diff --git a/routes/updater.py b/routes/updater.py
index f80d8c4..2583905 100644
--- a/routes/updater.py
+++ b/routes/updater.py
@@ -2,14 +2,15 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-from flask import Blueprint, jsonify, request, Response
+from flask import Blueprint, Response, jsonify, request
 
 from utils.logging import get_logger
 from utils.updater import (
     check_for_updates,
-    get_update_status,
     dismiss_update,
+    get_update_status,
     perform_update,
+    restart_application,
 )
 
 logger = get_logger('intercept.routes.updater')
@@ -137,3 +138,42 @@ def dismiss_notification() -> Response:
             'success': False,
             'error': str(e)
         }), 500
+
+
+@updater_bp.route('/restart', methods=['POST'])
+def restart_app() -> Response:
+    """
+    Restart the application.
+
+    This endpoint triggers a graceful restart of the application:
+    1. Stops all running decoder processes
+    2. Cleans up global state
+    3. Replaces the current process with a fresh instance
+
+    The response may not be received by the client since the process
+    is replaced immediately. Clients should poll /health until the
+    server responds again.
+
+    Returns:
+        JSON with restart status (may not be delivered)
+    """
+    import threading
+
+    logger.info("Restart requested via API")
+
+    # Send response before restarting
+    # Use a short delay to allow the response to be sent
+    def delayed_restart():
+        import time
+        time.sleep(0.5)  # Allow response to be sent
+        restart_application()
+
+    # Start restart in a background thread so we can return a response
+    restart_thread = threading.Thread(target=delayed_restart, daemon=False)
+    restart_thread.start()
+
+    return jsonify({
+        'success': True,
+        'message': 'Application is restarting. Please wait...',
+        'action': 'restart'
+    })
diff --git a/utils/updater.py b/utils/updater.py
index 0b9b902..d0ac50c 100644
--- a/utils/updater.py
+++ b/utils/updater.py
@@ -9,11 +9,12 @@ import logging
 import os
 import re
 import subprocess
+import sys
 import time
 from datetime import datetime
 from typing import Any
-from urllib.request import urlopen, Request
-from urllib.error import URLError, HTTPError
+from urllib.error import HTTPError, URLError
+from urllib.request import Request, urlopen
 
 import config
 from utils.database import get_setting, set_setting
@@ -509,6 +510,7 @@ def perform_update(stash_changes: bool = False) -> dict[str, Any]:
             'success': True,
             'updated': True,
             'message': 'Update successful! Please restart the application.',
+            'restart_required': True,
             'requirements_changed': requirements_changed,
             'stashed': stashed,
             'stash_restored': stashed,
@@ -527,3 +529,83 @@ def perform_update(stash_changes: bool = False) -> dict[str, Any]:
             'success': False,
             'error': str(e)
         }
+
+
+def restart_application() -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """
+    Restart the application using os.execv to replace the current process.
+
+    This function:
+    1. Cleans up all running decoder processes
+    2. Stops the cleanup manager
+    3. Replaces the current process with a fresh Python interpreter
+
+    Returns:
+        Dict with status (though this is typically not reached due to execv)
+    """
+    import app as app_module
+    from utils.cleanup import cleanup_manager
+    from utils.process import cleanup_all_processes
+
+    logger.info("Application restart requested")
+
+    try:
+        # Step 1: Kill all decoder processes
+        logger.info("Stopping all decoder processes...")
+        cleanup_all_processes()
+
+        # Step 2: Clear global process state
+        with app_module.process_lock:
+            app_module.current_process = None
+        with app_module.sensor_lock:
+            app_module.sensor_process = None
+        with app_module.wifi_lock:
+            app_module.wifi_process = None
+        with app_module.adsb_lock:
+            app_module.adsb_process = None
+        with app_module.ais_lock:
+            app_module.ais_process = None
+        with app_module.acars_lock:
+            app_module.acars_process = None
+        with app_module.aprs_lock:
+            app_module.aprs_process = None
+            app_module.aprs_rtl_process = None
+        with app_module.dsc_lock:
+            app_module.dsc_process = None
+            app_module.dsc_rtl_process = None
+
+        # Step 3: Clear SDR device registry
+        with app_module.sdr_device_registry_lock:
+            app_module.sdr_device_registry.clear()
+
+        # Step 4: Stop cleanup manager
+        logger.info("Stopping cleanup manager...")
+        cleanup_manager.stop()
+
+        # Step 5: Prepare for restart using os.execv
+        # Get the Python executable and script path
+        python_executable = sys.executable
+        script_path = os.path.abspath(sys.argv[0])
+
+        # Build argument list (preserve original command-line args)
+        args = [python_executable, script_path] + sys.argv[1:]
+
+        logger.info(f"Restarting with: {' '.join(args)}")
+
+        # Flush any pending log output
+        logging.shutdown()
+
+        # Use os.execv to replace the current process
+        # This will not return - the process is replaced entirely
+        os.execv(python_executable, args)
+
+        # This code is never reached
+        return {'success': True, 'message': 'Restarting...'}
+
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.error(f"Restart failed: {e}")
+        return {
+            'success': False,
+            'error': str(e),
+            'message': 'Failed to restart application. Please restart manually.'
+        }