diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/i18n/locales/en.json b/apps/client/src/features/i18n/locales/en.json
index 9c4be7e..4a964ef 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/i18n/locales/en.json
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/i18n/locales/en.json
@@ -72,7 +72,12 @@
     "available": "Update v{version} available",
     "install": "Update",
     "installing": "Updating…",
-    "error": "Update failed. Grab the new exe manually: GitHub → Releases."
+    "error": "Update failed. Grab the new exe manually: GitHub → Releases.",
+    "checkButton": "Check for updates",
+    "upToDate": "Up to date",
+    "checkFailed": "Check failed",
+    "updateTo": "Update to v{version}",
+    "autoCheckLabel": "Check for updates on startup"
   },
   "overlay": {
     "heading": "Overlay",
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/i18n/locales/ru.json b/apps/client/src/features/i18n/locales/ru.json
index 1a1df13..3883814 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/i18n/locales/ru.json
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/i18n/locales/ru.json
@@ -72,7 +72,12 @@
     "available": "Доступно обновление v{version}",
     "install": "Обновить",
     "installing": "Обновляем…",
-    "error": "Не получилось обновиться. Скачай новый exe вручную: GitHub → Releases."
+    "error": "Не получилось обновиться. Скачай новый exe вручную: GitHub → Releases.",
+    "checkButton": "Проверить обновления",
+    "upToDate": "Актуальная версия",
+    "checkFailed": "Не удалось проверить",
+    "updateTo": "Обновить до v{version}",
+    "autoCheckLabel": "Проверять обновления при запуске"
   },
   "overlay": {
     "heading": "Оверлей",
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/settings/SettingsPanel.vue b/apps/client/src/features/settings/SettingsPanel.vue
index 4f3f065..ecb86a7 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/settings/SettingsPanel.vue
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/settings/SettingsPanel.vue
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import { z } from 'zod';
 import { useSettingsSections } from './registry';
 import { persistedRef } from '@/shared/persisted-store';
+import AboutFooter from '@/features/updater/components/AboutFooter.vue';
 
 const { t } = useI18n();
 const systemSections = useSettingsSections();
@@ -67,5 +68,8 @@ const openSections = persistedRef(
         </AccordionContent>
       </AccordionPanel>
     </Accordion>
+    <!-- Not a section on purpose: version + update controls are periphery,
+         not a peer of Hotkeys/Overlay (see the about-footer design review). -->
+    <AboutFooter />
   </Drawer>
 </template>
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/updater/components/AboutFooter.vue b/apps/client/src/features/updater/components/AboutFooter.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b71c17d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/updater/components/AboutFooter.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+<script setup lang="ts">
+import { isTauri } from '@/shared/tauri';
+import { useUpdaterStore } from '@/features/updater/store';
+import { useAppVersion } from '@/features/updater/composables/useAppVersion';
+
+const RELEASES_URL = 'https://github.com/Mosmain/tarkov-checker/releases';
+
+const { t } = useI18n();
+const version = useAppVersion();
+
+const updater = useUpdaterStore();
+const { autoCheck, info, checking, installing, lastCheck } = storeToRefs(updater);
+
+// "Up to date" settles for a moment, then the button returns to its idle
+// label; errors stay until the next click (per the design review). Driven by
+// the click completing — NOT by watching lastCheck, whose value doesn't
+// change on a repeat "still up to date" outcome.
+const showLatest = ref(false);
+let latestTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined;
+function flashUpToDate(): void {
+  clearTimeout(latestTimer);
+  showLatest.value = true;
+  latestTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+    showLatest.value = false;
+  }, 3000);
+}
+
+const buttonLabel = computed(() => {
+  if (info.value) return t('updater.updateTo', { version: info.value.latest });
+  if (showLatest.value) return t('updater.upToDate');
+  if (lastCheck.value === 'error') return t('updater.checkFailed');
+  return t('updater.checkButton');
+});
+
+async function onButtonClick(): Promise<void> {
+  // An update is already known (banner is up) — the button becomes the same
+  // install action, not a re-fetch.
+  if (info.value) {
+    void updater.install();
+    return;
+  }
+  showLatest.value = false;
+  await updater.check();
+  if (!info.value && lastCheck.value === 'latest') flashUpToDate();
+}
+
+async function openReleases(event: MouseEvent): Promise<void> {
+  if (!isTauri) return; // plain anchor navigation handles the browser case
+  event.preventDefault();
+  const { invoke } = await import('@tauri-apps/api/core');
+  await invoke('open_releases_page').catch(() => undefined);
+}
+</script>
+
+<template>
+  <!-- No border of its own: the accordion's last panel already draws one. -->
+  <div class="mt-3">
+    <div class="text-surface-400 flex items-center justify-between gap-2 text-xs">
+      <a
+        :href="RELEASES_URL"
+        target="_blank"
+        rel="noreferrer"
+        class="text-surface-300 hover:underline"
+        @click="openReleases"
+      >
+        {{ version ? `v${version}` : '—' }}
+        <i class="pi pi-external-link ml-0.5 text-[9px]" aria-hidden="true" />
+      </a>
+      <Button
+        v-if="isTauri"
+        size="small"
+        :variant="info ? 'outlined' : 'text'"
+        :severity="info ? undefined : 'secondary'"
+        :class="showLatest ? '!text-green-400' : ''"
+        :label="buttonLabel"
+        :loading="checking || installing"
+        @click="onButtonClick"
+      />
+    </div>
+    <div v-if="isTauri" class="mt-1.5 flex items-center justify-between gap-2">
+      <label for="updater-auto-check" class="text-surface-400 text-xs">
+        {{ t('updater.autoCheckLabel') }}
+      </label>
+      <ToggleSwitch v-model="autoCheck" input-id="updater-auto-check" class="shrink-0 scale-90" />
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</template>
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/updater/components/UpdateBanner.vue b/apps/client/src/features/updater/components/UpdateBanner.vue
index f35b2b4..b12d3c9 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/updater/components/UpdateBanner.vue
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/updater/components/UpdateBanner.vue
@@ -1,49 +1,19 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { isTauri } from '@/shared/tauri';
 import { useOverlayStore } from '@/features/overlay/store';
-
-/** Mirrors `UpdateInfo` in src-tauri/src/updater.rs (downloadUrl stays Rust-side). */
-interface UpdateInfo {
-  current: string;
-  latest: string;
-  releaseUrl: string;
-}
+import { useUpdaterStore } from '@/features/updater/store';
 
 const { t } = useI18n();
 const { clickThrough } = storeToRefs(useOverlayStore());
 
-const info = ref<UpdateInfo | null>(null);
-const installing = ref(false);
-const failed = ref(false);
+const updater = useUpdaterStore();
+const { info, installing, installFailed, autoCheck } = storeToRefs(updater);
+
 const dismissed = ref(false);
 
-onMounted(async () => {
-  if (!isTauri) return;
-  try {
-    const { invoke } = await import('@tauri-apps/api/core');
-    info.value = await invoke<UpdateInfo | null>('check_update');
-  } catch (e) {
-    // Convenience check only — offline / rate-limited GitHub is not an error
-    // worth surfacing, the app works fine on the current version.
-    console.warn('[updater] check failed:', e);
-  }
+onMounted(() => {
+  if (isTauri && autoCheck.value) void updater.check();
 });
-
-async function install(): Promise<void> {
-  if (installing.value) return;
-  installing.value = true;
-  failed.value = false;
-  try {
-    const { invoke } = await import('@tauri-apps/api/core');
-    // On success the backend swaps the exe, respawns it and exits this
-    // process — there is no resolved state to handle.
-    await invoke('install_update');
-  } catch (e) {
-    console.warn('[updater] install failed:', e);
-    failed.value = true;
-    installing.value = false;
-  }
-}
 </script>
 
 <template>
@@ -52,13 +22,13 @@ async function install(): Promise<void> {
     v-if="info && !dismissed && !clickThrough"
     class="border-surface-700 bg-surface-900/95 fixed bottom-2 left-1/2 z-[1100] flex -translate-x-1/2 items-center gap-2 rounded-lg border px-3 py-1.5 text-xs shadow-lg"
   >
-    <template v-if="!failed">
+    <template v-if="!installFailed">
       <span>{{ t('updater.available', { version: info.latest }) }}</span>
       <Button
         size="small"
         :label="installing ? t('updater.installing') : t('updater.install')"
         :loading="installing"
-        @click="install"
+        @click="updater.install"
       />
     </template>
     <span v-else class="text-amber-400">{{ t('updater.error') }}</span>
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/updater/composables/useAppVersion.ts b/apps/client/src/features/updater/composables/useAppVersion.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d5071c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/updater/composables/useAppVersion.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import { isTauri } from '@/shared/tauri';
+
+/**
+ * Current app version for display. Tauri: the overlay's own version via the
+ * app API. Browser/phone: the helper's version from `GET /api/ping` — that's
+ * the version that matters there, the page itself has no version of its own.
+ * `null` while loading or when the helper is unreachable.
+ */
+export function useAppVersion(): Ref<string | null> {
+  const version = ref<string | null>(null);
+
+  onMounted(async () => {
+    try {
+      if (isTauri) {
+        const { getVersion } = await import('@tauri-apps/api/app');
+        version.value = await getVersion();
+      } else {
+        const res = await fetch('/api/ping');
+        if (res.ok) version.value = ((await res.json()) as { version?: string }).version ?? null;
+      }
+    } catch {
+      version.value = null;
+    }
+  });
+
+  return version;
+}
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/updater/store.ts b/apps/client/src/features/updater/store.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a03d888
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/updater/store.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+import { z } from 'zod';
+import { persistedRef } from '@/shared/persisted-store';
+import { isTauri } from '@/shared/tauri';
+
+/** Mirrors `UpdateInfo` in src-tauri/src/updater.rs (downloadUrl stays Rust-side). */
+export interface UpdateInfo {
+  current: string;
+  latest: string;
+  releaseUrl: string;
+}
+
+/** Outcome of the most recent check — drives the settings-footer button label. */
+export type CheckOutcome = 'none' | 'latest' | 'error';
+
+export const useUpdaterStore = defineStore('updater', () => {
+  // When off, no check fires on startup; the manual button still works.
+  const autoCheck = persistedRef('tc.updater.autoCheck', z.boolean(), true);
+
+  // Runtime state, deliberately not persisted: a pending update is only as
+  // fresh as the process that found it.
+  const info = ref<UpdateInfo | null>(null);
+  const checking = ref(false);
+  const installing = ref(false);
+  const installFailed = ref(false);
+  const lastCheck = ref<CheckOutcome>('none');
+
+  async function check(): Promise<void> {
+    if (!isTauri || checking.value) return;
+    checking.value = true;
+    try {
+      const { invoke } = await import('@tauri-apps/api/core');
+      info.value = await invoke<UpdateInfo | null>('check_update');
+      lastCheck.value = info.value ? 'none' : 'latest';
+    } catch (e) {
+      console.warn('[updater] check failed:', e);
+      lastCheck.value = 'error';
+    } finally {
+      checking.value = false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function install(): Promise<void> {
+    if (!isTauri || installing.value || !info.value) return;
+    installing.value = true;
+    installFailed.value = false;
+    try {
+      const { invoke } = await import('@tauri-apps/api/core');
+      // On success the backend swaps the exe, respawns it and exits this
+      // process — there is no resolved state to handle.
+      await invoke('install_update');
+    } catch (e) {
+      console.warn('[updater] install failed:', e);
+      installFailed.value = true;
+      installing.value = false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return { autoCheck, info, checking, installing, installFailed, lastCheck, check, install };
+});
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands.rs b/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands.rs
index c99844f..2cfa596 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands.rs
+++ b/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands.rs
@@ -182,6 +182,18 @@ pub async fn check_update() -> Result<Option<crate::updater::UpdateInfo>, String
     crate::updater::check().await.map_err(|e| format!("{e:#}"))
 }
 
+/// Opens the GitHub releases page in the system default browser. The URL is
+/// fixed server-side (never taken from the webview); `explorer.exe <url>`
+/// hands it to the default browser without needing the opener plugin.
+#[tauri::command]
+pub async fn open_releases_page() -> Result<(), String> {
+    std::process::Command::new("explorer")
+        .arg(crate::updater::releases_url())
+        .spawn()
+        .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 /// Portable self-update: re-checks GitHub (the webview never supplies a URL,
 /// so it can't point the updater anywhere else), downloads the new exe, swaps
 /// it in via the rename dance, relaunches and exits. See `updater.rs`.
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index b189016..d00a84f 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ pub fn run() {
             commands::notify_tray_hint,
             commands::check_update,
             commands::install_update,
+            commands::open_releases_page,
         ])
         .setup(move |app| {
             let app_handle = app.handle().clone();
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/updater.rs b/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/updater.rs
index 2676693..2a6b377 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/updater.rs
+++ b/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/updater.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ pub fn current_version() -> &'static str {
     env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION")
 }
 
+/// Human-facing releases page (the settings footer links here).
+pub fn releases_url() -> String {
+    format!("https://github.com/{REPO}/releases")
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
 pub struct UpdateInfo {