diff --git a/electron/constants.ts b/electron/constants.ts
index 991ddf6..41ef082 100644
--- a/electron/constants.ts
+++ b/electron/constants.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,12 @@
 export const WINDOW_CLOSE_EVENT = "window-close"
 export const OPEN_SETTINGS_EVENT = "open-settings"
 export const SETTINGS_CHANGE_EVENT = "settings-change"
+
+export const UPDATE_AVAILABLE_EVENT = "update-available"
+export const UPDATE_NOT_AVAILABLE_EVENT = "update-not-available"
+export const UPDATE_DOWNLOADED = "update-downloaded"
+export const UPDATE_ERROR = "update-error"
+export const UPDATE_DOWNLOAD_PROGRESS = "update-download-progress"
+
+export const UPDATE_START_DOWNLOAD = "auto-update:startDownload"
+export const UPDATE_INSTALL_AND_RESTART = "auto-update:installAndRestart"
diff --git a/electron/main/auto-update.ts b/electron/main/auto-update.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8de71fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/electron/main/auto-update.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+import { autoUpdater } from "electron-updater"
+import { app, dialog, ipcMain } from "electron"
+
+import { 
+    UPDATE_AVAILABLE_EVENT, 
+    UPDATE_NOT_AVAILABLE_EVENT, 
+    UPDATE_DOWNLOADED, 
+    UPDATE_DOWNLOAD_PROGRESS, 
+    UPDATE_ERROR,
+    UPDATE_START_DOWNLOAD,
+    UPDATE_INSTALL_AND_RESTART,
+ } from '../constants'
+
+
+// will reference the main window
+let window
+
+// configure logging
+const log = require('electron-log');
+
+autoUpdater.logger = log
+autoUpdater.logger.transports.file.level = "info"
+
+autoUpdater.autoDownload = false
+
+autoUpdater.on('error', (error) => {
+    window?.webContents.send(UPDATE_ERROR, error == null ? "unknown" : (error.stack || error).toString())
+    //dialog.showErrorBox('Error: ', error == null ? "unknown" : (error.stack || error).toString())
+})
+
+autoUpdater.on('update-available', (info) => {
+    window?.webContents.send(UPDATE_AVAILABLE_EVENT, {
+        version: info.version,
+        releaseDate: info.releaseDate,
+        currentVersion: app.getVersion(),
+    })
+})
+
+autoUpdater.on('update-not-available', () => {
+    window?.webContents.send(UPDATE_NOT_AVAILABLE_EVENT)
+})
+
+autoUpdater.on('update-downloaded', () => {
+    window?.webContents.send(UPDATE_DOWNLOADED)
+})
+
+autoUpdater.on('download-progress', (info) => {
+    window?.webContents.send(UPDATE_DOWNLOAD_PROGRESS, {
+        percent: info.percent,
+        total: info.total,
+        transferred: info.transferred,
+        bytesPerSecond: info.bytesPerSecond,
+    })
+})
+
+// handle messages from Vue components
+ipcMain.handle(UPDATE_START_DOWNLOAD, () => {
+    autoUpdater.downloadUpdate()
+})
+
+ipcMain.handle(UPDATE_INSTALL_AND_RESTART, () => {
+    setImmediate(() => autoUpdater.quitAndInstall())
+})
+
+export function checkForUpdates(win) {
+    window = win
+    
+    // check for updates
+    autoUpdater.checkForUpdates()
+}
diff --git a/electron/main/index.ts b/electron/main/index.ts
index 017bfac..a88111e 100644
--- a/electron/main/index.ts
+++ b/electron/main/index.ts
@@ -2,12 +2,15 @@ import { app, BrowserWindow, shell, ipcMain, Menu, nativeTheme, globalShortcut }
 import { release } from 'node:os'
 import { join } from 'node:path'
 import * as jetpack from "fs-jetpack";
+
 import menu from './menu'
 import { initialContent, initialDevContent } from '../initial-content'
 import { WINDOW_CLOSE_EVENT, SETTINGS_CHANGE_EVENT } from '../constants';
 import CONFIG from "../config"
 import { onBeforeInputEvent } from "../keymap"
 import { isMac } from '../detect-platform';
+import { checkForUpdates } from './auto-update';
+
 
 // The built directory structure
 //
@@ -134,7 +137,9 @@ async function createWindow() {
     })
 }
 
-app.whenReady().then(createWindow)
+app.whenReady().then(createWindow).then(async () => {
+    checkForUpdates(win)
+})
 
 app.on('window-all-closed', () => {
     win = null
diff --git a/electron/preload/index.ts b/electron/preload/index.ts
index 76c2d11..6059773 100644
--- a/electron/preload/index.ts
+++ b/electron/preload/index.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,18 @@ const { contextBridge } = require('electron')
 import darkMode from "./theme-mode"
 import { isMac, isWindows, isLinux } from "../detect-platform"
 import { ipcRenderer } from "electron"
-import { WINDOW_CLOSE_EVENT, OPEN_SETTINGS_EVENT, SETTINGS_CHANGE_EVENT } from "../constants"
+import { 
+    WINDOW_CLOSE_EVENT, 
+    OPEN_SETTINGS_EVENT, 
+    SETTINGS_CHANGE_EVENT, 
+    UPDATE_AVAILABLE_EVENT, 
+    UPDATE_ERROR, 
+    UPDATE_DOWNLOAD_PROGRESS, 
+    UPDATE_NOT_AVAILABLE_EVENT,
+    UPDATE_START_DOWNLOAD,
+    UPDATE_INSTALL_AND_RESTART,
+    UPDATE_DOWNLOADED,
+} from "../constants"
 import CONFIG from "../config"
 
 //contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld("platform", )
@@ -51,6 +62,23 @@ contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld("heynote", {
     onSettingsChange(callback) {
         ipcRenderer.on(SETTINGS_CHANGE_EVENT, (event, settings) => callback(settings))
     },
+
+    autoUpdate: {
+        callbacks(callbacks) {
+            ipcRenderer.on(UPDATE_AVAILABLE_EVENT, (event, info) => callbacks?.updateAvailable(info))
+            ipcRenderer.on(UPDATE_NOT_AVAILABLE_EVENT, (event) => callbacks?.updateNotAvailable())
+            ipcRenderer.on(UPDATE_DOWNLOADED, (event) => callbacks?.updateDownloaded())
+            ipcRenderer.on(UPDATE_ERROR, (event, error) => callbacks?.updateError(error))
+            ipcRenderer.on(UPDATE_DOWNLOAD_PROGRESS, (event, progress) => callbacks?.updateDownloadProgress(progress))
+        },
+
+        startDownload() {
+            ipcRenderer.invoke(UPDATE_START_DOWNLOAD)
+        },
+        installAndRestart() {
+            ipcRenderer.invoke(UPDATE_INSTALL_AND_RESTART)
+        },
+    },
 })
 
 
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index fad66b5..5525b9d 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@
     "": {
       "name": "Heynote",
       "version": "1.0.0",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "electron-log": "^4.4.8"
+      },
       "devDependencies": {
         "@codemirror/commands": "^6.1.2",
         "@codemirror/lang-cpp": "^6.0.2",
@@ -34,6 +37,7 @@
         "electron-builder": "^23.6.0",
         "electron-builder-notarize": "^1.5.1",
         "electron-store": "^8.1.0",
+        "electron-updater": "^5.3.0",
         "fs-jetpack": "^5.1.0",
         "prettier": "^2.8.4",
         "sass": "^1.57.1",
@@ -1321,6 +1325,12 @@
         "@types/node": "*"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/@types/semver": {
+      "version": "7.3.13",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/semver/-/semver-7.3.13.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-21cFJr9z3g5dW8B0CVI9g2O9beqaThGQ6ZFBqHfwhzLDKUxaqTIy3vnfah/UPkfOiF2pLq+tGz+W8RyCskuslw==",
+      "dev": true
+    },
     "node_modules/@types/verror": {
       "version": "1.10.6",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/verror/-/verror-1.10.6.tgz",
@@ -2831,6 +2841,11 @@
         "node": ">= 10.0.0"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/electron-log": {
+      "version": "4.4.8",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/electron-log/-/electron-log-4.4.8.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-QQ4GvrXO+HkgqqEOYbi+DHL7hj5JM+nHi/j+qrN9zeeXVKy8ZABgbu4CnG+BBqDZ2+tbeq9tUC4DZfIWFU5AZA=="
+    },
     "node_modules/electron-notarize": {
       "version": "1.2.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/electron-notarize/-/electron-notarize-1.2.2.tgz",
@@ -3005,6 +3020,73 @@
         "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/sindresorhus"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/electron-updater": {
+      "version": "5.3.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/electron-updater/-/electron-updater-5.3.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-iKEr7yQBcvnQUPnSDYGSWC9t0eF2YbZWeYYYZzYxdl+HiRejXFENjYMnYjoOm2zxyD6Cr2JTHZhp9pqxiXuCOw==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@types/semver": "^7.3.6",
+        "builder-util-runtime": "9.1.1",
+        "fs-extra": "^10.0.0",
+        "js-yaml": "^4.1.0",
+        "lazy-val": "^1.0.5",
+        "lodash.escaperegexp": "^4.1.2",
+        "lodash.isequal": "^4.5.0",
+        "semver": "^7.3.5",
+        "typed-emitter": "^2.1.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/electron-updater/node_modules/fs-extra": {
+      "version": "10.1.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/fs-extra/-/fs-extra-10.1.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-oRXApq54ETRj4eMiFzGnHWGy+zo5raudjuxN0b8H7s/RU2oW0Wvsx9O0ACRN/kRq9E8Vu/ReskGB5o3ji+FzHQ==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "dependencies": {
+        "graceful-fs": "^4.2.0",
+        "jsonfile": "^6.0.1",
+        "universalify": "^2.0.0"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=12"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/electron-updater/node_modules/jsonfile": {
+      "version": "6.1.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/jsonfile/-/jsonfile-6.1.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-5dgndWOriYSm5cnYaJNhalLNDKOqFwyDB/rr1E9ZsGciGvKPs8R2xYGCacuf3z6K1YKDz182fd+fY3cn3pMqXQ==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "dependencies": {
+        "universalify": "^2.0.0"
+      },
+      "optionalDependencies": {
+        "graceful-fs": "^4.1.6"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/electron-updater/node_modules/semver": {
+      "version": "7.3.8",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/semver/-/semver-7.3.8.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-NB1ctGL5rlHrPJtFDVIVzTyQylMLu9N9VICA6HSFJo8MCGVTMW6gfpicwKmmK/dAjTOrqu5l63JJOpDSrAis3A==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "dependencies": {
+        "lru-cache": "^6.0.0"
+      },
+      "bin": {
+        "semver": "bin/semver.js"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=10"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/electron-updater/node_modules/universalify": {
+      "version": "2.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/universalify/-/universalify-2.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-hAZsKq7Yy11Zu1DE0OzWjw7nnLZmJZYTDZZyEFHZdUhV8FkH5MCfoU1XMaxXovpyW5nq5scPqq0ZDP9Zyl04oQ==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 10.0.0"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/emoji-regex": {
       "version": "8.0.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/emoji-regex/-/emoji-regex-8.0.0.tgz",
@@ -3943,6 +4025,18 @@
       "integrity": "sha512-v2kDEe57lecTulaDIuNTPy3Ry4gLGJ6Z1O3vE1krgXZNrsQ+LFTGHVxVjcXPs17LhbZVGedAJv8XZ1tvj5FvSg==",
       "dev": true
     },
+    "node_modules/lodash.escaperegexp": {
+      "version": "4.1.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/lodash.escaperegexp/-/lodash.escaperegexp-4.1.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-TM9YBvyC84ZxE3rgfefxUWiQKLilstD6k7PTGt6wfbtXF8ixIJLOL3VYyV/z+ZiPLsVxAsKAFVwWlWeb2Y8Yyw==",
+      "dev": true
+    },
+    "node_modules/lodash.isequal": {
+      "version": "4.5.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/lodash.isequal/-/lodash.isequal-4.5.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-pDo3lu8Jhfjqls6GkMgpahsF9kCyayhgykjyLMNFTKWrpVdAQtYyB4muAMWozBB4ig/dtWAmsMxLEI8wuz+DYQ==",
+      "dev": true
+    },
     "node_modules/lowercase-keys": {
       "version": "2.0.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/lowercase-keys/-/lowercase-keys-2.0.0.tgz",
@@ -4676,6 +4770,16 @@
         "fsevents": "~2.3.2"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/rxjs": {
+      "version": "7.8.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/rxjs/-/rxjs-7.8.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-F2+gxDshqmIub1KdvZkaEfGDwLNpPvk9Fs6LD/MyQxNgMds/WH9OdDDXOmxUZpME+iSK3rQCctkL0DYyytUqMg==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "optional": true,
+      "dependencies": {
+        "tslib": "^2.1.0"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/safer-buffer": {
       "version": "2.1.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/safer-buffer/-/safer-buffer-2.1.2.tgz",
@@ -5069,6 +5173,13 @@
         "utf8-byte-length": "^1.0.1"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/tslib": {
+      "version": "2.5.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/tslib/-/tslib-2.5.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-336iVw3rtn2BUK7ORdIAHTyxHGRIHVReokCR3XjbckJMK7ms8FysBfhLR8IXnAgy7T0PTPNBWKiH514FOW/WSg==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "optional": true
+    },
     "node_modules/type-fest": {
       "version": "0.13.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/type-fest/-/type-fest-0.13.1.tgz",
@@ -5082,6 +5193,15 @@
         "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/sindresorhus"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/typed-emitter": {
+      "version": "2.1.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/typed-emitter/-/typed-emitter-2.1.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-g/KzbYKbH5C2vPkaXGu8DJlHrGKHLsM25Zg9WuC9pMGfuvT+X25tZQWo5fK1BjBm8+UrVE9LDCvaY0CQk+fXDA==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "optionalDependencies": {
+        "rxjs": "*"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/typescript": {
       "version": "4.9.4",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/typescript/-/typescript-4.9.4.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e5e38d6..a4ea826 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
     "electron-builder": "^23.6.0",
     "electron-builder-notarize": "^1.5.1",
     "electron-store": "^8.1.0",
+    "electron-updater": "^5.3.0",
     "fs-jetpack": "^5.1.0",
     "prettier": "^2.8.4",
     "sass": "^1.57.1",
@@ -61,5 +62,8 @@
     "vite-plugin-electron-renderer": "^0.11.4",
     "vue": "^3.2.45",
     "vue-tsc": "^1.0.16"
+  },
+  "dependencies": {
+    "electron-log": "^4.4.8"
   }
 }
diff --git a/public/icons/update.svg b/public/icons/update.svg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8612d9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/icons/update.svg
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<svg viewBox="0 0 32 32" xml:space="preserve" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M23.995 13.089c.001-.03.005-.059.005-.089a8 8 0 0 0-8-8c-3.814 0-6.998 2.671-7.8 6.242C5.208 12.038 3 14.757 3 18a7 7 0 0 0 7 7h13a5.997 5.997 0 0 0 .995-11.911zM16 21V11" fill="none" stroke="#ffffff" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-miterlimit="10" stroke-width="2" class="stroke-000000"></path><path fill="none" stroke="#ffffff" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-miterlimit="10" stroke-width="2" d="m12 17 4 4 4-4" class="stroke-000000"></path></svg>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/components/StatusBar.vue b/src/components/StatusBar.vue
index 7172339..01a3081 100644
--- a/src/components/StatusBar.vue
+++ b/src/components/StatusBar.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 <script>
+    import UpdateStatusItem from './UpdateStatusItem.vue'
     import { LANGUAGES } from '../editor/languages.js'
+    
     const LANGUAGE_MAP = Object.fromEntries(LANGUAGES.map(l => [l.token, l]))
     const LANGUAGE_NAMES = Object.fromEntries(LANGUAGES.map(l => [l.token, l.name]))
 
@@ -13,6 +15,10 @@
             "systemTheme",
         ],
 
+        components: {
+            UpdateStatusItem,
+        },
+
         mounted() {
             
         },
@@ -40,6 +46,7 @@
             Ln <span class="num">{{ line }}</span>
             Col <span class="num">{{ column }}</span>
         </div>
+        <UpdateStatusItem />
         <div class="spacer"></div>
         <div 
             @click="$emit('openLanguageSelector')"
diff --git a/src/components/UpdateStatusItem.vue b/src/components/UpdateStatusItem.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2105c96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/UpdateStatusItem.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+<script>
+    export default {
+        data() {
+            return {
+                updateAvailable: false,
+                updateDownloaded: false,
+                downloading: false,
+                updateProgress: {
+                    percent: 0.0,
+                    transferred: 0.0,
+                    total: 0.0,
+                    bytesPerSecond: 0.0,
+                }
+            }
+        },
+
+        mounted() {
+            window.heynote.autoUpdate.callbacks({
+                updateAvailable: (info) => {
+                    //console.log("updateAvailable", info)
+                    this.updateAvailable = true
+                    this.currentVersion = info.currentVersion
+                    this.version = info.version
+                },
+                updateNotAvailable: () => {
+                    //console.log("updateNotAvailable")
+                },
+                updateDownloaded: () => {
+                    //console.log("updateDownloaded")
+                    this.updateDownloaded = true
+                    this.downloading = false
+                },
+                updateError: (error) => {
+                    console.log("Update error", error)
+                    this.downloading = false
+                },
+                updateDownloadProgress: (progress) => {
+                    //console.log("updateDownloadProgress", progress)
+                    this.downloading = true
+                    this.updateProgress = progress
+                }
+            })    
+        },
+
+        computed: {
+            updateAvailableTitle() {
+                return "Update to version " + this.version + " (current version: " + this.currentVersion + ")"
+            },
+
+            restartTitle() {
+                return "Click to restart and update Heynote "
+            },
+
+            updateProgressPercent() {
+                return this.updateProgress.percent.toFixed(0)
+            }
+        },
+
+        methods: {
+            startDownload() {
+                window.heynote.autoUpdate.startDownload()
+                this.downloading = true
+            },
+
+            installAndRestart() {
+                window.heynote.autoUpdate.installAndRestart()
+            },
+        },
+        
+    }
+</script>
+
+<template>
+    <div v-if="downloading" class="status-block clickable update-status-block">
+        <span class="icon-update"></span>
+        Downloading update… {{ updateProgressPercent }}%
+    </div>
+    <div v-else-if="updateDownloaded" class="status-block clickable update-status-block" @click="installAndRestart" :title="restartTitle">
+        <span class="icon-update"></span>
+        Update &amp; Restart
+    </div>
+    <div v-else-if="updateAvailable" class="status-block clickable update-status-block" :title="updateAvailableTitle" @click="startDownload">
+        <span class="icon-update"></span>
+        New version available!
+    </div>
+</template>
+
+<style scoped lang="sass">
+    =dark-mode()
+        @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark)
+            @content
+    
+    .status .status-block.update-status-block
+        position: relative
+        padding-left: 30px
+
+        .icon-update
+            display: block
+            position: absolute
+            left: 10px
+            top: 0
+            width: 16px
+            height: 22px
+            +dark-mode
+                opacity: 0.9
+            background-size: 16px
+            background-repeat: no-repeat
+            background-position: center center
+            background-image: url("icons/update.svg")
+</style>
\ No newline at end of file