diff --git a/apps/client/src/common/api/constants.ts b/apps/client/src/common/api/constants.ts
index dafbf1a97..4751a3711 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/common/api/constants.ts
+++ b/apps/client/src/common/api/constants.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // keys in tanstack store
 export const APP_INFO = ['appinfo'];
 export const APP_SETTINGS = ['appSettings'];
+export const APP_VERSION = ['appVersion'];
 export const CUSTOM_FIELDS = ['customFields'];
 export const HTTP_SETTINGS = ['httpSettings'];
 export const OSC_SETTINGS = ['oscSettings'];
diff --git a/apps/client/src/common/hooks-query/useAppVersion.ts b/apps/client/src/common/hooks-query/useAppVersion.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..65136c58c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/client/src/common/hooks-query/useAppVersion.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query';
+import { dayInMs } from 'ontime-utils';
+
+import { version } from '../../../../../package.json';
+import { APP_VERSION, isLocalhost } from '../api/constants';
+import { getLatestVersion, HasUpdate } from '../api/external';
+
+const placeholder: HasUpdate & { hasUpdates: boolean } = { url: '', version: '', hasUpdates: false };
+
+export default function useAppVersion() {
+  const {
+    data: fetchData,
+    status,
+    isFetching,
+    isError,
+    refetch,
+  } = useQuery({
+    queryKey: APP_VERSION,
+    queryFn: getLatestVersion,
+    placeholderData: (previousData, _previousQuery) => previousData,
+    refetchOnWindowFocus: false,
+    refetchOnReconnect: false,
+    retry: false,
+    staleTime: dayInMs,
+    enabled: isLocalhost,
+  });
+
+  const hasUpdates = fetchData?.version && !fetchData.version.includes(version);
+
+  const data = fetchData ? { ...fetchData, hasUpdates } : placeholder;
+
+  return { data, placeholder, status, isFetching, isError, refetch };
+}
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel-list/PanelList.module.scss b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel-list/PanelList.module.scss
index a0faf09e2..327c0a735 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel-list/PanelList.module.scss
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel-list/PanelList.module.scss
@@ -40,12 +40,16 @@ ul {
     background-color: $gray-1100;
   }
 
-  &.unsaved::before {
-    content: '';
-    width: 6px;
-    height: 6px;
-    border-radius: 3px;
-    background-color: $blue-400;
+  &.highlight {
+    color: $red-400;
+
+    &::before {
+      content: '';
+      width: 0.5em;
+      height: 0.5em;
+      border-radius: 99px;
+      background-color: $red-400;
+    }
   }
 
   &.split {
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel-list/PanelList.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel-list/PanelList.tsx
index 34c939227..f0f6e7dbe 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel-list/PanelList.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel-list/PanelList.tsx
@@ -1,66 +1,90 @@
 import { Fragment } from 'react';
+import { Tooltip } from '@chakra-ui/react';
 
 import { isKeyEnter } from '../../../common/utils/keyEvent';
 import { cx } from '../../../common/utils/styleUtils';
-import { PanelBaseProps, settingPanels, useSettingsStore } from '../settingsStore';
+import { tooltipDelayFast } from '../../../ontimeConfig';
+import { SettingsOption, SettingsOptionId, useAppSettingsMenu } from '../useAppSettingsMenu';
 import useAppSettingsNavigation from '../useAppSettingsNavigation';
 
 import style from './PanelList.module.scss';
 
+export interface PanelBaseProps {
+  location?: string;
+}
+
 interface PanelListProps extends PanelBaseProps {
   selectedPanel: string;
 }
 
 export default function PanelList({ selectedPanel, location }: PanelListProps) {
-  const { setLocation } = useAppSettingsNavigation();
-  const { hasUnsavedChanges } = useSettingsStore();
+  const { options } = useAppSettingsMenu();
 
   return (
     <ul className={style.tabs}>
-      {settingPanels.map((panel) => {
-        const unsaved = hasUnsavedChanges(panel.id);
-
-        const classes = cx([
-          style.primary,
-          selectedPanel === panel.id ? style.active : null,
-          panel.split ? style.split : null,
-          unsaved ? style.unsaved : null,
-        ]);
-
-        return (
-          <Fragment key={panel.id}>
-            <li
-              key={panel.id}
-              onClick={() => setLocation(panel.id)}
-              onKeyDown={(event) => {
-                isKeyEnter(event) && setLocation(panel.id);
-              }}
-              className={classes}
-              tabIndex={0}
-              role='button'
-            >
-              {panel.label}
-            </li>
-            {panel.secondary?.map((secondary) => {
-              const id = secondary.id.split('__')[1];
-              const secondaryClasses = cx([style.secondary, location === id ? style.active : null]);
-              return (
-                <li
-                  key={secondary.id}
-                  onClick={() => setLocation(secondary.id)}
-                  onKeyDown={(event) => {
-                    isKeyEnter(event) && setLocation(secondary.id);
-                  }}
-                  className={secondaryClasses}
-                  role='button'
-                >
-                  {secondary.label}
-                </li>
-              );
-            })}
-          </Fragment>
-        );
+      {options.map((panel) => {
+        const isSelected = selectedPanel === panel.id;
+        if (panel.highlight) {
+          return (
+            <Tooltip key={panel.id} label={panel.highlight} openDelay={tooltipDelayFast} shouldWrapChildren>
+              <PanelListItem panel={panel} location={location} isSelected={isSelected} />
+            </Tooltip>
+          );
+        }
+        return <PanelListItem key={panel.id} panel={panel} location={location} isSelected={isSelected} />;
       })}
     </ul>
   );
 }
+
+interface PanelListItemProps {
+  panel: SettingsOption;
+  isSelected: boolean;
+  location?: string;
+}
+
+function PanelListItem(props: PanelListItemProps) {
+  const { panel, isSelected, location } = props;
+  const { setLocation } = useAppSettingsNavigation();
+
+  const classes = cx([
+    style.primary,
+    isSelected && style.active,
+    panel.split && style.split,
+    panel.highlight && style.highlight,
+  ]);
+
+  return (
+    <Fragment key={panel.id}>
+      <li
+        key={panel.id}
+        onClick={() => setLocation(panel.id as SettingsOptionId)}
+        onKeyDown={(event) => {
+          isKeyEnter(event) && setLocation(panel.id as SettingsOptionId);
+        }}
+        className={classes}
+        tabIndex={0}
+        role='button'
+      >
+        {panel.label}
+      </li>
+      {panel.secondary?.map((secondary) => {
+        const id = secondary.id.split('__')[1];
+        const secondaryClasses = cx([style.secondary, location === id ? style.active : null]);
+        return (
+          <li
+            key={secondary.id}
+            onClick={() => setLocation(secondary.id as SettingsOptionId)}
+            onKeyDown={(event) => {
+              isKeyEnter(event) && setLocation(secondary.id as SettingsOptionId);
+            }}
+            className={secondaryClasses}
+            role='button'
+          >
+            {secondary.label}
+          </li>
+        );
+      })}
+    </Fragment>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/about-panel/AboutPanel.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/about-panel/AboutPanel.tsx
index ab47622b4..2fca9de49 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/about-panel/AboutPanel.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/about-panel/AboutPanel.tsx
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
-import { version } from '../../../../../package.json';
 import ExternalLink from '../../../../common/components/external-link/ExternalLink';
 import { documentationUrl, githubUrl, websiteUrl } from '../../../../externals';
 import * as Panel from '../PanelUtils';
 
-import CheckUpdatesButton from './CheckUpdatesButton';
+import AppVersion from './AppVersion';
 
 export default function AboutPanel() {
   return (
@@ -23,8 +22,7 @@ export default function AboutPanel() {
       </Panel.Section>
       <Panel.Section>
         <Panel.SubHeader>Current version</Panel.SubHeader>
-        <Panel.Paragraph>{`You are currently using Ontime ${version}`}</Panel.Paragraph>
-        <CheckUpdatesButton version={version} />
+        <AppVersion />
       </Panel.Section>
     </>
   );
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/about-panel/AppVersion.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/about-panel/AppVersion.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4938434b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/about-panel/AppVersion.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import { version } from '../../../../../package.json';
+import ExternalLink from '../../../../common/components/external-link/ExternalLink';
+import useAppVersion from '../../../../common/hooks-query/useAppVersion';
+import * as Panel from '../PanelUtils';
+
+export default function AppVersion() {
+  const { data, isError } = useAppVersion();
+
+  if (isError) {
+    return (
+      <Panel.Paragraph>
+        {`You are currently using Ontime version ${version}`}
+        <Panel.Error>{`Could not fetch version information: ${isError}`}</Panel.Error>
+      </Panel.Paragraph>
+    );
+  }
+
+  if (data.hasUpdates) {
+    return (
+      <>
+        <Panel.Paragraph>{`You are currently using Ontime version ${version}.`}</Panel.Paragraph>
+        <Panel.Paragraph>
+          {`A new version ${data.version} is available.`}
+          <ExternalLink href={data.url}> Please visit the release page to download</ExternalLink>
+        </Panel.Paragraph>
+      </>
+    );
+  }
+
+  return <Panel.Paragraph>{`You are currently using the latest version of Ontime: ${version}`}</Panel.Paragraph>;
+}
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/about-panel/CheckUpdatesButton.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/about-panel/CheckUpdatesButton.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index d5bdf47bb..000000000
--- a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/about-panel/CheckUpdatesButton.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,80 +0,0 @@
-import { useState } from 'react';
-import { Button } from '@chakra-ui/react';
-
-import { getLatestVersion, HasUpdate } from '../../../../common/api/external';
-import ExternalLink from '../../../../common/components/external-link/ExternalLink';
-
-import style from '../Panel.module.scss';
-
-type CheckFail = {
-  error: string;
-};
-
-type CheckIsLatest = {
-  latest: true;
-};
-
-type CheckRemote = CheckFail | CheckIsLatest | HasUpdate;
-
-interface CheckUpdatesButtonProps {
-  version: string;
-}
-
-export default function CheckUpdatesButton(props: CheckUpdatesButtonProps) {
-  const { version } = props;
-
-  const [updateMessage, setUpdateMessage] = useState<CheckRemote | null>(null);
-  const [isFetching, setIsFetching] = useState(false);
-
-  /**
-   * Handles version comparison and returns component with message
-   */
-  const versionCheck = async () => {
-    setIsFetching(true);
-
-    try {
-      const latest = await getLatestVersion();
-
-      if (!latest.version.includes(version)) {
-        // new version, pass data to component
-        setUpdateMessage(latest);
-      } else {
-        setUpdateMessage({ latest: true });
-      }
-    } catch {
-      setUpdateMessage({ error: 'Error reaching server' });
-    } finally {
-      setIsFetching(false);
-    }
-  };
-
-  const disableButton = Boolean(updateMessage && 'version' in updateMessage);
-
-  return (
-    <>
-      <Button
-        onClick={versionCheck}
-        variant='ontime-filled'
-        isLoading={isFetching}
-        isDisabled={disableButton}
-        size='sm'
-        maxWidth='max-content'
-      >
-        Check for updates
-      </Button>
-      <ResolveUpdateMessage updateMessage={updateMessage} />
-    </>
-  );
-}
-
-function ResolveUpdateMessage(props: { updateMessage: CheckRemote | null }) {
-  const { updateMessage } = props;
-
-  if (updateMessage && 'error' in updateMessage) {
-    return <span className={style.error}>{updateMessage.error}</span>;
-  }
-  if (updateMessage && 'url' in updateMessage) {
-    return <ExternalLink href={updateMessage?.url}>{`New version available: ${updateMessage.version}`}</ExternalLink>;
-  }
-  return null;
-}
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/feature-settings-panel/FeatureSettingsPanel.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/feature-settings-panel/FeatureSettingsPanel.tsx
index af4756096..079978a10 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/feature-settings-panel/FeatureSettingsPanel.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/feature-settings-panel/FeatureSettingsPanel.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import useScrollIntoView from '../../../../common/hooks/useScrollIntoView';
-import { PanelBaseProps } from '../../settingsStore';
+import type { PanelBaseProps } from '../../panel-list/PanelList';
 import * as Panel from '../PanelUtils';
 
 import CustomFields from './custom-fields/CustomFields';
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/general-panel/GeneralPanel.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/general-panel/GeneralPanel.tsx
index 0c87d4eaf..2e11e30ae 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/general-panel/GeneralPanel.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/general-panel/GeneralPanel.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import useScrollIntoView from '../../../../common/hooks/useScrollIntoView';
-import { PanelBaseProps } from '../../settingsStore';
+import type { PanelBaseProps } from '../../panel-list/PanelList';
 import EditorSettingsForm from '../interface-panel/EditorSettingsForm';
 import * as Panel from '../PanelUtils';
 
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/integrations-panel/IntegrationsPanel.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/integrations-panel/IntegrationsPanel.tsx
index ea3cfe151..23d3a0b4f 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/integrations-panel/IntegrationsPanel.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/integrations-panel/IntegrationsPanel.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { Alert, AlertDescription, AlertIcon } from '@chakra-ui/react';
 
 import ExternalLink from '../../../../common/components/external-link/ExternalLink';
 import useScrollIntoView from '../../../../common/hooks/useScrollIntoView';
-import { PanelBaseProps } from '../../settingsStore';
+import type { PanelBaseProps } from '../../panel-list/PanelList';
 import * as Panel from '../PanelUtils';
 
 import HttpIntegrations from './HttpIntegrations';
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/network-panel/NetworkLogPanel.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/network-panel/NetworkLogPanel.tsx
index 0de76a1cf..e9224ba43 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/network-panel/NetworkLogPanel.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/network-panel/NetworkLogPanel.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import useScrollIntoView from '../../../../common/hooks/useScrollIntoView';
-import { PanelBaseProps } from '../../settingsStore';
+import type { PanelBaseProps } from '../../panel-list/PanelList';
 import ClientControlPanel from '../client-control-panel/ClientControlPanel';
 import * as Panel from '../PanelUtils';
 
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/project-panel/ProjectPanel.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/project-panel/ProjectPanel.tsx
index ffd90aee3..83b25cf61 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/project-panel/ProjectPanel.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/project-panel/ProjectPanel.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import useScrollIntoView from '../../../../common/hooks/useScrollIntoView';
-import { PanelBaseProps } from '../../settingsStore';
+import type { PanelBaseProps } from '../../panel-list/PanelList';
 import * as Panel from '../PanelUtils';
 
 import ManageProjects from './ManageProjects';
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/settingsStore.ts b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/useAppSettingsMenu.tsx
similarity index 61%
rename from apps/client/src/features/app-settings/settingsStore.ts
rename to apps/client/src/features/app-settings/useAppSettingsMenu.tsx
index b93f78719..1badd22eb 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/settingsStore.ts
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/useAppSettingsMenu.tsx
@@ -1,13 +1,16 @@
-import { create } from 'zustand';
+import { useMemo } from 'react';
+
+import useAppVersion from '../../common/hooks-query/useAppVersion';
 
 export type SettingsOption = {
   id: string;
   label: string;
   secondary?: Readonly<SettingsOption[]>;
   split?: boolean;
+  highlight?: string;
 };
 
-export const settingPanels: Readonly<SettingsOption[]> = [
+const staticOptions = [
   {
     id: 'project',
     label: 'Project',
@@ -77,30 +80,19 @@ export const settingPanels: Readonly<SettingsOption[]> = [
   },
 ] as const;
 
-export type SettingsOptionId = (typeof settingPanels)[number]['id'];
+export type SettingsOptionId = (typeof staticOptions)[number]['id'];
 
-export interface PanelBaseProps {
-  location?: string;
+export function useAppSettingsMenu() {
+  const { data } = useAppVersion();
+
+  const options: Readonly<SettingsOption[]> = useMemo(
+    () =>
+      staticOptions.map((option) => ({
+        ...option,
+        highlight: option.id === 'about' && data.hasUpdates ? 'New version available' : undefined,
+      })),
+    [data],
+  );
+
+  return { options };
 }
-
-type SettingsStore = {
-  unsavedChanges: Set<SettingsOptionId>;
-  hasUnsavedChanges: (panelId: SettingsOptionId) => boolean;
-  addUnsavedChanges: (panelId: SettingsOptionId) => void;
-  removeUnsavedChanges: (panelId: SettingsOptionId) => void;
-};
-
-export const useSettingsStore = create<SettingsStore>((set, get) => ({
-  unsavedChanges: new Set(),
-  hasUnsavedChanges: (panelId: SettingsOptionId) => get().unsavedChanges.has(panelId),
-  addUnsavedChanges: (panelId: SettingsOptionId) =>
-    set((state) => {
-      state.unsavedChanges.add(panelId);
-      return { unsavedChanges: new Set(state.unsavedChanges) };
-    }),
-  removeUnsavedChanges: (panelId: SettingsOptionId) =>
-    set((state) => {
-      state.unsavedChanges.delete(panelId);
-      return { unsavedChanges: new Set(state.unsavedChanges) };
-    }),
-}));
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/useAppSettingsNavigation.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/useAppSettingsNavigation.tsx
index 70867f3fc..abe59a3da 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/useAppSettingsNavigation.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/useAppSettingsNavigation.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { useCallback, useMemo } from 'react';
 import { useSearchParams } from 'react-router-dom';
 
-import { SettingsOptionId } from './settingsStore';
+import { SettingsOptionId } from './useAppSettingsMenu';
 
 const settingsKey = 'settings';