diff --git a/app/Console/Commands/Tools/Cron.php b/app/Console/Commands/Tools/Cron.php
index a86f187133..7423984271 100644
--- a/app/Console/Commands/Tools/Cron.php
+++ b/app/Console/Commands/Tools/Cron.php
@@ -26,11 +26,13 @@ namespace FireflyIII\Console\Commands\Tools;
 
 use Carbon\Carbon;
 use FireflyIII\Console\Commands\ShowsFriendlyMessages;
+use FireflyIII\Events\RequestedVersionCheckStatus;
 use FireflyIII\Exceptions\FireflyException;
 use FireflyIII\Support\Cronjobs\AutoBudgetCronjob;
 use FireflyIII\Support\Cronjobs\BillWarningCronjob;
 use FireflyIII\Support\Cronjobs\ExchangeRatesCronjob;
 use FireflyIII\Support\Cronjobs\RecurringCronjob;
+use FireflyIII\Support\Cronjobs\UpdateCheckCronjob;
 use Illuminate\Console\Command;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Log;
 
@@ -43,6 +45,7 @@ class Cron extends Command
     protected $signature   = 'firefly-iii:cron
         {--F|force : Force the cron job(s) to execute.}
         {--date= : Set the date in YYYY-MM-DD to make Firefly III think that\'s the current date.}
+        {--check-version : Check if there is a new Firefly III version. Other tasks will be skipped unless also requested.}
         {--download-cer : Download exchange rates. Other tasks will be skipped unless also requested.}
         {--create-recurring : Create recurring transactions. Other tasks will be skipped unless also requested.}
         {--create-auto-budgets : Create auto budgets. Other tasks will be skipped unless also requested.}
@@ -51,7 +54,11 @@ class Cron extends Command
 
     public function handle(): int
     {
-        $doAll = !$this->option('download-cer') && !$this->option('create-recurring') && !$this->option('create-auto-budgets') && !$this->option('send-bill-warnings');
+        $doAll = !$this->option('download-cer') &&
+                 !$this->option('create-recurring') &&
+                 !$this->option('create-auto-budgets') &&
+                 !$this->option('send-bill-warnings') &&
+                 !$this->option('check-version');
         $date  = null;
 
         try {
@@ -72,6 +79,17 @@ class Cron extends Command
             }
         }
 
+        // check for new version
+        if ($doAll || $this->option('check-version')) {
+            try {
+                $this->checkForUpdates($force);
+            } catch (FireflyException $e) {
+                app('log')->error($e->getMessage());
+                app('log')->error($e->getTraceAsString());
+                $this->friendlyError($e->getMessage());
+            }
+        }
+
         // Fire recurring transaction cron job.
         if ($doAll || $this->option('create-recurring')) {
             try {
@@ -204,4 +222,20 @@ class Cron extends Command
             $this->friendlyPositive(sprintf('"Send bill warnings" cron ran with success: %s', $autoBudget->message));
         }
     }
+
+    private function checkForUpdates(bool $force): void {
+        $updateCheck = new UpdateCheckCronjob();
+        $updateCheck->setForce($force);
+        $updateCheck->fire();
+
+        if ($updateCheck->jobErrored) {
+            $this->friendlyError(sprintf('Error in "update check" cron: %s', $updateCheck->message));
+        }
+        if ($updateCheck->jobFired) {
+            $this->friendlyInfo(sprintf('"Update check" cron fired: %s', $updateCheck->message));
+        }
+        if ($updateCheck->jobSucceeded) {
+            $this->friendlyPositive(sprintf('"Update check" cron ran with success: %s', $updateCheck->message));
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/app/Handlers/Events/VersionCheckEventHandler.php b/app/Handlers/Events/VersionCheckEventHandler.php
index a1e909c68d..75e313a313 100644
--- a/app/Handlers/Events/VersionCheckEventHandler.php
+++ b/app/Handlers/Events/VersionCheckEventHandler.php
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ use FireflyIII\Exceptions\FireflyException;
 use FireflyIII\Helpers\Update\UpdateTrait;
 use FireflyIII\Models\Configuration;
 use FireflyIII\Repositories\User\UserRepositoryInterface;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Log;
 
 /**
  * Class VersionCheckEventHandler
@@ -45,13 +46,13 @@ class VersionCheckEventHandler
      */
     public function checkForUpdates(RequestedVersionCheckStatus $event): void
     {
-        app('log')->debug('Now in checkForUpdates()');
+        Log::debug('Now in checkForUpdates()');
 
         // should not check for updates:
         $permission    = app('fireflyconfig')->get('permission_update_check', -1);
         $value         = (int) $permission->data;
         if (1 !== $value) {
-            app('log')->debug('Update check is not enabled.');
+            Log::debug('Update check is not enabled.');
             $this->warnToCheckForUpdates($event);
 
             return;
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ class VersionCheckEventHandler
         $repository    = app(UserRepositoryInterface::class);
         $user          = $event->user;
         if (!$repository->hasRole($user, 'owner')) {
-            app('log')->debug('User is not admin, done.');
+            Log::debug('User is not admin, done.');
 
             return;
         }
@@ -70,14 +71,14 @@ class VersionCheckEventHandler
         $lastCheckTime = app('fireflyconfig')->get('last_update_check', time());
         $now           = time();
         $diff          = $now - $lastCheckTime->data;
-        app('log')->debug(sprintf('Last check time is %d, current time is %d, difference is %d', $lastCheckTime->data, $now, $diff));
+        Log::debug(sprintf('Last check time is %d, current time is %d, difference is %d', $lastCheckTime->data, $now, $diff));
         if ($diff < 604800) {
-            app('log')->debug(sprintf('Checked for updates less than a week ago (on %s).', date('Y-m-d H:i:s', $lastCheckTime->data)));
+            Log::debug(sprintf('Checked for updates less than a week ago (on %s).', date('Y-m-d H:i:s', $lastCheckTime->data)));
 
             return;
         }
         // last check time was more than a week ago.
-        app('log')->debug('Have not checked for a new version in a week!');
+        Log::debug('Have not checked for a new version in a week!');
         $release       = $this->getLatestRelease();
 
         session()->flash($release['level'], $release['message']);
@@ -93,7 +94,7 @@ class VersionCheckEventHandler
         $repository    = app(UserRepositoryInterface::class);
         $user          = $event->user;
         if (!$repository->hasRole($user, 'owner')) {
-            app('log')->debug('User is not admin, done.');
+            Log::debug('User is not admin, done.');
 
             return;
         }
@@ -102,14 +103,14 @@ class VersionCheckEventHandler
         $lastCheckTime = app('fireflyconfig')->get('last_update_warning', time());
         $now           = time();
         $diff          = $now - $lastCheckTime->data;
-        app('log')->debug(sprintf('Last warning time is %d, current time is %d, difference is %d', $lastCheckTime->data, $now, $diff));
+        Log::debug(sprintf('Last warning time is %d, current time is %d, difference is %d', $lastCheckTime->data, $now, $diff));
         if ($diff < 604800 * 4) {
-            app('log')->debug(sprintf('Warned about updates less than four weeks ago (on %s).', date('Y-m-d H:i:s', $lastCheckTime->data)));
+            Log::debug(sprintf('Warned about updates less than four weeks ago (on %s).', date('Y-m-d H:i:s', $lastCheckTime->data)));
 
             return;
         }
         // last check time was more than a week ago.
-        app('log')->debug('Have warned about a new version in four weeks!');
+        Log::debug('Have warned about a new version in four weeks!');
 
         session()->flash('info', (string) trans('firefly.disabled_but_check'));
         app('fireflyconfig')->set('last_update_warning', time());
diff --git a/app/Services/FireflyIIIOrg/Update/UpdateRequest.php b/app/Services/FireflyIIIOrg/Update/UpdateRequest.php
index 1e46bdc273..b6321dd852 100644
--- a/app/Services/FireflyIIIOrg/Update/UpdateRequest.php
+++ b/app/Services/FireflyIIIOrg/Update/UpdateRequest.php
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class UpdateRequest implements UpdateRequestInterface
 {
     public function getUpdateInformation(string $channel): array
     {
-        app('log')->debug(sprintf('Now in getUpdateInformation(%s)', $channel));
+        Log::debug(sprintf('Now in getUpdateInformation(%s)', $channel));
         $information = [
             'level'   => 'error',
             'message' => (string) trans('firefly.unknown_error'),
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ class UpdateRequest implements UpdateRequestInterface
         // try to get array from update server:
         $updateInfo  = $this->contactServer($channel);
         if ('error' === $updateInfo['level']) {
-            app('log')->error('Update information contains an error.');
-            app('log')->error($updateInfo['message']);
+            Log::error('Update information contains an error.');
+            Log::error($updateInfo['message']);
             $information['message'] = $updateInfo['message'];
 
             return $information;
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class UpdateRequest implements UpdateRequestInterface
 
     private function contactServer(string $channel): array
     {
-        app('log')->debug(sprintf('Now in contactServer(%s)', $channel));
+        Log::debug(sprintf('Now in contactServer(%s)', $channel));
         // always fall back to current version:
         $return            = [
             'version' => config('firefly.version'),
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class UpdateRequest implements UpdateRequestInterface
         ];
 
         $url               = config('firefly.update_endpoint');
-        app('log')->debug(sprintf('Going to call %s', $url));
+        Log::debug(sprintf('Going to call %s', $url));
 
         try {
             $client  = new Client();
@@ -81,17 +81,17 @@ class UpdateRequest implements UpdateRequestInterface
             ];
             $res     = $client->request('GET', $url, $options);
         } catch (GuzzleException $e) {
-            app('log')->error('Ran into Guzzle error.');
-            app('log')->error($e->getMessage());
-            app('log')->error($e->getTraceAsString());
+            Log::error('Ran into Guzzle error.');
+            Log::error($e->getMessage());
+            Log::error($e->getTraceAsString());
             $return['message'] = sprintf('Guzzle: %s', strip_tags($e->getMessage()));
 
             return $return;
         }
 
         if (200 !== $res->getStatusCode()) {
-            app('log')->error(sprintf('Response status from server is %d.', $res->getStatusCode()));
-            app('log')->error((string) $res->getBody());
+            Log::error(sprintf('Response status from server is %d.', $res->getStatusCode()));
+            Log::error((string) $res->getBody());
             $return['message'] = sprintf('Error: %d', $res->getStatusCode());
 
             return $return;
@@ -101,16 +101,16 @@ class UpdateRequest implements UpdateRequestInterface
         try {
             $json = json_decode($body, true, 512, JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR);
         } catch (\JsonException $e) {
-            app('log')->error('Body is not valid JSON');
-            app('log')->error($body);
+            Log::error('Body is not valid JSON');
+            Log::error($body);
             $return['message'] = 'Invalid JSON :(';
 
             return $return;
         }
 
         if (!array_key_exists($channel, $json['firefly_iii'])) {
-            app('log')->error(sprintf('No valid update channel "%s"', $channel));
-            app('log')->error($body);
+            Log::error(sprintf('No valid update channel "%s"', $channel));
+            Log::error($body);
             $return['message'] = sprintf('Unknown update channel "%s" :(', $channel);
         }
 
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ class UpdateRequest implements UpdateRequestInterface
         $return['level']   = 'success';
         $return['date']    = $date->startOfDay();
 
-        app('log')->info('Response from update server', $response);
+        Log::info('Response from update server', $response);
 
         return $return;
     }
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ class UpdateRequest implements UpdateRequestInterface
      */
     private function parseResult(array $information): array
     {
-        app('log')->debug('Now in parseResult()', $information);
+        Log::debug('Now in parseResult()', $information);
         $current  = (string) config('firefly.version');
         $latest   = (string) $information['version'];
 
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ class UpdateRequest implements UpdateRequestInterface
 
         $compare  = version_compare($latest, $current);
 
-        app('log')->debug(sprintf('Current version is "%s", latest is "%s", result is: %d', $current, $latest, $compare));
+        Log::debug(sprintf('Current version is "%s", latest is "%s", result is: %d', $current, $latest, $compare));
 
         // -1: you're running a newer version:
         if (-1 === $compare) {
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ class UpdateRequest implements UpdateRequestInterface
             'level'   => 'info',
             'message' => (string) trans('firefly.update_newer_version_alert', ['your_version' => $current, 'new_version' => $latest]),
         ];
-        app('log')->debug('User is running a newer version', $return);
+        Log::debug('User is running a newer version', $return);
 
         return $return;
     }
@@ -217,14 +217,14 @@ class UpdateRequest implements UpdateRequestInterface
             'level'   => 'info',
             'message' => (string) trans('firefly.update_current_version_alert', ['version' => $current]),
         ];
-        app('log')->debug('User is the current version.', $return);
+        Log::debug('User is the current version.', $return);
 
         return $return;
     }
 
     private function releasedNewAlpha(string $current, string $latest, Carbon $date): array
     {
-        app('log')->debug('New release is also a alpha!');
+        Log::debug('New release is also a alpha!');
         $message = (string) trans(
             'firefly.update_new_version_alert',
             [
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ class UpdateRequest implements UpdateRequestInterface
 
     private function releasedNewBeta(string $current, string $latest, Carbon $date): array
     {
-        app('log')->debug('New release is also a beta!');
+        Log::debug('New release is also a beta!');
         $message = (string) trans(
             'firefly.update_new_version_alert',
             [
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ class UpdateRequest implements UpdateRequestInterface
 
     private function releasedNewVersion(string $current, string $latest, Carbon $date): array
     {
-        app('log')->debug('New release is old enough.');
+        Log::debug('New release is old enough.');
         $message = (string) trans(
             'firefly.update_new_version_alert',
             [
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ class UpdateRequest implements UpdateRequestInterface
                 'date'         => $date->isoFormat((string) trans('config.month_and_day_js')),
             ]
         );
-        app('log')->debug('New release is here!', [$message]);
+        Log::debug('New release is here!', [$message]);
         event(new NewVersionAvailable($message));
 
         return [
diff --git a/app/Support/Cronjobs/ExchangeRatesCronjob.php b/app/Support/Cronjobs/ExchangeRatesCronjob.php
index fd2c90a473..556e8e7618 100644
--- a/app/Support/Cronjobs/ExchangeRatesCronjob.php
+++ b/app/Support/Cronjobs/ExchangeRatesCronjob.php
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ namespace FireflyIII\Support\Cronjobs;
 use Carbon\Carbon;
 use FireflyIII\Jobs\DownloadExchangeRates;
 use FireflyIII\Models\Configuration;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Log;
 
 /**
  * Class ExchangeRatesCronjob
@@ -41,23 +42,23 @@ class ExchangeRatesCronjob extends AbstractCronjob
         $diff          = time() - $lastTime;
         $diffForHumans = today(config('app.timezone'))->diffForHumans(Carbon::createFromTimestamp($lastTime), null, true);
         if (0 === $lastTime) {
-            app('log')->info('Exchange rates cron-job has never fired before.');
+            Log::info('Exchange rates cron-job has never fired before.');
         }
         // less than half a day ago:
         if ($lastTime > 0 && $diff <= 43200) {
-            app('log')->info(sprintf('It has been %s since the exchange rates cron-job has fired.', $diffForHumans));
+            Log::info(sprintf('It has been %s since the exchange rates cron-job has fired.', $diffForHumans));
             if (false === $this->force) {
-                app('log')->info('The exchange rates cron-job will not fire now.');
+                Log::info('The exchange rates cron-job will not fire now.');
                 $this->message = sprintf('It has been %s since the exchange rates cron-job has fired. It will not fire now.', $diffForHumans);
 
                 return;
             }
 
-            app('log')->info('Execution of the exchange rates cron-job has been FORCED.');
+            Log::info('Execution of the exchange rates cron-job has been FORCED.');
         }
 
         if ($lastTime > 0 && $diff > 43200) {
-            app('log')->info(sprintf('It has been %s since the exchange rates cron-job has fired. It will fire now!', $diffForHumans));
+            Log::info(sprintf('It has been %s since the exchange rates cron-job has fired. It will fire now!', $diffForHumans));
         }
 
         $this->fireExchangeRateJob();
@@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ class ExchangeRatesCronjob extends AbstractCronjob
 
     private function fireExchangeRateJob(): void
     {
-        app('log')->info(sprintf('Will now fire exchange rates cron job task for date "%s".', $this->date->format('Y-m-d')));
+        Log::info(sprintf('Will now fire exchange rates cron job task for date "%s".', $this->date->format('Y-m-d')));
 
         /** @var DownloadExchangeRates $job */
         $job                = app(DownloadExchangeRates::class);
@@ -80,6 +81,6 @@ class ExchangeRatesCronjob extends AbstractCronjob
         $this->message      = 'Exchange rates cron job fired successfully.';
 
         app('fireflyconfig')->set('last_cer_job', (int) $this->date->format('U'));
-        app('log')->info('Done with exchange rates job task.');
+        Log::info('Done with exchange rates job task.');
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/Support/Cronjobs/UpdateCheckCronjob.php b/app/Support/Cronjobs/UpdateCheckCronjob.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f4210eb808
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/Support/Cronjobs/UpdateCheckCronjob.php
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+<?php
+/*
+ * UpdateCheckCronjob.php
+ * Copyright (c) 2025 james@firefly-iii.org.
+ *
+ * This file is part of Firefly III (https://github.com/firefly-iii).
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see https://www.gnu.org/licenses/.
+ */
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace FireflyIII\Support\Cronjobs;
+
+use FireflyIII\Helpers\Update\UpdateTrait;
+use FireflyIII\Models\Configuration;
+use FireflyIII\Support\Facades\FireflyConfig;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Log;
+
+class UpdateCheckCronjob extends AbstractCronjob
+{
+    use UpdateTrait;
+
+    #[\Override] public function fire(): void
+    {
+        Log::debug('Now in checkForUpdates()');
+
+        // should not check for updates:
+        $permission = app('fireflyconfig')->get('permission_update_check', -1);
+        $value      = (int) $permission->data;
+        if (1 !== $value) {
+            Log::debug('Update check is not enabled.');
+            // get stuff from job:
+            $this->jobFired     = false;
+            $this->jobErrored   = true;
+            $this->jobSucceeded = false;
+            $this->message      = 'The update check is not enabled.';
+
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // TODO this is duplicate.
+        /** @var Configuration $lastCheckTime */
+        $lastCheckTime = FireflyConfig::get('last_update_check', time());
+        $now           = time();
+        $diff          = $now - $lastCheckTime->data;
+        Log::debug(sprintf('Last check time is %d, current time is %d, difference is %d', $lastCheckTime->data, $now, $diff));
+        if ($diff < 604800 && false === $this->force) {
+            // get stuff from job:
+            $this->jobFired     = false;
+            $this->jobErrored   = true;
+            $this->jobSucceeded = false;
+            $this->message      = sprintf('Checked for updates less than a week ago (on %s).', date('Y-m-d H:i:s', $lastCheckTime->data));
+
+            return;
+        }
+                // last check time was more than a week ago.
+        Log::debug('Have not checked for a new version in a week!');
+        $release       = $this->getLatestRelease();
+        if('error' === $release['level']) {
+            // get stuff from job:
+            $this->jobFired     = true;
+            $this->jobErrored   = true;
+            $this->jobSucceeded = false;
+            $this->message      = $release['message'];
+
+            return;
+        }
+        // get stuff from job:
+        $this->jobFired     = true;
+        $this->jobErrored   = false;
+        $this->jobSucceeded = false;
+        $this->message      = $release['message'];
+    }
+}