemeInfo
 } from '@shared/ipc'
 import { getYtdlpVersion, updateYtdlp } from './ytdlp'
+import { checkForAppUpdate, downloadAppUpdate, runAppUpdate } from './updater'
 import { probeMedia } from './probe'
 import { startDownload, cancelDownload, previewCommand } from './download'
 import { getSettings, setSettings, ensureMediaDirs } from './settings'
@@ -181,6 +182,12 @@ function createWindow(): void {
 function registerIpcHandlers(): void {
   ipcMain.handle(IpcChannels.appVersion, () => app.getVersion())
 
+  ipcMain.handle(IpcChannels.appUpdateCheck, () => checkForAppUpdate())
+  ipcMain.handle(IpcChannels.appUpdateDownload, (e, url: string) =>
+    downloadAppUpdate(url, e.sender)
+  )
+  ipcMain.handle(IpcChannels.appUpdateRun, (_e, filePath: string) => runAppUpdate(filePath))
+
   ipcMain.handle(IpcChannels.ytdlpVersion, () => getYtdlpVersion())
 
   ipcMain.handle(IpcChannels.probe, (_e, url: string) => probeMedia(url))
diff --git a/src/main/updater.ts b/src/main/updater.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..63e9e8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/updater.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+import { app, shell, type WebContents } from 'electron'
+import { createWriteStream } from 'fs'
+import { stat } from 'fs/promises'
+import { join } from 'path'
+import {
+  IpcChannels,
+  type AppUpdateInfo,
+  type AppUpdateDownload,
+  type AppUpdateProgress
+} from '@shared/ipc'
+
+// --- Update source -----------------------------------------------------------
+// The Gitea repo whose Releases host the AeroFetch installers. The updater reads
+// the repo's latest release over the public REST API and downloads the installer
+// asset attached to it.
+//
+// IMPORTANT: this points at a repo whose releases must be ANONYMOUSLY readable —
+// i.e. a public repo on a Gitea instance that permits anonymous API + downloads.
+// AeroFetch never ships a token; on a sign-in-required instance the check simply
+// reports that it couldn't reach the server. Change OWNER/REPO to retarget.
+const UPDATE_HOST = 'https://gitea.netbird.zimspace.uk:5938'
+const UPDATE_OWNER = 'debont80'
+const UPDATE_REPO = 'AeroFetch'
+const RELEASE_API = `${UPDATE_HOST}/api/v1/repos/${UPDATE_OWNER}/${UPDATE_REPO}/releases/latest`
+
+// Security: only ever download or execute a file served by the trusted update
+// host over HTTPS, even though downloadUrl comes from the release JSON. A
+// tampered/man-in-the-middled response can't redirect us to an arbitrary host.
+function isTrustedDownloadUrl(url: string): boolean {
+  try {
+    const u = new URL(url)
+    return u.protocol === 'https:' && u.host === new URL(UPDATE_HOST).host
+  } catch {
+    return false
+  }
+}
+
+/** Where downloaded installers are written (and the only dir we'll run one from). */
+function updateDir(): string {
+  return app.getPath('temp')
+}
+
+/** Parse a version like 'v1.2.3' / '1.2.3' into comparable numeric components. */
+function parseVersion(v: string): number[] {
+  return v
+    .replace(/^v/i, '')
+    .split(/[.\-+]/)
+    .map((p) => parseInt(p, 10))
+    .filter((n) => !Number.isNaN(n))
+}
+
+/** Component-wise numeric compare: -1 if a<b, 0 if equal, 1 if a>b. */
+function compareVersions(a: string, b: string): number {
+  const pa = parseVersion(a)
+  const pb = parseVersion(b)
+  const len = Math.max(pa.length, pb.length)
+  for (let i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+    const x = pa[i] ?? 0
+    const y = pb[i] ?? 0
+    if (x !== y) return x < y ? -1 : 1
+  }
+  return 0
+}
+
+interface GiteaAsset {
+  name: string
+  browser_download_url: string
+}
+interface GiteaRelease {
+  tag_name: string
+  body?: string
+  html_url?: string
+  assets?: GiteaAsset[]
+}
+
+/** Pick the Windows installer asset — prefer the NSIS "Setup" .exe, else any .exe. */
+function pickInstaller(assets: GiteaAsset[]): GiteaAsset | undefined {
+  const exes = assets.filter((a) => /\.exe$/i.test(a.name))
+  return exes.find((a) => /setup/i.test(a.name)) ?? exes[0]
+}
+
+/** Query the configured repo's latest release and compare it to the running app. */
+export async function checkForAppUpdate(): Promise<AppUpdateInfo> {
+  const currentVersion = app.getVersion()
+  try {
+    const res = await fetch(RELEASE_API, { headers: { Accept: 'application/json' } })
+    if (!res.ok) {
+      const auth = res.status === 401 || res.status === 403 || res.status === 404
+      return {
+        ok: false,
+        available: false,
+        currentVersion,
+        error: auth
+          ? 'Could not reach the update server (it may require sign-in for anonymous access).'
+          : `Update check failed (HTTP ${res.status}).`
+      }
+    }
+    const rel = (await res.json()) as GiteaRelease
+    const latestVersion = (rel.tag_name ?? '').replace(/^v/i, '')
+    const asset = pickInstaller(rel.assets ?? [])
+    const available = latestVersion !== '' && compareVersions(latestVersion, currentVersion) > 0
+    return {
+      ok: true,
+      available,
+      currentVersion,
+      latestVersion,
+      notes: rel.body?.trim() || undefined,
+      htmlUrl: rel.html_url,
+      downloadUrl: asset?.browser_download_url,
+      assetName: asset?.name
+    }
+  } catch (e) {
+    return {
+      ok: false,
+      available: false,
+      currentVersion,
+      error: e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e)
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+/** Stream the installer to a temp file, pushing progress events to the renderer. */
+export async function downloadAppUpdate(url: string, wc: WebContents): Promise<AppUpdateDownload> {
+  if (!isTrustedDownloadUrl(url)) {
+    return { ok: false, error: 'Refused to download from an untrusted location.' }
+  }
+  try {
+    const res = await fetch(url)
+    if (!res.ok || !res.body) return { ok: false, error: `Download failed (HTTP ${res.status}).` }
+
+    const total = Number(res.headers.get('content-length')) || undefined
+    // Derive a safe .exe filename from the URL; fall back to a fixed name.
+    const urlName = decodeURIComponent(new URL(url).pathname.split('/').pop() || '')
+    const safeName = /^[\w.\- ]+\.exe$/i.test(urlName) ? urlName : 'AeroFetch-Setup.exe'
+    const filePath = join(updateDir(), safeName)
+
+    const fileStream = createWriteStream(filePath)
+    let received = 0
+    const reader = res.body.getReader()
+    for (;;) {
+      const { done, value } = await reader.read()
+      if (done) break
+      received += value.length
+      // Respect backpressure so a ~300 MB installer doesn't buffer in memory.
+      if (!fileStream.write(Buffer.from(value))) {
+        await new Promise<void>((resolve) => fileStream.once('drain', resolve))
+      }
+      const progress: AppUpdateProgress = {
+        received,
+        total,
+        fraction: total ? received / total : undefined
+      }
+      if (!wc.isDestroyed()) wc.send(IpcChannels.appUpdateProgress, progress)
+    }
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) =>
+      fileStream.end((err?: Error | null) => (err ? reject(err) : resolve()))
+    )
+    return { ok: true, filePath }
+  } catch (e) {
+    return { ok: false, error: e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e) }
+  }
+}
+
+/** Launch a freshly-downloaded installer, then quit so it can replace the app. */
+export async function runAppUpdate(filePath: string): Promise<{ ok: boolean; error?: string }> {
+  try {
+    // Defence in depth: only run a .exe we just wrote into our own temp dir, never
+    // an arbitrary path handed over IPC.
+    const dir = updateDir().toLowerCase()
+    if (!filePath.toLowerCase().startsWith(dir) || !/\.exe$/i.test(filePath)) {
+      return { ok: false, error: 'Refused to run an unexpected file.' }
+    }
+    await stat(filePath) // throws if the file is missing
+    const err = await shell.openPath(filePath) // hand the installer to the OS
+    if (err) return { ok: false, error: err }
+    // Give the installer a beat to spawn, then quit so it can overwrite our files.
+    setTimeout(() => app.quit(), 1500)
+    return { ok: true }
+  } catch (e) {
+    return { ok: false, error: e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e) }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/preload/index.ts b/src/preload/index.ts
index aa93a80..eb95485 100644
--- a/src/preload/index.ts
+++ b/src/preload/index.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import { contextBridge, ipcRenderer, type IpcRendererEvent } from 'electron'
 import {
   IpcChannels,
+  type AppUpdateInfo,
+  type AppUpdateDownload,
+  type AppUpdateProgress,
   type YtdlpVersionResult,
   type YtdlpUpdateChannel,
   type YtdlpUpdateResult,
@@ -31,6 +34,24 @@ const api = {
   /** AeroFetch's own version string (e.g. '0.3.1'). */
   getAppVersion: (): Promise<string> => ipcRenderer.invoke(IpcChannels.appVersion),
 
+  /** Check the configured Gitea repo for a newer AeroFetch release. */
+  checkForAppUpdate: (): Promise<AppUpdateInfo> => ipcRenderer.invoke(IpcChannels.appUpdateCheck),
+
+  /** Download the latest release's installer to a temp file. */
+  downloadAppUpdate: (url: string): Promise<AppUpdateDownload> =>
+    ipcRenderer.invoke(IpcChannels.appUpdateDownload, url),
+
+  /** Launch a downloaded installer and quit so it can replace the app. */
+  runAppUpdate: (filePath: string): Promise<{ ok: boolean; error?: string }> =>
+    ipcRenderer.invoke(IpcChannels.appUpdateRun, filePath),
+
+  /** Subscribe to installer download progress. Returns an unsubscribe function. */
+  onAppUpdateProgress: (cb: (p: AppUpdateProgress) => void): (() => void) => {
+    const listener = (_e: IpcRendererEvent, p: AppUpdateProgress): void => cb(p)
+    ipcRenderer.on(IpcChannels.appUpdateProgress, listener)
+    return () => ipcRenderer.removeListener(IpcChannels.appUpdateProgress, listener)
+  },
+
   getYtdlpVersion: (): Promise<YtdlpVersionResult> =>
     ipcRenderer.invoke(IpcChannels.ytdlpVersion),
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/SettingsView.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/SettingsView.tsx
index 889d490..b315262 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/SettingsView.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/SettingsView.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {
   Caption1,
   Spinner,
   Text,
+  ProgressBar,
   makeStyles,
   mergeClasses,
   tokens,
@@ -31,13 +32,16 @@ import {
   CopyRegular,
   DeleteRegular,
   PaintBucketRegular,
-  AccessibilityRegular
+  AccessibilityRegular,
+  ArrowSyncRegular,
+  OpenRegular
 } from '@fluentui/react-icons'
 import {
   COOKIE_BROWSERS,
   type YtdlpVersionResult,
   type YtdlpUpdateChannel,
   type YtdlpUpdateResult,
+  type AppUpdateInfo,
   type MediaKind,
   type CookieSource,
   type CookieBrowser,
@@ -71,6 +75,17 @@ const useStyles = makeStyles({
     padding: '20px',
     ...shorthands.borderRadius(tokens.borderRadiusXLarge)
   },
+  notesBox: {
+    maxHeight: '180px',
+    overflowY: 'auto',
+    padding: '10px 12px',
+    backgroundColor: tokens.colorNeutralBackground2,
+    ...shorthands.borderRadius(tokens.borderRadiusMedium),
+    border: `1px solid ${tokens.colorNeutralStroke2}`,
+    whiteSpace: 'pre-wrap',
+    fontSize: tokens.fontSizeBase200,
+    lineHeight: tokens.lineHeightBase300
+  },
   sectionHeader: {
     display: 'flex',
     alignItems: 'center',
@@ -209,6 +224,14 @@ export function SettingsView(): React.JSX.Element {
   const [updating, setUpdating] = useState(false)
   const [updateResult, setUpdateResult] = useState<YtdlpUpdateResult | null>(null)
 
+  // --- AeroFetch app self-update ---
+  const [appVersion, setAppVersion] = useState('')
+  const [appUpd, setAppUpd] = useState<AppUpdateInfo | null>(null)
+  const [appChecking, setAppChecking] = useState(false)
+  const [appDownloading, setAppDownloading] = useState(false)
+  const [appFraction, setAppFraction] = useState<number | undefined>(undefined)
+  const [appUpdError, setAppUpdError] = useState<string | null>(null)
+
   const [cookiesStatus, setCookiesStatus] = useState<CookiesStatus | null>(null)
   const [loginUrl, setLoginUrl] = useState('https://www.youtube.com')
   const [signingIn, setSigningIn] = useState(false)
@@ -223,6 +246,45 @@ export function SettingsView(): React.JSX.Element {
     window.api.cookiesStatus().then(setCookiesStatus)
   }, [])
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    window.api.getAppVersion().then(setAppVersion).catch(() => {})
+    return window.api.onAppUpdateProgress((p) => setAppFraction(p.fraction))
+  }, [])
+
+  async function checkAppUpdate(): Promise<void> {
+    setAppChecking(true)
+    setAppUpd(null)
+    setAppUpdError(null)
+    try {
+      setAppUpd(await window.api.checkForAppUpdate())
+    } catch (e) {
+      setAppUpdError(e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e))
+    } finally {
+      setAppChecking(false)
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function installAppUpdate(): Promise<void> {
+    if (!appUpd?.downloadUrl) return
+    setAppDownloading(true)
+    setAppFraction(undefined)
+    setAppUpdError(null)
+    try {
+      const dl = await window.api.downloadAppUpdate(appUpd.downloadUrl)
+      if (!dl.ok || !dl.filePath) {
+        setAppUpdError(dl.error ?? 'Download failed.')
+        return
+      }
+      const run = await window.api.runAppUpdate(dl.filePath)
+      // On success the app quits as the installer launches; only errors return here.
+      if (!run.ok) setAppUpdError(run.error ?? 'Could not start the installer.')
+    } catch (e) {
+      setAppUpdError(e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e))
+    } finally {
+      setAppDownloading(false)
+    }
+  }
+
   async function exportBackup(): Promise<void> {
     setExporting(true)
     setExportResult(null)
@@ -765,6 +827,74 @@ export function SettingsView(): React.JSX.Element {
         )}
       </Card>
 
+      <Card className={styles.card}>
+        <div className={styles.sectionHeader}>
+          <ArrowSyncRegular className={styles.sectionIcon} />
+          <Subtitle2>Software update</Subtitle2>
+        </div>
+        <Caption1 className={styles.hint}>
+          {appVersion
+            ? `You're running AeroFetch v${appVersion}. Updates are fetched from the AeroFetch release repo.`
+            : 'Checking your AeroFetch version…'}
+        </Caption1>
+
+        <div className={styles.folderRow}>
+          <Button
+            icon={<ArrowSyncRegular />}
+            onClick={checkAppUpdate}
+            disabled={appChecking || appDownloading}
+          >
+            {appChecking ? 'Checking…' : 'Check for updates'}
+          </Button>
+          {appChecking && <Spinner size="tiny" />}
+        </div>
+
+        {appUpd?.ok && appUpd.available && (
+          <>
+            <Text style={{ fontWeight: tokens.fontWeightSemibold }}>
+              Version {appUpd.latestVersion} is available — here&apos;s what changed:
+            </Text>
+            {appUpd.notes && <div className={styles.notesBox}>{appUpd.notes}</div>}
+            <div className={styles.folderRow}>
+              <Button
+                appearance="primary"
+                icon={<ArrowDownloadRegular />}
+                onClick={installAppUpdate}
+                disabled={appDownloading || !appUpd.downloadUrl}
+              >
+                {appDownloading ? 'Downloading…' : 'Update now'}
+              </Button>
+              {appUpd.htmlUrl && (
+                <Button icon={<OpenRegular />} onClick={() => window.open(appUpd.htmlUrl, '_blank')}>
+                  View release
+                </Button>
+              )}
+            </div>
+            {!appUpd.downloadUrl && (
+              <Caption1 className={styles.hint}>
+                This release has no installer attached — use “View release” to download it manually.
+              </Caption1>
+            )}
+            {appDownloading && <ProgressBar value={appFraction} />}
+          </>
+        )}
+
+        {appUpd?.ok && !appUpd.available && (
+          <Text>You&apos;re up to date — v{appUpd.currentVersion} is the latest.</Text>
+        )}
+
+        {appUpd && !appUpd.ok && (
+          <Caption1 style={{ color: tokens.colorPaletteRedForeground1, whiteSpace: 'pre-wrap' }}>
+            {appUpd.error}
+          </Caption1>
+        )}
+        {appUpdError && (
+          <Caption1 style={{ color: tokens.colorPaletteRedForeground1, whiteSpace: 'pre-wrap' }}>
+            {appUpdError}
+          </Caption1>
+        )}
+      </Card>
+
       <Card className={styles.card}>
         <div className={styles.sectionHeader}>
           <InfoRegular className={styles.sectionIcon} />
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/main.tsx b/src/renderer/src/main.tsx
index 18700db..9362047 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/main.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/main.tsx
@@ -45,7 +45,27 @@ if (import.meta.env.DEV && !window.api) {
   ]
 
   window.api = {
-    getAppVersion: async () => '0.3.2-preview',
+    getAppVersion: async () => '0.4.0-preview',
+    checkForAppUpdate: async () => {
+      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 400))
+      return {
+        ok: true,
+        available: true,
+        currentVersion: '0.4.0',
+        latestVersion: '0.5.0',
+        notes:
+          '### What’s new in v0.5.0\n- In-app updater (this screen!)\n- Faster downloads\n- Bug fixes',
+        htmlUrl: 'https://gitea.netbird.zimspace.uk:5938/debont80/AeroFetch/releases',
+        downloadUrl: 'https://gitea.netbird.zimspace.uk:5938/example/AeroFetch-Setup-0.5.0.exe',
+        assetName: 'AeroFetch-Setup-0.5.0.exe'
+      }
+    },
+    downloadAppUpdate: async () => ({
+      ok: false,
+      error: 'Downloading updates is disabled in the browser preview.'
+    }),
+    runAppUpdate: async () => ({ ok: true }),
+    onAppUpdateProgress: () => () => {},
     getYtdlpVersion: async () => ({ ok: true, version: '2025.06.01 (UI preview mock)' }),
     probe: async (url: string) => {
       await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 700)) // simulate network latency
diff --git a/src/shared/ipc.ts b/src/shared/ipc.ts
index bc88370..100eaa2 100644
--- a/src/shared/ipc.ts
+++ b/src/shared/ipc.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,14 @@
 export const IpcChannels = {
   /** the AeroFetch app version (package.json / app.getVersion) */
   appVersion: 'app:version',
+  /** check the configured Gitea repo for a newer AeroFetch release */
+  appUpdateCheck: 'app:update-check',
+  /** download the latest release's installer to a temp file */
+  appUpdateDownload: 'app:update-download',
+  /** launch a downloaded installer and quit so it can replace the app */
+  appUpdateRun: 'app:update-run',
+  /** main → renderer push channel for installer download progress */
+  appUpdateProgress: 'app:update-progress',
   ytdlpVersion: 'ytdlp:version',
   probe: 'media:probe',
   downloadStart: 'download:start',
@@ -188,6 +196,45 @@ export interface YtdlpVersionResult {
   error?: string
 }
 
+/** Result of checking the configured Gitea repo for a newer AeroFetch release. */
+export interface AppUpdateInfo {
+  ok: boolean
+  /** true when latestVersion is newer than the running app */
+  available: boolean
+  /** the running app's version, e.g. '0.4.0' */
+  currentVersion: string
+  /** the latest release's version (tag without a leading 'v'), when ok */
+  latestVersion?: string
+  /** the release notes / changelog body (Markdown), shown before updating */
+  notes?: string
+  /** the release's web page on Gitea (for "View release") */
+  htmlUrl?: string
+  /** direct download URL of the Windows installer asset, when the release has one */
+  downloadUrl?: string
+  /** the installer asset's file name */
+  assetName?: string
+  /** human-readable error, when ok is false */
+  error?: string
+}
+
+/** Result of downloading the update installer to a temp file. */
+export interface AppUpdateDownload {
+  ok: boolean
+  /** absolute path to the downloaded installer, when ok */
+  filePath?: string
+  error?: string
+}
+
+/** Live progress of the installer download (main → renderer). */
+export interface AppUpdateProgress {
+  /** bytes downloaded so far */
+  received: number
+  /** total bytes, when the server reports Content-Length */
+  total?: number
+  /** 0..1 fraction, when total is known */
+  fraction?: number
+}
+
 /**
  * yt-dlp's self-update release channels (`--update-to <channel>`).
  *