diff --git a/src/lib/Application.cpp b/src/lib/Application.cpp
index 342f523f..48fc61e5 100644
--- a/src/lib/Application.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/Application.cpp
@@ -415,6 +415,14 @@ void Application::loadWindow(bool showStartWindow)
 	if (!m_loadedWindow)
 	{
 		ApplicationSettings* appSettings = ApplicationSettings::getInstance().get();
+
+		// delay first update check by 24 hours at first launch
+		if (!appSettings->getLastUpdateCheck().isValid())
+		{
+			appSettings->setLastUpdateCheck(TimeStamp::now());
+			appSettings->save();
+		}
+
 		LicenseChecker::LicenseState state = LicenseChecker::LicenseState::VALID;
 		std::string licenseError;
 
diff --git a/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.cpp b/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.cpp
index d9f0a67b..6962f53a 100644
--- a/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.cpp
@@ -546,13 +546,7 @@ void ApplicationSettings::setAutomaticUpdateCheck(bool automaticUpdates)
 
 TimeStamp ApplicationSettings::getLastUpdateCheck() const
 {
-	std::string val = getValue<std::string>("user/update_check/time_stamp", "");
-	if (!val.size())
-	{
-		val = getValue<std::string>("user/update_check/last", ""); // deprecated key
-	}
-
-	return TimeStamp(val);
+	return TimeStamp(getValue<std::string>("user/update_check/time_stamp", ""));
 }
 
 void ApplicationSettings::setLastUpdateCheck(const TimeStamp& time)
diff --git a/src/lib_gui/qt/network/QtUpdateChecker.cpp b/src/lib_gui/qt/network/QtUpdateChecker.cpp
index 844522a8..83981dd5 100644
--- a/src/lib_gui/qt/network/QtUpdateChecker.cpp
+++ b/src/lib_gui/qt/network/QtUpdateChecker.cpp
@@ -6,13 +6,14 @@
 #include <QJsonObject>
 #include <QUrl>
 
-#include "LicenseChecker.h"
-#include "QtRequest.h"
 #include "ApplicationSettings.h"
-#include "Version.h"
+#include "LicenseChecker.h"
+#include "MessageStatus.h"
+#include "QtRequest.h"
 #include "utility.h"
 #include "utilityApp.h"
 #include "utilityUuid.h"
+#include "Version.h"
 
 bool QtUpdateChecker::needsAutomaticCheck()
 {
@@ -107,6 +108,8 @@ void QtUpdateChecker::check(bool force, std::function<void(Result)> callback)
 
 				if (updateVersion > Version::getApplicationVersion())
 				{
+					MessageStatus(L"Newest available version: " + updateVersion.toDisplayWString()).dispatch();
+
 					result.version = updateVersion;
 					result.url = url;
 
@@ -139,6 +142,10 @@ void QtUpdateChecker::check(bool force, std::function<void(Result)> callback)
 						QDesktopServices::openUrl(QUrl(url, QUrl::TolerantMode));
 					}
 				}
+				else
+				{
+					MessageStatus(L"Sourcetrail is up-to-date").dispatch();
+				}
 			}
 			while (false);
 
@@ -147,6 +154,11 @@ void QtUpdateChecker::check(bool force, std::function<void(Result)> callback)
 				appSettings->save();
 			}
 
+			if (!result.success)
+			{
+				MessageStatus(L"Update check failed", true).dispatch();
+			}
+
 			request->deleteLater();
 
 			callback(result);
@@ -154,6 +166,7 @@ void QtUpdateChecker::check(bool force, std::function<void(Result)> callback)
 	);
 
 	request->sendRequest(urlString);
+	MessageStatus(L"Checking for new version", false, true).dispatch();
 }
 
 void QtUpdateChecker::checkUpdate()