diff --git a/Dashboard/AboutWindow.xaml.cs b/Dashboard/AboutWindow.xaml.cs
index 0e61086e..576820f3 100644
--- a/Dashboard/AboutWindow.xaml.cs
+++ b/Dashboard/AboutWindow.xaml.cs
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 using System.Reflection;
 using System.Windows;
 using PerformanceMonitorDashboard.Services;
+using Velopack;
+using System;
 
 namespace PerformanceMonitorDashboard
 {
@@ -19,6 +21,8 @@ public partial class AboutWindow : Window
         private const string DarlingDataUrl = "https://www.erikdarling.com";
 
         private string? _updateReleaseUrl;
+        private UpdateManager? _velopackMgr;
+        private Velopack.UpdateInfo? _pendingUpdate;
 
         public AboutWindow()
         {
@@ -47,6 +51,32 @@ private async void CheckUpdatesLink_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
             UpdateStatusText.Text = "Checking for updates...";
             UpdateStatusText.Visibility = Visibility.Visible;
 
+            // Try Velopack first (supports download + apply)
+            try
+            {
+                _velopackMgr = new UpdateManager(
+                    new Velopack.Sources.GithubSource("https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor", null, false));
+
+                var updateInfo = await _velopackMgr.CheckForUpdatesAsync();
+                if (updateInfo != null)
+                {
+                    _pendingUpdate = updateInfo;
+                    UpdateStatusText.Text = $"Update available: v{updateInfo.TargetFullRelease.Version} — click to download and install";
+                    UpdateStatusText.Cursor = System.Windows.Input.Cursors.Hand;
+                    UpdateStatusText.MouseLeftButtonUp -= UpdateStatusText_Click;
+                    UpdateStatusText.MouseLeftButtonUp += VelopackDownload_Click;
+                    UpdateStatusText.TextDecorations = System.Windows.TextDecorations.Underline;
+                    UpdateStatusText.Foreground = FindResource("AccentBrush") as System.Windows.Media.Brush
+                        ?? System.Windows.Media.Brushes.DodgerBlue;
+                    return;
+                }
+            }
+            catch
+            {
+                // Velopack packages may not exist yet — fall through to legacy check
+            }
+
+            // Fallback: GitHub Releases API check (opens browser)
             var result = await UpdateCheckService.CheckForUpdateAsync(bypassCache: true);
 
             if (result == null)
@@ -56,8 +86,9 @@ private async void CheckUpdatesLink_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
             else if (result.IsUpdateAvailable)
             {
                 _updateReleaseUrl = result.ReleaseUrl;
-                UpdateStatusText.Text = $"Update available: {result.LatestVersion} (you have {result.CurrentVersion})";
+                UpdateStatusText.Text = $"Update available: {result.LatestVersion} (you have {result.CurrentVersion}) — click to open releases";
                 UpdateStatusText.Cursor = System.Windows.Input.Cursors.Hand;
+                UpdateStatusText.MouseLeftButtonUp -= VelopackDownload_Click;
                 UpdateStatusText.MouseLeftButtonUp += UpdateStatusText_Click;
                 UpdateStatusText.TextDecorations = System.Windows.TextDecorations.Underline;
                 UpdateStatusText.Foreground = FindResource("AccentBrush") as System.Windows.Media.Brush
@@ -69,6 +100,33 @@ private async void CheckUpdatesLink_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
             }
         }
 
+        private async void VelopackDownload_Click(object sender, System.Windows.Input.MouseButtonEventArgs e)
+        {
+            if (_velopackMgr == null || _pendingUpdate == null) return;
+
+            try
+            {
+                UpdateStatusText.MouseLeftButtonUp -= VelopackDownload_Click;
+                UpdateStatusText.TextDecorations = null;
+                UpdateStatusText.Cursor = System.Windows.Input.Cursors.Arrow;
+                UpdateStatusText.Text = "Downloading update...";
+
+                await _velopackMgr.DownloadUpdatesAsync(_pendingUpdate);
+
+                UpdateStatusText.Text = "Update downloaded. Click to restart and apply.";
+                UpdateStatusText.Cursor = System.Windows.Input.Cursors.Hand;
+                UpdateStatusText.TextDecorations = System.Windows.TextDecorations.Underline;
+                UpdateStatusText.MouseLeftButtonUp += (_, _) =>
+                {
+                    _velopackMgr.ApplyUpdatesAndRestart(_pendingUpdate.TargetFullRelease);
+                };
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                UpdateStatusText.Text = $"Download failed: {ex.Message}";
+            }
+        }
+
         private void UpdateStatusText_Click(object sender, System.Windows.Input.MouseButtonEventArgs e)
         {
             if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(_updateReleaseUrl))
diff --git a/Dashboard/MainWindow.xaml.cs b/Dashboard/MainWindow.xaml.cs
index 8d67436b..33f493a8 100644
--- a/Dashboard/MainWindow.xaml.cs
+++ b/Dashboard/MainWindow.xaml.cs
@@ -179,6 +179,29 @@ private async Task CheckForUpdatesOnStartupAsync()
                 var prefs = _preferencesService.GetPreferences();
                 if (!prefs.CheckForUpdatesOnStartup) return;
 
+                // Try Velopack first (supports download + apply)
+                try
+                {
+                    var mgr = new Velopack.UpdateManager(
+                        new Velopack.Sources.GithubSource(
+                            "https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceMonitor", null, false));
+
+                    var newVersion = await mgr.CheckForUpdatesAsync();
+                    if (newVersion != null)
+                    {
+                        _notificationService?.ShowNotification(
+                            "Update Available",
+                            $"Performance Monitor {newVersion.TargetFullRelease.Version} is available. Use Help > About to download and install.",
+                            NotificationType.Info);
+                        return;
+                    }
+                }
+                catch
+                {
+                    // Velopack packages may not exist yet — fall through to legacy check
+                }
+
+                // Fallback: GitHub Releases API check (notification only)
                 var result = await UpdateCheckService.CheckForUpdateAsync();
                 if (result?.IsUpdateAvailable == true)
                 {