diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index e6b1cbe..cf99292 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ CLI available as `cf` or `compose-farm`.
 | `stop`  | Stop services without removing containers (`docker compose stop`) |
 | `pull`  | Pull latest images |
 | `restart` | `down` + `up -d` |
-| `update` | `pull` + `build` + `down` + `up -d` |
+| `update` | Pull, build, recreate only if changed (`up -d --pull always --build`) |
 | `apply` | Make reality match config: migrate stacks + stop orphans. Use `--dry-run` to preview |
 | `compose` | Run any docker compose command on a stack (passthrough) |
 | `logs`  | Show stack logs |
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a6e0a8e..e8596f9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ The CLI is available as both `compose-farm` and the shorter `cf` alias.
 | `cf down <stack>` | Stop and remove stack containers |
 | `cf stop <stack>` | Stop stack without removing containers |
 | `cf restart <stack>` | down + up |
-| `cf update <stack>` | pull + build + down + up |
+| `cf update <stack>` | Pull, build, recreate only if changed |
 | `cf pull <stack>` | Pull latest images |
 | `cf logs -f <stack>` | Follow logs |
 | `cf ps` | Show status of all stacks |
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ cf pull --all
 # Restart (down + up)
 cf restart plex
 
-# Update (pull + build + down + up) - the end-to-end update command
+# Update (pull + build, only recreates containers if images changed)
 cf update --all
 
 # Update state from reality (discovers running stacks + captures digests)
@@ -475,8 +475,7 @@ Full `--help` output for each command. See the [Usage](#usage) table above for a
 │ pull           Pull latest images (docker compose pull).                     │
 │ restart        Restart stacks (down + up). With --service, restarts just     │
 │                that service.                                                 │
-│ update         Update stacks (pull + build + down + up). With --service,     │
-│                updates just that service.                                    │
+│ update         Update stacks. Only recreates containers if images changed.   │
 │ apply          Make reality match config (start, migrate, stop               │
 │                strays/orphans as needed).                                    │
 │ compose        Run any docker compose command on a stack.                    │
@@ -694,8 +693,7 @@ Full `--help` output for each command. See the [Usage](#usage) table above for a
 
  Usage: cf update [OPTIONS] [STACKS]...
 
- Update stacks (pull + build + down + up). With --service, updates just that
- service.
+ Update stacks. Only recreates containers if images changed.
 
 ╭─ Arguments ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
 │   stacks      [STACKS]...  Stacks to operate on                              │
diff --git a/docs/commands.md b/docs/commands.md
index a562d16..9e907ee 100644
--- a/docs/commands.md
+++ b/docs/commands.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ The Compose Farm CLI is available as both `compose-farm` and the shorter alias `
 | | `down` | Stop stacks |
 | | `stop` | Stop services without removing containers |
 | | `restart` | Restart stacks (down + up) |
-| | `update` | Update stacks (pull + build + down + up) |
+| | `update` | Update stacks (only recreates if images changed) |
 | | `pull` | Pull latest images |
 | | `compose` | Run any docker compose command |
 | **Monitoring** | `ps` | Show stack status |
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ cf restart immich --service database
 
 ### cf update
 
-Update stacks (pull + build + down + up). With `--service`, updates just that service.
+Update stacks. Only recreates containers if images changed. With `--service`, updates just that service.
 
 <video autoplay loop muted playsinline>
   <source src="/assets/update.webm" type="video/webm">
diff --git a/docs/demos/cli/update.tape b/docs/demos/cli/update.tape
index fb7bab8..5c4829c 100644
--- a/docs/demos/cli/update.tape
+++ b/docs/demos/cli/update.tape
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Update Demo
-# Shows updating stacks (pull + build + down + up)
+# Shows updating stacks (only recreates containers if images changed)
 
 Output docs/assets/update.gif
 Output docs/assets/update.webm
diff --git a/docs/getting-started.md b/docs/getting-started.md
index 02d8c06..30a3706 100644
--- a/docs/getting-started.md
+++ b/docs/getting-started.md
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ cf apply
 
 ```bash
 cf update --all
-# Runs: pull + build + down + up for each stack
+# Only recreates containers if images changed
 ```
 
 ## Next Steps
diff --git a/src/compose_farm/cli/lifecycle.py b/src/compose_farm/cli/lifecycle.py
index 3a54195..193bd24 100644
--- a/src/compose_farm/cli/lifecycle.py
+++ b/src/compose_farm/cli/lifecycle.py
@@ -184,34 +184,17 @@ def update(
     service: ServiceOption = None,
     config: ConfigOption = None,
 ) -> None:
-    """Update stacks (pull + build + down + up). With --service, updates just that service."""
+    """Update stacks. Only recreates containers if images changed."""
     stack_list, cfg = get_stacks(stacks or [], all_stacks, config)
     if service:
         if len(stack_list) != 1:
             print_error("--service requires exactly one stack")
             raise typer.Exit(1)
-        # For service-level update: pull + build + stop + up (stop instead of down)
-        raw = True
-        results = run_async(
-            run_sequential_on_stacks(
-                cfg,
-                stack_list,
-                [
-                    f"pull --ignore-buildable {service}",
-                    f"build {service}",
-                    f"stop {service}",
-                    f"up -d {service}",
-                ],
-                raw=raw,
-            )
-        )
+        cmd = f"up -d --pull always --build {service}"
     else:
-        raw = len(stack_list) == 1
-        results = run_async(
-            run_sequential_on_stacks(
-                cfg, stack_list, ["pull --ignore-buildable", "build", "down", "up -d"], raw=raw
-            )
-        )
+        cmd = "up -d --pull always --build"
+    raw = len(stack_list) == 1
+    results = run_async(run_on_stacks(cfg, stack_list, cmd, raw=raw))
     maybe_regenerate_traefik(cfg, results)
     report_results(results)
 
diff --git a/src/compose_farm/web/routes/actions.py b/src/compose_farm/web/routes/actions.py
index 6dc359a..455324e 100644
--- a/src/compose_farm/web/routes/actions.py
+++ b/src/compose_farm/web/routes/actions.py
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ async def pull_all() -> dict[str, Any]:
 
 @router.post("/update-all")
 async def update_all() -> dict[str, Any]:
-    """Update all stacks (pull + build + down + up), excluding the web stack.
+    """Update all stacks, excluding the web stack. Only recreates if images changed.
 
     The web stack is excluded to prevent the UI from shutting down mid-operation.
     Use 'cf update <web-stack>' manually to update the web UI.
diff --git a/src/compose_farm/web/templates/index.html b/src/compose_farm/web/templates/index.html
index 7817591..ce8fee6 100644
--- a/src/compose_farm/web/templates/index.html
+++ b/src/compose_farm/web/templates/index.html
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
         {{ action_btn("Apply", "/api/apply", "primary", "Make reality match config", check()) }}
         {{ action_btn("Refresh", "/api/refresh", "outline", "Update state from reality", refresh_cw()) }}
         {{ action_btn("Pull All", "/api/pull-all", "outline", "Pull latest images for all stacks", cloud_download()) }}
-        {{ action_btn("Update All", "/api/update-all", "outline", "Update all stacks except web (pull + build + down + up)", rotate_cw()) }}
+        {{ action_btn("Update All", "/api/update-all", "outline", "Update all stacks except web (only restarts if changed)", rotate_cw()) }}
         <div class="tooltip" data-tip="Save compose-farm.yaml config file"><button id="save-config-btn" class="btn btn-outline">{{ save() }} Save Config</button></div>
     </div>
 
diff --git a/src/compose_farm/web/templates/stack.html b/src/compose_farm/web/templates/stack.html
index 531335f..304a163 100644
--- a/src/compose_farm/web/templates/stack.html
+++ b/src/compose_farm/web/templates/stack.html
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
         {{ action_btn("Up", "/api/stack/" ~ name ~ "/up", "primary", "Start stack (docker compose up -d)", play()) }}
         {{ action_btn("Down", "/api/stack/" ~ name ~ "/down", "outline", "Stop stack (docker compose down)", square()) }}
         {{ action_btn("Restart", "/api/stack/" ~ name ~ "/restart", "secondary", "Restart stack (down + up)", rotate_cw()) }}
-        {{ action_btn("Update", "/api/stack/" ~ name ~ "/update", "accent", "Update to latest (pull + build + down + up)", download()) }}
+        {{ action_btn("Update", "/api/stack/" ~ name ~ "/update", "accent", "Update to latest (only restarts if changed)", download()) }}
 
         <div class="divider divider-horizontal mx-0"></div>
 
diff --git a/tests/test_operations.py b/tests/test_operations.py
index b4fdfca..64c8171 100644
--- a/tests/test_operations.py
+++ b/tests/test_operations.py
@@ -98,19 +98,18 @@ class TestMigrationCommands:
 class TestUpdateCommandSequence:
     """Tests for update command sequence."""
 
-    def test_update_command_sequence_includes_build(self) -> None:
-        """Update command should use pull --ignore-buildable and build."""
+    def test_update_command_uses_pull_always_and_build(self) -> None:
+        """Update command should use --pull always --build flags."""
         # This is a static check of the command sequence in lifecycle.py
         # The actual command sequence is defined in the update function
 
         source = inspect.getsource(lifecycle.update)
 
-        # Verify the command sequence includes pull --ignore-buildable
-        assert "pull --ignore-buildable" in source
-        # Verify build is included
-        assert '"build"' in source or "'build'" in source
-        # Verify the sequence is pull, build, down, up
-        assert "down" in source
+        # Verify the command uses --pull always (only recreates if image changed)
+        assert "--pull always" in source
+        # Verify --build is included for buildable services
+        assert "--build" in source
+        # Verify up -d is used
         assert "up -d" in source