diff --git a/.changeset/quiet-cli-update.md b/.changeset/quiet-cli-update.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2ccf0b9a70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/quiet-cli-update.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+"@fission-ai/openspec": patch
+---
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- `openspec update` now suggests restarting an IDE only when it updates an IDE-resident tool. CLI tools such as Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini CLI no longer show an unnecessary restart hint.
diff --git a/src/core/update.ts b/src/core/update.ts
index 69fa4bafe4..2c8bdda96a 100644
--- a/src/core/update.ts
+++ b/src/core/update.ts
@@ -267,6 +267,7 @@ export class UpdateCommand {
     // 10. Update tools (all if force, otherwise only those needing update)
     const toolsToUpdate = this.force ? configuredTools : [...toolsToUpdateSet];
     const updatedTools: string[] = [];
+    const updatedToolIds: string[] = [];
     const failedTools: Array<{ name: string; error: string }> = [];
     const skillsInvocableCommandSkips: string[] = [];
     const zeroArtifactTools: string[] = [];
@@ -361,6 +362,7 @@ export class UpdateCommand {
 
         spinner.succeed(`Updated ${tool.name}`);
         updatedTools.push(tool.name);
+        updatedToolIds.push(tool.value);
         for (const migration of migrateLegacyToolDirs(
           resolvedProjectPath,
           [tool.value],
@@ -484,7 +486,20 @@ export class UpdateCommand {
     }
 
     console.log();
-    console.log(chalk.dim('Restart your IDE for changes to take effect.'));
+    const affectedToolIds = [...new Set([...newlyConfiguredTools, ...updatedToolIds])];
+    const shouldRestartIde = affectedToolIds.some((toolId) => {
+      const tool = AI_TOOLS.find((candidate) => candidate.value === toolId);
+      return Boolean(
+        tool?.requiresIdeRestart &&
+        (
+          shouldGenerateCommandsForTool(toolId, delivery) ||
+          shouldGenerateSkillsForTool(toolId, delivery)
+        )
+      );
+    });
+    if (shouldRestartIde) {
+      console.log(chalk.dim('Restart your IDE for changes to take effect.'));
+    }
     if (failedTools.length > 0) {
       throw new Error(`OpenSpec update failed for: ${failedTools.map((tool) => tool.name).join(', ')}`);
     }
diff --git a/test/core/update.test.ts b/test/core/update.test.ts
index b541bdadc1..3c21fc9657 100644
--- a/test/core/update.test.ts
+++ b/test/core/update.test.ts
@@ -1675,9 +1675,43 @@ metadata:
         expect.stringContaining('Failed')
       );
 
+      // Cursor succeeded, so its IDE process still needs to reload the changes.
+      expect(consoleSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.stringContaining('Restart your IDE')
+      );
+
       writeSpy.mockRestore();
       consoleSpy.mockRestore();
     });
+
+    it('should not suggest an IDE restart when only the IDE tool fails', async () => {
+      const claudeSkill = path.join(testDir, '.claude', 'skills', 'openspec-explore', 'SKILL.md');
+      const cursorSkill = path.join(testDir, '.cursor', 'skills', 'openspec-explore', 'SKILL.md');
+      await fs.mkdir(path.dirname(claudeSkill), { recursive: true });
+      await fs.mkdir(path.dirname(cursorSkill), { recursive: true });
+      await fs.writeFile(claudeSkill, 'old');
+      await fs.writeFile(cursorSkill, 'old');
+
+      const originalWriteFile = FileSystemUtils.writeFile.bind(FileSystemUtils);
+      vi.spyOn(FileSystemUtils, 'writeFile').mockImplementation(async (filePath, content) => {
+        if (filePath.includes('.cursor') && filePath.includes('SKILL.md')) {
+          throw new Error('EACCES: permission denied');
+        }
+        return originalWriteFile(filePath, content);
+      });
+
+      const consoleSpy = vi.spyOn(console, 'log');
+
+      await expect(updateCommand.execute(testDir)).rejects.toThrow(
+        'OpenSpec update failed for: Cursor'
+      );
+      expect(consoleSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.stringContaining('Updated: Claude Code')
+      );
+      expect(consoleSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.stringContaining('Restart your IDE')
+      );
+    });
   });
 
   describe('tool detection', () => {
@@ -1800,8 +1834,8 @@ metadata:
       consoleSpy.mockRestore();
     });
 
-    it('should suggest IDE restart after update', async () => {
-      // Set up a configured tool
+    it('should not suggest an IDE restart for CLI-only tools', async () => {
+      // Set up a configured CLI tool
       const skillsDir = path.join(testDir, '.claude', 'skills');
       await fs.mkdir(path.join(skillsDir, 'openspec-explore'), {
         recursive: true,
@@ -1815,6 +1849,27 @@ metadata:
 
       await updateCommand.execute(testDir);
 
+      expect(consoleSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.stringContaining('Restart your IDE')
+      );
+
+      consoleSpy.mockRestore();
+    });
+
+    it('should suggest an IDE restart for IDE-resident tools', async () => {
+      const skillsDir = path.join(testDir, '.cursor', 'skills');
+      await fs.mkdir(path.join(skillsDir, 'openspec-explore'), {
+        recursive: true,
+      });
+      await fs.writeFile(
+        path.join(skillsDir, 'openspec-explore', 'SKILL.md'),
+        'old'
+      );
+
+      const consoleSpy = vi.spyOn(console, 'log');
+
+      await updateCommand.execute(testDir);
+
       expect(consoleSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
         expect.stringContaining('Restart your IDE')
       );
@@ -2199,6 +2254,11 @@ metadata:
         expect.stringContaining('Already up to date: cursor')
       );
 
+      // A configured IDE tool that was not affected must not cause the hint.
+      expect(consoleSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.stringContaining('Restart your IDE')
+      );
+
       consoleSpy.mockRestore();
     });
   });
@@ -2392,6 +2452,7 @@ ${OPENSPEC_MARKERS.end}
       expect(menuLines).toHaveLength(1);
       expect(menuLines[0]).toContain('/opsx-propose');
       expect(logCalls.some((entry) => entry.includes('/opsx:propose'))).toBe(false);
+      expect(logCalls.some((entry) => entry.includes('Restart your IDE'))).toBe(true);
     });
 
     it('should preserve legacy Codex prompts when a configured Codex tool lacks the replacement workflow', async () => {
@@ -2691,6 +2752,7 @@ More user content after markers.
         .join('\n');
       expect(gettingStartedCalls).not.toContain('/opsx:new');
       expect(gettingStartedCalls).not.toContain('/opsx:continue');
+      expect(gettingStartedCalls).not.toContain('Restart your IDE');
 
       // Skills should be created
       const skillFile = path.join(testDir, '.claude', 'skills', 'openspec-explore', 'SKILL.md');