diff --git a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/ExtendedTitlebar.tsx b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/ExtendedTitlebar.tsx
index 4733daf651..34ec25022e 100644
--- a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/ExtendedTitlebar.tsx
+++ b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/ExtendedTitlebar.tsx
@@ -1,18 +1,27 @@
 /** Independent Desktop frame portalled above the upstream content viewport. */
 
 import { createPortal } from 'react-dom'
+import { RefreshCw } from 'lucide-react'
+import { useState } from 'react'
 import type {
   InjectFace, PropsLocale, PropsRuntime,
 } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-client-ui-slots'
 import type { DesktopSettingsApi } from './desktop-settings-api.ts'
 import type { DesktopClientEnvironment } from './environment.ts'
 import { DesktopNativeActions } from './DesktopNativeActions.tsx'
+import { Button } from '../native-ui/components/ui/button.tsx'
+import type { DesktopSettingsLocaleKey } from './desktop-settings-locales.ts'
+import {
+  HoverCard,
+  HoverCardContent,
+  HoverCardTrigger,
+} from '../native-ui/components/ui/hover-card.tsx'
 
 export interface DesktopFrameTitlebarInjected {
   readonly environment: DesktopClientEnvironment
   readonly api: Pick<
     DesktopSettingsApi,
-    'openTerminal' | 'restart' | 'restartToRecovery' | 'reloadRenderer' | 'toggleDeveloperTools'
+    'openTerminal' | 'restart' | 'restartToRecovery' | 'reloadRenderer' | 'toggleDeveloperTools' | 'checkForUpdates'
   >
 }
 
@@ -20,6 +29,57 @@ export type DesktopFrameTitlebarProps = PropsRuntime<'shell.overlay'>
   & PropsLocale<'desktop.settings'>
   & InjectFace<DesktopFrameTitlebarInjected>
 
+export function DesktopVersionControl({
+  version,
+  checkForUpdates,
+  t,
+}: {
+  readonly version: string
+  readonly checkForUpdates: () => Promise<void>
+  readonly t: (key: DesktopSettingsLocaleKey) => string
+}) {
+  const [checking, setChecking] = useState(false)
+  const [failed, setFailed] = useState(false)
+  const runCheck = (): void => {
+    if (checking) return
+    setChecking(true)
+    setFailed(false)
+    void checkForUpdates()
+      .catch(() => { setFailed(true) })
+      .finally(() => { setChecking(false) })
+  }
+  const visibleVersion = `v${version}`
+  return (
+    <HoverCard>
+      <HoverCardTrigger
+        closeDelay={200}
+        delay={150}
+        render={<button type="button" className="dshDesktopFrameVersion" />}
+        aria-label={`${t('currentVersion')} ${visibleVersion}`}
+      >
+        {visibleVersion}
+      </HoverCardTrigger>
+      <HoverCardContent className="dshDesktopVersionPopover">
+        <div className="dshDesktopVersionPopoverHeader">
+          <span>{t('currentVersion')}</span>
+          <strong>{visibleVersion}</strong>
+        </div>
+        <Button
+          className="dshDesktopVersionCheckButton"
+          disabled={checking}
+          size="sm"
+          variant="outline"
+          onClick={runCheck}
+        >
+          <RefreshCw aria-hidden="true" />
+          <span>{t(checking ? 'checkingForUpdates' : 'checkForUpdates')}</span>
+        </Button>
+        {failed && <span className="dshDesktopVersionCheckError" role="alert">{t('checkForUpdatesError')}</span>}
+      </HoverCardContent>
+    </HoverCard>
+  )
+}
+
 /** Horizontal frame surface; the unrelated upstream content starts below it. */
 export function DesktopFrameTitlebar({ api, environment, t }: DesktopFrameTitlebarProps) {
   return createPortal((
@@ -31,6 +91,7 @@ export function DesktopFrameTitlebar({ api, environment, t }: DesktopFrameTitleb
     >
       <div className="dshDesktopFrameIdentity">
         <span className="dshDesktopFrameProduct">DSH Desktop</span>
+        <DesktopVersionControl version={environment.version} checkForUpdates={api.checkForUpdates} t={t} />
         <span className="dshDesktopFrameMode">
           {t(environment.mode === 'compatibility' ? 'compatibilityMode' : 'extendedMode')}
         </span>
diff --git a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/contracts.ts b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/contracts.ts
index 73e47b6eb9..9e742c6d4a 100644
--- a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/contracts.ts
+++ b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/contracts.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ export interface DesktopWindowDragRegion {
 
 /** Generation-stable native window geometry exposed to Desktop client plugins. */
 export interface DesktopWindowService {
+  /** Installed Desktop product version for this renderer generation. */
+  readonly version: string
   readonly mode: 'compatibility' | 'extended' | 'advanced'
   readonly platform: 'darwin' | 'win32' | 'linux'
   /** Capability-gated native material active behind this renderer. */
diff --git a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/desktop-settings-api.ts b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/desktop-settings-api.ts
index 6f5ead54a1..4a644ee77d 100644
--- a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/desktop-settings-api.ts
+++ b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/desktop-settings-api.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ const RESTART_PATH = '/api/desktop/restart'
 const RECOVERY_RESTART_PATH = '/api/desktop/restart/recovery'
 const RENDERER_RELOAD_PATH = '/api/desktop/developer/reload'
 const DEVELOPER_TOOLS_TOGGLE_PATH = '/api/desktop/developer/devtools'
+const UPDATE_CHECK_PATH = '/api/desktop/updates/check'
 const MAX_PROFILES = 256
 const MAX_PROFILE_NAME_LENGTH = 255
 
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ export interface DesktopSettingsApi {
   restartToRecovery(): Promise<void>
   reloadRenderer(): Promise<void>
   toggleDeveloperTools(): Promise<void>
+  checkForUpdates(): Promise<void>
 }
 
 type FetchLike = (input: RequestInfo | URL, init?: RequestInit) => Promise<Response>
@@ -199,6 +201,9 @@ export function createDesktopSettingsApi(fetcher: FetchLike = globalThis.fetch.b
     async toggleDeveloperTools() {
       parseDesktopActionAcceptance(await readResponse(await post(fetcher, DEVELOPER_TOOLS_TOGGLE_PATH, {})))
     },
+    async checkForUpdates() {
+      parseDesktopActionAcceptance(await readResponse(await post(fetcher, UPDATE_CHECK_PATH, {})))
+    },
   })
 }
 
@@ -213,4 +218,5 @@ export const desktopSettingsPaths = Object.freeze({
   recoveryRestart: RECOVERY_RESTART_PATH,
   rendererReload: RENDERER_RELOAD_PATH,
   developerToolsToggle: DEVELOPER_TOOLS_TOGGLE_PATH,
+  updateCheck: UPDATE_CHECK_PATH,
 })
diff --git a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/desktop-settings-locales.ts b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/desktop-settings-locales.ts
index 96fa8d9085..bcf8a26bc5 100644
--- a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/desktop-settings-locales.ts
+++ b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/desktop-settings-locales.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ export const zh = {
   openTerminal: '打开 DSH 终端',
   openingTerminal: '正在打开…',
   openTerminalError: '暂时无法打开 DSH 终端。你仍可以从应用菜单中打开。',
+  currentVersion: '当前版本',
+  checkForUpdates: '检查更新',
+  checkingForUpdates: '正在检查…',
+  checkForUpdatesError: '暂时无法检查更新，请稍后再试。',
   restartDesktop: '重启',
   restartingDesktop: '正在重启…',
   restartOptions: '重启选项',
@@ -89,6 +93,10 @@ export const en: Record<DesktopSettingsLocaleKey, string> = {
   openTerminal: 'Open DSH Terminal',
   openingTerminal: 'Opening…',
   openTerminalError: 'DSH Terminal could not be opened just now. You can still open it from the application menu.',
+  currentVersion: 'Current version',
+  checkForUpdates: 'Check for updates',
+  checkingForUpdates: 'Checking…',
+  checkForUpdatesError: 'Updates could not be checked just now. Please try again shortly.',
   restartDesktop: 'Restart',
   restartingDesktop: 'Restarting…',
   restartOptions: 'Restart options',
diff --git a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/environment.ts b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/environment.ts
index 1e11ec13a6..0e2825cf63 100644
--- a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/environment.ts
+++ b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/environment.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ export type DesktopClientMaterial = 'off' | 'transparent' | 'acrylic' | 'mica'
 
 /** Validated renderer environment supplied by the Electron Host. */
 export interface DesktopClientEnvironment {
+  /** Installed Desktop product version supplied by the Electron Host. */
+  version: string
   /** Active shell mode for this BrowserWindow lifetime. */
   mode: DesktopClientMode
   /** Electron Host platform used for native spacing and drag regions. */
@@ -22,6 +24,7 @@ export interface DesktopClientEnvironment {
 const MODES = new Set<DesktopClientMode>(['compatibility', 'extended', 'advanced'])
 const PLATFORMS = new Set<DesktopClientPlatform>(['darwin', 'win32', 'linux'])
 const MATERIALS = new Set<DesktopClientMaterial>(['off', 'transparent', 'acrylic', 'mica'])
+const VERSION_PATTERN = /^(?:0|[1-9]\d*)\.(?:0|[1-9]\d*)\.(?:0|[1-9]\d*)(?:-[0-9A-Za-z.-]+)?(?:\+[0-9A-Za-z.-]+)?$/u
 
 /**
  * Validate the Electron-owned query marker before any desktop client effects run.
@@ -33,6 +36,7 @@ export function parseDesktopClientEnvironment(search: string): DesktopClientEnvi
   const mode = params.get('dsh-desktop-mode')
   const platform = params.get('dsh-desktop-platform')
   const material = params.get('dsh-desktop-material')
+  const version = params.get('dsh-desktop-version')
   if (mode === null && platform === null) return undefined
   if (!MODES.has(mode as DesktopClientMode)) {
     throw new Error(`dsh-plugin-desktop: invalid or missing dsh-desktop-mode ${JSON.stringify(mode)}`)
@@ -43,6 +47,9 @@ export function parseDesktopClientEnvironment(search: string): DesktopClientEnvi
   if (!MATERIALS.has(material as DesktopClientMaterial)) {
     throw new Error(`dsh-plugin-desktop: invalid or missing dsh-desktop-material ${JSON.stringify(material)}`)
   }
+  if (version === null || version.length > 64 || !VERSION_PATTERN.test(version)) {
+    throw new Error(`dsh-plugin-desktop: invalid or missing dsh-desktop-version ${JSON.stringify(version)}`)
+  }
   const micaMarker = params.get('dsh-desktop-mica')
   const micaSupported = platform === 'win32'
     ? micaMarker === '1' ? true : micaMarker === '0' ? false : undefined
@@ -57,6 +64,7 @@ export function parseDesktopClientEnvironment(search: string): DesktopClientEnvi
     throw new Error('dsh-plugin-desktop: renderer material is incompatible with its mode or platform')
   }
   return {
+    version,
     mode: mode as DesktopClientMode,
     platform: platform as DesktopClientPlatform,
     material: material as DesktopClientMaterial,
diff --git a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/extended-styles.ts b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/extended-styles.ts
index 1944b62421..0fae6ea9ea 100644
--- a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/extended-styles.ts
+++ b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/client/extended-styles.ts
@@ -117,6 +117,97 @@ body[data-dsh-desktop-mode="extended"]:not([data-dsh-desktop-material="off"]) {
   pointer-events: none;
 }
 .dshDesktopFrameProduct { font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600; white-space: nowrap; }
+.dshDesktopFrameVersion {
+  min-height: 22px;
+  padding: 2px 5px;
+  border: 0;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  background: transparent;
+  color: var(--dsw-alias-label-secondary);
+  cursor: default;
+  font: inherit;
+  font-size: 11px;
+  pointer-events: auto;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+  -webkit-app-region: no-drag;
+}
+.dshDesktopFrameVersion:hover,
+.dshDesktopFrameVersion[data-popup-open],
+.dshDesktopFrameVersion:focus-visible {
+  background: var(--dsw-alias-interactive-bg-hover);
+  color: var(--dsw-alias-label-primary);
+}
+.dshDesktopFrameVersion:focus-visible {
+  outline: 2px solid var(--dsw-alias-brand-primary);
+  outline-offset: 1px;
+}
+.dshShadcnHoverCardPositioner {
+  z-index: 2147483647;
+  outline: none;
+  -webkit-app-region: no-drag;
+}
+.dshShadcnHoverCardContent {
+  transform-origin: var(--transform-origin);
+  transition: opacity 120ms ease, transform 120ms ease;
+}
+.dshShadcnHoverCardContent[data-starting-style],
+.dshShadcnHoverCardContent[data-ending-style] {
+  opacity: 0;
+  transform: scale(.98);
+}
+.dshDesktopVersionPopover {
+  display: grid;
+  gap: 9px;
+  box-sizing: border-box;
+  width: 210px;
+  padding: 10px;
+  border: 1px solid var(--dsw-alias-border-l1);
+  border-radius: 10px;
+  background: var(--dsw-alias-bg-layer-1);
+  box-shadow: 0 12px 32px color-mix(in srgb, #000 28%, transparent);
+  -webkit-app-region: no-drag;
+}
+.dshDesktopVersionPopoverHeader {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: baseline;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  gap: 12px;
+  color: var(--dsw-alias-label-secondary);
+  font-size: 11px;
+}
+.dshDesktopVersionPopoverHeader strong {
+  color: var(--dsw-alias-label-primary);
+  font-size: 12px;
+  font-weight: 600;
+}
+.dshDesktopVersionCheckButton {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  gap: 7px;
+  min-height: 30px;
+  padding: 5px 9px;
+  border: 1px solid var(--dsw-alias-border-l2);
+  border-radius: 7px;
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--dsw-alias-bg-base) 48%, transparent);
+  color: var(--dsw-alias-label-primary);
+  cursor: pointer;
+  font: inherit;
+  font-size: 12px;
+  -webkit-app-region: no-drag;
+}
+.dshDesktopVersionCheckButton:hover:not(:disabled) { background: var(--dsw-alias-interactive-bg-hover); }
+.dshDesktopVersionCheckButton:focus-visible {
+  outline: 2px solid var(--dsw-alias-brand-primary);
+  outline-offset: 1px;
+}
+.dshDesktopVersionCheckButton:disabled { cursor: default; opacity: .55; }
+.dshDesktopVersionCheckButton svg { width: 14px; height: 14px; stroke-width: 1.8; }
+.dshDesktopVersionCheckError {
+  color: var(--dsw-alias-state-error-primary);
+  font-size: 11px;
+  line-height: 1.4;
+}
 .dshDesktopFrameMode {
   padding: 2px 8px;
   border: 1px solid var(--dsw-alias-border-l2);
diff --git a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/desktop-settings-contract.ts b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/desktop-settings-contract.ts
index c4d5e744d4..bccb3fba7a 100644
--- a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/desktop-settings-contract.ts
+++ b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/desktop-settings-contract.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ export const DESKTOP_RENDERER_RELOAD_PATH = '/api/desktop/developer/reload'
 /** Toggle the mounted window's Developer Tools through the launcher. */
 export const DESKTOP_DEVELOPER_TOOLS_TOGGLE_PATH = '/api/desktop/developer/devtools'
 
+/** Run the generation-owned manual update check. */
+export const DESKTOP_UPDATE_CHECK_PATH = '/api/desktop/updates/check'
+
 /** Export one local diagnostic archive through the launcher-owned flow. */
 export const DESKTOP_DIAGNOSTICS_EXPORT_PATH = '/api/desktop/diagnostics/export'
 
@@ -148,6 +151,14 @@ export interface DesktopDeveloperToolsToggleResponse {
   readonly accepted: true
 }
 
+/** Exact empty body accepted by the manual update-check endpoint. */
+export type DesktopUpdateCheckRequest = Readonly<Record<string, never>>
+
+/** Successful completion of the interactive update-check flow. */
+export interface DesktopUpdateCheckResponse {
+  readonly accepted: true
+}
+
 /** Exact empty body accepted by the diagnostic-export endpoint. */
 export type DesktopDiagnosticsExportRequest = Readonly<Record<string, never>>
 
diff --git a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/desktop-settings-route.ts b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/desktop-settings-route.ts
index fb64ccbad0..5b6f671c88 100644
--- a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/desktop-settings-route.ts
+++ b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/desktop-settings-route.ts
@@ -420,6 +420,30 @@ export async function handleDesktopDeveloperToolsToggleRequest(
   }
 }
 
+/** Run the generation-owned interactive update flow from an exact empty request. */
+export async function handleDesktopUpdateCheckRequest(
+  req: IncomingMessage,
+  res: ServerResponse,
+  expectedOrigin: string,
+  checkNow: () => Promise<void>,
+  reportError: (operation: string, cause: unknown) => void = () => {},
+): Promise<void> {
+  if (req.method !== 'POST') return finishJson(res, 405, error('method not allowed'), 'POST')
+  if (!isSameOriginLoopbackRequest(req, expectedOrigin, true)) {
+    return finishJson(res, 403, error('forbidden'))
+  }
+  const value = await parsePostBody(req, res)
+  if (value === INVALID_BODY) return
+  if (!isEmptyRequest(value)) return finishJson(res, 400, error('invalid update check request'))
+  try {
+    await checkNow()
+    finishJson(res, 200, { accepted: true })
+  } catch (cause) {
+    reportError('check for updates', cause)
+    finishJson(res, 500, error('updates could not be checked'))
+  }
+}
+
 /** Export diagnostics from an exact empty same-origin request. */
 export async function handleDesktopDiagnosticsExportRequest(
   req: IncomingMessage,
diff --git a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/index.ts b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/index.ts
index 076c439343..beea11c668 100644
--- a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/index.ts
+++ b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/index.ts
@@ -149,12 +149,14 @@ export function desktopRendererUrl(
   port: number,
   mode: DesktopShellMode,
   platform: Context['desktopRuntime']['platform'],
+  appVersion: string,
   material: DesktopWindowMaterial = 'off',
   windowsBuild?: number,
 ): string {
   const url = new URL(`http://127.0.0.1:${String(port)}/`)
   url.searchParams.set('dsh-desktop-mode', mode)
   url.searchParams.set('dsh-desktop-platform', platform)
+  url.searchParams.set('dsh-desktop-version', appVersion)
   url.searchParams.set('dsh-desktop-material', material)
   if (mode === 'extended' || (mode === 'compatibility' && platform !== 'linux')) {
     // Body-level plugin portals do not inherit the framed root's geometry.
@@ -345,7 +347,14 @@ export function apply(ctx: Context, config: Config): void {
         ...config,
         material,
         ...(runtime.windowsBuild === undefined ? {} : { windowsBuild: runtime.windowsBuild }),
-        url: desktopRendererUrl(ctx.webServer.port, config.mode, runtime.platform, material, runtime.windowsBuild),
+        url: desktopRendererUrl(
+          ctx.webServer.port,
+          config.mode,
+          runtime.platform,
+          runtime.updates.currentVersion,
+          material,
+          runtime.windowsBuild,
+        ),
         productName: 'DSH Desktop',
         windowTitle: 'DeepSeek Harness Desktop',
         iconPath,
diff --git a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/native-ui/components/ui/hover-card.tsx b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/native-ui/components/ui/hover-card.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..131befd83d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/native-ui/components/ui/hover-card.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import { PreviewCard as HoverCardPrimitive } from '@base-ui/react/preview-card'
+import { cn } from '../../lib/utils.ts'
+
+function HoverCard(props: HoverCardPrimitive.Root.Props): JSX.Element {
+  return <HoverCardPrimitive.Root {...props} />
+}
+
+function HoverCardTrigger(props: HoverCardPrimitive.Trigger.Props): JSX.Element {
+  return <HoverCardPrimitive.Trigger data-slot="hover-card-trigger" {...props} />
+}
+
+function HoverCardContent({
+  align = 'center',
+  alignOffset = 0,
+  className,
+  side = 'bottom',
+  sideOffset = 6,
+  ...props
+}: HoverCardPrimitive.Popup.Props & Pick<
+  HoverCardPrimitive.Positioner.Props,
+  'align' | 'alignOffset' | 'side' | 'sideOffset'
+>): JSX.Element {
+  return (
+    <HoverCardPrimitive.Portal>
+      <HoverCardPrimitive.Positioner
+        align={align}
+        alignOffset={alignOffset}
+        className="dshShadcnHoverCardPositioner z-50 outline-none"
+        side={side}
+        sideOffset={sideOffset}
+      >
+        <HoverCardPrimitive.Popup
+          className={cn(
+            'dshShadcnHoverCardContent w-64 origin-(--transform-origin) rounded-lg border bg-popover p-4 text-popover-foreground shadow-md outline-none transition-[opacity,transform] data-ending-style:scale-95 data-ending-style:opacity-0 data-starting-style:scale-95 data-starting-style:opacity-0',
+            className,
+          )}
+          data-slot="hover-card-content"
+          {...props}
+        />
+      </HoverCardPrimitive.Positioner>
+    </HoverCardPrimitive.Portal>
+  )
+}
+
+export { HoverCard, HoverCardContent, HoverCardTrigger }
diff --git a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/update-lifecycle.ts b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/update-lifecycle.ts
index 4d6256cbe7..79c39163c4 100644
--- a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/update-lifecycle.ts
+++ b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/update-lifecycle.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ export interface DesktopUpdateLifecycleOptions {
 
 /** Lifecycle handle for one generation's update operations. */
 export interface DesktopUpdateLifecycle {
+  /** Run the same interactive update flow exposed by the native tray. */
+  checkNow(): Promise<void>
   dispose(): Promise<void>
 }
 
@@ -81,7 +83,7 @@ class DesktopUpdateLifecycleOwner implements DesktopUpdateLifecycle {
       group: 'status',
       order: 10,
       label: () => this.trayLabel(),
-      invoke: () => this.runManualCheck(),
+      invoke: () => this.checkNow(),
     })
     if (options.adapter.isPackaged && options.policy.enabled) {
       this.scheduleBackgroundCheck(options.policy.initialDelayMs)
@@ -103,6 +105,10 @@ class DesktopUpdateLifecycleOwner implements DesktopUpdateLifecycle {
     return this.disposeTask
   }
 
+  checkNow(): Promise<void> {
+    return this.runManualCheck()
+  }
+
   private async loadState(): Promise<void> {
     try {
       const parsed = parseState(await readState(this.options.adapter.statePath))
diff --git a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/updates.ts b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/updates.ts
index 31c8dd746d..ef022ffa3d 100644
--- a/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/updates.ts
+++ b/dsh-plugin-desktop/src/updates.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 import type { Context } from '@deepseek-ai/cordis'
 import z from '@deepseek-ai/schemastery'
+import type {} from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-host-webserver'
+import { DESKTOP_UPDATE_CHECK_PATH } from './desktop-settings-contract.ts'
+import { handleDesktopUpdateCheckRequest } from './desktop-settings-route.ts'
 import type {} from './runtime.ts'
 import { startDesktopUpdateLifecycle } from './update-lifecycle.ts'
 
@@ -9,7 +12,7 @@ import { startDesktopUpdateLifecycle } from './update-lifecycle.ts'
 export const name = 'desktop-updates'
 
 /** Native adapter required for network, tray, confirmation, and installer access. */
-export const inject = ['desktopRuntime']
+export const inject = ['desktopRuntime', 'webServer']
 
 const MAX_TIMER_DELAY_MS = 2_147_483_647
 
@@ -46,6 +49,25 @@ export function apply(ctx: Context, config: Config): void {
       locale: () => ctx.desktopRuntime.locale,
       registerTrayItem: item => ctx.desktopRuntime.registerTrayItem(item),
     })
-    return () => lifecycle.dispose()
+    const rendererOrigin = `http://127.0.0.1:${String(ctx.webServer.port)}`
+    const unregister = ctx.webServer.register({
+      kind: 'exact',
+      path: DESKTOP_UPDATE_CHECK_PATH,
+      handler: (req, res) => handleDesktopUpdateCheckRequest(
+        req,
+        res,
+        rendererOrigin,
+        () => lifecycle.checkNow(),
+        (operation, cause) => {
+          ctx.logger.error(
+            `dsh-plugin-desktop: failed to ${operation}: ${cause instanceof Error ? cause.message : String(cause)}`,
+          )
+        },
+      ),
+    })
+    return async () => {
+      unregister()
+      await lifecycle.dispose()
+    }
   }, 'dsh-plugin-desktop: update polling, confirmation, and installer handoff')
 }
diff --git a/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/client-desktop-settings.spec.ts b/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/client-desktop-settings.spec.ts
index 1796264040..f5084aa75f 100644
--- a/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/client-desktop-settings.spec.ts
+++ b/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/client-desktop-settings.spec.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   DesktopNativeActions,
   DesktopRestartMenuItems,
 } from '../src/client/DesktopNativeActions.tsx'
+import { DesktopVersionControl } from '../src/client/ExtendedTitlebar.tsx'
 import { DesktopSettingsSection } from '../src/client/DesktopSettingsSection.tsx'
 import { DesktopTerminalSettingsAction } from '../src/client/DesktopTerminalSettingsAction.tsx'
 import {
@@ -67,7 +68,8 @@ describe('Desktop settings API', () => {
         || path === desktopSettingsPaths.restart
         || path === desktopSettingsPaths.recoveryRestart
         || path === desktopSettingsPaths.rendererReload
-        || path === desktopSettingsPaths.developerToolsToggle) {
+        || path === desktopSettingsPaths.developerToolsToggle
+        || path === desktopSettingsPaths.updateCheck) {
         return json({ accepted: true })
       }
       return path === desktopSettingsPaths.settings || path === desktopSettingsPaths.profileCreate || path === desktopSettingsPaths.profileDelete
@@ -86,6 +88,7 @@ describe('Desktop settings API', () => {
     await expect(api.restartToRecovery()).resolves.toBeUndefined()
     await expect(api.reloadRenderer()).resolves.toBeUndefined()
     await expect(api.toggleDeveloperTools()).resolves.toBeUndefined()
+    await expect(api.checkForUpdates()).resolves.toBeUndefined()
 
     expect(fetcher.mock.calls.map(call => call[0])).toEqual([
       desktopSettingsPaths.settings,
@@ -98,6 +101,7 @@ describe('Desktop settings API', () => {
       desktopSettingsPaths.recoveryRestart,
       desktopSettingsPaths.rendererReload,
       desktopSettingsPaths.developerToolsToggle,
+      desktopSettingsPaths.updateCheck,
     ])
     expect(fetcher.mock.calls[1]?.[1]).toMatchObject({
       method: 'POST',
@@ -147,6 +151,7 @@ describe('Desktop native action presentation', () => {
     restartToRecovery: vi.fn(async () => {}),
     reloadRenderer: vi.fn(async () => {}),
     toggleDeveloperTools: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+    checkForUpdates: vi.fn(async () => {}),
   }
   const t = (key: DesktopSettingsLocaleKey): string => en[key]
 
@@ -163,6 +168,18 @@ describe('Desktop native action presentation', () => {
     expect(markup).toContain('aria-label="Developer options"')
   })
 
+  it('renders the Host-supplied version through the shadcn hover-card trigger', () => {
+    const markup = renderToStaticMarkup(createElement(DesktopVersionControl, {
+      version: '2.0.3',
+      checkForUpdates: api.checkForUpdates,
+      t,
+    }))
+
+    expect(markup).toContain('v2.0.3')
+    expect(markup).toContain('aria-label="Current version v2.0.3"')
+    expect(markup).toContain('data-slot="hover-card-trigger"')
+  })
+
   it('keeps explicit text labels in settings', () => {
     const markup = renderToStaticMarkup(createElement(DesktopNativeActions, {
       api,
@@ -259,6 +276,7 @@ describe('Desktop settings Slot registration', () => {
     } as unknown as ClientContext
 
     applyDesktopSettings(ctx, {
+      version: '2.0.3',
       mode: 'compatibility',
       platform: 'darwin',
       material: 'off',
diff --git a/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/client-environment.spec.ts b/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/client-environment.spec.ts
index 30f2efeec4..ebae61e1a3 100644
--- a/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/client-environment.spec.ts
+++ b/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/client-environment.spec.ts
@@ -38,12 +38,12 @@ describe('desktop client environment', () => {
   })
 
   it('accepts the Electron-owned kebab query markers', () => {
-    expect(parseDesktopClientEnvironment('?dsh-desktop-mode=advanced&dsh-desktop-platform=darwin&dsh-desktop-material=transparent'))
-      .toEqual({ mode: 'advanced', platform: 'darwin', material: 'transparent', micaSupported: false })
-    expect(parseDesktopClientEnvironment('?dsh-desktop-platform=win32&dsh-desktop-mode=compatibility&dsh-desktop-material=off&dsh-desktop-mica=0'))
-      .toEqual({ mode: 'compatibility', platform: 'win32', material: 'off', micaSupported: false })
-    expect(parseDesktopClientEnvironment('?dsh-desktop-mode=extended&dsh-desktop-platform=win32&dsh-desktop-material=mica&dsh-desktop-mica=1'))
-      .toEqual({ mode: 'extended', platform: 'win32', material: 'mica', micaSupported: true })
+    expect(parseDesktopClientEnvironment('?dsh-desktop-mode=advanced&dsh-desktop-platform=darwin&dsh-desktop-version=2.0.3&dsh-desktop-material=transparent'))
+      .toEqual({ version: '2.0.3', mode: 'advanced', platform: 'darwin', material: 'transparent', micaSupported: false })
+    expect(parseDesktopClientEnvironment('?dsh-desktop-platform=win32&dsh-desktop-mode=compatibility&dsh-desktop-version=2.0.3&dsh-desktop-material=off&dsh-desktop-mica=0'))
+      .toEqual({ version: '2.0.3', mode: 'compatibility', platform: 'win32', material: 'off', micaSupported: false })
+    expect(parseDesktopClientEnvironment('?dsh-desktop-mode=extended&dsh-desktop-platform=win32&dsh-desktop-version=2.0.3&dsh-desktop-material=mica&dsh-desktop-mica=1'))
+      .toEqual({ version: '2.0.3', mode: 'extended', platform: 'win32', material: 'mica', micaSupported: true })
   })
 
   it.each([
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ describe('desktop client environment', () => {
     ['?dsh-desktop-platform=darwin', 'dsh-desktop-mode'],
     ['?dsh-desktop-mode=advanced&dsh-desktop-platform=android', 'dsh-desktop-platform'],
     ['?dsh-desktop-mode=advanced&dsh-desktop-platform=darwin', 'dsh-desktop-material'],
-    ['?dsh-desktop-mode=advanced&dsh-desktop-platform=win32&dsh-desktop-material=mica&dsh-desktop-mica=0', 'incompatible'],
+    ['?dsh-desktop-mode=advanced&dsh-desktop-platform=darwin&dsh-desktop-material=off', 'dsh-desktop-version'],
+    ['?dsh-desktop-mode=advanced&dsh-desktop-platform=win32&dsh-desktop-version=2.0.3&dsh-desktop-material=mica&dsh-desktop-mica=0', 'incompatible'],
   ])('fails loud for malformed marker %s', (search, field) => {
     expect(() => parseDesktopClientEnvironment(search)).toThrow(field)
   })
@@ -186,6 +187,7 @@ describe('advanced desktop layout', () => {
 
     try {
       applyAdvancedShell(ctx, {
+        version: '2.0.3',
         mode: 'advanced',
         platform: 'darwin',
         material: 'transparent',
@@ -210,8 +212,9 @@ describe('advanced desktop layout', () => {
 
   it('reports generation-stable safe areas and drag geometry to client plugins', () => {
     expect(desktopWindowService({
-      mode: 'compatibility', platform: 'darwin', material: 'off', micaSupported: false,
+      version: '2.0.3', mode: 'compatibility', platform: 'darwin', material: 'off', micaSupported: false,
     })).toEqual({
+      version: '2.0.3',
       mode: 'compatibility',
       platform: 'darwin',
       material: 'off',
@@ -225,9 +228,10 @@ describe('advanced desktop layout', () => {
       },
     })
     const mac = desktopWindowService({
-      mode: 'advanced', platform: 'darwin', material: 'transparent', micaSupported: false,
+      version: '2.0.3', mode: 'advanced', platform: 'darwin', material: 'transparent', micaSupported: false,
     })
     expect(mac).toEqual({
+      version: '2.0.3',
       mode: 'advanced',
       platform: 'darwin',
       material: 'transparent',
@@ -244,8 +248,9 @@ describe('advanced desktop layout', () => {
     expect(Object.isFrozen(mac.safeAreaInsets)).toBe(true)
     expect(Object.isFrozen(mac.dragRegion)).toBe(true)
     expect(desktopWindowService({
-      mode: 'advanced', platform: 'win32', material: 'acrylic', micaSupported: false,
+      version: '2.0.3', mode: 'advanced', platform: 'win32', material: 'acrylic', micaSupported: false,
     })).toEqual({
+      version: '2.0.3',
       mode: 'advanced',
       platform: 'win32',
       material: 'acrylic',
@@ -259,8 +264,9 @@ describe('advanced desktop layout', () => {
       },
     })
     expect(desktopWindowService({
-      mode: 'extended', platform: 'win32', material: 'mica', micaSupported: true,
+      version: '2.0.3', mode: 'extended', platform: 'win32', material: 'mica', micaSupported: true,
     })).toEqual({
+      version: '2.0.3',
       mode: 'extended',
       platform: 'win32',
       material: 'mica',
@@ -427,6 +433,7 @@ describe('independent Desktop frame', () => {
 
     try {
       applyExtendedShell(ctx, {
+        version: '2.0.3',
         mode: 'extended',
         platform: 'win32',
         material: 'acrylic',
@@ -504,6 +511,7 @@ describe('independent Desktop frame', () => {
 
     try {
       applyFramedShell(ctx, {
+        version: '2.0.3',
         mode: 'compatibility',
         platform: 'darwin',
         material: 'transparent',
diff --git a/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/desktop-settings-api.spec.ts b/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/desktop-settings-api.spec.ts
index a98791ffbb..2ffc8f82d6 100644
--- a/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/desktop-settings-api.spec.ts
+++ b/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/desktop-settings-api.spec.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
   handleDesktopRendererReloadRequest,
   handleDesktopSettingsRequest,
   handleDesktopTerminalOpenRequest,
+  handleDesktopUpdateCheckRequest,
   desktopSettingsRouteConstants,
 } from '../src/desktop-settings-route.ts'
 import type { DesktopProfileSummary } from '../src/profile-manager.ts'
@@ -533,6 +534,24 @@ describe('desktop settings HTTP boundary', () => {
     expect(openTerminal).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
   })
 
+  it('runs the shared interactive update flow only for an exact empty request', async () => {
+    const checkNow = vi.fn(async () => {})
+    const accepted = response()
+
+    await handleDesktopUpdateCheckRequest(jsonRequest({}), accepted, ORIGIN, checkNow)
+
+    expect(accepted.statusCode).toBe(200)
+    expect(JSON.parse(accepted.body)).toEqual({ accepted: true })
+    expect(checkNow).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+
+    const rejected = response()
+    await handleDesktopUpdateCheckRequest(
+      jsonRequest({ version: '9.9.9' }), rejected, ORIGIN, checkNow,
+    )
+    expect(rejected.statusCode).toBe(400)
+    expect(checkNow).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+  })
+
   it('queues an explicit restart only after an exact request has been acknowledged', async () => {
     const scheduleRestart = vi.fn()
     const controller = new DesktopSettingsController(bootstrap({ scheduleRestart }))
diff --git a/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/plugin.spec.ts b/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/plugin.spec.ts
index c8fb83ffc2..2b5e90a768 100644
--- a/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/plugin.spec.ts
+++ b/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/plugin.spec.ts
@@ -207,23 +207,26 @@ describe('desktop Host plugin', () => {
   })
 
   it('builds the loopback root with validated renderer mode and platform markers', () => {
-    const url = new URL(desktopRendererUrl(43120, 'advanced', 'darwin'))
+    const url = new URL(desktopRendererUrl(43120, 'advanced', 'darwin', '2.0.3'))
     expect(url.origin).toBe('http://127.0.0.1:43120')
     expect(url.pathname).toBe('/')
     expect(Object.fromEntries(url.searchParams)).toEqual({
       'dsh-desktop-mode': 'advanced',
       'dsh-desktop-platform': 'darwin',
+      'dsh-desktop-version': '2.0.3',
       'dsh-desktop-material': 'off',
     })
     expect(Object.fromEntries(new URL(desktopRendererUrl(
       43120,
       'extended',
       'win32',
+      '2.0.3',
       'mica',
       22_631,
     )).searchParams)).toEqual({
       'dsh-desktop-mode': 'extended',
       'dsh-desktop-platform': 'win32',
+      'dsh-desktop-version': '2.0.3',
       'dsh-desktop-material': 'mica',
       'dsh-desktop-titlebar-inset': '36',
       'dsh-desktop-mica': '1',
@@ -232,6 +235,7 @@ describe('desktop Host plugin', () => {
       43120,
       'compatibility',
       'linux',
+      '2.0.3',
     )).searchParams)).not.toHaveProperty('dsh-desktop-titlebar-inset')
   })
 
@@ -250,7 +254,7 @@ describe('desktop Host plugin', () => {
     expect(loaderAwait).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
     expect(harness.shell()).toEqual(expect.objectContaining({
       mode: 'compatibility',
-      url: 'http://127.0.0.1:43120/?dsh-desktop-mode=compatibility&dsh-desktop-platform=darwin&dsh-desktop-material=transparent&dsh-desktop-titlebar-inset=36',
+      url: 'http://127.0.0.1:43120/?dsh-desktop-mode=compatibility&dsh-desktop-platform=darwin&dsh-desktop-version=2.0.0&dsh-desktop-material=transparent&dsh-desktop-titlebar-inset=36',
       productName: 'DSH Desktop',
       windowTitle: 'DeepSeek Harness Desktop',
       readThemeSource: expect.any(Function),
diff --git a/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/updates.spec.ts b/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/updates.spec.ts
index 7296ba226b..3b9a76bc9c 100644
--- a/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/updates.spec.ts
+++ b/dsh-plugin-desktop/tests/updates.spec.ts
@@ -82,6 +82,10 @@ async function createHarness(options: {
   } as unknown as DesktopRuntime
   const ctx = {
     desktopRuntime: runtime,
+    webServer: {
+      port: 43120,
+      register: () => () => {},
+    },
     logger: { warn: (...args: unknown[]) => { warnings.push(args) } },
     effect: (register: () => (() => void | Promise<void>)) => {
       disposer = register()
@@ -111,7 +115,7 @@ afterEach(() => {
 
 describe('desktop update Host plugin', () => {
   it('exposes the packaged 60-second and six-hour background policy', () => {
-    expect(inject).toEqual(['desktopRuntime'])
+    expect(inject).toEqual(['desktopRuntime', 'webServer'])
     expect(Config({} as UpdateConfig)).toEqual({
       enabled: true,
       initialDelayMs: 60_000,