diff --git a/public/index.html b/public/index.html
index 3a46ab1..62e8ca3 100644
--- a/public/index.html
+++ b/public/index.html
@@ -724,7 +724,10 @@
     <div id="floating-update-notification">
         <div>Update Available!</div>
         <div id="floating-update-version">New version available</div>
-        <button id="floating-update-button">Update Now</button>
+        <div class="button-container">
+            <button id="floating-update-button">Update Now</button>
+            <button id="floating-refresh-button" style="background-color: #4CAF50; margin-left: 10px;">Refresh Status</button>
+        </div>
     </div>
     
     <!-- JavaScript Files -->
diff --git a/public/js/system-status.js b/public/js/system-status.js
index 63d3b05..3487561 100644
--- a/public/js/system-status.js
+++ b/public/js/system-status.js
@@ -275,6 +275,9 @@ function initSystemStatus() {
             // No update available
             updateStatusElement.innerHTML = '<i class="fas fa-check-circle text-success"></i> Up to date';
             hideUpdateAlert();
+            
+            // Force reload system status to ensure version is current
+            setTimeout(() => loadSystemStatus(), 1000);
           }
         } else {
           // Error status but with a response
@@ -405,6 +408,12 @@ function initSystemStatus() {
             
             // Update page to show current version without reloading
             loadSystemStatus();
+            
+            // Double-check system status again after a delay to ensure version is updated
+            setTimeout(() => {
+              loadSystemStatus();
+              checkForUpdates(); // Run check again to update status text
+            }, 2000);
             return;
           }
           
@@ -516,6 +525,48 @@ function initSystemStatus() {
     updateButton.addEventListener('click', applyUpdate);
   }
   
+  // Add handler for floating refresh button
+  const floatingRefreshButton = document.getElementById('floating-refresh-button');
+  if (floatingRefreshButton) {
+    floatingRefreshButton.addEventListener('click', () => {
+      // Force a hard refresh of everything
+      floatingRefreshButton.textContent = 'Refreshing...';
+      floatingRefreshButton.disabled = true;
+      
+      // Force reload system status
+      loadSystemStatus();
+      
+      // Force a check without the test parameter to get real status
+      const realCheckUrl = `/api/system/check-updates?_=${new Date().getTime()}`;
+      fetch(realCheckUrl, { headers: authHeaders() })
+        .then(response => response.json())
+        .then(data => {
+          console.log('Manual refresh result:', data);
+          
+          if (data.status === 'success') {
+            // Show notification about current status
+            if (data.data && data.data.updateAvailable) {
+              showUpdateAlert(data.data.currentVersion, data.data.remoteVersion);
+              showNotification(`Update is available: ${data.data.currentVersion} → ${data.data.remoteVersion}`, 'info');
+            } else {
+              hideUpdateAlert();
+              showNotification(`Current version: ${data.data.currentVersion}. You are up to date.`, 'success');
+            }
+          }
+          
+          // Re-enable button
+          floatingRefreshButton.textContent = 'Refresh Status';
+          floatingRefreshButton.disabled = false;
+        })
+        .catch(error => {
+          console.error('Error during manual refresh:', error);
+          floatingRefreshButton.textContent = 'Refresh Status';
+          floatingRefreshButton.disabled = false;
+          showNotification('Error checking update status', 'danger');
+        });
+    });
+  }
+  
   // Test mode toggle (for developers)
   const testToggle = document.getElementById('toggle-test-update-button');
   if (testToggle) {
diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index 56a442b..245ba26 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -90,8 +90,20 @@ const JWT_SECRET = process.env.JWT_SECRET || 'transmission-rss-manager-secret';
 const JWT_EXPIRY = '24h';
 
 // Get the version from package.json (single source of truth)
-const PACKAGE_JSON = require('./package.json');
-const APP_VERSION = PACKAGE_JSON.version;
+// Re-read the package.json file each time to ensure we get the latest version
+const APP_VERSION = (() => {
+  try {
+    // Use synchronous file read to ensure we have the version before continuing
+    const packageJsonPath = path.join(__dirname, 'package.json');
+    const packageJson = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(packageJsonPath, 'utf8'));
+    return packageJson.version;
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error('Error reading package.json version:', err);
+    // Fallback to requiring package.json if file read fails
+    const PACKAGE_JSON = require('./package.json');
+    return PACKAGE_JSON.version;
+  }
+})();
 
 // Create Express app
 const app = express();
@@ -1269,10 +1281,25 @@ app.get('/api/system/status', authenticateJWT, async (req, res) => {
       transmissionStatus = 'Disconnected';
     }
     
+    // Read version directly from package.json to ensure it's always current
+    let currentVersion = APP_VERSION;
+    try {
+      const packageJsonPath = path.join(__dirname, 'package.json');
+      const packageJsonContent = await fsPromises.readFile(packageJsonPath, 'utf8');
+      const packageData = JSON.parse(packageJsonContent);
+      currentVersion = packageData.version;
+      
+      // Log the version for debugging
+      console.log(`System status endpoint returning version: ${currentVersion}`);
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.error('Error reading package.json in status endpoint:', err);
+      // Fall back to the cached APP_VERSION
+    }
+    
     res.json({
       status: 'success',
       data: {
-        version: APP_VERSION,
+        version: currentVersion,
         uptime,
         transmissionStatus
       }