diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/components/settings/app/AppSettingsSection.tsx b/ui/desktop/src/components/settings/app/AppSettingsSection.tsx
index d2e3c222..a586fd71 100644
--- a/ui/desktop/src/components/settings/app/AppSettingsSection.tsx
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/components/settings/app/AppSettingsSection.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { useState, useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
 import { Switch } from '../../ui/switch';
 import UpdateSection from './UpdateSection';
+import { UPDATES_ENABLED } from '../../../updates';
 
 interface AppSettingsSectionProps {
   scrollToSection?: string;
@@ -124,9 +125,11 @@ export default function AppSettingsSection({ scrollToSection }: AppSettingsSecti
         </div>
 
         {/* Update Section */}
-        <div ref={updateSectionRef} className="mt-8 pt-8 border-t border-gray-200">
-          <UpdateSection />
-        </div>
+        {UPDATES_ENABLED && (
+          <div ref={updateSectionRef} className="mt-8 pt-8 border-t border-gray-200">
+            <UpdateSection />
+          </div>
+        )}
       </div>
     </section>
   );
diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/main.ts b/ui/desktop/src/main.ts
index 831a977c..64be6e50 100644
--- a/ui/desktop/src/main.ts
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/main.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import {
   updateTrayMenu,
   getUpdateAvailable,
 } from './utils/autoUpdater';
+import { UPDATES_ENABLED } from './updates';
 
 // Define temp directory for pasted images
 const gooseTempDir = path.join(app.getPath('temp'), 'goose-pasted-images');
@@ -1157,7 +1158,7 @@ const registerGlobalHotkey = (accelerator: string) => {
 
 app.whenReady().then(async () => {
   // Setup auto-updater
-  setupAutoUpdater();
+  UPDATES_ENABLED && setupAutoUpdater();
 
   // Add CSP headers to all sessions
   session.defaultSession.webRequest.onHeadersReceived((details, callback) => {
diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/updates.ts b/ui/desktop/src/updates.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..da6e19cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/updates.ts
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export const UPDATES_ENABLED = true;