diff --git a/web_interface/blueprints/api_v3.py b/web_interface/blueprints/api_v3.py
index dbe4d016..1eae921e 100644
--- a/web_interface/blueprints/api_v3.py
+++ b/web_interface/blueprints/api_v3.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import time
 import hashlib
 import uuid
 import logging
+import threading
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Optional, Tuple, Dict, Any, Type
@@ -1626,6 +1627,71 @@ def get_system_version():
         logger.exception("[System] get_system_version failed")
         return jsonify({'status': 'error', 'message': 'Failed to get system version'}), 500
 
+_update_check_cache: Dict = {}
+_UPDATE_CHECK_TTL = 300  # 5 minutes
+_update_check_lock = threading.Lock()
+
+@api_v3.route('/system/check-update', methods=['GET'])
+def check_for_update():
+    """Check if a newer version is available on the remote."""
+    now = time.time()
+    project_dir = str(PROJECT_ROOT)
+    with _update_check_lock:
+        if _update_check_cache.get('ts', 0) + _UPDATE_CHECK_TTL > now:
+            return jsonify(_update_check_cache['data'])
+
+        try:
+            fetch_result = subprocess.run(
+                ['git', 'fetch', 'origin', 'main'],
+                capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=15, cwd=project_dir
+            )
+            if fetch_result.returncode != 0:
+                raise RuntimeError(f"git fetch failed: {fetch_result.stderr.strip()}")
+
+            local_result = subprocess.run(
+                ['git', 'rev-parse', 'HEAD'],
+                capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5, cwd=project_dir
+            )
+            if local_result.returncode != 0:
+                raise RuntimeError(f"git rev-parse HEAD failed: {local_result.stderr.strip()}")
+            local_sha = local_result.stdout.strip()
+
+            remote_result = subprocess.run(
+                ['git', 'rev-parse', 'origin/main'],
+                capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5, cwd=project_dir
+            )
+            if remote_result.returncode != 0:
+                raise RuntimeError(f"git rev-parse origin/main failed: {remote_result.stderr.strip()}")
+            remote_sha = remote_result.stdout.strip()
+
+            if local_sha == remote_sha:
+                data = {'status': 'success', 'update_available': False,
+                        'local_sha': local_sha[:8], 'remote_sha': remote_sha[:8]}
+            else:
+                log_result = subprocess.run(
+                    ['git', 'log', 'HEAD..origin/main', '--oneline'],
+                    capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5, cwd=project_dir
+                )
+                if log_result.returncode != 0:
+                    raise RuntimeError(f"git log failed: {log_result.stderr.strip()}")
+                lines = [commit_line for commit_line in log_result.stdout.strip().split('\n') if commit_line]
+                commits_behind = len(lines)
+                data = {
+                    'status': 'success',
+                    'update_available': commits_behind > 0,
+                    'local_sha': local_sha[:8],
+                    'remote_sha': remote_sha[:8],
+                    'commits_behind': commits_behind,
+                    'latest_message': lines[0].split(' ', 1)[1] if lines else '',
+                }
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning("[System] check-update failed: %s", e)
+            data = {'status': 'error', 'update_available': False, 'message': str(e)}
+
+        _update_check_cache['ts'] = now
+        _update_check_cache['data'] = data
+    return jsonify(data)
+
 @api_v3.route('/system/action', methods=['POST'])
 def execute_system_action():
     """Execute system actions (start/stop/reboot/etc)"""
@@ -1735,6 +1801,10 @@ def execute_system_action():
                 cwd=project_dir
             )
 
+            # Invalidate update-check cache so the banner hides immediately
+            with _update_check_lock:
+                _update_check_cache.clear()
+
             # Return custom response for git_pull
             if result.returncode == 0:
                 pull_message = "Code updated successfully."
diff --git a/web_interface/static/v3/app.css b/web_interface/static/v3/app.css
index 38036194..8894b9de 100644
--- a/web_interface/static/v3/app.css
+++ b/web_interface/static/v3/app.css
@@ -1004,3 +1004,39 @@ button.bg-white {
 [data-theme="dark"] .theme-toggle-btn {
     color: #fbbf24;
 }
+
+/* Update available banner */
+.update-banner {
+    background-color: #eff6ff;
+    border-color: #bfdbfe;
+    color: #1e40af;
+}
+.update-banner-action {
+    background-color: #3b82f6;
+    color: #fff;
+}
+.update-banner-action:hover {
+    background-color: #2563eb;
+}
+.update-banner-dismiss {
+    color: #1e40af;
+    opacity: 0.6;
+}
+.update-banner-dismiss:hover {
+    opacity: 1;
+}
+
+[data-theme="dark"] .update-banner {
+    background-color: #1e293b;
+    border-color: #334155;
+    color: #93c5fd;
+}
+[data-theme="dark"] .update-banner-action {
+    background-color: #2563eb;
+}
+[data-theme="dark"] .update-banner-action:hover {
+    background-color: #3b82f6;
+}
+[data-theme="dark"] .update-banner-dismiss {
+    color: #93c5fd;
+}
diff --git a/web_interface/templates/v3/base.html b/web_interface/templates/v3/base.html
index a6aa748d..8e26515f 100644
--- a/web_interface/templates/v3/base.html
+++ b/web_interface/templates/v3/base.html
@@ -900,6 +900,34 @@
         </div>
     </header>
 
+    <!-- Update available banner -->
+    <div id="update-banner" style="display:none"
+         class="update-banner border-b transition-all duration-300 ease-in-out">
+        <div class="mx-auto px-4 sm:px-6 lg:px-8 xl:px-12 2xl:px-16 py-2" style="max-width:100%">
+            <div class="flex items-center justify-between">
+                <div class="flex items-center space-x-3">
+                    <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-up text-lg"></i>
+                    <span class="text-sm font-medium" id="update-banner-text"
+                          aria-live="polite" aria-atomic="true">
+                        A new LEDMatrix update is available
+                    </span>
+                </div>
+                <div class="flex items-center space-x-3">
+                    <button onclick="applyUpdate()" id="update-banner-btn"
+                            class="inline-flex items-center px-3 py-1 text-xs font-semibold rounded-md
+                                   update-banner-action transition-colors duration-150">
+                        <i class="fas fa-download mr-1"></i> Update Now
+                    </button>
+                    <button type="button" onclick="dismissUpdateBanner()"
+                            class="update-banner-dismiss rounded p-1 transition-colors duration-150"
+                            title="Dismiss" aria-label="Dismiss update">
+                        <i class="fas fa-times text-sm"></i>
+                    </button>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
     <!-- Main content -->
     <main class="mx-auto px-4 sm:px-6 lg:px-8 xl:px-12 2xl:px-16 py-8" style="max-width: 100%;">
         <!-- Navigation tabs -->
@@ -4874,6 +4902,77 @@
             </form>
         </div>
     </div>
+<!-- Update banner logic -->
+<script>
+(function() {
+    var CHECK_INTERVAL = 30 * 60 * 1000; // 30 minutes
+
+    function getDismissedSha() {
+        try { return sessionStorage.getItem('update-sha-dismissed'); } catch(e) { return null; }
+    }
+
+    function checkForUpdate() {
+        fetch('/api/v3/system/check-update')
+            .then(function(r) { return r.json(); })
+            .then(function(data) {
+                if (data.update_available && getDismissedSha() !== data.remote_sha) {
+                    var n = data.commits_behind || 0;
+                    var msg = 'A new LEDMatrix update is available';
+                    if (n > 0) msg += ' (' + n + ' commit' + (n > 1 ? 's' : '') + ')';
+                    document.getElementById('update-banner-text').textContent = msg;
+                    document.getElementById('update-banner').style.display = '';
+                    try { sessionStorage.setItem('update-sha', data.remote_sha); } catch(e) {}
+                } else {
+                    document.getElementById('update-banner').style.display = 'none';
+                }
+            })
+            .catch(function() {});
+    }
+
+    window.dismissUpdateBanner = function() {
+        document.getElementById('update-banner').style.display = 'none';
+        try {
+            var sha = sessionStorage.getItem('update-sha');
+            if (sha) sessionStorage.setItem('update-sha-dismissed', sha);
+        } catch(e) {}
+    };
+
+    window.applyUpdate = function() {
+        var btn = document.getElementById('update-banner-btn');
+        var originalHTML = '<i class="fas fa-download mr-1"></i> Update Now';
+        btn.innerHTML = '<i class="fas fa-spinner fa-spin mr-1"></i> Updating...';
+        btn.disabled = true;
+        fetch('/api/v3/system/action', {
+            method: 'POST',
+            headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+            body: JSON.stringify({ action: 'git_pull' })
+        })
+        .then(function(r) { return r.json(); })
+        .then(function(data) {
+            btn.innerHTML = originalHTML;
+            btn.disabled = false;
+            if (data.status === 'success') {
+                document.getElementById('update-banner').style.display = 'none';
+                try { sessionStorage.removeItem('update-sha-dismissed'); } catch(e) {}
+            }
+            if (typeof showNotification === 'function') {
+                showNotification(data.message || 'Update complete', data.status || 'success');
+            }
+        })
+        .catch(function() {
+            btn.innerHTML = originalHTML;
+            btn.disabled = false;
+            if (typeof showNotification === 'function') {
+                showNotification('Update failed — check your connection', 'error');
+            }
+        });
+    };
+
+    // Initial check shortly after page load, then periodic
+    setTimeout(checkForUpdate, 2000);
+    setInterval(checkForUpdate, CHECK_INTERVAL);
+})();
+</script>
 </body>
 </html>