diff --git a/neode-ui/src/components/PWAUpdatePrompt.vue b/neode-ui/src/components/PWAUpdatePrompt.vue
index e970c142..2a4f3051 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/components/PWAUpdatePrompt.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/components/PWAUpdatePrompt.vue
@@ -25,10 +25,33 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { ref, onMounted } from 'vue'
 import BaseModal from '@/components/BaseModal.vue'
+import { useLoginTransitionStore } from '@/stores/loginTransition'
 
 const showUpdatePrompt = ref(false)
 let updateCallback: (() => Promise<void>) | null = null
 
+// Reload for a genuine SW update — but never mid-cinematic. The splash
+// typing intro and the dashboard-reveal cinematic are the two moments a
+// surprise reload reads as "the app just reset itself" (kiosk and demo
+// replay the intro on every boot/visit, so an update landing during it
+// restarted the whole sequence). Wait until both are over, then reload.
+function reloadAfterCinematic() {
+  const loginTransition = useLoginTransitionStore()
+  const calm = () =>
+    document.body.classList.contains('splash-complete') &&
+    !loginTransition.introCinematicPlaying
+  if (calm()) {
+    window.location.reload()
+    return
+  }
+  const poll = setInterval(() => {
+    if (calm()) {
+      clearInterval(poll)
+      window.location.reload()
+    }
+  }, 1000)
+}
+
 onMounted(() => {
   // Listen for service worker updates
   if ('serviceWorker' in navigator) {
@@ -44,7 +67,7 @@ onMounted(() => {
         hadController = true
         return
       }
-      window.location.reload()
+      reloadAfterCinematic()
     })
 
     // Check for updates periodically