diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/settings-dialog.tsx b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/settings-dialog.tsx
index e78c5259..2d83ef5a 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/settings-dialog.tsx
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/settings-dialog.tsx
@@ -1598,7 +1598,6 @@ export function SettingsDialog({ children, initialTab }: SettingsDialogProps) {
   }, [open, activeTab, isJsonTab, loadConfig])
 
   const handleTabChange = (tab: ConfigTab) => {
-    if (tab !== "skills") setSkillsExpanded(false)
     if (isJsonTab && hasChanges) {
       if (!confirm("You have unsaved changes. Discard them?")) {
         return
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/settings/skills-settings.tsx b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/settings/skills-settings.tsx
index a280a3a5..5bb54b6c 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/settings/skills-settings.tsx
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/settings/skills-settings.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 "use client"
 
-import * as React from "react"
 import { useState, useEffect, useCallback } from "react"
 import { ArrowLeft } from "lucide-react"
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button"
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/sidebar-content.tsx b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/sidebar-content.tsx
index 24cdc847..41d6b622 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/sidebar-content.tsx
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/sidebar-content.tsx
@@ -436,7 +436,6 @@ export function SidebarContentPanel({
   const [loggingIn, setLoggingIn] = useState(false)
   const [appUrl, setAppUrl] = useState<string | null>(null)
   const { billing } = useBilling(isRowboatConnected)
-  const [skillUpdateCount, setSkillUpdateCount] = useState(0)
 
   const handleRowboatLogin = useCallback(async () => {
     try {
@@ -488,14 +487,6 @@ export function SidebarContentPanel({
       setLoggingIn(false)
     })
 
-    // Check for skill updates
-    window.ipc.invoke('skills:list', null).then((result) => {
-      if (mounted) {
-        const count = result.skills.filter((s: { hasUpdate?: boolean }) => s.hasUpdate).length
-        setSkillUpdateCount(count)
-      }
-    }).catch(() => {})
-
     return () => {
       mounted = false
       cleanup()
@@ -741,11 +732,6 @@ export function SidebarContentPanel({
             <button className="flex w-full items-center gap-2 rounded-md px-2 py-1 text-xs text-sidebar-foreground/70 hover:bg-sidebar-accent hover:text-sidebar-accent-foreground transition-colors">
               <Settings className="size-4" />
               <span>Settings</span>
-              {skillUpdateCount > 0 && (
-                <span className="ml-auto text-[10px] text-amber-600 dark:text-amber-400 font-medium">
-                  {skillUpdateCount} skill {skillUpdateCount === 1 ? "update" : "updates"}
-                </span>
-              )}
             </button>
           </SettingsDialog>
           <HelpPopover>