diff --git a/src/main/updater-events.ts b/src/main/updater-events.ts
index acd46d6aec5..9e65aa71156 100644
--- a/src/main/updater-events.ts
+++ b/src/main/updater-events.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* eslint-disable max-lines */
 import { app, autoUpdater as nativeUpdater } from 'electron'
 import type { UpdateStatus } from '../shared/types'
 import {
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ type UpdaterHandlerContext = {
   sendErrorStatus: (message: string, userInitiated?: boolean) => void
   sendStatus: (status: UpdateStatus) => void
   scheduleAutomaticUpdateCheck: (delayMs: number) => void
+  startPendingReplacementDownload: () => boolean
   startAvailableUpdateDownload: () => void
   shouldAcceptDownloadedUpdate: (version: string) => boolean
   shouldSuppressMissingManifestPrereleaseFallbackEvent: (message: string, error: unknown) => boolean
@@ -65,6 +67,24 @@ function getActionableUpdateUserInitiated(status: UpdateStatus): boolean | undef
   return undefined
 }
 
+function shouldShowDownloadedForStagedUpdate(): boolean {
+  return process.platform !== 'darwin' || isMacInstallerReady()
+}
+
+function shouldApplyAvailableResultAfterChangelog(status: UpdateStatus, version: string): boolean {
+  if (status.state === 'checking' || status.state === 'idle') {
+    return true
+  }
+  if (
+    status.state === 'available' ||
+    status.state === 'downloading' ||
+    status.state === 'downloaded'
+  ) {
+    return compareVersions(status.version, version) < 0
+  }
+  return false
+}
+
 export function registerAutoUpdaterHandlers({
   autoUpdater,
   clearBackgroundCheckLaunchPending,
@@ -89,6 +109,7 @@ export function registerAutoUpdaterHandlers({
   sendErrorStatus,
   sendStatus,
   scheduleAutomaticUpdateCheck,
+  startPendingReplacementDownload,
   startAvailableUpdateDownload,
   shouldAcceptDownloadedUpdate,
   shouldSuppressMissingManifestPrereleaseFallbackEvent,
@@ -99,6 +120,26 @@ export function registerAutoUpdaterHandlers({
 }: UpdaterHandlerContext): void {
   let macNativeReadinessPendingVersion: string | null = null
 
+  const sendStagedUpdateStatus = (version: string, userInitiated: boolean): void => {
+    if (!shouldShowDownloadedForStagedUpdate()) {
+      // Why: on macOS the electron-updater artifact can be staged before ShipIt
+      // has finished pulling it from the localhost proxy.
+      sendStatus({
+        state: 'downloading',
+        percent: 100,
+        version,
+        ...(userInitiated ? { userInitiated: true } : {})
+      })
+      return
+    }
+    sendStatus({
+      state: 'downloaded',
+      version,
+      releaseUrl: getKnownReleaseUrl(),
+      ...(userInitiated ? { userInitiated: true } : {})
+    })
+  }
+
   // On macOS, electron-updater's MacUpdater downloads the ZIP from GitHub,
   // then serves it to Squirrel.Mac via a localhost proxy. The electron-updater
   // 'update-downloaded' event fires BEFORE Squirrel finishes its download.
@@ -197,12 +238,7 @@ export function registerAutoUpdaterHandlers({
           scheduleAutomaticUpdateCheck(AUTO_UPDATE_CHECK_INTERVAL_MS)
         }
       }
-      sendStatus({
-        state: 'downloaded',
-        version: stagedVersion,
-        releaseUrl: getKnownReleaseUrl(),
-        userInitiated: wasUserInitiated || undefined
-      })
+      sendStagedUpdateStatus(stagedVersion, wasUserInitiated)
       return
     }
 
@@ -217,7 +253,7 @@ export function registerAutoUpdaterHandlers({
       // currentStatus during that window, broadcasting 'available' here would
       // overwrite a more recent status. Guard against this by checking that the
       // state hasn't advanced past the point where 'available' makes sense.
-      if (getCurrentStatus().state !== 'checking' && getCurrentStatus().state !== 'idle') {
+      if (!shouldApplyAvailableResultAfterChangelog(getCurrentStatus(), info.version)) {
         return
       }
 
@@ -279,12 +315,7 @@ export function registerAutoUpdaterHandlers({
     if (stagedVersion && compareVersions(stagedVersion, app.getVersion()) > 0) {
       // Why: "not available" means no newer feed result, not that a previously
       // staged update disappeared. Keep the restart action available.
-      sendStatus({
-        state: 'downloaded',
-        version: stagedVersion,
-        releaseUrl: getKnownReleaseUrl(),
-        userInitiated: wasUserInitiated || undefined
-      })
+      sendStagedUpdateStatus(stagedVersion, wasUserInitiated)
       return
     }
     sendStatus({ state: 'not-available', userInitiated: wasUserInitiated || undefined })
@@ -304,6 +335,8 @@ export function registerAutoUpdaterHandlers({
   autoUpdater.on('update-downloaded', (info) => {
     clearBackgroundCheckLaunchPending()
     if (!shouldAcceptDownloadedUpdate(info.version)) {
+      clearActiveUpdateDownload(info.version)
+      startPendingReplacementDownload()
       return
     }
     // Don't show the banner if the downloaded version isn't actually newer
@@ -349,8 +382,11 @@ export function registerAutoUpdaterHandlers({
       return
     }
     const statusAtError = getCurrentStatus()
+    const activeDownloadVersionAtError = getActiveDownloadVersion()
     clearBackgroundCheckLaunchPending()
-    if (statusAtError.state !== 'checking') {
+    if (activeDownloadVersionAtError) {
+      clearActiveUpdateDownload(activeDownloadVersionAtError)
+    } else if (statusAtError.state !== 'checking') {
       clearActiveUpdateDownload()
     }
     resetMacInstallState()
@@ -360,10 +396,13 @@ export function registerAutoUpdaterHandlers({
       (missingManifestFallback?.userInitiated ?? getUserInitiatedCheck()) ||
       getActionableUpdateUserInitiated(getCurrentStatus())
     setUserInitiatedCheck(false)
-    if (statusAtError.state === 'checking') {
+    if (statusAtError.state === 'checking' && !activeDownloadVersionAtError) {
       void sendCheckFailureStatus(message, wasUserInitiated || undefined, 'event', err)
       return
     }
+    if (startPendingReplacementDownload()) {
+      return
+    }
     sendErrorStatus(message, wasUserInitiated || undefined)
   })
 }
diff --git a/src/main/updater.mac-install.test.ts b/src/main/updater.mac-install.test.ts
index 6398473b09c..29692e4df6a 100644
--- a/src/main/updater.mac-install.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/updater.mac-install.test.ts
@@ -208,6 +208,64 @@ describe('updater mac install handoff', () => {
     }
   )
 
+  it('keeps staged mac updates pending through same-version fast paths until native readiness', async () => {
+    vi.stubGlobal('process', { ...process, platform: 'darwin' })
+
+    const sendMock = vi.fn()
+    const mainWindow = { webContents: { send: sendMock } }
+
+    const { setupAutoUpdater } = await import('./updater')
+
+    setupAutoUpdater(mainWindow as never, { getLastUpdateCheckAt: () => Date.now() })
+    const nativeDownloadedHandler = nativeUpdaterMock.on.mock.calls.find(
+      ([eventName]) => eventName === 'update-downloaded'
+    )?.[1] as (() => void) | undefined
+    expect(nativeDownloadedHandler).toBeTypeOf('function')
+
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('checking-for-update')
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('update-available', { version: '1.0.61' })
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 0))
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('update-downloaded', { version: '1.0.61' })
+
+    sendMock.mockClear()
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('checking-for-update')
+    sendMock.mockClear()
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('update-not-available')
+
+    expect(sendMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('updater:status', {
+      state: 'downloading',
+      percent: 100,
+      version: '1.0.61'
+    })
+    expect(sendMock).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'updater:status',
+      expect.objectContaining({ state: 'downloaded' })
+    )
+
+    sendMock.mockClear()
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('checking-for-update')
+    sendMock.mockClear()
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('update-available', { version: '1.0.61' })
+
+    expect(sendMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('updater:status', {
+      state: 'downloading',
+      percent: 100,
+      version: '1.0.61'
+    })
+    expect(sendMock).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'updater:status',
+      expect.objectContaining({ state: 'downloaded' })
+    )
+
+    nativeDownloadedHandler?.()
+
+    expect(sendMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('updater:status', {
+      state: 'downloaded',
+      version: '1.0.61',
+      releaseUrl: undefined
+    })
+  })
+
   it('does not let stale native macOS readiness mark a replacement update ready', async () => {
     vi.stubGlobal('process', { ...process, platform: 'darwin' })
     autoUpdaterMock.downloadUpdate.mockImplementation(() => new Promise(() => {}))
diff --git a/src/main/updater.test.ts b/src/main/updater.test.ts
index 518a51b4b05..c2e3b87fdc5 100644
--- a/src/main/updater.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/updater.test.ts
@@ -975,6 +975,46 @@ describe('updater', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  it('keeps active download errors retryable when a manual check is visible', async () => {
+    autoUpdaterMock.checkForUpdates.mockResolvedValue(undefined)
+    autoUpdaterMock.downloadUpdate.mockImplementation(() => new Promise(() => {}))
+
+    const sendMock = vi.fn()
+    const persistLastUpdateCheckAt = vi.fn()
+    const mainWindow = { webContents: { send: sendMock } }
+
+    const { setupAutoUpdater, checkForUpdatesFromMenu, downloadUpdate } = await import('./updater')
+
+    setupAutoUpdater(mainWindow as never, {
+      getLastUpdateCheckAt: () => Date.now(),
+      setLastUpdateCheckAt: persistLastUpdateCheckAt
+    })
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('checking-for-update')
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('update-available', { version: '1.0.61' })
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(autoUpdaterMock.downloadUpdate).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    })
+
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('download-progress', { percent: 10 })
+    sendMock.mockClear()
+    persistLastUpdateCheckAt.mockClear()
+
+    checkForUpdatesFromMenu()
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('error', new Error('disk full'))
+
+    expect(sendMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('updater:status', {
+      state: 'error',
+      message: 'disk full',
+      userInitiated: true
+    })
+    expect(persistLastUpdateCheckAt).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+    downloadUpdate()
+
+    expect(autoUpdaterMock.downloadUpdate).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+  })
+
   it('surfaces automatic download failures against the cached update version', async () => {
     autoUpdaterMock.checkForUpdates.mockImplementation(() => {
       autoUpdaterMock.emit('checking-for-update')
@@ -1139,6 +1179,148 @@ describe('updater', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  it('queues a newer replacement while an older download is still active', async () => {
+    vi.stubGlobal('process', { ...process, platform: 'linux' })
+    autoUpdaterMock.downloadUpdate.mockImplementation(() => new Promise(() => {}))
+
+    const { fetchChangelog } = await import('./updater-changelog')
+    vi.mocked(fetchChangelog).mockResolvedValue(null)
+
+    const sendMock = vi.fn()
+    const mainWindow = { webContents: { send: sendMock } }
+
+    const { setupAutoUpdater } = await import('./updater')
+
+    setupAutoUpdater(mainWindow as never, { getLastUpdateCheckAt: () => Date.now() })
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('checking-for-update')
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('update-available', { version: '1.0.61' })
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(autoUpdaterMock.downloadUpdate).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    })
+
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('download-progress', { percent: 10 })
+    sendMock.mockClear()
+
+    let resolveNewerChangelog: (
+      value: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof fetchChangelog>>
+    ) => void = () => {}
+    vi.mocked(fetchChangelog).mockImplementationOnce(
+      () =>
+        new Promise((resolve) => {
+          resolveNewerChangelog = resolve
+        })
+    )
+
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('checking-for-update')
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('update-available', { version: '1.0.62' })
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(fetchChangelog).toHaveBeenCalledWith('1.0.62', '1.0.51')
+    })
+
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('download-progress', { percent: 42 })
+    resolveNewerChangelog(null)
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(sendMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('updater:status', {
+        state: 'available',
+        version: '1.0.62',
+        changelog: null
+      })
+    })
+
+    expect(autoUpdaterMock.downloadUpdate).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('download-progress', { percent: 67 })
+
+    expect(sendMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('updater:status', {
+      state: 'downloading',
+      percent: 67,
+      version: '1.0.61'
+    })
+
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('update-downloaded', { version: '1.0.61' })
+
+    expect(autoUpdaterMock.downloadUpdate).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+    expect(sendMock).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'updater:status',
+      expect.objectContaining({ state: 'downloaded', version: '1.0.61' })
+    )
+
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('download-progress', { percent: 80 })
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('update-downloaded', { version: '1.0.62' })
+
+    expect(sendMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('updater:status', {
+      state: 'downloading',
+      percent: 80,
+      version: '1.0.62'
+    })
+    expect(sendMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('updater:status', {
+      state: 'downloaded',
+      version: '1.0.62',
+      releaseUrl: undefined
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('starts a queued replacement when the older active download fails', async () => {
+    vi.stubGlobal('process', { ...process, platform: 'linux' })
+    let rejectFirstDownload: (reason: Error) => void = () => {}
+    autoUpdaterMock.downloadUpdate
+      .mockImplementationOnce(
+        () =>
+          new Promise<string[]>((_resolve, reject) => {
+            rejectFirstDownload = reject
+          })
+      )
+      .mockImplementation(() => new Promise(() => {}))
+
+    const sendMock = vi.fn()
+    const mainWindow = { webContents: { send: sendMock } }
+
+    const { setupAutoUpdater } = await import('./updater')
+
+    setupAutoUpdater(mainWindow as never, { getLastUpdateCheckAt: () => Date.now() })
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('checking-for-update')
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('update-available', { version: '1.0.61' })
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(autoUpdaterMock.downloadUpdate).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    })
+
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('download-progress', { percent: 10 })
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('checking-for-update')
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('update-available', { version: '1.0.62' })
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(sendMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('updater:status', {
+        state: 'available',
+        version: '1.0.62',
+        changelog: null
+      })
+    })
+
+    sendMock.mockClear()
+    rejectFirstDownload(new Error('disk full'))
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(autoUpdaterMock.downloadUpdate).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+    })
+
+    expect(sendMock).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'updater:status',
+      expect.objectContaining({ state: 'error', message: 'disk full' })
+    )
+
+    autoUpdaterMock.emit('download-progress', { percent: 55 })
+
+    expect(sendMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('updater:status', {
+      state: 'downloading',
+      percent: 55,
+      version: '1.0.62'
+    })
+  })
+
   it('does not leak a nudge marker into a later ordinary update cycle', async () => {
     const sendMock = vi.fn()
     const mainWindow = { webContents: { send: sendMock } }
diff --git a/src/main/updater.ts b/src/main/updater.ts
index bf1fb8a614d..1aca0025566 100644
--- a/src/main/updater.ts
+++ b/src/main/updater.ts
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ let _setDismissedUpdateNudgeId: ((id: string | null) => void) | null = null
 // background download is still active, so the duplicate-download guard must be
 // version-scoped instead of tied to the visible status.
 let activeDownloadVersion: string | null = null
+let pendingReplacementDownloadVersion: string | null = null
 /** Guards against the macOS `activate` handler re-opening the old version
  *  while Squirrel's ShipIt is replacing the .app bundle. */
 let quittingForUpdate = false
@@ -103,6 +104,7 @@ function getAutoUpdater(): ElectronAutoUpdater {
 function clearAvailableUpdateContext(): void {
   availableVersion = null
   availableReleaseUrl = null
+  pendingReplacementDownloadVersion = null
 }
 
 function clearStagedUpdateContext(): void {
@@ -129,6 +131,20 @@ function clearActiveUpdateDownload(version?: string): void {
   }
 }
 
+function startPendingReplacementDownload(): boolean {
+  const pendingVersion = pendingReplacementDownloadVersion
+  if (!pendingVersion) {
+    return false
+  }
+  const targetVersion = getPendingDownloadVersion()
+  if (!targetVersion || compareVersions(targetVersion, pendingVersion) < 0) {
+    pendingReplacementDownloadVersion = null
+    return false
+  }
+  startAvailableUpdateDownload()
+  return activeDownloadVersion === targetVersion
+}
+
 function clearPrereleaseFallbackContext(): void {
   pendingPrereleaseFallback = null
 }
@@ -261,6 +277,12 @@ function hasNewerDownloadedVersion(): boolean {
   if (activeDownloadVersion && compareVersions(activeDownloadVersion, stagedUpdateVersion) > 0) {
     return false
   }
+  if (
+    pendingReplacementDownloadVersion &&
+    compareVersions(pendingReplacementDownloadVersion, stagedUpdateVersion) > 0
+  ) {
+    return false
+  }
   return true
 }
 
@@ -295,6 +317,12 @@ function shouldAcceptDownloadedUpdate(version: string): boolean {
   if (activeDownloadVersion && compareVersions(version, activeDownloadVersion) < 0) {
     return false
   }
+  if (
+    pendingReplacementDownloadVersion &&
+    compareVersions(version, pendingReplacementDownloadVersion) < 0
+  ) {
+    return false
+  }
   if (availableVersion && compareVersions(version, availableVersion) < 0) {
     return false
   }
@@ -983,6 +1011,7 @@ export function setupAutoUpdater(
     recordCompletedUpdateCheck,
     sendStatus,
     scheduleAutomaticUpdateCheck,
+    startPendingReplacementDownload,
     startAvailableUpdateDownload,
     shouldAcceptDownloadedUpdate,
     clearBackgroundCheckLaunchPending,
@@ -1040,16 +1069,24 @@ function startAvailableUpdateDownload(): void {
   if (activeDownloadVersion === targetVersion) {
     return
   }
+  if (activeDownloadVersion) {
+    if (compareVersions(targetVersion, activeDownloadVersion) > 0) {
+      pendingReplacementDownloadVersion = targetVersion
+    }
+    return
+  }
   // Why: permit retry from 'error' when we still have a cached availableVersion —
   // a failed download leaves the status at 'error' but availableVersion intact,
   // and the error card's "Retry Download" button must be able to restart the
   // download. Without this, the button would appear to do nothing.
   const canStart =
     currentStatus.state === 'available' ||
-    (currentStatus.state === 'error' && hasNewerAvailableVersion())
+    (currentStatus.state === 'error' && hasNewerAvailableVersion()) ||
+    pendingReplacementDownloadVersion === targetVersion
   if (!canStart) {
     return
   }
+  pendingReplacementDownloadVersion = null
   activeDownloadVersion = targetVersion
   // Why: electron-updater can emit 'error' before downloadUpdate() rejects;
   // capture launch intent, then merge any manual promotion observed by catch.
@@ -1073,6 +1110,12 @@ function startAvailableUpdateDownload(): void {
         backgroundCheckPromotedToUserInitiated ||
         undefined
       clearActiveUpdateDownload(targetVersion)
+      if (startPendingReplacementDownload()) {
+        return
+      }
+      if (activeDownloadVersion && compareVersions(activeDownloadVersion, targetVersion) > 0) {
+        return
+      }
       sendErrorStatus(message, wasUserInitiated)
     })
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/UpdateCard.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/UpdateCard.test.ts
index 048e331bf4a..f0a2c9cb3b6 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/UpdateCard.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/UpdateCard.test.ts
@@ -260,6 +260,15 @@ describe('updateDownloadIntentVersion', () => {
 
     expect(store.getState().updateDownloadIntentVersion).toBeNull()
   })
+
+  it('clears explicit download intent when a different available version becomes current', () => {
+    const store = createTestStore()
+    store.getState().markUpdateDownloadIntent('1.2.0')
+
+    setState(store, { state: 'available', version: '1.3.0', changelog: null })
+
+    expect(store.getState().updateDownloadIntentVersion).toBeNull()
+  })
 })
 
 // ── markUpdateReassuranceSeen ────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -326,6 +335,7 @@ type VisibilityInput = {
   hasStartedDownload: boolean
   userInitiatedCycle?: boolean
   downloadIntentVersion?: string | null
+  locallyDismissedVersion?: string | null
 }
 
 type VisibilityResult = 'hidden' | 'visible'
@@ -338,7 +348,8 @@ function computeVisibility(input: VisibilityInput): VisibilityResult {
     cachedVersion,
     hasStartedDownload,
     userInitiatedCycle = false,
-    downloadIntentVersion = null
+    downloadIntentVersion = null,
+    locallyDismissedVersion = null
   } = input
   const isUserInitiated = 'userInitiated' in status && status.userInitiated
   const isNudgeDriven = 'activeNudgeId' in status && Boolean(status.activeNudgeId)
@@ -375,13 +386,13 @@ function computeVisibility(input: VisibilityInput): VisibilityResult {
   }
 
   const effectiveVersion = 'version' in status ? status.version : cachedVersion
+  const isLocallyDismissedVersion =
+    effectiveVersion !== null && locallyDismissedVersion === effectiveVersion
   if (
     effectiveVersion &&
-    dismissedVersion === effectiveVersion &&
-    !userInitiatedCycle &&
-    !isUserInitiated &&
-    !hasExplicitDownloadIntent &&
-    !isNudgeDriven
+    (dismissedVersion === effectiveVersion || isLocallyDismissedVersion) &&
+    (isLocallyDismissedVersion ||
+      (!userInitiatedCycle && !isUserInitiated && !hasExplicitDownloadIntent && !isNudgeDriven))
   ) {
     if (
       status.state !== 'downloading' &&
@@ -536,6 +547,18 @@ describe('UpdateCard visibility gates', () => {
     ).toBe('visible')
   })
 
+  it('hides hydrated user-initiated available after the visible card is explicitly dismissed', () => {
+    expect(
+      computeVisibility({
+        status: { state: 'available', version: '1.2.0', changelog: null, userInitiated: true },
+        dismissedVersion: '1.2.0',
+        cachedVersion: '1.2.0',
+        hasStartedDownload: false,
+        locallyDismissedVersion: '1.2.0'
+      })
+    ).toBe('hidden')
+  })
+
   it('shows downloading even when version is dismissed (user clicked Update after dismiss)', () => {
     expect(
       computeVisibility({
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/UpdateCard.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/UpdateCard.tsx
index 7b66e0d5831..0d85a35773d 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/UpdateCard.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/UpdateCard.tsx
@@ -120,6 +120,9 @@ export function UpdateCard() {
   // dismissed.  This ref tracks whether the current check cycle was user-initiated
   // so the dismiss gate can let the result through.
   const userInitiatedCycleRef = useRef(false)
+  // Why: status.userInitiated can outlive an explicit close click. Track that
+  // local close so dismissing a visible card wins until a new check/version.
+  const locallyDismissedVersionRef = useRef<string | null>(null)
 
   const changelog: ChangelogData | null = storeChangelog
 
@@ -149,6 +152,7 @@ export function UpdateCard() {
   if (status.state === 'available' && status.version !== prevVersionRef.current) {
     prevVersionRef.current = status.version
     hasStartedDownload.current = false
+    locallyDismissedVersionRef.current = null
     setMediaFailed(false)
     setMediaLoaded(false)
     setInstallError(null)
@@ -225,8 +229,10 @@ export function UpdateCard() {
   // even though the user explicitly asked to see the result.
   if (status.state === 'checking' && isUserInitiated) {
     userInitiatedCycleRef.current = true
+    locallyDismissedVersionRef.current = null
   } else if (status.state === 'idle' || (status.state === 'checking' && !isUserInitiated)) {
     userInitiatedCycleRef.current = false
+    locallyDismissedVersionRef.current = null
   }
 
   // Compact transient states: only show for user-initiated checks.
@@ -285,13 +291,16 @@ export function UpdateCard() {
   // Why: bypass the gate when the current cycle was user-initiated — the user
   // explicitly asked to check, so they expect to see the result even if they
   // dismissed the same version earlier.
+  const isLocallyDismissedVersion =
+    versionRef.current !== null && locallyDismissedVersionRef.current === versionRef.current
   if (
     versionRef.current &&
-    dismissedVersion === versionRef.current &&
-    !userInitiatedCycleRef.current &&
-    !isUserInitiated &&
-    !hasExplicitDownloadIntent &&
-    !isNudgeDriven
+    (dismissedVersion === versionRef.current || isLocallyDismissedVersion) &&
+    (isLocallyDismissedVersion ||
+      (!userInitiatedCycleRef.current &&
+        !isUserInitiated &&
+        !hasExplicitDownloadIntent &&
+        !isNudgeDriven))
   ) {
     if (
       status.state !== 'downloading' &&
@@ -333,6 +342,7 @@ export function UpdateCard() {
     // immediately — otherwise the card would reappear on the next render
     // because the bypass ref still overrides the persisted dismissal.
     userInitiatedCycleRef.current = false
+    locallyDismissedVersionRef.current = cachedVersion
     if (status.state === 'error') {
       setErrorDismissed(true)
       if (cachedVersion) {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/ui.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/ui.ts
index f3ead795d48..d0c8a9d124e 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/ui.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/ui.ts
@@ -1337,7 +1337,9 @@ export const createUISlice: StateCreator<AppState, [], [], UISlice> = (set, get)
 
   updateStatus: { state: 'idle' },
   setUpdateStatus: (status) => {
-    const prevState = get().updateStatus.state
+    const state = get()
+    const prevState = state.updateStatus.state
+    const intentVersion = state.updateDownloadIntentVersion
     const update: Partial<
       Pick<
         UISlice,
@@ -1361,11 +1363,10 @@ export const createUISlice: StateCreator<AppState, [], [], UISlice> = (set, get)
       // previous update cycle cannot resurface.
       update.updateChangelog = null
       update.updateDownloadIntentVersion = null
-    } else if (
-      'version' in status &&
-      get().updateDownloadIntentVersion !== null &&
-      get().updateDownloadIntentVersion !== status.version
-    ) {
+    }
+    // Why: explicit download intent is version-scoped; keeping it after a new
+    // version appears makes passive failures look user-initiated.
+    if ('version' in status && intentVersion !== null && intentVersion !== status.version) {
       update.updateDownloadIntentVersion = null
     }
     // For 'downloading', 'downloaded', 'error': leave updateChangelog untouched