diff --git a/crates/desktop/src/components/onboarding-controller.tsx b/crates/desktop/src/components/onboarding-controller.tsx
index 588882f7..8382a498 100644
--- a/crates/desktop/src/components/onboarding-controller.tsx
+++ b/crates/desktop/src/components/onboarding-controller.tsx
@@ -2,9 +2,13 @@ import {
 	ArrowsPointingOutIcon,
 	BookOpenIcon,
 	FolderIcon,
+	PuzzlePieceIcon,
 	ServerIcon,
+	ShieldCheckIcon,
+	SparklesIcon,
 } from "@heroicons/react/24/solid";
 import { Button, Checkbox, Modal, Spinner } from "@heroui/react";
+import { getVersion } from "@tauri-apps/api/app";
 import { type Driver, type DriveStep, driver } from "driver.js";
 import "driver.js/dist/driver.css";
 import {
@@ -17,40 +21,110 @@ import {
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 import { useLocation } from "wouter";
 import { useProjects } from "../hooks/use-projects";
-import { ONBOARDING_EVENT, type OnboardingCommand } from "../lib/onboarding";
 import { applyAnalyticsConsent, capture } from "../lib/analytics";
+import { ONBOARDING_EVENT, type OnboardingCommand } from "../lib/onboarding";
 import {
+	getAnalyticsConsent,
+	getConsentAcked,
+	getLastSeenWhatsNewVersion,
 	getOnboardingProgress,
 	setAnalyticsConsent,
+	setConsentAcked,
+	setLastSeenWhatsNewVersion,
 	updateOnboardingProgress,
 } from "../lib/store";
 import { cn } from "../lib/utils";
+import {
+	pendingWhatsNew,
+	type WhatsNewEntry,
+	type WhatsNewItem,
+} from "../lib/whats-new";
 
 type OverlayMode = "welcome" | null;
 
 const TOUR_CLASS = "aghub-tour-popover";
 const TOUR_WAIT_MS = 5000;
 
-const WIZARD_STEPS = [
+interface FeatureStep {
+	type: "feature";
+	id: string;
+	icon: React.ReactNode;
+	titleKey: string;
+	descriptionKey: string;
+}
+
+interface WhatsNewStep {
+	type: "whats-new";
+	id: string;
+	entry: WhatsNewEntry;
+}
+
+interface ConsentStep {
+	type: "consent";
+	id: string;
+}
+
+type WizardStep = FeatureStep | WhatsNewStep | ConsentStep;
+
+const WIZARD_FEATURE_STEPS: FeatureStep[] = [
 	{
+		type: "feature",
 		id: "mcp",
 		icon: <ServerIcon className="size-5" />,
 		titleKey: "onboardingStepMcpTitle",
 		descriptionKey: "onboardingStepMcpDescription",
 	},
 	{
+		type: "feature",
 		id: "skills",
 		icon: <BookOpenIcon className="size-5" />,
 		titleKey: "onboardingStepSkillsTitle",
 		descriptionKey: "onboardingStepSkillsDescription",
 	},
 	{
+		type: "feature",
 		id: "projects",
 		icon: <FolderIcon className="size-5" />,
 		titleKey: "onboardingStepProjectsTitle",
 		descriptionKey: "onboardingStepProjectsDescription",
 	},
-] as const;
+];
+
+const WHATS_NEW_ICONS = {
+	sparkles: <SparklesIcon className="size-5" />,
+	puzzle: <PuzzlePieceIcon className="size-5" />,
+	shield: <ShieldCheckIcon className="size-5" />,
+} as const;
+
+interface WizardOpenContext {
+	hasSeenWelcome: boolean;
+	consentAcked: boolean;
+	whatsNewEntries: WhatsNewEntry[];
+}
+
+/**
+ * Compose the active wizard sequence for this launch. Brand-new
+ * users get the feature wizard followed by the consent step;
+ * existing users upgrading get just the unseen What's New entries
+ * (and the consent step if they haven't already acked).
+ */
+function buildWizardSteps(ctx: WizardOpenContext): WizardStep[] {
+	const steps: WizardStep[] = [];
+	if (!ctx.hasSeenWelcome) {
+		steps.push(...WIZARD_FEATURE_STEPS);
+	}
+	for (const entry of ctx.whatsNewEntries) {
+		steps.push({
+			type: "whats-new",
+			id: `whats-new-${entry.version}`,
+			entry,
+		});
+	}
+	if (!ctx.consentAcked) {
+		steps.push({ type: "consent", id: "consent" });
+	}
+	return steps;
+}
 
 function waitForElement(selector: string, timeoutMs = TOUR_WAIT_MS) {
 	return new Promise<HTMLElement | null>((resolve) => {
@@ -86,6 +160,18 @@ export function OnboardingController() {
 	// Pre-checked: opt-in by default for first-time users. Persisted +
 	// applied (Rust + posthog-js) when the user dismisses the dialog.
 	const [analyticsOptIn, setAnalyticsOptIn] = useState(true);
+	const [wizardSteps, setWizardSteps] = useState<WizardStep[]>([]);
+	const [currentVersion, setCurrentVersion] = useState<string | null>(null);
+	// Tracks whether the wizard sequence included a fresh-install
+	// welcome run; if it did, we kick off the product tour after
+	// dismiss. Otherwise (upgrade-only flow) we don't.
+	const includedFeatureSteps = wizardSteps.some(
+		(step) => step.type === "feature",
+	);
+	const includedConsentStep = wizardSteps.some(
+		(step) => step.type === "consent",
+	);
+	const activeStep = wizardSteps[currentStep];
 	const activeDriverRef = useRef<Driver | null>(null);
 	const previousProjectIdsRef = useRef<string[]>([]);
 
@@ -389,20 +475,47 @@ export function OnboardingController() {
 	const dismissWelcome = async () => {
 		setOverlayMode(null);
 		setCurrentStep(0);
-		// Persist the user's consent choice and apply it before any
-		// further captures fire. The default is opt-in (state was
-		// initialised to true) so most users land in `granted`.
-		const consent = analyticsOptIn ? "granted" : "denied";
+
+		const consentStepWasShown = includedConsentStep;
+		const latestWhatsNewVersion = wizardSteps
+			.filter((step): step is WhatsNewStep => step.type === "whats-new")
+			.map((step) => step.entry.version)
+			.pop();
+
 		try {
-			await setAnalyticsConsent(consent);
-			await applyAnalyticsConsent(analyticsOptIn);
+			// Only persist a consent decision if the user actually saw
+			// the consent step. Skipping the dialog without ever seeing
+			// the checkbox shouldn't silently flip their setting.
+			if (consentStepWasShown) {
+				const consent = analyticsOptIn ? "granted" : "denied";
+				await setAnalyticsConsent(consent);
+				await setConsentAcked(true);
+				await applyAnalyticsConsent(analyticsOptIn);
+			}
+
+			// Mark What's New entries as seen, watermarking with the
+			// highest version we displayed so the user doesn't see them
+			// again on next launch.
+			if (latestWhatsNewVersion) {
+				await setLastSeenWhatsNewVersion(latestWhatsNewVersion);
+			} else if (currentVersion) {
+				// First-time user finishing the welcome wizard: stamp
+				// the current version so they don't get a What's New
+				// for it on next launch.
+				await setLastSeenWhatsNewVersion(currentVersion);
+			}
 		} catch (error) {
-			console.error("Failed to persist analytics consent:", error);
+			console.error("Failed to persist onboarding flags:", error);
 		}
+
 		capture("onboarding completed");
 		await saveProgress({
 			hasSeenWelcome: true,
 		});
+
+		// Reset the wizard's computed step list so re-opening it
+		// (e.g. via Settings → Show Welcome) doesn't reuse stale data.
+		setWizardSteps([]);
 	};
 
 	const continueWithNewProject = useEffectEvent((projectId: string) => {
@@ -412,6 +525,9 @@ export function OnboardingController() {
 	const handleCommand = useEffectEvent((command: OnboardingCommand) => {
 		if (command.type === "show-welcome") {
 			destroyActiveDriver();
+			// Manual replay always shows the full feature wizard,
+			// regardless of whether the user has seen it before.
+			setWizardSteps([...WIZARD_FEATURE_STEPS]);
 			setCurrentStep(0);
 			setOverlayMode("welcome");
 			return;
@@ -433,16 +549,45 @@ export function OnboardingController() {
 	useEffect(() => {
 		let isMounted = true;
 
-		void getOnboardingProgress().then((progress) => {
-			if (!isMounted) {
-				return;
+		void (async () => {
+			const [progress, consentAcked, lastSeen, version] =
+				await Promise.all([
+					getOnboardingProgress(),
+					getConsentAcked(),
+					getLastSeenWhatsNewVersion(),
+					getVersion(),
+				]);
+			if (!isMounted) return;
+
+			const whatsNewEntries = pendingWhatsNew(lastSeen, version);
+			const steps = buildWizardSteps({
+				hasSeenWelcome: progress.hasSeenWelcome,
+				consentAcked,
+				whatsNewEntries,
+			});
+
+			// Sync current consent state into the checkbox so existing
+			// users see their actual choice reflected.
+			try {
+				const consent = await getAnalyticsConsent();
+				if (isMounted) {
+					setAnalyticsOptIn(consent === "granted");
+				}
+			} catch {
+				// keep the default true
 			}
 
+			if (!isMounted) return;
+
+			setCurrentVersion(version);
 			setIsReady(true);
-			if (!progress.hasSeenWelcome) {
+
+			if (steps.length > 0) {
+				setWizardSteps(steps);
+				setCurrentStep(0);
 				setOverlayMode("welcome");
 			}
-		});
+		})();
 
 		return () => {
 			isMounted = false;
@@ -504,83 +649,17 @@ export function OnboardingController() {
 					</Modal.Header>
 
 					<Modal.Body className="space-y-5 px-6 pb-2 pt-0">
-						{/* Two-column layout */}
-						<div className="grid gap-5 sm:grid-cols-[2fr_3fr]">
-							{/* Left: Feature list */}
-							<div className="flex flex-col justify-center gap-1.5">
-								{WIZARD_STEPS.map((step, index) => (
-									<button
-										key={step.id}
-										type="button"
-										className={cn(
-											"flex gap-3 rounded-xl p-3 text-left transition-colors",
-											index === currentStep
-												? "bg-surface-secondary"
-												: "bg-transparent hover:bg-surface-secondary/30",
-										)}
-										onClick={() => setCurrentStep(index)}
-									>
-										<div
-											className={cn(
-												"flex size-9 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-lg transition-colors",
-												index === currentStep
-													? "bg-foreground text-background"
-													: "bg-surface/40 text-muted/30",
-											)}
-										>
-											{step.icon}
-										</div>
-										<div className="min-w-0 space-y-1">
-											<p
-												className={cn(
-													"text-sm font-semibold transition-colors",
-													index === currentStep
-														? "text-foreground"
-														: "text-muted/40",
-												)}
-											>
-												{t(step.titleKey)}
-											</p>
-											{index === currentStep && (
-												<p className="text-xs leading-5 text-muted">
-													{t(step.descriptionKey)}
-												</p>
-											)}
-										</div>
-									</button>
-								))}
-							</div>
-
-							{/* Right: Illustration */}
-							<WizardIllustration
-								stepId={WIZARD_STEPS[currentStep].id}
+						{activeStep && (
+							<WizardStepBody
+								step={activeStep}
+								steps={wizardSteps}
+								currentStep={currentStep}
+								onSelectStep={setCurrentStep}
+								analyticsOptIn={analyticsOptIn}
+								onAnalyticsOptInChange={setAnalyticsOptIn}
+								t={t}
 							/>
-						</div>
-
-						{/* Analytics consent — opt-in by default. */}
-						<div className="rounded-lg border border-border bg-surface-secondary/50 p-3">
-							<Checkbox
-								variant="secondary"
-								isSelected={analyticsOptIn}
-								onChange={setAnalyticsOptIn}
-							>
-								<Checkbox.Control>
-									<Checkbox.Indicator />
-								</Checkbox.Control>
-								<Checkbox.Content>
-									<div className="space-y-0.5">
-										<p className="text-sm font-medium">
-											{t("onboardingAnalyticsTitle")}
-										</p>
-										<p className="text-xs leading-5 text-muted">
-											{t(
-												"onboardingAnalyticsDescription",
-											)}
-										</p>
-									</div>
-								</Checkbox.Content>
-							</Checkbox>
-						</div>
+						)}
 					</Modal.Body>
 
 					<Modal.Footer>
@@ -595,7 +674,7 @@ export function OnboardingController() {
 							{t("onboardingBack")}
 						</Button>
 
-						{currentStep < WIZARD_STEPS.length - 1 ? (
+						{currentStep < wizardSteps.length - 1 ? (
 							<Button
 								variant="primary"
 								className="flex-1"
@@ -609,10 +688,18 @@ export function OnboardingController() {
 								className="flex-1"
 								onPress={() => {
 									void dismissWelcome();
-									void startProductTour();
+									// Only kick off the product tour for
+									// genuinely new users — existing users
+									// hitting the upgrade wizard don't
+									// need a redundant guided tour.
+									if (includedFeatureSteps) {
+										void startProductTour();
+									}
 								}}
 							>
-								{t("onboardingGetStarted")}
+								{includedFeatureSteps
+									? t("onboardingGetStarted")
+									: t("onboardingFinish")}
 							</Button>
 						)}
 					</Modal.Footer>
@@ -622,6 +709,164 @@ export function OnboardingController() {
 	);
 }
 
+interface WizardStepBodyProps {
+	step: WizardStep;
+	steps: WizardStep[];
+	currentStep: number;
+	onSelectStep: (index: number) => void;
+	analyticsOptIn: boolean;
+	onAnalyticsOptInChange: (value: boolean) => void;
+	t: (key: string, options?: Record<string, unknown>) => string;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Renders the body for whichever wizard step is currently active.
+ * Each step type uses a different layout: feature steps keep the
+ * two-column list+illustration shape, what's-new shows a single-
+ * column stack of release items, consent shows a centred checkbox
+ * card.
+ */
+function WizardStepBody({
+	step,
+	steps,
+	currentStep,
+	onSelectStep,
+	analyticsOptIn,
+	onAnalyticsOptInChange,
+	t,
+}: WizardStepBodyProps) {
+	if (step.type === "feature") {
+		const featureIndices = steps
+			.map((s, idx) => (s.type === "feature" ? idx : -1))
+			.filter((idx) => idx !== -1);
+		return (
+			<div className="grid gap-5 sm:grid-cols-[2fr_3fr]">
+				<div className="flex flex-col justify-center gap-1.5">
+					{featureIndices.map((idx) => {
+						const featureStep = steps[idx] as FeatureStep;
+						const active = idx === currentStep;
+						return (
+							<button
+								key={featureStep.id}
+								type="button"
+								className={cn(
+									"flex gap-3 rounded-xl p-3 text-left transition-colors",
+									active
+										? "bg-surface-secondary"
+										: "bg-transparent hover:bg-surface-secondary/30",
+								)}
+								onClick={() => onSelectStep(idx)}
+							>
+								<div
+									className={cn(
+										"flex size-9 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-lg transition-colors",
+										active
+											? "bg-foreground text-background"
+											: "bg-surface/40 text-muted/30",
+									)}
+								>
+									{featureStep.icon}
+								</div>
+								<div className="min-w-0 space-y-1">
+									<p
+										className={cn(
+											"text-sm font-semibold transition-colors",
+											active
+												? "text-foreground"
+												: "text-muted/40",
+										)}
+									>
+										{t(featureStep.titleKey)}
+									</p>
+									{active && (
+										<p className="text-xs leading-5 text-muted">
+											{t(featureStep.descriptionKey)}
+										</p>
+									)}
+								</div>
+							</button>
+						);
+					})}
+				</div>
+				<WizardIllustration stepId={step.id} />
+			</div>
+		);
+	}
+
+	if (step.type === "whats-new") {
+		return (
+			<div className="space-y-3">
+				<div className="space-y-1">
+					<p className="text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wider text-accent">
+						{t("whatsNewSectionLabel", {
+							version: step.entry.version,
+						})}
+					</p>
+					<h3 className="text-lg font-semibold">
+						{t(step.entry.titleKey)}
+					</h3>
+					<p className="text-sm text-muted">
+						{t(step.entry.subtitleKey)}
+					</p>
+				</div>
+				<ul className="space-y-2">
+					{step.entry.items.map((item: WhatsNewItem) => (
+						<li
+							key={item.titleKey}
+							className="flex gap-3 rounded-xl border border-border bg-surface-secondary/50 p-3"
+						>
+							<div className="flex size-9 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-lg bg-foreground text-background">
+								{WHATS_NEW_ICONS[item.iconKey]}
+							</div>
+							<div className="min-w-0 space-y-1">
+								<p className="text-sm font-semibold">
+									{t(item.titleKey)}
+								</p>
+								<p className="text-xs leading-5 text-muted">
+									{t(item.descriptionKey)}
+								</p>
+							</div>
+						</li>
+					))}
+				</ul>
+			</div>
+		);
+	}
+
+	// consent step
+	return (
+		<div className="space-y-3">
+			<div className="space-y-1">
+				<p className="text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wider text-accent">
+					{t("onboardingConsentSectionLabel")}
+				</p>
+				<h3 className="text-lg font-semibold">
+					{t("onboardingAnalyticsTitle")}
+				</h3>
+				<p className="text-sm text-muted">
+					{t("onboardingAnalyticsDescription")}
+				</p>
+			</div>
+			<div className="rounded-xl border border-border bg-surface-secondary/50 p-4">
+				<Checkbox
+					variant="secondary"
+					isSelected={analyticsOptIn}
+					onChange={onAnalyticsOptInChange}
+				>
+					<Checkbox.Control>
+						<Checkbox.Indicator />
+					</Checkbox.Control>
+					<Checkbox.Content>
+						<p className="text-sm font-medium">
+							{t("settingsAnalyticsToggleLabel")}
+						</p>
+					</Checkbox.Content>
+				</Checkbox>
+			</div>
+		</div>
+	);
+}
+
 const WIZARD_VIDEOS: Record<string, string> = {
 	mcp: "https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/AkaraChen/aghub-docs@main/public/mcp.mp4",
 	skills: "https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/AkaraChen/aghub-docs@main/public/skills.mp4",
diff --git a/crates/desktop/src/lib/locales/en.ts b/crates/desktop/src/lib/locales/en.ts
index 6afce9f3..5b8e035b 100644
--- a/crates/desktop/src/lib/locales/en.ts
+++ b/crates/desktop/src/lib/locales/en.ts
@@ -185,10 +185,24 @@ export default {
 	onboardingAnalyticsTitle: "Help improve aghub",
 	onboardingAnalyticsDescription:
 		"Share anonymous usage data and crash reports so we can fix bugs and prioritise features. You can change this any time in Settings.",
+	onboardingConsentSectionLabel: "Privacy",
 	settingsAnalyticsHeading: "Usage analytics",
 	settingsAnalyticsDescription:
 		"Send anonymous usage data and crash reports to help improve aghub. Disabling this stops both event capture and session replay.",
 	settingsAnalyticsToggleLabel: "Share anonymous usage data",
+	whatsNewSectionLabel: "What's new in {{version}}",
+	whatsNewV02Title: "Plugins, privacy, and polish",
+	whatsNewV02Subtitle:
+		"A grab bag of upgrades since the last release. Tap through to see what's changed.",
+	whatsNewV02PluginsTitle: "Claude Code plugin support",
+	whatsNewV02PluginsDescription:
+		"Browse and install Claude Code plugins from the Market tab — same flow you'd expect for skills and MCP servers.",
+	whatsNewV02AnalyticsTitle: "You're in control of analytics",
+	whatsNewV02AnalyticsDescription:
+		"A new privacy switch in Settings lets you opt out of usage data and session replay any time.",
+	whatsNewV02PolishTitle: "Sidebar and search refinements",
+	whatsNewV02PolishDescription:
+		"Cleaner navigation, faster global search, and a few quiet performance fixes throughout the app.",
 	onboardingSkip: "Skip",
 	onboardingBack: "Back",
 	onboardingNext: "Next",
diff --git a/crates/desktop/src/lib/locales/zh-Hans.ts b/crates/desktop/src/lib/locales/zh-Hans.ts
index e94ff366..53a5a0ba 100644
--- a/crates/desktop/src/lib/locales/zh-Hans.ts
+++ b/crates/desktop/src/lib/locales/zh-Hans.ts
@@ -174,10 +174,23 @@ export default {
 	onboardingAnalyticsTitle: "帮助改进 aghub",
 	onboardingAnalyticsDescription:
 		"分享匿名使用数据和崩溃报告，帮助我们修复 bug 并确定功能优先级。可随时在设置中更改。",
+	onboardingConsentSectionLabel: "隐私",
 	settingsAnalyticsHeading: "使用统计",
 	settingsAnalyticsDescription:
 		"发送匿名使用数据和崩溃报告以帮助改进 aghub。关闭后将同时停止事件采集和会话回放。",
 	settingsAnalyticsToggleLabel: "分享匿名使用数据",
+	whatsNewSectionLabel: "{{version}} 的新功能",
+	whatsNewV02Title: "插件、隐私与体验打磨",
+	whatsNewV02Subtitle: "上一版本以来的一系列升级，点击查看详情。",
+	whatsNewV02PluginsTitle: "支持 Claude Code 插件",
+	whatsNewV02PluginsDescription:
+		"在「市场」标签页中浏览并安装 Claude Code 插件 —— 与技能、MCP 服务的安装流程一致。",
+	whatsNewV02AnalyticsTitle: "数据采集由你做主",
+	whatsNewV02AnalyticsDescription:
+		"设置中新增隐私开关，可随时停用使用数据采集和会话回放。",
+	whatsNewV02PolishTitle: "侧边栏与搜索优化",
+	whatsNewV02PolishDescription:
+		"导航更清晰、全局搜索更快，并修复了多处性能问题。",
 	onboardingSkip: "跳过",
 	onboardingBack: "返回",
 	onboardingNext: "下一步",
diff --git a/crates/desktop/src/lib/locales/zh-Hant.ts b/crates/desktop/src/lib/locales/zh-Hant.ts
index c0c774a9..75c4af5d 100644
--- a/crates/desktop/src/lib/locales/zh-Hant.ts
+++ b/crates/desktop/src/lib/locales/zh-Hant.ts
@@ -174,10 +174,23 @@ export default {
 	onboardingAnalyticsTitle: "協助改進 aghub",
 	onboardingAnalyticsDescription:
 		"分享匿名使用資料和當機回報，協助我們修正錯誤並決定功能優先順序。可隨時在設定中更改。",
+	onboardingConsentSectionLabel: "隱私",
 	settingsAnalyticsHeading: "使用統計",
 	settingsAnalyticsDescription:
 		"傳送匿名使用資料和當機回報以協助改進 aghub。關閉後將同時停止事件擷取和工作階段重播。",
 	settingsAnalyticsToggleLabel: "分享匿名使用資料",
+	whatsNewSectionLabel: "{{version}} 的新功能",
+	whatsNewV02Title: "外掛、隱私與體驗精修",
+	whatsNewV02Subtitle: "上一個版本以來的一系列升級，點擊查看詳情。",
+	whatsNewV02PluginsTitle: "支援 Claude Code 外掛",
+	whatsNewV02PluginsDescription:
+		"在「市集」分頁中瀏覽並安裝 Claude Code 外掛 —— 與技能、MCP 伺服器的安裝流程一致。",
+	whatsNewV02AnalyticsTitle: "資料蒐集由你決定",
+	whatsNewV02AnalyticsDescription:
+		"設定中新增隱私開關，可隨時關閉使用資料蒐集與工作階段重播。",
+	whatsNewV02PolishTitle: "側邊欄與搜尋優化",
+	whatsNewV02PolishDescription:
+		"導覽更清晰、全域搜尋更快速，並修復了多處效能問題。",
 	onboardingSkip: "跳過",
 	onboardingBack: "返回",
 	onboardingNext: "下一步",
diff --git a/crates/desktop/src/lib/store.ts b/crates/desktop/src/lib/store.ts
index 7aeb7b7a..3d83aade 100644
--- a/crates/desktop/src/lib/store.ts
+++ b/crates/desktop/src/lib/store.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 export { disableAgent, enableAgent, getDisabledAgents } from "./store/agents";
+export {
+	getLastSeenWhatsNewVersion,
+	setLastSeenWhatsNewVersion,
+} from "./store/whats-new";
 export {
 	type AnalyticsConsent,
 	getAnalyticsConsent,
diff --git a/crates/desktop/src/lib/store/whats-new.ts b/crates/desktop/src/lib/store/whats-new.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..96c9a6ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/desktop/src/lib/store/whats-new.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import { getStore } from ".";
+
+const STORE_KEY = "lastSeenWhatsNewVersion";
+
+/**
+ * The highest app version for which the user has acknowledged the
+ * What's New step in the upgrade wizard. We only show entries
+ * strictly newer than this. `null` means the user has never
+ * acknowledged any version (a brand-new install or pre-feature
+ * upgrade).
+ */
+export async function getLastSeenWhatsNewVersion(): Promise<string | null> {
+	const store = await getStore();
+	const value = await store.get<string>(STORE_KEY);
+	return typeof value === "string" && value.length > 0 ? value : null;
+}
+
+export async function setLastSeenWhatsNewVersion(
+	version: string,
+): Promise<void> {
+	const store = await getStore();
+	await store.set(STORE_KEY, version);
+	await store.save();
+}
diff --git a/crates/desktop/src/lib/whats-new.ts b/crates/desktop/src/lib/whats-new.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..481c2feb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/desktop/src/lib/whats-new.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+/**
+ * Hand-authored release notes used by the upgrade wizard. Entries
+ * are ordered newest first. The wizard surfaces every entry whose
+ * `version` is strictly greater than the user's
+ * `lastSeenWhatsNewVersion` from the Tauri store.
+ *
+ * Entries reference i18n keys instead of inlined strings so we can
+ * translate them through the same pipeline the rest of the app
+ * uses. `iconKey` is a string the wizard maps to a heroicon — see
+ * the renderer in onboarding-controller.tsx for the supported set.
+ *
+ * For now this is a hand-curated mock list. If the cadence outgrows
+ * a TypeScript array we can swap to a markdown-bundled or
+ * remote-fetched source without changing the wizard's rendering.
+ */
+
+export interface WhatsNewItem {
+	titleKey: string;
+	descriptionKey: string;
+	iconKey: "sparkles" | "puzzle" | "shield";
+}
+
+export interface WhatsNewEntry {
+	version: string;
+	titleKey: string;
+	subtitleKey: string;
+	items: WhatsNewItem[];
+}
+
+export const WHATS_NEW_ENTRIES: readonly WhatsNewEntry[] = [
+	{
+		version: "0.2.0",
+		titleKey: "whatsNewV02Title",
+		subtitleKey: "whatsNewV02Subtitle",
+		items: [
+			{
+				titleKey: "whatsNewV02PluginsTitle",
+				descriptionKey: "whatsNewV02PluginsDescription",
+				iconKey: "puzzle",
+			},
+			{
+				titleKey: "whatsNewV02AnalyticsTitle",
+				descriptionKey: "whatsNewV02AnalyticsDescription",
+				iconKey: "shield",
+			},
+			{
+				titleKey: "whatsNewV02PolishTitle",
+				descriptionKey: "whatsNewV02PolishDescription",
+				iconKey: "sparkles",
+			},
+		],
+	},
+] as const;
+
+/**
+ * Compare two semver-ish strings without pulling in a dep. Handles
+ * the "x.y.z" shape we use; falls back to lexicographic comparison
+ * for anything weirder so we never crash on a malformed entry.
+ */
+function compareVersions(a: string, b: string): number {
+	const aParts = a.split(".").map(Number);
+	const bParts = b.split(".").map(Number);
+	if (aParts.some(Number.isNaN) || bParts.some(Number.isNaN)) {
+		return a.localeCompare(b);
+	}
+	const len = Math.max(aParts.length, bParts.length);
+	for (let i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+		const ai = aParts[i] ?? 0;
+		const bi = bParts[i] ?? 0;
+		if (ai !== bi) return ai - bi;
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Returns release entries the user hasn't acknowledged yet. When
+ * `lastSeen` is null we treat the user as "first-time-seeing-notes"
+ * and only surface the most recent entry — long-time users
+ * upgrading shouldn't be blasted with months of historical notes.
+ */
+export function pendingWhatsNew(
+	lastSeen: string | null,
+	currentVersion: string,
+): WhatsNewEntry[] {
+	const sorted = [...WHATS_NEW_ENTRIES].sort((a, b) =>
+		compareVersions(a.version, b.version),
+	);
+	if (lastSeen === null) {
+		const newest = sorted[sorted.length - 1];
+		return newest ? [newest] : [];
+	}
+	return sorted.filter(
+		(entry) =>
+			compareVersions(entry.version, lastSeen) > 0 &&
+			compareVersions(entry.version, currentVersion) <= 0,
+	);
+}