diff --git a/server/shell.ts b/server/shell.ts
index 719bb44..896590e 100644
--- a/server/shell.ts
+++ b/server/shell.ts
@@ -350,10 +350,15 @@ export function renderShell(opts: ShellOptions): string {
 
   <script type="module">
     import '/shell.js';
-    // ── Service worker registration + update detection ──
+    // ── PWA: single consolidated banner ──
+    const isStandalone = window.matchMedia('(display-mode: standalone)').matches
+      || window.navigator.standalone === true;
+
+    // Service worker registration + update detection
     if ("serviceWorker" in navigator && location.hostname !== "localhost") {
       navigator.serviceWorker.register("/sw.js?v=5").then((reg) => {
         function showUpdateBanner() {
+          if (!isStandalone) return; // Only show update prompt in installed PWA
           const b = document.getElementById('pwa-update-banner');
           if (!b || b.style.display !== 'none') return;
           b.style.display = '';
@@ -375,31 +380,36 @@ export function renderShell(opts: ShellOptions): string {
         location.reload();
       });
     }
-    // ── PWA install banner ──
-    window.addEventListener("beforeinstallprompt", (e) => {
-      e.preventDefault();
-      window.__rspaceInstallPrompt = () => { e.prompt(); return e.userChoice; };
-      window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent("rspace-install-available"));
-      if (localStorage.getItem('rspace_install_dismissed') !== '1') {
-        const b = document.getElementById('pwa-install-banner');
-        if (b) { b.style.display = ''; document.body.classList.add('rspace-banner-visible'); }
-      }
-    });
-    document.getElementById('pwa-install-btn')?.addEventListener('click', async () => {
-      if (window.__rspaceInstallPrompt) {
-        const choice = await window.__rspaceInstallPrompt();
-        if (choice?.outcome === 'accepted') {
-          document.getElementById('pwa-install-banner').style.display = 'none';
-          document.body.classList.remove('rspace-banner-visible');
-          localStorage.setItem('rspace_install_dismissed', '1');
+
+    // Install banner — browser only (not shown in installed PWA)
+    if (!isStandalone) {
+      window.addEventListener("beforeinstallprompt", (e) => {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        window.__rspaceInstallPrompt = () => { e.prompt(); return e.userChoice; };
+        window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent("rspace-install-available"));
+        if (localStorage.getItem('rspace_install_dismissed') !== '1') {
+          const b = document.getElementById('pwa-install-banner');
+          if (b) { b.style.display = ''; document.body.classList.add('rspace-banner-visible'); }
         }
-      }
-    });
-    document.getElementById('pwa-install-close')?.addEventListener('click', () => {
-      document.getElementById('pwa-install-banner').style.display = 'none';
-      document.body.classList.remove('rspace-banner-visible');
-      localStorage.setItem('rspace_install_dismissed', '1');
-    });
+      });
+      document.getElementById('pwa-install-btn')?.addEventListener('click', async () => {
+        if (window.__rspaceInstallPrompt) {
+          const choice = await window.__rspaceInstallPrompt();
+          if (choice?.outcome === 'accepted') {
+            document.getElementById('pwa-install-banner').style.display = 'none';
+            document.body.classList.remove('rspace-banner-visible');
+            localStorage.setItem('rspace_install_dismissed', '1');
+          }
+        }
+      });
+      document.getElementById('pwa-install-close')?.addEventListener('click', () => {
+        document.getElementById('pwa-install-banner').style.display = 'none';
+        document.body.classList.remove('rspace-banner-visible');
+        localStorage.setItem('rspace_install_dismissed', '1');
+      });
+    }
+
+    // Update banner button handlers (always wire, shown conditionally above)
     document.getElementById('pwa-update-btn')?.addEventListener('click', () => {
       navigator.serviceWorker?.getRegistration().then((reg) => { reg?.waiting?.postMessage({ type: 'SKIP_WAITING' }); });
     });
@@ -407,10 +417,6 @@ export function renderShell(opts: ShellOptions): string {
       document.getElementById('pwa-update-banner').style.display = 'none';
       document.body.classList.remove('rspace-banner-visible');
     });
-    if (window.matchMedia('(display-mode: standalone)').matches) {
-      const ib = document.getElementById('pwa-install-banner');
-      if (ib) ib.style.display = 'none';
-    }
     // ── Header minimize toggle ──
     if (localStorage.getItem('rspace_headers_minimized') === '1') {
       document.body.classList.add('rspace-headers-minimized');
diff --git a/website/shell.ts b/website/shell.ts
index 5e11506..4dbb2be 100644
--- a/website/shell.ts
+++ b/website/shell.ts
@@ -133,88 +133,5 @@ document.addEventListener("auth-change", (e) => {
 	}
 });
 
-// ── SW Update Banner ──
-// Show "new version available" when a new service worker activates.
-// The SW calls skipWaiting() so it activates immediately — we detect the
-// controller change and prompt the user to reload for the fresh content.
-if ("serviceWorker" in navigator && location.hostname !== "localhost") {
-	// Only listen if there's already a controller (skip first-time install)
-	if (navigator.serviceWorker.controller) {
-		navigator.serviceWorker.addEventListener("controllerchange", () => {
-			showUpdateBanner();
-		});
-	}
-
-	// Also detect waiting workers (edge case: skipWaiting didn't fire yet)
-	navigator.serviceWorker.getRegistration().then((reg) => {
-		if (!reg) return;
-		if (reg.waiting && navigator.serviceWorker.controller) {
-			showUpdateBanner();
-			return;
-		}
-		reg.addEventListener("updatefound", () => {
-			const newWorker = reg.installing;
-			if (!newWorker) return;
-			newWorker.addEventListener("statechange", () => {
-				if (newWorker.state === "installed" && navigator.serviceWorker.controller) {
-					showUpdateBanner();
-				}
-			});
-		});
-	});
-}
-
-function showUpdateBanner() {
-	if (document.getElementById("sw-update-banner")) return;
-
-	const banner = document.createElement("div");
-	banner.id = "sw-update-banner";
-	banner.setAttribute("role", "alert");
-	banner.innerHTML = `
-		<span>New version available</span>
-		<button id="sw-update-btn">Tap to update</button>
-		<button id="sw-update-dismiss" aria-label="Dismiss">&times;</button>
-	`;
-
-	const style = document.createElement("style");
-	style.textContent = `
-		#sw-update-banner {
-			position: fixed; top: 0; left: 0; right: 0; z-index: 10000;
-			display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: 12px;
-			padding: 10px 16px;
-			background: linear-gradient(135deg, #6366f1, #8b5cf6);
-			color: white; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500;
-			font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, sans-serif;
-			box-shadow: 0 2px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);
-			animation: sw-slide-down 0.3s ease-out;
-		}
-		@keyframes sw-slide-down {
-			from { transform: translateY(-100%); }
-			to { transform: translateY(0); }
-		}
-		#sw-update-btn {
-			padding: 5px 14px; border-radius: 6px; border: 1.5px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.5);
-			background: rgba(255,255,255,0.15); color: white;
-			font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600; cursor: pointer;
-			transition: background 0.15s;
-		}
-		#sw-update-btn:hover { background: rgba(255,255,255,0.3); }
-		#sw-update-dismiss {
-			position: absolute; right: 12px; top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%);
-			background: none; border: none; color: rgba(255,255,255,0.7);
-			font-size: 20px; cursor: pointer; padding: 4px 8px; line-height: 1;
-		}
-		#sw-update-dismiss:hover { color: white; }
-	`;
-
-	document.head.appendChild(style);
-	document.body.prepend(banner);
-
-	banner.querySelector("#sw-update-btn")!.addEventListener("click", () => {
-		window.location.reload();
-	});
-
-	banner.querySelector("#sw-update-dismiss")!.addEventListener("click", () => {
-		banner.remove();
-	});
-}
+// SW update banner is handled by the inline script in server/shell.ts
+// (single #pwa-update-banner element, no duplicate)