diff --git a/ftl/qt/qt-misc.ftl b/ftl/qt/qt-misc.ftl
index 294cd8a83..60c22ef8b 100644
--- a/ftl/qt/qt-misc.ftl
+++ b/ftl/qt/qt-misc.ftl
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ qt-misc-second =
 qt-misc-layout-auto-enabled = Responsive layout enabled
 qt-misc-layout-vertical-enabled = Vertical layout enabled
 qt-misc-layout-horizontal-enabled = Horizontal layout enabled
+qt-misc-please-restart-to-update-anki = Please restart Anki to update to the latest version.
 
 ## deprecated- these strings will be removed in the future, and do not need
 ## to be translated
diff --git a/qt/aqt/update.py b/qt/aqt/update.py
index fd0e4eafd..d8e92426c 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/update.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/update.py
@@ -1,13 +1,16 @@
 # Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
 # License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
 
+import os
+from pathlib import Path
+
 import aqt
 from anki.buildinfo import buildhash
 from anki.collection import CheckForUpdateResponse, Collection
-from anki.utils import dev_mode, int_time, int_version, plat_desc
+from anki.utils import dev_mode, int_time, int_version, is_mac, is_win, plat_desc
 from aqt.operations import QueryOp
 from aqt.qt import *
-from aqt.utils import openLink, show_warning, showText, tr
+from aqt.utils import show_info, show_warning, showText, tr
 
 
 def check_for_update() -> None:
@@ -77,4 +80,33 @@ def prompt_to_update(mw: aqt.AnkiQt, ver: str) -> None:
         # ignore this update
         mw.pm.meta["suppressUpdate"] = ver
     elif ret == QMessageBox.StandardButton.Yes:
-        openLink(aqt.appWebsiteDownloadSection)
+        update_and_restart()
+
+
+def update_and_restart() -> None:
+    """Download and install the update, then restart Anki."""
+    update_on_next_run()
+    # todo: do this automatically in the future
+    show_info(tr.qt_misc_please_restart_to_update_anki())
+
+
+def update_on_next_run() -> None:
+    """Bump the mtime on pyproject.toml in the local data directory to trigger an update on next run."""
+    try:
+        # Get the local data directory equivalent to Rust's dirs::data_local_dir()
+        if is_win:
+            data_dir = Path(os.environ.get("LOCALAPPDATA", ""))
+        elif is_mac:
+            data_dir = Path.home() / "Library" / "Application Support"
+        else:  # Linux
+            data_dir = Path(
+                os.environ.get("XDG_DATA_HOME", Path.home() / ".local" / "share")
+            )
+
+        pyproject_path = data_dir / "AnkiProgramFiles" / "pyproject.toml"
+
+        if pyproject_path.exists():
+            # Touch the file to update its mtime
+            pyproject_path.touch()
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(e)