diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index fee2fdb..0191bc7 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ This section tracks work landing on `dev` toward **v0.2.0** (next minor; pre-1.0
 - **`make:bridge:read-model <Name>` maker.** Generates a query-only projection: `src/ReadModel/<Name>ReadModel.php` (query service stub injecting `EntityManagerInterface`), `src/Controller/<Name>Controller.php` (single GET handler at `/api/<kebab-plural>`), and `{qml_path}/<Name>List.qml` (`ReactiveListModel` bound to the route, deliberately *no* Mercure topic — read-models aren't auto-reactive; invalidation is event-driven via `make:bridge:event`). Closes the fourth row of PLAN.md §8's makers table.
 - **Pre-migration auto-backup of `var/data.sqlite`.** Bundled-mode supervisor copies the SQLite file to `var/data.sqlite.<unix-timestamp>.bak` before invoking `doctrine:migrations:migrate`; trims to the 5 most recent. SQLite's lack of transactional DDL means a half-applied migration can corrupt the database with no rollback path; cheap insurance against that. Skipped on first launch (no DB to back up); failure to copy logs a warning and continues (a missing safety-net is not a reason to refuse to boot). Backup runs only in bundled mode — dev mode users own their `var/data.sqlite` lifecycle. Bundled-supervisor integration test gained an assertion that a `.bak` file appears under the user data dir on second launch.
 - **`bridge:export` console command + QML hook.** New `bin/console bridge:export <destination>` copies the active SQLite database to a user-chosen path (overwrites if the destination exists; reads the source path from `DATABASE_URL` so it works in both dev and bundled mode). Mirrored on the QML side as `BackendConnection.exportDatabase(path)` (`Q_INVOKABLE bool`) returning success synchronously and emitting `databaseExported(path)` / `databaseExportFailed(reason)` for async UX. QML callers typically pair it with `Qt.labs.platform.FileDialog` (see `docs/native-dialogs.md`). 4 unit tests cover the command's success / non-SQLite-URL / missing-source / overwrite paths.
+- **Periodic auto-update check.** Bundled-mode supervisor arms an `AppImageUpdate` poll on the first `Online` transition: a launch-time check 10 s after backend ready, then a recurring check every 6 hours. PLAN.md §11 *Auto-update* called for "check on launch and once per N hours; offer install on next restart, never auto-restart" — the existing `checkForUpdates()` Q_INVOKABLE remains the install trigger, this just automates the polling. Disable with `BRIDGE_AUTO_UPDATE_DISABLE=1`; override the period with `BRIDGE_AUTO_UPDATE_PERIOD_MIN=<minutes>`. Dev mode skips entirely.
 
 ### Changed
 
diff --git a/framework/qml/src/BackendConnection.cpp b/framework/qml/src/BackendConnection.cpp
index 8af03d1..092790a 100644
--- a/framework/qml/src/BackendConnection.cpp
+++ b/framework/qml/src/BackendConnection.cpp
@@ -615,6 +615,45 @@ void BackendConnection::setState(ConnectionState s)
     if (m_state == s) return;
     m_state = s;
     emit connectionStateChanged();
+    if (s == ConnectionState::Online) {
+        armAutoUpdateOnFirstOnline();
+    }
+}
+
+void BackendConnection::armAutoUpdateOnFirstOnline()
+{
+    if (m_autoUpdateArmed) return;
+    if (m_mode != Mode::Bundled) return;
+    if (qEnvironmentVariableIsSet("BRIDGE_AUTO_UPDATE_DISABLE")
+        && qgetenv("BRIDGE_AUTO_UPDATE_DISABLE") == "1") {
+        qCInfo(lcBundled) << "auto-update disabled via BRIDGE_AUTO_UPDATE_DISABLE";
+        m_autoUpdateArmed = true;
+        return;
+    }
+    m_autoUpdateArmed = true;
+
+    int periodMs = kAutoUpdateDefaultPeriodMs;
+    bool ok = false;
+    const int overrideMin = qgetenv("BRIDGE_AUTO_UPDATE_PERIOD_MIN").toInt(&ok);
+    if (ok && overrideMin > 0) {
+        periodMs = overrideMin * 60 * 1000;
+    }
+
+    // First check: a few seconds after first Online so a fresh launch
+    // doesn't fight for bandwidth/CPU with the cold boot. Subsequent
+    // checks: every periodMs (default 6h).
+    QTimer::singleShot(kAutoUpdateLaunchDelayMs, this, &BackendConnection::checkForUpdates);
+
+    if (!m_autoUpdateTimer) {
+        m_autoUpdateTimer = new QTimer(this);
+        m_autoUpdateTimer->setSingleShot(false);
+        connect(m_autoUpdateTimer, &QTimer::timeout,
+                this, &BackendConnection::checkForUpdates);
+    }
+    m_autoUpdateTimer->start(periodMs);
+    qCInfo(lcBundled) << "auto-update armed: launch check in"
+                       << kAutoUpdateLaunchDelayMs << "ms, period"
+                       << (periodMs / 60000) << "min";
 }
 
 void BackendConnection::setError(const QString& msg)
diff --git a/framework/qml/src/BackendConnection.h b/framework/qml/src/BackendConnection.h
index 2521f8c..6ddbab5 100644
--- a/framework/qml/src/BackendConnection.h
+++ b/framework/qml/src/BackendConnection.h
@@ -175,6 +175,17 @@ private:
     QProcess* m_updateCheck = nullptr;
     QProcess* m_updateApply = nullptr;
 
+    /// Periodic AppImageUpdate poll. Armed on first Online transition
+    /// in bundled mode; PLAN.md §11 *Auto-update*. Disabled by env
+    /// `BRIDGE_AUTO_UPDATE_DISABLE=1`; period override via
+    /// `BRIDGE_AUTO_UPDATE_PERIOD_MIN=<minutes>`.
+    QTimer* m_autoUpdateTimer = nullptr;
+    bool m_autoUpdateArmed = false;
+    static constexpr int kAutoUpdateLaunchDelayMs = 10'000;        // 10s after first Online
+    static constexpr int kAutoUpdateDefaultPeriodMs = 6 * 60 * 60 * 1000; // 6h
+
+    void armAutoUpdateOnFirstOnline();
+
     QString resolveSidecarUpdater() const;
     QString currentAppImagePath() const;
 };