diff --git a/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index 5c37acf..b1e2ba0 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -9,9 +9,11 @@
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES" />
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.REQUEST_DELETE_PACKAGES" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.UPDATE_PACKAGES_WITHOUT_USER_ACTION" />
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK" />
 
     <application
         android:label="Zapstore Alpha"
diff --git a/lib/main.dart b/lib/main.dart
index 8272d38..bed93b8 100644
--- a/lib/main.dart
+++ b/lib/main.dart
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import 'package:path_provider/path_provider.dart';
 import 'package:purplebase/purplebase.dart';
 import 'package:amber_signer/amber_signer.dart';
 import 'package:zapstore/services/app_restart_service.dart';
+import 'package:zapstore/services/background_update_service.dart';
 import 'package:zapstore/services/download_service.dart';
 import 'package:zapstore/router.dart';
 import 'package:zapstore/services/error_reporting_service.dart';
@@ -238,6 +239,10 @@ final appInitializationProvider = FutureProvider<void>((ref) async {
   final packageManager = ref.read(packageManagerProvider.notifier);
   await packageManager.syncInstalledPackages();
 
+  // Initialize background update service (WorkManager + notifications)
+  final backgroundService = ref.read(backgroundUpdateServiceProvider);
+  await backgroundService.initialize();
+
   // Initialize market intent handling (for market:// URIs)
   await ref.read(marketIntentServiceProvider).initialize();
 
@@ -265,12 +270,14 @@ Future<void> onSignInSuccess(dynamic ref) async {
   final storage =
       ref.read(storageNotifierProvider.notifier) as PurplebaseStorageNotifier;
 
-  await storage.query(
-    RequestFilter<AppCatalogRelayList>(authors: {pubkey}).toRequest(),
-    source: const RemoteSource(
-      relays: 'bootstrap',
-      background: false,
-      stream: false,
+  unawaited(
+    storage.query(
+      RequestFilter<AppCatalogRelayList>(authors: {pubkey}).toRequest(),
+      source: const RemoteSource(
+        relays: 'bootstrap',
+        background: false,
+        stream: false,
+      ),
     ),
   );
 }
diff --git a/lib/services/background_update_service.dart b/lib/services/background_update_service.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b3713e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/services/background_update_service.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,289 @@
+import 'dart:io' show Platform;
+
+import 'package:flutter_local_notifications/flutter_local_notifications.dart';
+import 'package:hooks_riverpod/hooks_riverpod.dart';
+import 'package:models/models.dart';
+import 'package:path/path.dart' as path;
+import 'package:path_provider/path_provider.dart';
+import 'package:purplebase/purplebase.dart';
+import 'package:workmanager/workmanager.dart';
+import 'package:zapstore/services/package_manager/android_package_manager.dart';
+import 'package:zapstore/services/package_manager/dummy_package_manager.dart';
+import 'package:zapstore/services/package_manager/package_manager.dart';
+import 'package:zapstore/utils/extensions.dart';
+
+/// Unique task name for background update checking
+const kBackgroundUpdateTaskName = 'dev.zapstore.backgroundUpdateCheck';
+
+/// Unique task identifier
+const kBackgroundUpdateTaskId = 'backgroundUpdateCheck';
+
+/// Notification channel for update notifications
+const kUpdateNotificationChannelId = 'zapstore_updates';
+const kUpdateNotificationChannelName = 'App Updates';
+const kUpdateNotificationChannelDescription =
+    'Notifications for available app updates';
+
+/// The entry point for WorkManager background tasks.
+/// This MUST be a top-level function (not a class method).
+@pragma('vm:entry-point')
+void callbackDispatcher() {
+  Workmanager().executeTask((task, inputData) async {
+    switch (task) {
+      case kBackgroundUpdateTaskName:
+        return await _checkForUpdatesInBackground();
+      default:
+        return Future.value(false);
+    }
+  });
+}
+
+/// Background update check logic - runs in a separate isolate
+Future<bool> _checkForUpdatesInBackground() async {
+  try {
+    // Create a fresh provider container for background work
+    final container = ProviderContainer(
+      overrides: [
+        storageNotifierProvider.overrideWith(PurplebaseStorageNotifier.new),
+        packageManagerProvider.overrideWith(
+          (ref) => Platform.isAndroid
+              ? AndroidPackageManager(ref)
+              : DummyPackageManager(ref),
+        ),
+      ],
+    );
+
+    try {
+      // Initialize Purplebase with same DB path as main app
+      final dir = await getApplicationDocumentsDirectory();
+      final dbPath = path.join(dir.path, 'zapstore.db');
+
+      await container.read(
+        initializationProvider(
+          StorageConfiguration(
+            databasePath: dbPath,
+            defaultRelays: {
+              'AppCatalog': {'wss://relay.zapstore.dev'},
+            },
+          ),
+        ).future,
+      );
+
+      // Get installed packages directly from Android system
+      final packageManager = container.read(packageManagerProvider.notifier);
+      await packageManager.syncInstalledPackages();
+
+      final packages = container.read(packageManagerProvider);
+      if (packages.isEmpty) {
+        return true; // No installed apps to check
+      }
+
+      final installedIds = packages.map((p) => p.appId).toSet();
+
+      // Query for apps with updates from relay
+      final storage = container.read(storageNotifierProvider.notifier);
+      final apps = await storage.query(
+        RequestFilter<App>(
+          tags: {
+            '#d': installedIds,
+            '#f': {packageManager.platform},
+          },
+        ).toRequest(),
+        source: const RemoteSource(
+          relays: 'AppCatalog',
+          stream: false,
+          background: false,
+        ),
+      );
+
+      // Load releases for hasUpdate check
+      for (final app in apps) {
+        await storage.query(
+          RequestFilter<Release>(
+            tags: {
+              '#a': {app.event.addressableId},
+            },
+          ).toRequest(),
+          source: const LocalAndRemoteSource(
+            relays: 'AppCatalog',
+            stream: false,
+            background: false,
+          ),
+        );
+      }
+
+      // Re-query apps from local to ensure relationships are loaded
+      final appsWithRelations = await storage.query(
+        RequestFilter<App>(
+          tags: {
+            '#d': installedIds,
+            '#f': {packageManager.platform},
+          },
+        ).toRequest(),
+        source: const LocalSource(),
+      );
+
+      // Count updates
+      int updateCount = 0;
+      final updatableAppNames = <String>[];
+
+      for (final app in appsWithRelations) {
+        if (app.hasUpdate) {
+          updateCount++;
+          updatableAppNames.add(app.name ?? app.identifier);
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Show notification if updates found
+      if (updateCount > 0) {
+        await _showUpdateNotification(updateCount, updatableAppNames);
+      }
+
+      return true;
+    } finally {
+      container.dispose();
+    }
+  } catch (e) {
+    // Background task failed - return false to indicate failure
+    // WorkManager may retry based on configuration
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+/// Show a local notification for available updates
+Future<void> _showUpdateNotification(
+  int updateCount,
+  List<String> appNames,
+) async {
+  final flutterLocalNotificationsPlugin = FlutterLocalNotificationsPlugin();
+
+  // Initialize notifications (needed in background isolate)
+  const initializationSettingsAndroid = AndroidInitializationSettings(
+    '@mipmap/ic_launcher',
+  );
+  const initializationSettings = InitializationSettings(
+    android: initializationSettingsAndroid,
+  );
+  await flutterLocalNotificationsPlugin.initialize(initializationSettings);
+
+  // Build notification content
+  final title = updateCount == 1
+      ? '1 app update available'
+      : '$updateCount app updates available';
+
+  final body = appNames.length <= 3
+      ? appNames.join(', ')
+      : '${appNames.take(3).join(', ')} and ${appNames.length - 3} more';
+
+  const androidDetails = AndroidNotificationDetails(
+    kUpdateNotificationChannelId,
+    kUpdateNotificationChannelName,
+    channelDescription: kUpdateNotificationChannelDescription,
+    importance: Importance.defaultImportance,
+    priority: Priority.defaultPriority,
+    showWhen: true,
+    autoCancel: true,
+  );
+
+  const notificationDetails = NotificationDetails(android: androidDetails);
+
+  await flutterLocalNotificationsPlugin.show(
+    0, // Notification ID
+    title,
+    body,
+    notificationDetails,
+  );
+}
+
+/// Service for managing background update checks
+class BackgroundUpdateService {
+  BackgroundUpdateService(this.ref);
+
+  final Ref ref;
+
+  /// Initialize WorkManager and register periodic task
+  Future<void> initialize() async {
+    if (!Platform.isAndroid) {
+      // WorkManager only works on Android/iOS, skip on other platforms
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // Initialize WorkManager
+    await Workmanager().initialize(callbackDispatcher);
+
+    // Initialize local notifications
+    await _initializeNotifications();
+
+    // Register periodic task (minimum 15 minutes on Android)
+    // We use 6 hours for battery efficiency
+    await Workmanager().registerPeriodicTask(
+      kBackgroundUpdateTaskId,
+      kBackgroundUpdateTaskName,
+      frequency: const Duration(hours: 6),
+      constraints: Constraints(
+        networkType: NetworkType.connected,
+        requiresBatteryNotLow: true,
+      ),
+      existingWorkPolicy: ExistingPeriodicWorkPolicy.keep,
+      backoffPolicy: BackoffPolicy.exponential,
+      initialDelay: const Duration(minutes: 15),
+    );
+  }
+
+  /// Initialize local notifications plugin
+  Future<void> _initializeNotifications() async {
+    final flutterLocalNotificationsPlugin = FlutterLocalNotificationsPlugin();
+
+    const initializationSettingsAndroid = AndroidInitializationSettings(
+      '@mipmap/ic_launcher',
+    );
+    const initializationSettings = InitializationSettings(
+      android: initializationSettingsAndroid,
+    );
+
+    await flutterLocalNotificationsPlugin.initialize(
+      initializationSettings,
+      onDidReceiveNotificationResponse: (response) {
+        // Notification tapped - app will open to main screen
+        // Navigation is handled by the app's normal launch flow
+      },
+    );
+
+    // Create notification channel on Android
+    final androidPlugin =
+        flutterLocalNotificationsPlugin
+            .resolvePlatformSpecificImplementation<
+              AndroidFlutterLocalNotificationsPlugin
+            >();
+
+    if (androidPlugin != null) {
+      await androidPlugin.createNotificationChannel(
+        const AndroidNotificationChannel(
+          kUpdateNotificationChannelId,
+          kUpdateNotificationChannelName,
+          description: kUpdateNotificationChannelDescription,
+          importance: Importance.defaultImportance,
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  /// Cancel background update checks
+  Future<void> cancelBackgroundChecks() async {
+    await Workmanager().cancelByUniqueName(kBackgroundUpdateTaskId);
+  }
+
+  /// Trigger an immediate background check (for testing)
+  Future<void> triggerImmediateCheck() async {
+    await Workmanager().registerOneOffTask(
+      '${kBackgroundUpdateTaskId}_immediate',
+      kBackgroundUpdateTaskName,
+      constraints: Constraints(networkType: NetworkType.connected),
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+/// Provider for the background update service
+final backgroundUpdateServiceProvider = Provider<BackgroundUpdateService>(
+  BackgroundUpdateService.new,
+);
diff --git a/lib/services/profile_service.dart b/lib/services/profile_service.dart
index 2ccb4b8..b4b17a5 100644
--- a/lib/services/profile_service.dart
+++ b/lib/services/profile_service.dart
@@ -172,31 +172,32 @@ final profileServiceProvider = Provider((ref) => ProfileService(ref));
 /// - Returns local data immediately if available
 /// - Reacts to profile updates from batch fetches via trigger mechanism
 /// - Streams updates when profile data changes
-final profileProvider =
-    AutoDisposeProvider.family<AsyncValue<Profile?>, String>((ref, pubkey) {
-      // Watch update trigger to react when profiles are saved by fetchProfiles()
-      ref.watch(_profileUpdateTriggerProvider.select((state) => state[pubkey]));
+final profileProvider = AutoDisposeProvider.family<AsyncValue<Profile?>, String>(
+  (ref, pubkey) {
+    // Watch update trigger to react when profiles are saved by fetchProfiles()
+    ref.watch(_profileUpdateTriggerProvider.select((state) => state[pubkey]));
 
-      // Use query with LocalAndRemoteSource for reactive updates
-      final profileState = ref.watch(
-        query<Profile>(
-          authors: {pubkey},
-          source: LocalAndRemoteSource(
-            relays: {'social', 'vertex'},
-            stream: true,
-            background: true, // Don't block on remote
-          ),
+    // Use query with LocalAndRemoteSource for reactive updates
+    final profileState = ref.watch(
+      query<Profile>(
+        authors: {pubkey},
+        source: LocalAndRemoteSource(
+          relays: {'social', 'vertex'},
+          stream: true,
+          background: true, // Don't block on remote
         ),
-      );
+      ),
+    );
 
-      return switch (profileState) {
-        StorageLoading() => const AsyncValue.loading(),
-        StorageError(:final exception) => AsyncValue.error(
-          exception,
-          StackTrace.current,
-        ),
-        StorageData(:final models) => AsyncValue.data(
-          models.isNotEmpty ? models.first : null,
-        ),
-      };
-    });
+    return switch (profileState) {
+      StorageLoading() => const AsyncValue.loading(),
+      StorageError(:final exception) => AsyncValue.error(
+        exception,
+        StackTrace.current,
+      ),
+      StorageData(:final models) => AsyncValue.data(
+        models.isNotEmpty ? models.first : null,
+      ),
+    };
+  },
+);
diff --git a/macos/Flutter/GeneratedPluginRegistrant.swift b/macos/Flutter/GeneratedPluginRegistrant.swift
index 8805b61..763252e 100644
--- a/macos/Flutter/GeneratedPluginRegistrant.swift
+++ b/macos/Flutter/GeneratedPluginRegistrant.swift
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import Foundation
 
 import app_links
 import connectivity_plus
+import flutter_local_notifications
 import flutter_secure_storage_darwin
 import path_provider_foundation
 import share_plus
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ import url_launcher_macos
 func RegisterGeneratedPlugins(registry: FlutterPluginRegistry) {
   AppLinksMacosPlugin.register(with: registry.registrar(forPlugin: "AppLinksMacosPlugin"))
   ConnectivityPlusPlugin.register(with: registry.registrar(forPlugin: "ConnectivityPlusPlugin"))
+  FlutterLocalNotificationsPlugin.register(with: registry.registrar(forPlugin: "FlutterLocalNotificationsPlugin"))
   FlutterSecureStorageDarwinPlugin.register(with: registry.registrar(forPlugin: "FlutterSecureStorageDarwinPlugin"))
   PathProviderPlugin.register(with: registry.registrar(forPlugin: "PathProviderPlugin"))
   SharePlusMacosPlugin.register(with: registry.registrar(forPlugin: "SharePlusMacosPlugin"))
diff --git a/pubspec.lock b/pubspec.lock
index e417a23..a39eec7 100644
--- a/pubspec.lock
+++ b/pubspec.lock
@@ -375,6 +375,38 @@ packages:
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
     version: "5.0.0"
+  flutter_local_notifications:
+    dependency: "direct main"
+    description:
+      name: flutter_local_notifications
+      sha256: "19ffb0a8bb7407875555e5e98d7343a633bb73707bae6c6a5f37c90014077875"
+      url: "https://pub.dev"
+    source: hosted
+    version: "19.5.0"
+  flutter_local_notifications_linux:
+    dependency: transitive
+    description:
+      name: flutter_local_notifications_linux
+      sha256: e3c277b2daab8e36ac5a6820536668d07e83851aeeb79c446e525a70710770a5
+      url: "https://pub.dev"
+    source: hosted
+    version: "6.0.0"
+  flutter_local_notifications_platform_interface:
+    dependency: transitive
+    description:
+      name: flutter_local_notifications_platform_interface
+      sha256: "277d25d960c15674ce78ca97f57d0bae2ee401c844b6ac80fcd972a9c99d09fe"
+      url: "https://pub.dev"
+    source: hosted
+    version: "9.1.0"
+  flutter_local_notifications_windows:
+    dependency: transitive
+    description:
+      name: flutter_local_notifications_windows
+      sha256: "8d658f0d367c48bd420e7cf2d26655e2d1130147bca1eea917e576ca76668aaf"
+      url: "https://pub.dev"
+    source: hosted
+    version: "1.0.3"
   flutter_markdown:
     dependency: "direct main"
     description:
@@ -1149,6 +1181,14 @@ packages:
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
     version: "0.7.4"
+  timezone:
+    dependency: transitive
+    description:
+      name: timezone
+      sha256: dd14a3b83cfd7cb19e7888f1cbc20f258b8d71b54c06f79ac585f14093a287d1
+      url: "https://pub.dev"
+    source: hosted
+    version: "0.10.1"
   toastification:
     dependency: "direct main"
     description:
@@ -1309,6 +1349,38 @@ packages:
       url: "https://pub.dev"
     source: hosted
     version: "5.15.0"
+  workmanager:
+    dependency: "direct main"
+    description:
+      name: workmanager
+      sha256: "065673b2a465865183093806925419d311a9a5e0995aa74ccf8920fd695e2d10"
+      url: "https://pub.dev"
+    source: hosted
+    version: "0.9.0+3"
+  workmanager_android:
+    dependency: transitive
+    description:
+      name: workmanager_android
+      sha256: "9ae744db4ef891f5fcd2fb8671fccc712f4f96489a487a1411e0c8675e5e8cb7"
+      url: "https://pub.dev"
+    source: hosted
+    version: "0.9.0+2"
+  workmanager_apple:
+    dependency: transitive
+    description:
+      name: workmanager_apple
+      sha256: "1cc12ae3cbf5535e72f7ba4fde0c12dd11b757caf493a28e22d684052701f2ca"
+      url: "https://pub.dev"
+    source: hosted
+    version: "0.9.1+2"
+  workmanager_platform_interface:
+    dependency: transitive
+    description:
+      name: workmanager_platform_interface
+      sha256: f40422f10b970c67abb84230b44da22b075147637532ac501729256fcea10a47
+      url: "https://pub.dev"
+    source: hosted
+    version: "0.9.1+1"
   xdg_directories:
     dependency: transitive
     description:
diff --git a/pubspec.yaml b/pubspec.yaml
index b53c3ae..8d2ddf3 100644
--- a/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/pubspec.yaml
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ dependencies:
   app_links: ^6.4.1
   flutter_secure_storage: ^10.0.0
   markdown: ^7.3.0
+  workmanager: ^0.9.0+3
+  flutter_local_notifications: ^19.5.0
 
 dependency_overrides:
   models: