diff --git a/client/css/style.css b/client/css/style.css
index f0487c55..5fa19b02 100644
--- a/client/css/style.css
+++ b/client/css/style.css
@@ -137,6 +137,10 @@ kbd {
 	cursor: pointer; /* This is useful for `<button>` elements */
 }
 
+.btn-small {
+	padding: 5px 13px;
+}
+
 .btn:disabled,
 .btn:hover,
 .btn:focus {
@@ -235,7 +239,7 @@ kbd {
 #chat .nick .from::before,
 #chat .action .from::before,
 #chat .toggle-button::after,
-.changelog-version::before,
+#version-checker::before,
 .context-menu-item::before,
 #help .website-link::before,
 #help .documentation-link::before,
@@ -991,9 +995,7 @@ kbd {
 #sidebar .join-form .btn {
 	display: block;
 	width: 80%;
-	padding: 1px;
 	margin: auto;
-	height: 29px;
 }
 
 #sidebar .add-channel-tooltip {
@@ -1635,47 +1637,70 @@ part/quit messages where we don't load previews (adds a blank line otherwise) */
 	padding-bottom: 7px;
 }
 
-.changelog-version {
-	display: block;
-	padding: 16px;
+#version-checker {
+	display: flex;
+	align-items: center;
+	padding: 10px;
 	margin-bottom: 16px;
 	border-radius: 2px;
-	background-color: #d9edf7;
-	color: #31708f;
 	transition: color 0.2s, background-color 0.2s;
 }
 
-.changelog-version::before {
-	margin-right: 6px;
+#version-checker p,
+#version-checker button {
+	margin-bottom: 0;
+}
+
+#version-checker p {
+	flex: 1;
+	padding-top: 6px;
+	padding-bottom: 6px;
+}
+
+#version-checker::before {
+	margin-left: 6px;
+	margin-right: 12px;
+	font-size: 1.2em;
+}
+
+#version-checker.loading {
+	background-color: #d9edf7;
+	color: #31708f;
+}
+
+#version-checker.loading::before {
 	content: "\f250"; /* http://fontawesome.io/icon/hourglass-o/ */
 }
 
-.changelog-version.new-version {
+#version-checker.new-version {
 	color: #8a6d3b;
 	background-color: #fcf8e3;
 }
 
-.changelog-version.new-version::before {
+#version-checker.new-version::before {
 	content: "\f087"; /* http://fontawesome.io/icon/thumbs-o-up/ */
 }
 
-.changelog-version.error {
+#version-checker.error {
 	color: #a94442;
 	background-color: #f2dede;
 }
 
-.changelog-version.error::before {
-	margin-right: 6px;
+#version-checker.error::before {
 	content: "\f06a"; /* http://fontawesome.io/icon/exclamation-circle/ */
 }
 
-.changelog-version.up-to-date {
+#version-checker.up-to-date {
 	background-color: #dff0d8;
 	color: #3c763d;
 }
 
-.changelog-version.up-to-date::before {
-	margin-right: 6px;
+#version-checker.up-to-date #check-now {
+	/* "Check now" button is hidden until data expires */
+	display: none;
+}
+
+#version-checker.up-to-date::before {
 	content: "\f00c"; /* http://fontawesome.io/icon/check/ */
 }
 
diff --git a/client/js/lounge.js b/client/js/lounge.js
index 4cbb37c0..7fdb4f5c 100644
--- a/client/js/lounge.js
+++ b/client/js/lounge.js
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ const utils = require("./utils");
 require("./webpush");
 require("./keybinds");
 require("./clipboard");
+const Changelog = require("./socket-events/changelog");
 const JoinChannel = require("./join-channel");
 
 $(function() {
@@ -332,8 +333,6 @@ $(function() {
 		$(this).closest(".msg.condensed").toggleClass("closed");
 	});
 
-	let changelogRequestedAt = 0;
-
 	const openWindow = function openWindow(e, data) {
 		var self = $(this);
 		var target = self.data("target");
@@ -426,12 +425,7 @@ $(function() {
 		}
 
 		if (target === "#help" || target === "#changelog") {
-			const now = Date.now();
-			// Don't check more than once an hour
-			if (now - changelogRequestedAt > 3600 * 1000) {
-				changelogRequestedAt = now;
-				socket.emit("changelog");
-			}
+			Changelog.requestIfNeeded();
 		}
 
 		focus();
diff --git a/client/js/renderPreview.js b/client/js/renderPreview.js
index 626e0f83..79dd34f7 100644
--- a/client/js/renderPreview.js
+++ b/client/js/renderPreview.js
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ function handleImageInPreview(content, container) {
 
 const imageViewer = $("#image-viewer");
 
-$("#chat").on("click", ".toggle-thumbnail", function(event, data = {}) {
+$("#windows").on("click", ".toggle-thumbnail", function(event, data = {}) {
 	const link = $(this);
 
 	// Passing `data`, specifically `data.pushState`, to not add the action to the
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ function openImageViewer(link, {pushState = true} = {}) {
 	imageViewer.html(templates.image_viewer({
 		image: link.find("img").attr("src"),
 		link: link.attr("href"),
-		type: link.parent().hasClass("toggle-type-image") ? "image" : "link",
+		type: link.parent().hasClass("toggle-type-link") ? "link" : "image",
 		hasPreviousImage: previousImage.length > 0,
 		hasNextImage: nextImage.length > 0,
 	}));
@@ -171,10 +171,14 @@ function openImageViewer(link, {pushState = true} = {}) {
 
 	// History management
 	if (pushState) {
-		const clickTarget =
-			`#${link.closest(".msg").attr("id")} ` +
-			`a.toggle-thumbnail[href="${link.attr("href")}"] ` +
-			"img";
+		let clickTarget = "";
+		// Images can be in a message (channel URL previews) or not (window URL
+		// preview, e.g. changelog). This is sub-optimal and needs improvement to
+		// make image preview more generic and not specific for channel previews.
+		if (link.closest(".msg").length > 0) {
+			clickTarget = `#${link.closest(".msg").attr("id")} `;
+		}
+		clickTarget += `a.toggle-thumbnail[href="${link.attr("href")}"] img`;
 		history.pushState({clickTarget}, null, null);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/client/js/socket-events/changelog.js b/client/js/socket-events/changelog.js
index 5eaf0229..34149fbf 100644
--- a/client/js/socket-events/changelog.js
+++ b/client/js/socket-events/changelog.js
@@ -4,19 +4,66 @@ const $ = require("jquery");
 const socket = require("../socket");
 const templates = require("../../views");
 
+module.exports = {
+	requestIfNeeded,
+};
+
+// Requests version information if it hasn't been retrieved before (or if it has
+// been removed from the page, i.e. when clicking on "Check now". Displays a
+// loading state until received.
+function requestIfNeeded() {
+	if ($("#version-checker").is(":empty")) {
+		renderVersionChecker({status: "loading"});
+		socket.emit("changelog");
+	}
+}
+
 socket.on("changelog", function(data) {
-	const container = $("#changelog-version-container");
+	// 1. Release notes window for the current version
+	$("#changelog").html(templates.windows.changelog(data.current));
+
+	const links = $("#changelog .changelog-text a");
+	// Make sure all links will open a new tab instead of exiting the application
+	links.attr("target", "_blank");
+	// Add required metadata to image links, to support built-in image viewer
+	links.has("img").addClass("toggle-thumbnail");
+
+	// 2. Version checker visible in Help window
+	let status;
 
 	if (data.latest) {
-		container.addClass("new-version");
-		container.html(templates.new_version(data));
+		status = "new-version";
 	} else if (data.current.changelog) {
-		container.addClass("up-to-date");
-		container.text("The Lounge is up to date!");
+		status = "up-to-date";
 	} else {
-		container.addClass("error");
-		container.text("An error has occurred, try to reload the page.");
+		status = "error";
 	}
 
-	$("#changelog").html(templates.windows.changelog(data));
+	renderVersionChecker({
+		latest: data.latest,
+		status,
+	});
+
+	// When there is a button to refresh the checker available, display it when
+	// data is expired. Before that, server would return same information anyway.
+	if (data.expiresAt) {
+		setTimeout(
+			() => $("#version-checker #check-now").show(),
+			data.expiresAt - Date.now()
+		);
+	}
 });
+
+// When clicking the "Check now" button, remove current checker information and
+// request a new one. Loading will be displayed in the meantime.
+$("#help").on("click", "#check-now", () => {
+	$("#version-checker").empty();
+	requestIfNeeded();
+});
+
+// Given a status and latest release information, update the version checker
+// (CSS class and content)
+function renderVersionChecker({status, latest}) {
+	$("#version-checker").attr("class", status)
+		.html(templates.version_checker({latest, status}));
+}
diff --git a/client/views/index.js b/client/views/index.js
index 4be9cc10..dd7f65f8 100644
--- a/client/views/index.js
+++ b/client/views/index.js
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ module.exports = {
 
 	chan: require("./chan.tpl"),
 	chat: require("./chat.tpl"),
-	new_version: require("./new_version.tpl"),
 	contextmenu_divider: require("./contextmenu_divider.tpl"),
 	contextmenu_item: require("./contextmenu_item.tpl"),
 	date_marker: require("./date-marker.tpl"),
@@ -50,4 +49,5 @@ module.exports = {
 	user: require("./user.tpl"),
 	user_filtered: require("./user_filtered.tpl"),
 	user_name: require("./user_name.tpl"),
+	version_checker: require("./version_checker.tpl"),
 };
diff --git a/client/views/join_channel.tpl b/client/views/join_channel.tpl
index 121acabb..92395175 100644
--- a/client/views/join_channel.tpl
+++ b/client/views/join_channel.tpl
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <form id="join-channel-{{id}}" class="join-form" method="post" action="" autocomplete="off">
 	<input type="text" class="input" name="channel" placeholder="Channel" pattern="[^\s]+" maxlength="200" title="The channel name may not contain spaces" required>
 	<input type="password" class="input" name="key" placeholder="Password (optional)" pattern="[^\s]+" maxlength="200" title="The channel password may not contain spaces">
-	<button type="submit" class="btn joinchan:submit" data-id="{{id}}">Join</button>
+	<button type="submit" class="btn btn-small" data-id="{{id}}">Join</button>
 </form>
diff --git a/client/views/new_version.tpl b/client/views/new_version.tpl
deleted file mode 100644
index 8825ed16..00000000
--- a/client/views/new_version.tpl
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-The Lounge <b>{{latest.version}}</b>{{#if latest.prerelease}} (pre-release){{/if}}
-is now available.
-
-<a href="{{latest.url}}" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
-	Read more on GitHub
-</a>
diff --git a/client/views/version_checker.tpl b/client/views/version_checker.tpl
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8b75d09f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/views/version_checker.tpl
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+{{#equal status "loading"}}
+	<p>
+		Checking for updates...
+	</p>
+{{else equal status "new-version"}}
+	<p>
+		The Lounge <b>{{latest.version}}</b>{{#if latest.prerelease}} (pre-release){{/if}}
+		is now available.
+		<br>
+
+		<a href="{{latest.url}}" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
+			Read more on GitHub
+		</a>
+	</p>
+{{else equal status "up-to-date"}}
+	<p>
+		The Lounge is up to date!
+	</p>
+
+	<button id="check-now" class="btn btn-small">Check now</button>
+{{else equal status "error"}}
+	<p>
+		Information about latest releases could not be retrieved.
+	</p>
+
+	<button id="check-now" class="btn btn-small">Try again</button>
+{{/equal}}
diff --git a/client/views/windows/changelog.tpl b/client/views/windows/changelog.tpl
index 2ffd5c57..222a1a6b 100644
--- a/client/views/windows/changelog.tpl
+++ b/client/views/windows/changelog.tpl
@@ -4,15 +4,15 @@
 <div class="container">
 	<a href="#" id="back-to-help" data-target="#help">« Help</a>
 
-	{{#if current}}
-		<h1 class="title">Release notes for {{current.version}}</h1>
+	{{#if version}}
+		<h1 class="title">Release notes for {{version}}</h1>
 
-		{{#if current.changelog}}
+		{{#if changelog}}
 			<h3>Introduction</h3>
-			<div class="changelog-text">{{{current.changelog}}}</div>
+			<div class="changelog-text">{{{changelog}}}</div>
 		{{else}}
 			<p>Unable to retrieve releases from GitHub.</p>
-			<p><a href="https://github.com/thelounge/lounge/releases/tag/v{{current.version}}" target="_blank" rel="noopener">View release notes for this version on GitHub</a></p>
+			<p><a href="https://github.com/thelounge/lounge/releases/tag/v{{version}}" target="_blank" rel="noopener">View release notes for this version on GitHub</a></p>
 		{{/if}}
 	{{else}}
 		<p>Loading changelog…</p>
diff --git a/client/views/windows/help.tpl b/client/views/windows/help.tpl
index 8f1e9b37..2802d89e 100644
--- a/client/views/windows/help.tpl
+++ b/client/views/windows/help.tpl
@@ -13,11 +13,7 @@
 	</h2>
 
 	<div class="about">
-		{{#unless public}}
-			<p id="changelog-version-container" class="changelog-version">
-				Checking for updates...
-			</p>
-		{{/unless}}
+		<div id="version-checker"></div>
 
 		{{#if gitCommit}}
 			<p>
diff --git a/src/plugins/changelog.js b/src/plugins/changelog.js
index 9f604102..2103ded4 100644
--- a/src/plugins/changelog.js
+++ b/src/plugins/changelog.js
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 const pkg = require("../../package.json");
 const request = require("request");
 
+const TIME_TO_LIVE = 15 * 60 * 1000; // 15 minutes, in milliseconds
+
 module.exports = {
 	fetch,
 };
@@ -67,12 +69,14 @@ function fetch(callback) {
 			}
 		}
 
-		// Emptying cached information after 15 minutes
+		// Add expiration date to the data to send to the client for later refresh
+		versions.expiresAt = Date.now() + TIME_TO_LIVE;
+
+		// Emptying cached information after reaching said expiration date
 		setTimeout(() => {
 			delete versions.current.changelog;
 			delete versions.latest;
-		}, 15 * 60 * 1000
-		);
+		}, TIME_TO_LIVE);
 
 		callback(versions);
 	});