diff --git a/internal/update/update.go b/internal/update/update.go
index dc88597..8fcf439 100644
--- a/internal/update/update.go
+++ b/internal/update/update.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ const (
 	ReleasesAPI      = "https://api.github.com/repos/" + GitHubRepo + "/releases/latest"
 	CheckInterval    = 24 * time.Hour
 	MaxExtractedSize = 100 * 1024 * 1024 // 100MB max per extracted file
+	RestartDelay     = 500 * time.Millisecond
 )
 
 // Release represents a GitHub release.
@@ -281,6 +282,12 @@ func (u *Updater) ApplyUpdate(ctx context.Context, info *UpdateInfo) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to replace binaries: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	// Clear cache so next check shows no update available
+	u.mu.Lock()
+	u.cachedUpdate = nil
+	u.lastCheck = time.Time{}
+	u.mu.Unlock()
+
 	u.setStatus("done", 1.0, fmt.Sprintf("Updated to v%s. Restart required.", info.LatestVersion))
 	log.Info().Str("version", info.LatestVersion).Msg("Update applied successfully")
 
@@ -553,3 +560,35 @@ func isNewerVersion(latest, current string) bool {
 
 	return len(latestParts) > len(currentParts)
 }
+
+// Restart spawns the new worker binary and exits the current process.
+// This should be called after a successful update to apply the new version.
+func (u *Updater) Restart() error {
+	workerPath := filepath.Join(u.installDir, "worker")
+
+	// Verify the new binary exists
+	if _, err := os.Stat(workerPath); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("new worker binary not found: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	log.Info().Str("path", workerPath).Msg("Restarting worker with new binary")
+
+	// Start the new process
+	cmd := exec.Command(workerPath) // #nosec G204 -- workerPath is from internal installDir
+	cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
+	cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
+	cmd.Env = os.Environ()
+
+	if err := cmd.Start(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to start new worker: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Give the new process time to start
+	time.Sleep(RestartDelay)
+
+	// Exit current process - the new one is now running
+	log.Info().Int("new_pid", cmd.Process.Pid).Msg("New worker started, exiting old process")
+	os.Exit(0)
+
+	return nil // Never reached
+}
diff --git a/internal/worker/handlers.go b/internal/worker/handlers.go
index ad3d35b..6a8f7b6 100644
--- a/internal/worker/handlers.go
+++ b/internal/worker/handlers.go
@@ -750,3 +750,30 @@ func (s *Service) handleUpdateStatus(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	status := s.updater.GetStatus()
 	writeJSON(w, status)
 }
+
+// handleUpdateRestart restarts the worker with the new binary.
+func (s *Service) handleUpdateRestart(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	status := s.updater.GetStatus()
+	if status.State != "done" {
+		http.Error(w, "no update has been applied", http.StatusBadRequest)
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Send response before restarting
+	writeJSON(w, map[string]interface{}{
+		"success": true,
+		"message": "Restarting worker...",
+	})
+
+	// Flush the response
+	if f, ok := w.(http.Flusher); ok {
+		f.Flush()
+	}
+
+	// Restart in background after response is sent
+	go func() {
+		if err := s.updater.Restart(); err != nil {
+			log.Error().Err(err).Msg("Failed to restart worker")
+		}
+	}()
+}
diff --git a/internal/worker/service.go b/internal/worker/service.go
index 4f14348..14d65d2 100644
--- a/internal/worker/service.go
+++ b/internal/worker/service.go
@@ -600,6 +600,7 @@ func (s *Service) setupRoutes() {
 	s.router.Get("/api/update/check", s.handleUpdateCheck)
 	s.router.Post("/api/update/apply", s.handleUpdateApply)
 	s.router.Get("/api/update/status", s.handleUpdateStatus)
+	s.router.Post("/api/update/restart", s.handleUpdateRestart)
 
 	// SSE endpoint (works before DB is ready)
 	s.router.Get("/api/events", s.sseBroadcaster.HandleSSE)
diff --git a/ui/src/components/Header.vue b/ui/src/components/Header.vue
index 237fb3c..75aeea7 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/Header.vue
+++ b/ui/src/components/Header.vue
@@ -16,9 +16,20 @@ const emit = defineEmits<{
 }>()
 
 const showUpdateModal = ref(false)
+const isRestarting = ref(false)
 
-const reloadPage = () => {
-  globalThis.location.reload()
+const restartWorker = async () => {
+  isRestarting.value = true
+  try {
+    await fetch('/api/update/restart', { method: 'POST' })
+    // Wait a moment for the new process to start, then reload
+    setTimeout(() => {
+      globalThis.location.reload()
+    }, 2000)
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Failed to restart:', error)
+    isRestarting.value = false
+  }
 }
 </script>
 
@@ -61,10 +72,11 @@ const reloadPage = () => {
           <div v-else-if="updateStatus.state === 'done'" class="flex items-center gap-2">
             <button
               class="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg bg-green-500/20 border border-green-500/50 text-green-400 hover:bg-green-500/30 transition-colors text-sm"
-              @click="reloadPage"
+              :disabled="isRestarting"
+              @click="restartWorker"
             >
-              <i class="fas fa-check-circle" />
-              <span>Restart</span>
+              <i :class="isRestarting ? 'fas fa-spinner animate-spin' : 'fas fa-check-circle'" />
+              <span>{{ isRestarting ? 'Restarting...' : 'Restart' }}</span>
             </button>
           </div>
 
@@ -115,7 +127,7 @@ const reloadPage = () => {
             <i class="fas fa-times" />
           </button>
 
-          <div class="text-center mb-6">
+          <div class="text-center mb-4">
             <div class="w-16 h-16 mx-auto mb-4 rounded-2xl bg-gradient-to-br from-amber-500 to-orange-600 flex items-center justify-center">
               <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-up text-3xl text-white" />
             </div>
@@ -125,6 +137,14 @@ const reloadPage = () => {
             </p>
           </div>
 
+          <!-- Release Notes -->
+          <div v-if="updateInfo?.release_notes" class="mb-4 max-h-48 overflow-y-auto">
+            <p class="text-slate-500 text-xs uppercase tracking-wide mb-2">What's new</p>
+            <div class="bg-slate-800/50 rounded-lg p-3 text-sm text-slate-300 whitespace-pre-wrap leading-relaxed">
+              {{ updateInfo.release_notes }}
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
           <div class="space-y-3">
             <button
               class="w-full py-3 rounded-xl bg-amber-500 text-slate-900 font-semibold hover:bg-amber-400 transition-colors"