diff --git a/crates/actions/src/action.rs b/crates/actions/src/action.rs
index 104b104..92bf0e7 100644
--- a/crates/actions/src/action.rs
+++ b/crates/actions/src/action.rs
@@ -270,6 +270,8 @@ pub enum UiEffect {
     SetChangesSort(ChangesSort),
     /// Show the log of git commands and their output.
     ShowGitOutput,
+    /// Look for a newer release now, ignoring the daily cache (also `U`).
+    CheckForUpdates,
     /// Show where HEAD has been (the reflog), to recover lost commits.
     ShowReflog,
     /// Show the repository's worktrees, to add, remove or prune them.
diff --git a/crates/actions/src/menu.rs b/crates/actions/src/menu.rs
index 91aa17b..99b690c 100644
--- a/crates/actions/src/menu.rs
+++ b/crates/actions/src/menu.rs
@@ -571,6 +571,8 @@ fn repository_menu(ctx: &MenuContext) -> Vec<Option<MenuItem>> {
         entry("Show Git Output", Action::Ui(UiEffect::ShowGitOutput)),
         entry("Show Reflog", Action::Ui(UiEffect::ShowReflog)),
         entry("Worktrees...", Action::Ui(UiEffect::ShowWorktrees)),
+        Some(MenuItem::Separator),
+        entry("Check for Updates", Action::Ui(UiEffect::CheckForUpdates)),
     ]
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/actions/src/menu/tests.rs b/crates/actions/src/menu/tests.rs
index 7427706..e9b3509 100644
--- a/crates/actions/src/menu/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/actions/src/menu/tests.rs
@@ -740,6 +740,8 @@ fn repository_menu_matches_the_vs_code_order() {
             "Show Git Output",
             "Show Reflog",
             "Worktrees...",
+            "---",
+            "Check for Updates",
         ]
     );
     assert_eq!(
@@ -1182,6 +1184,10 @@ fn repository_actions_are_prefilled() {
         action(&menu, "Worktrees..."),
         &Action::Ui(UiEffect::ShowWorktrees)
     );
+    assert_eq!(
+        action(&menu, "Check for Updates"),
+        &Action::Ui(UiEffect::CheckForUpdates)
+    );
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -1212,6 +1218,8 @@ fn repository_menu_without_remotes_or_branch() {
             "Show Git Output",
             "Show Reflog",
             "Worktrees...",
+            "---",
+            "Check for Updates",
         ]
     );
     assert_eq!(
diff --git a/crates/app/src/state.rs b/crates/app/src/state.rs
index c7795f7..98d563e 100644
--- a/crates/app/src/state.rs
+++ b/crates/app/src/state.rs
@@ -372,6 +372,17 @@ pub struct AppState {
 }
 
 impl AppState {
+    /// `U` and the "..." menu's Check for Updates: shows the update that is
+    /// known, or asks the main loop to look again right now.
+    pub(super) fn check_for_updates(&mut self) {
+        if self.update_available.is_some() {
+            self.update_panel = true;
+        } else {
+            self.update_requested = true;
+            self.notify(Level::Info, "Checking for updates…");
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Shows `text` in the status bar, colored by `level`.
     pub fn notify(&mut self, level: Level, text: impl Into<String>) {
         self.message = Some(text.into());
@@ -576,7 +587,6 @@ impl AppState {
         base.max(self.status_poll.cost * 10)
     }
 
-    #[expect(clippy::too_many_lines, reason = "routes input across the app modes")]
     fn on_key(&mut self, key: KeyEvent) -> Vec<Command> {
         if key.kind != KeyEventKind::Press {
             return Vec::new();
@@ -649,12 +659,7 @@ impl AppState {
                 return Vec::new();
             }
             (KeyCode::Char('U'), _) => {
-                if self.update_available.is_some() {
-                    self.update_panel = true;
-                } else {
-                    self.update_requested = true;
-                    self.notify(Level::Info, "Checking for updates…");
-                }
+                self.check_for_updates();
             }
             (KeyCode::Char('r'), _) => {
                 // A manual refresh clears old messages; automatic ones keep the
diff --git a/crates/app/src/state/actions.rs b/crates/app/src/state/actions.rs
index 97709c8..6104865 100644
--- a/crates/app/src/state/actions.rs
+++ b/crates/app/src/state/actions.rs
@@ -209,6 +209,10 @@ impl AppState {
                 Vec::new()
             }
             Plan::Ui(UiEffect::ShowGitOutput) => self.show_git_output(),
+            Plan::Ui(UiEffect::CheckForUpdates) => {
+                self.check_for_updates();
+                Vec::new()
+            }
             Plan::Ui(UiEffect::ShowReflog) => self.show_reflog(),
             Plan::Ui(UiEffect::ShowWorktrees) => self.show_worktrees(),
             Plan::Ui(UiEffect::OpenInteractiveRebase { base }) => {
diff --git a/crates/app/src/state/toolbar_tests.rs b/crates/app/src/state/toolbar_tests.rs
index 0f42f36..c7b63ab 100644
--- a/crates/app/src/state/toolbar_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/app/src/state/toolbar_tests.rs
@@ -550,3 +550,13 @@ fn create_tag_from_the_menu_is_annotated_even_without_a_message() {
     accept_dialogs(&mut h);
     assert_eq!(repo.git(&["cat-file", "-t", "v9"]), "tag");
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn check_for_updates_in_the_repository_menu_asks_for_a_check() {
+    let repo = FixtureRepo::sample();
+    let mut h = open(&repo);
+    open_repo_menu(&mut h);
+    click_text(&mut h, "Check for Updates");
+    assert!(h.state.update_requested, "the main loop looks again now");
+    assert_eq!(h.state.message.as_deref(), Some("Checking for updates…"));
+}
diff --git a/crates/ui/tests/snapshots/menu__repository_menu_with_the_branch_submenu_open.snap b/crates/ui/tests/snapshots/menu__repository_menu_with_the_branch_submenu_open.snap
index 70bfe22..7bca8d0 100644
--- a/crates/ui/tests/snapshots/menu__repository_menu_with_the_branch_submenu_open.snap
+++ b/crates/ui/tests/snapshots/menu__repository_menu_with_the_branch_submenu_open.snap
@@ -2,28 +2,28 @@
 source: crates/ui/tests/menu.rs
 expression: "render(&menu, 60, 25)"
 ---
-.┌─────────────────┐........................................
-.│ View as Tree    │┌─────────────────────────┐.............
-.├─────────────────┤│ Merge...                │.............
-.│ View & Sort   ▸ ││ Rebase Branch...        │.............
-.├─────────────────┤├─────────────────────────┤.............
-.│ Pull            ││ Create Branch...        │.............
-.│ Push            ││ Create Branch From...   │.............
-.│ Clone           │├─────────────────────────┤.............
-.│ Checkout to...  ││ Rename Branch...        │.............
-.│ Fetch           ││ Delete Branch...        │.............
-.├─────────────────┤│ Delete Remote Branch... │.............
-.│ Commit        ▸ │├─────────────────────────┤.............
-.│ Changes       ▸ ││ Publish Branch...       │.............
-.│ Pull, Push    ▸ │└─────────────────────────┘.............
-.│ Branch        ▸ │........................................
-.│ Remote        ▸ │........................................
-.│ Stash         ▸ │........................................
-.│ Tags          ▸ │........................................
-.├─────────────────┤........................................
-.│ Show Git Output │........................................
-.│ Show Reflog     │........................................
-.│ Worktrees...    │........................................
-.└─────────────────┘........................................
-............................................................
-............................................................
+.┌───────────────────┐......................................
+.│ View as Tree      │┌─────────────────────────┐...........
+.├───────────────────┤│ Merge...                │...........
+.│ View & Sort     ▸ ││ Rebase Branch...        │...........
+.├───────────────────┤├─────────────────────────┤...........
+.│ Pull              ││ Create Branch...        │...........
+.│ Push              ││ Create Branch From...   │...........
+.│ Clone             │├─────────────────────────┤...........
+.│ Checkout to...    ││ Rename Branch...        │...........
+.│ Fetch             ││ Delete Branch...        │...........
+.├───────────────────┤│ Delete Remote Branch... │...........
+.│ Commit          ▸ │├─────────────────────────┤...........
+.│ Changes         ▸ ││ Publish Branch...       │...........
+.│ Pull, Push      ▸ │└─────────────────────────┘...........
+.│ Branch          ▸ │......................................
+.│ Remote          ▸ │......................................
+.│ Stash           ▸ │......................................
+.│ Tags            ▸ │......................................
+.├───────────────────┤......................................
+.│ Show Git Output   │......................................
+.│ Show Reflog       │......................................
+.│ Worktrees...      │......................................
+.├───────────────────┤......................................
+.│ Check for Updates │......................................
+.└───────────────────┘......................................