diff --git a/cinny b/cinny
index d9e7f77..6edfe70 160000
--- a/cinny
+++ b/cinny
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit d9e7f77402ddf26712d7717fccbc0ade16ffb5d6
+Subproject commit 6edfe700204a626d97c62ae2b1c3d0faca49933c
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index 841191a..22723ed 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -564,6 +564,53 @@ fn set_tray_unread(unread: bool, state: tauri::State<'_, TrayUnreadState>) -> Re
     state.tray.set_icon(Some(icon)).map_err(|e| e.to_string())
 }
 
+/// cinny-desktop #6: the tray's "Restart to update" item. Inserted at the top
+/// of the menu only while an update is available, so it isn't a dead entry the
+/// rest of the time.
+struct TrayUpdateState {
+    menu: Menu<tauri::Wry>,
+    item: MenuItem<tauri::Wry>,
+    shown: std::sync::Mutex<bool>,
+}
+
+/// Show (`Some(version)`) or clear (`None`) the tray's update affordance: the
+/// menu item and the tooltip. The web client drives it from its update status,
+/// and clicking the item hands the install back to the web flow
+/// (`lotus-tray-install-update`) so progress and failures are shown in-app.
+#[tauri::command]
+fn set_tray_update_ready(app: tauri::AppHandle, version: Option<String>) -> Result<(), String> {
+    let Some(state) = app.try_state::<TrayUpdateState>() else {
+        return Ok(());
+    };
+    let unread = app.try_state::<TrayUnreadState>();
+    let mut shown = state.shown.lock().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+    match version {
+        Some(version) => {
+            state
+                .item
+                .set_text(format!("Restart to update (v{version})"))
+                .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+            if !*shown {
+                state.menu.insert(&state.item, 0).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+                *shown = true;
+            }
+            if let Some(u) = unread {
+                let _ = u.tray.set_tooltip(Some("Lotus Chat — update ready"));
+            }
+        }
+        None => {
+            if *shown {
+                state.menu.remove(&state.item).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+                *shown = false;
+            }
+            if let Some(u) = unread {
+                let _ = u.tray.set_tooltip(Some("Lotus Chat"));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 /// Flash the taskbar button to draw attention (e.g. a new mention while the
 /// window is unfocused). Clears automatically once the window is focused.
 #[tauri::command]
@@ -611,6 +658,7 @@ pub fn run() {
             set_badge_count,
             set_tray_unread,
             get_tray_dnd,
+            set_tray_update_ready,
             flash_window,
             focus_main_window,
             send_notification,
@@ -695,6 +743,12 @@ pub fn run() {
                     .on_menu_event(move |app, event| match event.id.as_ref() {
                         "open" => show_main(app),
                         "quit" => app.exit(0),
+                        "update" => {
+                            // Show the window so the download progress (and any
+                            // failure) is visible; the web side runs the install.
+                            show_main(app);
+                            native::emit_to_web(app, "lotus-tray-install-update", "{}");
+                        }
                         "dnd" => {
                             let checked = dnd_for_event.is_checked().unwrap_or(false);
                             native::emit_to_web(
@@ -739,6 +793,12 @@ pub fn run() {
                 // Keep a handle to the DND CheckMenuItem so `get_tray_dnd` can
                 // report its live checkstate for web re-hydration after reload.
                 app.manage(TrayDndState(dnd_item));
+
+                app.manage(TrayUpdateState {
+                    menu: tray_menu.clone(),
+                    item: MenuItem::with_id(app, "update", "Restart to update", true, None::<&str>)?,
+                    shown: std::sync::Mutex::new(false),
+                });
             } else {
                 eprintln!("tray: no bundled window icon; skipping system tray setup");
             }