diff --git a/desktop/main.js b/desktop/main.js
index cee42d5..1ec6960 100644
--- a/desktop/main.js
+++ b/desktop/main.js
@@ -35,6 +35,19 @@ ipcMain.on('get-install-info', (e) => {
 // on the next restart. No-op in dev (unpackaged).
 let autoUpdater = null;
 try { ({ autoUpdater } = require('electron-updater')); } catch (_) { /* not installed in dev */ }
+let _lastUpdateCheck = 0;
+// Background update check — called on launch, on a timer, AND whenever the window is revealed from the tray
+// (so re-opening the app actually looks for a new version instead of waiting up to 6h). Throttled so rapid
+// tray open/close doesn't spam the feed. Combined with autoInstallOnAppQuit=true (set in whenReady), a
+// downloaded update installs the next time the app truly quits — e.g. a normal PC restart — so close-to-tray
+// users get updated even if they never pick "Quit" from the tray icon.
+function bgUpdateCheck() {
+  if (!app.isPackaged || !autoUpdater) return;
+  const now = Date.now();
+  if (now - _lastUpdateCheck < 10 * 60 * 1000) return; // at most once / 10 min
+  _lastUpdateCheck = now;
+  autoUpdater.checkForUpdates().catch(() => {});
+}
 // #12: manual "Check for updates" from Settings. Returns the current status; the background updater
 // (configured in app.whenReady) downloads and prompts to restart when a build is ready.
 ipcMain.handle('check-updates', async () => {
@@ -268,6 +281,10 @@ function createWindow() {
   const reveal = () => { closeSplash(); if (win && !win.isVisible()) { win.show(); win.focus(); } };
   win.once('ready-to-show', reveal);
   setTimeout(reveal, 12000);
+  // Every time the window is shown — X-to-tray then reopened, taskbar click, relaunch (second-instance),
+  // tray icon — check for a new version. This is the catch-all that covers ALL reveal paths (closing the
+  // window with the X and opening it again included), not just minimize/restore. Throttled to 1/10 min.
+  win.on('show', () => bgUpdateCheck());
 
   // The menu bar is hidden, so the usual reload accelerators don't exist — wire them by hand. Without
   // these there was literally no way to force the app off a stale page.
@@ -481,13 +498,21 @@ app.whenReady().then(() => {
     // When an update finishes downloading, tell the web UI so it can show a BRANDED "Update ready —
     // Restart now" banner (restartToUpdate IPC does the install). No native dialog — that was
     // unbranded. It still installs on next launch if the user never clicks Restart.
-    autoUpdater.on('update-downloaded', (info) => sendUpdate({ phase: 'ready', version: info && info.version }));
+    autoUpdater.on('update-downloaded', (info) => {
+      sendUpdate({ phase: 'ready', version: info && info.version });
+      // If the window is hidden in the tray, the branded in-app banner isn't visible — nudge with a native
+      // notification so tray users know an update is waiting (it also installs automatically on next quit).
+      try { if ((!win || !win.isVisible()) && Notification.isSupported()) new Notification({ title: 'Biz Connect update ready', body: 'Version ' + ((info && info.version) || '') + ' installs when you restart. Open Biz Connect to restart now.' }).show(); } catch (_) {}
+    });
+    // Install a downloaded update on the next real quit (PC restart / tray-Quit) even if the user never
+    // clicks "Restart now" — so close-to-tray users don't get stuck on an old version. (This is the
+    // electron-updater default; set explicitly to be safe.)
+    autoUpdater.autoInstallOnAppQuit = true;
     // checkForUpdates (NOT ...AndNotify): ...AndNotify pops electron-updater's OWN native "Update ready
     // — Restart/Later" toast on download, which duplicated our branded in-app banner (the user saw TWO
     // restart prompts). Plain checkForUpdates still auto-downloads and fires 'update-downloaded'.
-    const check = () => autoUpdater.checkForUpdates().catch(() => {});
-    check();
-    setInterval(check, 6 * 60 * 60 * 1000);
+    bgUpdateCheck();
+    setInterval(bgUpdateCheck, 6 * 60 * 60 * 1000);
   }
 });
 
diff --git a/desktop/package.json b/desktop/package.json
index 3dab8f3..ff38dff 100644
--- a/desktop/package.json
+++ b/desktop/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "biz-connect-desktop",
-  "version": "0.1.18",
+  "version": "0.1.19",
   "description": "Biz Connect technician desktop client — loads the Connect web UI with native screen capture",
   "author": {
     "name": "BizGaze",