diff --git a/app/[locale]/login/page.tsx b/app/[locale]/login/page.tsx
index 6385f1ee..8e0872cb 100644
--- a/app/[locale]/login/page.tsx
+++ b/app/[locale]/login/page.tsx
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ const THEME_OPTIONS = [
 function VersionBadge() {
   const [copied, setCopied] = useState(false);
   const banner = useUpdateStore(useShallow(selectBanner));
-  const dismiss = useUpdateStore((s) => s.dismiss);
   const startPolling = useUpdateStore((s) => s.startPolling);
 
   useEffect(() => { startPolling(); }, [startPolling]);
@@ -95,15 +94,6 @@ function VersionBadge() {
           >
             {copied ? <Check className="w-3.5 h-3.5 text-green-500" /> : <Copy className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />}
           </button>
-          {banner?.dismissible && (
-            <button
-              onClick={dismiss}
-              className="p-1 rounded hover:bg-muted transition-colors"
-              aria-label="Dismiss update notice"
-            >
-              <X className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
-            </button>
-          )}
         </div>
       </div>
     </div>
diff --git a/components/system/update-banner.tsx b/components/system/update-banner.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 5080957a..00000000
--- a/components/system/update-banner.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,69 +0,0 @@
-"use client";
-
-import { useEffect } from "react";
-import { useShallow } from "zustand/react/shallow";
-import { AlertTriangle, X } from "lucide-react";
-import { useUpdateStore, selectBanner } from "@/stores/update-store";
-import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
-
-// Single-line, low-key update notice. Lives next to the version badge on the
-// login screen — deliberately understated so it doesn't distract from the
-// auth flow. Red variants (security / deprecated) still use red text but
-// stay the same compact shape.
-export function UpdateNotice({ className }: { className?: string }) {
-  const banner = useUpdateStore(useShallow(selectBanner));
-  const dismiss = useUpdateStore((s) => s.dismiss);
-  const startPolling = useUpdateStore((s) => s.startPolling);
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    startPolling();
-  }, [startPolling]);
-
-  if (!banner) return null;
-
-  const isRed = banner.variant === "red";
-
-  const text =
-    banner.severity === "security"
-      ? `Security update${banner.latest ? `: ${banner.latest}` : ""}`
-      : banner.severity === "deprecated"
-        ? "Version no longer supported"
-        : `Update available: ${banner.latest ?? ""}`;
-
-  return (
-    <div
-      className={cn(
-        "inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-[11px] leading-none",
-        isRed
-          ? "text-red-600 dark:text-red-400"
-          : "text-muted-foreground/60 hover:text-muted-foreground transition-colors",
-        className,
-      )}
-      role={isRed ? "alert" : "status"}
-    >
-      {isRed && <AlertTriangle className="w-3 h-3 flex-shrink-0" />}
-      {banner.url ? (
-        <a
-          href={banner.url}
-          target="_blank"
-          rel="noopener noreferrer"
-          className="underline-offset-2 hover:underline"
-        >
-          {text}
-        </a>
-      ) : (
-        <span>{text}</span>
-      )}
-      {banner.dismissible && (
-        <button
-          type="button"
-          onClick={dismiss}
-          className="opacity-50 hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity flex-shrink-0"
-          aria-label="Dismiss"
-        >
-          <X className="w-3 h-3" />
-        </button>
-      )}
-    </div>
-  );
-}
diff --git a/stores/update-store.ts b/stores/update-store.ts
index 1cb3d014..670eef0c 100644
--- a/stores/update-store.ts
+++ b/stores/update-store.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import { create } from 'zustand';
-import { persist } from 'zustand/middleware';
 import { apiFetch } from '@/lib/browser-navigation';
 import type { UpdateStatus, UpdateSeverity } from '@/lib/version-check/types';
 
@@ -9,14 +8,10 @@ interface UpdateState {
   status: UpdateStatus | null;
   loading: boolean;
   lastFetchedAt: number | null;
-  // Latest version the user has dismissed the amber banner for. A newer
-  // release re-shows the banner. Persisted in localStorage.
-  dismissedVersion: string | null;
 
   fetchStatus: () => Promise<void>;
   startPolling: () => void;
   stopPolling: () => void;
-  dismiss: () => void;
 }
 
 let pollTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
@@ -28,65 +23,48 @@ interface ApiResponse {
   lastSuccessAt: string | null;
 }
 
-export const useUpdateStore = create<UpdateState>()(
-  persist(
-    (set, get) => ({
-      status: null,
-      loading: false,
-      lastFetchedAt: null,
-      dismissedVersion: null,
+export const useUpdateStore = create<UpdateState>()((set, get) => ({
+  status: null,
+  loading: false,
+  lastFetchedAt: null,
 
-      fetchStatus: async () => {
-        if (inFlight) return inFlight;
-        set({ loading: true });
-        inFlight = (async () => {
-          try {
-            const res = await apiFetch('/api/system/update-status');
-            if (!res.ok) return;
-            const body = (await res.json()) as ApiResponse;
-            set({
-              status: body.status,
-              lastFetchedAt: Date.now(),
-            });
-          } catch {
-            // Silent — banner just won't appear, no need to disrupt the UI.
-          } finally {
-            set({ loading: false });
-            inFlight = null;
-          }
-        })();
-        return inFlight;
-      },
+  fetchStatus: async () => {
+    if (inFlight) return inFlight;
+    set({ loading: true });
+    inFlight = (async () => {
+      try {
+        const res = await apiFetch('/api/system/update-status');
+        if (!res.ok) return;
+        const body = (await res.json()) as ApiResponse;
+        set({
+          status: body.status,
+          lastFetchedAt: Date.now(),
+        });
+      } catch {
+        // Silent — banner just won't appear, no need to disrupt the UI.
+      } finally {
+        set({ loading: false });
+        inFlight = null;
+      }
+    })();
+    return inFlight;
+  },
 
-      startPolling: () => {
-        if (pollTimer) return;
-        void get().fetchStatus();
-        pollTimer = setInterval(() => {
-          void get().fetchStatus();
-        }, POLL_INTERVAL_MS);
-      },
+  startPolling: () => {
+    if (pollTimer) return;
+    void get().fetchStatus();
+    pollTimer = setInterval(() => {
+      void get().fetchStatus();
+    }, POLL_INTERVAL_MS);
+  },
 
-      stopPolling: () => {
-        if (pollTimer) {
-          clearInterval(pollTimer);
-          pollTimer = null;
-        }
-      },
-
-      dismiss: () => {
-        const { status } = get();
-        const target = status?.latest ?? status?.current;
-        if (!target) return;
-        set({ dismissedVersion: target });
-      },
-    }),
-    {
-      name: 'bulwark-update-dismissed',
-      // Only persist the dismissal — status is fetched fresh per session.
-      partialize: (s) => ({ dismissedVersion: s.dismissedVersion }),
-    },
-  ),
-);
+  stopPolling: () => {
+    if (pollTimer) {
+      clearInterval(pollTimer);
+      pollTimer = null;
+    }
+  },
+}));
 
 // Selectors. Keep them outside the store creator so components subscribing
 // to a single derived value don't re-render on unrelated state changes.
@@ -99,7 +77,6 @@ export interface BannerInfo {
   latest: string | null;
   url: string | null;
   advisory: string | null;
-  dismissible: boolean;
 }
 
 export function selectBanner(s: UpdateState): BannerInfo | null {
@@ -114,7 +91,6 @@ export function selectBanner(s: UpdateState): BannerInfo | null {
       latest: st.latest,
       url: st.url,
       advisory: st.advisory,
-      dismissible: false,
     };
   }
   if (st.severity === 'deprecated') {
@@ -124,25 +100,19 @@ export function selectBanner(s: UpdateState): BannerInfo | null {
       latest: st.latest,
       url: st.url,
       advisory: null,
-      dismissible: false,
     };
   }
-  // normal
-  const target = st.latest ?? st.current;
-  if (s.dismissedVersion === target) return null;
   return {
     variant: 'amber',
     severity: 'normal',
     latest: st.latest,
     url: st.url,
     advisory: null,
-    dismissible: true,
   };
 }
 
-// Used by the admin shield to show a dot regardless of dismissal state. We
-// always want admins to see that an update is needed, even if the amber
-// banner has been dismissed.
+// Used by the admin shield + admin sidebar to show a dot when an update is
+// available. Mirrors selectBanner's "should we show something" logic.
 export function selectHasUpdate(s: UpdateState): boolean {
   return !!s.status?.updateAvailable && s.status.severity !== 'unknown';
 }