diff --git a/apps/desktop/electron/main.cjs b/apps/desktop/electron/main.cjs
index ce8e4bb83ca..3ea31b2720f 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/electron/main.cjs
+++ b/apps/desktop/electron/main.cjs
@@ -408,8 +408,13 @@ function previewFileMetadata(filePath, mimeType) {
 }
 
 app.setName(APP_NAME)
+// Seed the native About panel with the live Hermes version. This is refreshed
+// on every open via the explicit "About" menu handler (refreshAboutPanel), so
+// an in-place `hermes update` mid-session is reflected without an app restart;
+// the seed here just covers the first open and any non-menu invocation path.
 app.setAboutPanelOptions({
   applicationName: APP_NAME,
+  applicationVersion: resolveHermesVersion(),
   copyright: 'Copyright © 2026 Nous Research'
 })
 
@@ -2981,7 +2986,7 @@ function buildApplicationMenu() {
     template.push({
       label: APP_NAME,
       submenu: [
-        { role: 'about', label: `About ${APP_NAME}` },
+        { label: `About ${APP_NAME}`, click: () => showAboutPanelFresh() },
         checkForUpdatesItem,
         { type: 'separator' },
         { role: 'services' },
@@ -5373,6 +5378,19 @@ function resolveHermesVersion() {
   return app.getVersion()
 }
 
+// Re-resolve the live Hermes version and push it into the native About panel
+// just before showing it, so an in-place `hermes update` is reflected without
+// an app restart. macOS only — `showAboutPanel()` is a no-op elsewhere, and the
+// other platforms don't use this menu item.
+function showAboutPanelFresh() {
+  app.setAboutPanelOptions({
+    applicationName: APP_NAME,
+    applicationVersion: resolveHermesVersion(),
+    copyright: 'Copyright © 2026 Nous Research'
+  })
+  app.showAboutPanel()
+}
+
 ipcMain.handle('hermes:version', async () => ({
   appVersion: resolveHermesVersion(),
   electronVersion: process.versions.electron,