diff --git a/.changeset/fix-desktop-update-restart.md b/.changeset/fix-desktop-update-restart.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..694eae52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/fix-desktop-update-restart.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@pymodel/pythinker-code": patch
+---
+
+Fix desktop update prompts so one action downloads, closes, installs, and restarts the app.
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/main.ts b/apps/desktop/src/main.ts
index e5d8ccd1..c3439123 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/main.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/main.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { existsSync, readFileSync, writeFileSync } from 'node:fs'
 import { isAbsolute, join, resolve } from 'node:path'
 import {
   app,
+  autoUpdater,
   BrowserWindow,
   dialog,
   ipcMain,
@@ -401,6 +402,8 @@ async function boot(): Promise<void> {
 if (!app.requestSingleInstanceLock()) {
   app.quit()
 } else {
+  // Update-triggered quits close windows before app.before-quit, so start teardown here.
+  autoUpdater.on('before-quit-for-update', () => { void requestAppQuit() })
   app.on('second-instance', showWindowSafely)
   app.on('activate', showWindowSafely)
   app.on('window-all-closed', () => {
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/updater.ts b/apps/desktop/src/updater.ts
index 803f625e..afe4913a 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/updater.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/updater.ts
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ let initialCheckTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined
 let checkInterval: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | undefined
 let listenersWired = false
 let initialized = false
+let installWhenDownloaded = false
 let updateTelemetryTrack: UpdateTelemetryTrack = () => {}
 
 export function trackUpdateTransition(
@@ -92,6 +93,7 @@ function emitUpdateTelemetry(previous: UpdateState, next: UpdateState): void {
 }
 
 function stateError(error: unknown): void {
+  installWhenDownloaded = false
   updateState({
     status: 'error',
     message: error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error),
@@ -166,6 +168,7 @@ function wireUpdaterEvents(): void {
     })
     autoUpdater.on('update-downloaded', (info) => {
       updateState({ status: 'downloaded', version: info.version, percent: 100, message: undefined })
+      if (installWhenDownloaded) installDownloadedUpdate()
     })
     autoUpdater.on('error', stateError)
     listenersWired = true
@@ -278,10 +281,26 @@ export function quitAndInstallNow(): UpdateState {
   } catch {
     // Telemetry must never delay update installation.
   }
+  if (state.status === 'available') {
+    installWhenDownloaded = true
+    updateState({ status: 'downloading', percent: 0, message: undefined })
+    try {
+      void autoUpdater.downloadUpdate().catch(stateError)
+    } catch (error) {
+      stateError(error)
+    }
+    return state
+  }
+  if (state.status !== 'downloaded') return state
+  installDownloadedUpdate()
+  return state
+}
+
+function installDownloadedUpdate(): void {
+  installWhenDownloaded = false
   try {
     autoUpdater.quitAndInstall()
   } catch (error) {
     stateError(error)
   }
-  return state
 }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/tests/updater.spec.ts b/apps/desktop/tests/updater.spec.ts
index c26899d9..59e1ebc6 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/tests/updater.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/tests/updater.spec.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ vi.mock('electron-updater', () => ({
     autoUpdater: {
       on: vi.fn(),
       checkForUpdates: vi.fn(),
+      downloadUpdate: vi.fn(() => Promise.resolve([])),
       quitAndInstall: vi.fn(),
     },
   },
@@ -118,3 +119,33 @@ describe('packaged builds without update metadata', () => {
     expect(app.once).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 })
+
+describe('installing an update', () => {
+  it('downloads an available update and installs it when the download completes', async () => {
+    vi.resetModules()
+    const directory = temporaryDirectory()
+    writeFileSync(join(directory, 'app-update.yml'), '', 'utf8')
+    const { app: localApp } = await import('electron')
+    const { default: localElectronUpdater } = await import('electron-updater')
+    const {
+      initUpdater: initLocalUpdater,
+      quitAndInstallNow,
+    } = await import('../src/updater')
+    const localAutoUpdater = localElectronUpdater.autoUpdater
+    vi.mocked(localApp.getPath).mockReturnValue(directory)
+    Object.defineProperty(localApp, 'isPackaged', { configurable: true, value: true })
+    Object.defineProperty(process, 'resourcesPath', { configurable: true, value: directory })
+
+    initLocalUpdater(() => undefined)
+    const available = vi.mocked(localAutoUpdater.on).mock.calls.find(([event]) => event === 'update-available')?.[1] as ((info: { version: string }) => void) | undefined
+    const downloaded = vi.mocked(localAutoUpdater.on).mock.calls.find(([event]) => event === 'update-downloaded')?.[1] as ((info: { version: string }) => void) | undefined
+    available?.({ version: '1.2.3' })
+
+    expect(quitAndInstallNow()).toMatchObject({ status: 'downloading' })
+    expect(localAutoUpdater.downloadUpdate).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    expect(localAutoUpdater.quitAndInstall).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+    downloaded?.({ version: '1.2.3' })
+    expect(localAutoUpdater.quitAndInstall).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/apps/pythinker-web/src/components/UpdateToast.vue b/apps/pythinker-web/src/components/UpdateToast.vue
index a2eb03ef..79423396 100644
--- a/apps/pythinker-web/src/components/UpdateToast.vue
+++ b/apps/pythinker-web/src/components/UpdateToast.vue
@@ -41,16 +41,11 @@ const title = computed(() =>
     : t('update.available'),
 );
 
-const primaryLabel = computed(() =>
-  state.value?.status === 'downloaded' ? t('settings.desktop.restartToUpdate') : t('update.download'),
-);
-
 async function primary(): Promise<void> {
   if (bridge === undefined || busy.value) return;
   busy.value = true;
   try {
-    state.value =
-      state.value?.status === 'downloaded' ? await bridge.quitAndInstall() : await bridge.checkForUpdates();
+    state.value = await bridge.quitAndInstall();
   } finally {
     busy.value = false;
   }
@@ -97,7 +92,7 @@ onUnmounted(() => {
     </div>
     <div class="acts">
       <button type="button" class="skip" @click="skip">{{ t('update.skip') }}</button>
-      <button type="button" class="go" :disabled="busy" @click="void primary()">{{ primaryLabel }}</button>
+      <button type="button" class="go" :disabled="busy" @click="void primary()">{{ t('update.install') }}</button>
     </div>
   </div>
 </template>
diff --git a/apps/pythinker-web/src/i18n/locales/en/update.ts b/apps/pythinker-web/src/i18n/locales/en/update.ts
index db5f6f22..28a33411 100644
--- a/apps/pythinker-web/src/i18n/locales/en/update.ts
+++ b/apps/pythinker-web/src/i18n/locales/en/update.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@ export default {
   available: 'A new version is available',
   availableVersion: 'Version {version} is available',
   prompt: 'Install it now, or skip this version.',
-  download: 'Download update',
+  install: 'Update',
   skip: 'Skip',
 } as const;
diff --git a/apps/pythinker-web/test/update-toast.test.ts b/apps/pythinker-web/test/update-toast.test.ts
index 89a4f684..9c087524 100644
--- a/apps/pythinker-web/test/update-toast.test.ts
+++ b/apps/pythinker-web/test/update-toast.test.ts
@@ -62,17 +62,17 @@ describe('UpdateToast', () => {
     const bridge = installBridge({ status: 'downloaded', version: '1.2.3', autoUpdate: true });
     const wrapper = await mountToast();
     expect(wrapper.get('.title').text()).toContain('1.2.3');
-    expect(wrapper.get('.go').text()).toBe(enSettings.desktop.restartToUpdate);
+    expect(wrapper.get('.go').text()).toBe(enUpdate.install);
     await wrapper.get('.go').trigger('click');
     expect(bridge.quitAndInstall).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
 
-  it('offers a manual download when automatic updates are off', async () => {
+  it('starts the complete update flow when automatic downloads are off', async () => {
     const bridge = installBridge({ status: 'available', version: '1.2.3', autoUpdate: false });
     const wrapper = await mountToast();
-    expect(wrapper.get('.go').text()).toBe(enUpdate.download);
+    expect(wrapper.get('.go').text()).toBe(enUpdate.install);
     await wrapper.get('.go').trigger('click');
-    expect(bridge.checkForUpdates).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(bridge.quitAndInstall).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
 
   it('hides the prompt and remembers the skipped version', async () => {
diff --git a/docs/guides/desktop.md b/docs/guides/desktop.md
index 225496fe..3aaff455 100644
--- a/docs/guides/desktop.md
+++ b/docs/guides/desktop.md
@@ -59,6 +59,10 @@ The desktop application updates itself. Open **Settings** in the application to
 - **Check for updates** — check immediately.
 - **Restart to update** — appears when an update is downloaded and ready to install.
 
+When a new version is available, the application also shows an update prompt. Choose **Update** to
+download the version if needed, close the application, install it, and restart. Choose **Skip** to
+ignore that version.
+
 The update controls apply to installed builds only. A development build shows them as unavailable.
 
 ## The local Host port