diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index dfd457f..7511ebf 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # AGENTS.md
 
 submarine: a Go + Bubble Tea TUI for repositories with many git submodules.
-Currently a prototype with a read-only git provider and mock data.
+Currently a prototype with a git provider (with background fetch) and mock data.
 
 ## Read first
 
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ and decisions. Read the relevant document before changing behavior:
 ```sh
 go run ./cmd/submarine [dir]  # run on a repository (default: cwd)
 go run ./cmd/submarine --mock # run on mock data
+go run ./cmd/submarine --no-fetch [dir]  # without background fetch
 scripts/make-fixture.sh DIR   # build a test superproject in DIR
 go vet ./...
 go test ./...
@@ -34,8 +35,9 @@ gofmt -l .                    # must print nothing
 - **Layering.** `internal/submodule` has no UI imports and decides what a
   state means (`Status.Issues()`). `internal/tui/theme` decides how it looks.
   Components never classify states or define colors themselves.
-- **Data access** only through `submodule.Provider`. The git provider is
-  read-only and must never use the network.
+- **Data access** only through `submodule.Provider` (and its optional
+  `Fetcher` / `Watcher`). The git provider only uses the network in
+  `Fetch`, and git must never prompt.
 - **Colors** only from `theme.Theme`, ANSI 16 colors for meaning (see
   `docs/ux-guide.md#colors`). Render segments on a background with a `base`
   style (`LevelStyle(level, base)`, `Delta(pin, base)`).
diff --git a/cmd/submarine/main.go b/cmd/submarine/main.go
index 4b4dfee..19c9cc2 100644
--- a/cmd/submarine/main.go
+++ b/cmd/submarine/main.go
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ import (
 
 func main() {
 	useMock := flag.Bool("mock", false, "use built-in mock data instead of a real repository")
+	noFetch := flag.Bool("no-fetch", false, "don't fetch remotes in the background on startup")
 	flag.Usage = func() {
-		fmt.Fprintln(flag.CommandLine.Output(), "usage: submarine [--mock] [dir]")
+		fmt.Fprintln(flag.CommandLine.Output(), "usage: submarine [--mock] [--no-fetch] [dir]")
 		flag.PrintDefaults()
 	}
 	flag.Parse()
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ func main() {
 	zone.NewGlobal()
 	defer zone.Close()
 
-	p := tea.NewProgram(tui.New(ctx, provider), tea.WithAltScreen(), tea.WithMouseCellMotion())
+	p := tea.NewProgram(tui.New(ctx, provider, tui.Options{Fetch: !*noFetch}), tea.WithAltScreen(), tea.WithMouseCellMotion())
 	if _, err := p.Run(); err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
 		os.Exit(1)
diff --git a/docs/README.md b/docs/README.md
index af1c213..b40248d 100644
--- a/docs/README.md
+++ b/docs/README.md
@@ -18,13 +18,13 @@ bare commit hash.
 ## Status
 
 **Prototype.** The UI is complete for browsing. It reads real repositories
-through a read-only git provider (`internal/submodule/git`):
-`submarine [dir]`. `submarine --mock` shows the built-in mock data
-(`internal/submodule/mock`). Actions (`u`, `b`, `f`, `/`, `!`) only show a
-"not implemented" message.
+through a git provider (`internal/submodule/git`): `submarine [dir]`. It
+fetches in the background on startup (`--no-fetch` to skip; `f` to fetch
+again) and follows changes made in other shells. `submarine --mock` shows
+the built-in mock data (`internal/submodule/mock`). The actions `u`, `b`,
+`/`, `!` only show a "not implemented" message.
 
 Next steps, roughly in order:
 
-1. Actions: fetch, checkout pin (`submodule update`), bump pin to tip, init.
+1. Actions: checkout pin (`submodule update`), bump pin to tip, init.
 2. Filter (`/`) and "problems only" (`!`) views.
-3. Refresh after actions and on demand.
diff --git a/docs/architecture.md b/docs/architecture.md
index 6a88334..7f661eb 100644
--- a/docs/architecture.md
+++ b/docs/architecture.md
@@ -13,15 +13,19 @@ internal/submodule/           domain model; NO UI imports
   model.go                    Repo, Submodule, Status, PinInfo, Commit, enums
   status.go                   Issues(), HiddenIssues(), Walk()
   provider.go                 Provider interface
-internal/submodule/git/       read-only provider using the git CLI
+internal/submodule/git/       provider using the git CLI (reads, fetch, watch)
   exec.go                     git runner (environment, errors)
   parse.go                    pure parsers for git output (status, numstat, …)
   provider.go                 Tree, Status, pin → ref resolution
+  fetch.go                    Fetch (network), Fetchable
+  watch.go                    Watch: polls git metadata for changes
+  gitdir.go                   resolves .git dirs and gitdir: files
 internal/submodule/mock/      fixture provider with artificial latency
 internal/tui/                 Bubble Tea application
   app.go                      root model: layout, message routing, loading
   keys.go                     key bindings (also feed the help view)
-  msgs.go                     treeLoadedMsg, statusLoadedMsg
+  msgs.go                     tree/status/fetch/change messages
+  refresh.go                  reloader: one load per key, coalesced reruns
   theme/                      colors, glyphs, issue words, change letters, level styles
   tree/                       tree component: rows, navigation, mouse, view
   detail/                     detail pane; changes.go: change preview
@@ -47,6 +51,18 @@ type Provider interface {
 }
 ```
 
+Optional capabilities; the app type-asserts them:
+
+```go
+type Fetcher interface {
+    Fetchable(path string) bool                // initialized? ("" = superproject)
+    Fetch(ctx context.Context, path string) error
+}
+type Watcher interface {
+    Watch(ctx context.Context) <-chan Change   // {Path, Local, Structure}
+}
+```
+
 - `Tree` returns the superproject and all submodules with `Parent` and
   `Children` linked. `Status` fields are nil.
 - `Status` is called once per submodule, concurrently. It must be safe to
@@ -61,7 +77,7 @@ The mock provider (`internal/submodule/mock`) covers every state and sleeps
 `internal/submodule/git` shells out to `git -C <dir> …` (see D14).
 
 - Environment: `GIT_TERMINAL_PROMPT=0`, `GIT_OPTIONAL_LOCKS=0` (reads never
-  take `index.lock`), `LC_ALL=C`. No command touches the network.
+  take `index.lock`), `LC_ALL=C`. Only `Fetch` uses the network.
 - `Tree` reads each repository's `.gitmodules` (`git config -f
   .gitmodules`) and recurses into initialized submodules. It records, per
   path, the parent repository and the `.gitmodules` branch for `Status`.
@@ -72,6 +88,22 @@ The mock provider (`internal/submodule/mock`) covers every state and sleeps
   respect `ctx` (D16).
 - Superproject: branch from `symbolic-ref`, ahead/behind against
   `@{upstream}`, "fetched" from the mtime of `FETCH_HEAD`.
+- `Fetch`: `git fetch --all --prune --no-recurse-submodules --quiet` (we
+  fetch every submodule ourselves), at most 8 at once, 2 min timeout each.
+  To never prompt, `GIT_SSH_COMMAND="ssh -o BatchMode=yes"` is set unless
+  the user configured `GIT_SSH_COMMAND` or `core.sshCommand`. The error is
+  git's first line of output.
+- `Watch` polls every 2 s (`WatchInterval`) and compares a fingerprint per
+  repository: names, mtimes and sizes of the git metadata files (D19).
+  - remote part: `FETCH_HEAD`, `refs/remotes/**`, `refs/tags/**`
+  - local part: `HEAD`, `index`, `MERGE_HEAD`, `packed-refs`,
+    `refs/heads/**`, `reftable/**`
+  - structure: the worktree `.gitmodules`, and whether `.git` exists
+
+  Git dirs are resolved from `.git` (directory, or `gitdir:` file for
+  submodules, plus `commondir` for worktrees) without running git. Our own
+  reads write nothing (`GIT_OPTIONAL_LOCKS=0`), so they never trigger a
+  change. Worktree file edits are not watched (`r` reloads).
 
 ## Loading flow
 
@@ -80,7 +112,38 @@ The mock provider (`internal/submodule/mock`) covers every state and sleeps
    calling `Status()` → `statusLoadedMsg`.
 3. Each result is stored on the submodule (`Status` or `Err`); the view
    updates incrementally, including parents' hidden-issue counts.
-4. The spinner stops ticking when nothing is loading.
+4. After the first tree: the watcher starts (`changeMsg`), and the
+   background fetch starts one `tea.Cmd` per fetchable repository
+   (`fetchDoneMsg`).
+5. The spinner ticks only while something loads or fetches.
+
+### Fetch and refresh are decoupled (D20)
+
+```
+Fetch (network) ──writes refs──▶ .git/…  ◀──writes refs── user's shell
+                                   │
+                          Watch (polls every 2 s)
+                                   │ Change{Path, Local, Structure}
+                                   ▼
+                          app reloads Status / Tree
+```
+
+- `fetchDoneMsg` only updates the progress and `Submodule.FetchErr`; it
+  never reloads anything. The watcher sees the new refs and triggers the
+  reload, exactly as for a fetch made in another shell.
+- `changeMsg`:
+  - submodule, remote only → reload its `Status`
+  - submodule, local → reload it and its direct children (their pins live
+    in its index)
+  - superproject, or `.gitmodules` anywhere → reload the tree; if local,
+    also every status
+- A reloaded tree carries the old `Status`, `Err` and `FetchErr` over by
+  path, and `tree.ReplaceRoots` keeps expansion and the cursor, so a reload
+  doesn't flash spinners or move the selection.
+- The `reloader` runs at most one load per key (a submodule path, or the
+  tree). A request during a load marks it dirty; it runs once more
+  afterwards. Results therefore never arrive out of order and bursts of
+  changes (a fetch writing many refs) coalesce.
 
 ## Tree component
 
@@ -114,7 +177,10 @@ go test ./...
 - `internal/submodule`: issue classification and hidden-issue aggregation.
 - `internal/submodule/git`: parser unit tests, and integration tests
   against a fixture repository built by `scripts/make-fixture.sh` (skipped
-  if `git` is not installed).
+  if `git` is not installed). Fetch and watch tests build their own
+  fixture, since they change it; the fixture's remotes are local bare
+  repositories, so fetching works offline.
+- `internal/tui`: `reloader`.
 - `internal/tui/tree`: navigation rules. Tests need `zone.NewGlobal()` (see
   `TestMain`).
 
diff --git a/docs/decisions.md b/docs/decisions.md
index ce9746e..9a19b8a 100644
--- a/docs/decisions.md
+++ b/docs/decisions.md
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ artificial latency.
 **Consequences.** A git backend can be added without UI changes; the UI
 stays responsive with many submodules.
 
-## D12 — No network on startup
+## D12 — No network on startup (superseded by D18)
 
 **Decision.** Work from local refs and show their age; fetching is an
 explicit action (`f`).
@@ -146,3 +146,40 @@ Dirt inside nested submodules is ignored (D7); unstaged moves show as
 removed + untracked.
 **Consequences.** One extra `git diff` per dirty submodule, none for clean
 ones. Not included: staged/unstaged markers, diff bodies, stash count.
+
+## D18 — Background fetch on startup
+
+**Context.** Without fetching, every answer is only as fresh as the user's
+last `git fetch`, which they rarely run in every submodule.
+**Decision.** Supersedes D12. Show the local state at once, then fetch the
+superproject and every initialized submodule in the background (all
+remotes, prune, no recursion: we fetch each repository ourselves, at most 8
+at once). Fetches never prompt; they fail with git's message instead.
+`--no-fetch` disables it, `f` repeats it.
+**Consequences.** Startup still doesn't wait for the network (N1). A
+failed fetch is shown per submodule and counted in the header; it is not an
+issue (D3).
+
+## D19 — Watch git metadata by polling
+
+**Context.** The view should follow changes made outside the application.
+File system events (fsnotify) need a dependency, one watch per directory
+(hundreds of repositories × ref directories hit inotify limits) and don't
+work on WSL's Windows drives or network file systems.
+**Decision.** Poll every 2 s: compare names, mtimes and sizes of each
+repository's git metadata (`FETCH_HEAD`, refs, `HEAD`, `index`, …),
+split into a remote, a local and a structure part.
+**Consequences.** Works everywhere, no dependency; a few `stat`s per
+repository per poll; changes appear within about 2 s. Edits of worktree
+files are not detected (that would mean running `git status` everywhere
+every poll); `r` reloads on demand.
+
+## D20 — Refresh is driven by the repositories, not by our fetch
+
+**Decision.** A finished fetch only updates its progress. Reloading is
+triggered solely by the watcher, so our own fetch and a fetch in another
+shell take the same path. Reloads keep the old state visible, run at most
+once per submodule at a time and coalesce bursts.
+**Consequences.** One mechanism to test and trust. After our fetch the
+data updates up to one poll interval later; the header shows "fetched just
+now" right away.
diff --git a/docs/requirements.md b/docs/requirements.md
index d0b0d0f..c5c1a74 100644
--- a/docs/requirements.md
+++ b/docs/requirements.md
@@ -85,13 +85,28 @@ commit hashes. It doesn't answer the questions users actually have:
 - **F41** Mouse: click a row to select it, click `▸`/`▾` to toggle, scroll
   wheel moves the selection.
 
+### Fetch and refresh
+
+- **F50** On startup, after the local state is shown, the superproject and
+  every initialized submodule are fetched in the background (all remotes,
+  with prune). `--no-fetch` turns this off.
+- **F51** While fetching, the header shows progress (`fetching 12/174`)
+  instead of the fetch age; afterwards the age and the number of failed
+  fetches. The detail pane shows each submodule's last fetch and, if it
+  failed, git's message.
+- **F52** The view follows changes in the repositories, no matter who made
+  them: a fetch, commit, checkout or `git add` in another shell shows up
+  within about two seconds. Refreshing is driven by the repositories, not by
+  the application's own fetch.
+- **F53** `f` fetches again; `r` reloads everything (e.g. after editing
+  files, which is not watched).
+
 ### Actions (planned, not implemented)
 
 | Key | Action |
 |---|---|
 | `u` | Check out the pinned commit (`git submodule update`) |
 | `b` | Bump the pin to the tip of its ref |
-| `f` | Fetch remotes |
 | `/` | Filter by name/path |
 | `!` | Show only submodules with issues |
 
@@ -100,12 +115,13 @@ commit hashes. It doesn't answer the questions users actually have:
 ```sh
 submarine [dir]     # the repository containing dir (default: current directory)
 submarine --mock    # built-in mock data
+submarine --no-fetch [dir]   # no background fetch on startup
 ```
 
 ## Non-functional requirements
 
-- **N1** Startup must not block on the network. The tool works from local
-  refs and shows how old they are ("fetched 2m ago"); fetching is explicit.
+- **N1** Startup must not block on the network. The tool shows the local
+  state at once and fetches in the background (F50).
 - **N2** Loading many submodules must not freeze the UI (async, per
   submodule).
 - **N3** Colors follow the user's terminal theme (ANSI 16 colors); the UI
@@ -116,5 +132,7 @@ submarine --mock    # built-in mock data
 - **N6** Works in narrow terminals (detail pane hides below 90 columns).
 - **N7** The UI is independent of the data source: the mock and the git
   provider are interchangeable without UI changes.
-- **N8** The git provider is read-only and never uses the network; it uses
-  the `git` command line, so the user's git configuration applies.
+- **N8** The git provider only uses the network in `Fetch`, and never
+  prompts (no password, passphrase or host-key questions; those fetches
+  fail with git's message). It uses the `git` command line, so the user's
+  git configuration applies. Apart from fetching, it is read-only.
diff --git a/docs/state-model.md b/docs/state-model.md
index c72c288..47d62fa 100644
--- a/docs/state-model.md
+++ b/docs/state-model.md
@@ -33,6 +33,11 @@ in several at once.
 | `Pinned`, `CheckedOut`, `Tip` | Commits (SHA, subject, author, time) |
 | `Between` | Commits that make up the pin ↔ tip difference |
 | `Changes` | Changed files of the worktree (nil if clean), see below |
+| `FetchedAt` | Last fetch of the submodule (`FETCH_HEAD` mtime); zero if never |
+
+`Submodule.FetchErr` is set if the application's last fetch of the
+submodule failed. Like loading errors, it is not an issue kind: a failed
+fetch says nothing about the submodule's state.
 
 `Status == nil` means "still loading". `Submodule.Err` is set if loading
 failed.
diff --git a/docs/ux-guide.md b/docs/ux-guide.md
index 1c98197..a6448b4 100644
--- a/docs/ux-guide.md
+++ b/docs/ux-guide.md
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@ indent ▸ name [n]   status          ref             delta
    `detached HEAD on pin` as information
 3. `Changes` (only with uncommitted changes), see
    [Change preview](#change-preview)
-4. `Ref` with distance and `via <rule>`
+4. `Ref` with distance and `via <rule>`; `Fetched <age>` of the submodule;
+   `fetch  failed: <git's message>` (yellow word) if the last fetch failed
 5. `Pinned`, `Checkout`, `Tip`: SHA + subject; the checkout SHA is yellow if it
    differs from the pin
 6. "Pin is n commits behind/ahead of …" / "Pin and … have diverged": commit list
@@ -115,12 +116,23 @@ Changes   5 files · 2M 1A 1D 1R · +37 −12
 - Untracked directories are shown as one entry (`tmp/`).
 ### Header
 
-`path  branch ↑↓ · n submodules · <count> <issue>… · n pin staged · n loading · fetched <age>`
+`path  branch ↑↓ · n submodules · <count> <issue>… · n pin staged · n loading · <fetch>`
 
 Issue counts are ordered by severity (unpushed, conflict, missing, off pin,
-changed), each in its level color. Zero counts are omitted. `<age>` is
-`never` if the superproject has never been fetched; a detached superproject
-shows `(detached)` as its branch.
+changed), each in its level color. Zero counts are omitted. A detached
+superproject shows `(detached)` as its branch.
+
+`<fetch>` on the right:
+
+| State | Shows |
+|---|---|
+| fetching | spinner + `fetching 12/174` (repositories done / total) |
+| done | `fetched just now`, then the age (`fetched 5m ago`) |
+| some failed | `fetched just now · 3 failed` (count in yellow) |
+| never fetched | `fetched never` |
+
+The age is the newer of the superproject's `FETCH_HEAD` and the end of the
+application's own fetch.
 
 ## Colors
 
@@ -171,7 +183,9 @@ colors in components.
 | `pgup`, `pgdn` | Move by one screen |
 | `?` | Toggle full help |
 | `q`, `ctrl+c` | Quit |
-| `u`, `b`, `f`, `/`, `!` | Planned actions (see requirements) |
+| `f` | Fetch all repositories (does nothing while a fetch runs) |
+| `r` | Reload everything (e.g. after editing files) |
+| `u`, `b`, `/`, `!` | Planned actions (see requirements) |
 
 "First child" always means the first child **as displayed** (children are
 grouped by directory).
diff --git a/internal/submodule/git/exec.go b/internal/submodule/git/exec.go
index ac33a27..a9b7cdf 100644
--- a/internal/submodule/git/exec.go
+++ b/internal/submodule/git/exec.go
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"errors"
-	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 )
 
@@ -18,22 +18,40 @@ var gitEnv = append(os.Environ(),
 	"LC_ALL=C",
 )
 
+// gitError is a failed git command; Stderr is git's message.
+type gitError struct {
+	Args   []string
+	Stderr string
+	Err    error
+}
+
+func (e *gitError) Error() string {
+	msg := e.Stderr
+	if msg == "" {
+		msg = e.Err.Error()
+	}
+	return "git " + strings.Join(e.Args, " ") + ": " + msg
+}
+
+func (e *gitError) Unwrap() error { return e.Err }
+
 // run executes git in dir and returns stdout with the trailing newline
 // removed. The error includes git's stderr.
 func run(ctx context.Context, dir string, args ...string) (string, error) {
+	return runEnv(ctx, dir, nil, args...)
+}
+
+// runEnv is run with additional environment variables.
+func runEnv(ctx context.Context, dir string, env []string, args ...string) (string, error) {
 	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "git", append([]string{"-C", dir}, args...)...)
-	cmd.Env = gitEnv
+	cmd.Env = slices.Concat(gitEnv, env) // a fresh slice: run is called concurrently
 	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
 	cmd.Stdout, cmd.Stderr = &stdout, &stderr
 	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
 		if ctx.Err() != nil {
 			return "", ctx.Err()
 		}
-		msg := strings.TrimSpace(stderr.String())
-		if msg == "" {
-			msg = err.Error()
-		}
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("git %s: %s", strings.Join(args, " "), msg)
+		return "", &gitError{Args: args, Stderr: strings.TrimSpace(stderr.String()), Err: err}
 	}
 	return strings.TrimRight(stdout.String(), "\n"), nil
 }
diff --git a/internal/submodule/git/fetch.go b/internal/submodule/git/fetch.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..29b31c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/submodule/git/fetch.go
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+package git
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// fetchTimeout bounds a single fetch, e.g. against an unreachable host.
+const fetchTimeout = 2 * time.Minute
+
+// maxFetches bounds concurrent fetches; they wait on the network, not the
+// CPU.
+const maxFetches = 8
+
+// sshBatchEnv makes ssh fail instead of asking for a password or host key,
+// which would corrupt the terminal UI. It is nil if the user configured
+// their own ssh command.
+func sshBatchEnv(root string) []string {
+	if os.Getenv("GIT_SSH_COMMAND") != "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if out, ok, _ := try(context.Background(), root, "config", "core.sshCommand"); ok && out != "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return []string{"GIT_SSH_COMMAND=ssh -o BatchMode=yes"}
+}
+
+// Fetchable reports whether path ("" is the superproject) is a checked-out
+// repository.
+func (p *Provider) Fetchable(path string) bool {
+	_, ok := p.repoDir(path)
+	return ok
+}
+
+// repoDir returns the worktree of path if it is initialized.
+func (p *Provider) repoDir(path string) (string, bool) {
+	if path == "" {
+		return p.root, true
+	}
+	p.mu.RLock()
+	in, ok := p.mods[path]
+	p.mu.RUnlock()
+	if !ok || !initialized(in.dir) {
+		return "", false
+	}
+	return in.dir, true
+}
+
+// Fetch fetches all remotes of one repository. Submodules are fetched
+// separately, not recursively. The error is git's first line of output.
+func (p *Provider) Fetch(ctx context.Context, path string) error {
+	dir, ok := p.repoDir(path)
+	if !ok {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s is not initialized", path)
+	}
+	select {
+	case p.fetchSem <- struct{}{}:
+		defer func() { <-p.fetchSem }()
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		return ctx.Err()
+	}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, fetchTimeout)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	_, err := runEnv(ctx, dir, p.sshEnv, "fetch", "--all", "--prune", "--no-recurse-submodules", "--quiet")
+	var ge *gitError
+	switch {
+	case errors.Is(err, context.DeadlineExceeded):
+		return fmt.Errorf("timed out after %s", fetchTimeout)
+	case errors.As(err, &ge) && ge.Stderr != "":
+		line, _, _ := strings.Cut(ge.Stderr, "\n")
+		return errors.New(strings.TrimPrefix(line, "fatal: "))
+	}
+	return err
+}
diff --git a/internal/submodule/git/fetch_test.go b/internal/submodule/git/fetch_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..633c42d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/submodule/git/fetch_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+package git
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"submarine/internal/submodule"
+)
+
+// ownFixture builds a fixture the test may modify. It returns the provider
+// (after Tree) and the fixture root (superproject in root/super, work
+// clones of the remotes in root/work).
+func ownFixture(t *testing.T) (*Provider, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if _, err := exec.LookPath("git"); err != nil {
+		t.Skip("git not available")
+	}
+	root := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "fx")
+	if err := makeFixture(root); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	p, err := New(filepath.Join(root, "super"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := p.Tree(context.Background()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return p, root
+}
+
+func git(t *testing.T, dir string, args ...string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	args = append([]string{"-C", dir, "-c", "user.name=t", "-c", "user.email=t@t"}, args...)
+	if out, err := exec.Command("git", args...).CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("git %v: %v\n%s", args, err, out)
+	}
+}
+
+// pushUpstream adds a commit to a fixture remote, as if someone else pushed.
+func pushUpstream(t *testing.T, root, remote string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	work := filepath.Join(root, "work", remote)
+	git(t, work, "fetch", "-q")
+	git(t, work, "reset", "-q", "--hard", "origin/main")
+	git(t, work, "commit", "--allow-empty", "-m", "Upstream change")
+	git(t, work, "push", "-q", "origin", "main")
+}
+
+func TestFetch(t *testing.T) {
+	p, root := ownFixture(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	before, err := p.Status(ctx, "src/core")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	pushUpstream(t, root, "core")
+	if err := p.Fetch(ctx, "src/core"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Fetch: %v", err)
+	}
+	after, err := p.Status(ctx, "src/core")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if after.Pin.Behind <= before.Pin.Behind {
+		t.Errorf("after fetch: ↓%d, want more than ↓%d", after.Pin.Behind, before.Pin.Behind)
+	}
+	if after.FetchedAt.IsZero() {
+		t.Error("after fetch: FetchedAt is zero")
+	}
+
+	if err := p.Fetch(ctx, ""); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Fetch(superproject without remotes): %v", err)
+	}
+	if p.Fetchable("libs/missing") {
+		t.Error("Fetchable(libs/missing) = true for an uninitialized submodule")
+	}
+	if err := p.Fetch(ctx, "libs/missing"); err == nil {
+		t.Error("Fetch(libs/missing): want error")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFetchError(t *testing.T) {
+	p, root := ownFixture(t)
+	git(t, filepath.Join(root, "super", "src", "ui"), "remote", "set-url", "origin", filepath.Join(root, "nowhere.git"))
+
+	err := p.Fetch(context.Background(), "src/ui")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Fetch with a bad remote: want error")
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "\n") || strings.HasPrefix(err.Error(), "git ") {
+		t.Errorf("error should be git's first line only, got %q", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// next waits for a change or fails after timeout.
+func next(t *testing.T, ch <-chan submodule.Change) submodule.Change {
+	t.Helper()
+	select {
+	case c := <-ch:
+		return c
+	case <-time.After(3 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("no change reported")
+		return submodule.Change{}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestWatch(t *testing.T) {
+	p, root := ownFixture(t)
+	super := filepath.Join(root, "super")
+	p.WatchInterval = 20 * time.Millisecond
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+	ch := p.Watch(ctx)
+
+	// our own reads must not look like changes
+	for _, path := range []string{"src/core", "libs/work", "libs/conflict"} {
+		if _, err := p.Status(ctx, path); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	select {
+	case c := <-ch:
+		t.Fatalf("change while idle: %+v", c)
+	case <-time.After(200 * time.Millisecond):
+	}
+
+	// a fetch in another shell
+	pushUpstream(t, root, "net")
+	git(t, filepath.Join(super, "src", "net"), "fetch", "-q")
+	if c := next(t, ch); c != (submodule.Change{Path: "src/net"}) {
+		t.Errorf("after fetch: %+v, want remote change of src/net", c)
+	}
+
+	// a commit in another shell
+	git(t, filepath.Join(super, "libs", "store"), "commit", "-q", "--allow-empty", "-m", "Local")
+	if c := next(t, ch); c != (submodule.Change{Path: "libs/store", Local: true}) {
+		t.Errorf("after commit: %+v, want local change of libs/store", c)
+	}
+
+	cancel()
+	for range ch { // closed after cancel
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGitDirs(t *testing.T) {
+	p, _ := loadFixture(t)
+	gd, cd, err := gitDirs(p.root)
+	if err != nil || gd != filepath.Join(p.root, ".git") || cd != gd {
+		t.Errorf("superproject: %q, %q, %v", gd, cd, err)
+	}
+	gd, cd, err = gitDirs(filepath.Join(p.root, "src", "core"))
+	if err != nil || gd != filepath.Join(p.root, ".git", "modules", "src", "core") || cd != gd {
+		t.Errorf("submodule: %q, %q, %v", gd, cd, err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/submodule/git/gitdir.go b/internal/submodule/git/gitdir.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b8849c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/submodule/git/gitdir.go
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+package git
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// gitDirs returns the git directory of the worktree at dir and its common
+// directory (they differ only for linked worktrees). A submodule's .git is
+// a file "gitdir: <path>".
+func gitDirs(dir string) (gitDir, commonDir string, err error) {
+	dotGit := filepath.Join(dir, ".git")
+	fi, err := os.Stat(dotGit)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", err
+	}
+	gitDir = dotGit
+	if !fi.IsDir() {
+		b, err := os.ReadFile(dotGit)
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", "", err
+		}
+		p, ok := strings.CutPrefix(strings.TrimSpace(string(b)), "gitdir:")
+		if !ok {
+			return "", "", errors.New(dotGit + ": not a gitdir file")
+		}
+		gitDir = joinPath(dir, strings.TrimSpace(p))
+	}
+	commonDir = gitDir
+	if b, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(gitDir, "commondir")); err == nil {
+		commonDir = joinPath(gitDir, strings.TrimSpace(string(b)))
+	}
+	return gitDir, commonDir, nil
+}
+
+func joinPath(base, p string) string {
+	if !filepath.IsAbs(p) {
+		p = filepath.Join(base, p)
+	}
+	return filepath.Clean(p)
+}
diff --git a/internal/submodule/git/provider.go b/internal/submodule/git/provider.go
index e487973..3d59601 100644
--- a/internal/submodule/git/provider.go
+++ b/internal/submodule/git/provider.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"slices"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"time"
 
 	"submarine/internal/submodule"
 )
@@ -27,8 +28,13 @@ const maxBetween = 50
 
 // Provider reads a superproject and its submodules with git.
 type Provider struct {
-	root string        // absolute superproject root
-	sem  chan struct{} // bounds concurrent Status calls
+	root     string        // absolute superproject root
+	sem      chan struct{} // bounds concurrent Status calls
+	fetchSem chan struct{} // bounds concurrent fetches
+	sshEnv   []string      // extra environment for fetches
+
+	// WatchInterval is how often Watch checks for changes.
+	WatchInterval time.Duration
 
 	mu   sync.RWMutex
 	mods map[string]info // by Submodule.Path; filled by Tree
@@ -49,8 +55,11 @@ func New(dir string) (*Provider, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s is not a git repository", dir)
 	}
 	return &Provider{
-		root: root,
-		sem:  make(chan struct{}, runtime.NumCPU()),
+		root:          root,
+		sem:           make(chan struct{}, runtime.NumCPU()),
+		fetchSem:      make(chan struct{}, maxFetches),
+		sshEnv:        sshBatchEnv(root),
+		WatchInterval: 2 * time.Second,
 	}, nil
 }
 
@@ -168,6 +177,12 @@ func status(ctx context.Context, in info) (*submodule.Status, error) {
 		return st, nil
 	}
 
+	if gitDir, _, err := gitDirs(in.dir); err == nil {
+		if fi, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(gitDir, "FETCH_HEAD")); err == nil {
+			st.FetchedAt = fi.ModTime()
+		}
+	}
+
 	// checkout and worktree
 	head, err := run(ctx, in.dir, "rev-parse", "HEAD")
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/submodule/git/provider_test.go b/internal/submodule/git/provider_test.go
index 003d1fd..340dec2 100644
--- a/internal/submodule/git/provider_test.go
+++ b/internal/submodule/git/provider_test.go
@@ -27,11 +27,8 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 		}
 		defer os.RemoveAll(tmp)
 		if _, err := exec.LookPath("git"); err == nil {
-			_, file, _, _ := runtime.Caller(0)
-			script := filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(file), "..", "..", "..", "scripts", "make-fixture.sh")
-			out, err := exec.Command("bash", script, filepath.Join(tmp, "fx")).CombinedOutput()
-			if err != nil {
-				panic("make-fixture.sh: " + err.Error() + "\n" + string(out))
+			if err := makeFixture(filepath.Join(tmp, "fx")); err != nil {
+				panic(err)
 			}
 			fixtureDir = filepath.Join(tmp, "fx", "super")
 		}
@@ -40,6 +37,16 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 	os.Exit(code)
 }
 
+// makeFixture runs scripts/make-fixture.sh; the superproject is dir/super.
+func makeFixture(dir string) error {
+	_, file, _, _ := runtime.Caller(0)
+	script := filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(file), "..", "..", "..", "scripts", "make-fixture.sh")
+	if out, err := exec.Command("bash", script, dir).CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("make-fixture.sh: %v\n%s", err, out)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func loadFixture(t *testing.T) (*Provider, *submodule.Repo) {
 	t.Helper()
 	if fixtureDir == "" {
diff --git a/internal/submodule/git/watch.go b/internal/submodule/git/watch.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6a3bd95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/submodule/git/watch.go
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+package git
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"submarine/internal/submodule"
+)
+
+// fingerprint summarizes the git metadata of one repository. Each part is
+// a list of file names with modification time and size; a change in a part
+// means something in that area changed.
+type fingerprint struct {
+	remote    string // FETCH_HEAD, remote-tracking branches, tags
+	local     string // HEAD, index, local branches, packed refs, merge state
+	structure string // .gitmodules and whether the repository is checked out
+}
+
+// Watch polls the git metadata of the superproject and all submodules every
+// WatchInterval and reports the repositories that changed. Polling (instead
+// of file system events) works on every file system, including WSL's
+// Windows drives, and needs no watch handles.
+func (p *Provider) Watch(ctx context.Context) <-chan submodule.Change {
+	ch := make(chan submodule.Change, 16)
+	go func() {
+		defer close(ch)
+		prev := p.fingerprints()
+		t := time.NewTicker(p.WatchInterval)
+		defer t.Stop()
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-ctx.Done():
+				return
+			case <-t.C:
+			}
+			cur := p.fingerprints()
+			for path, f := range cur {
+				old, ok := prev[path]
+				if !ok || old == f {
+					continue // new repositories only get a baseline
+				}
+				c := submodule.Change{
+					Path:      path,
+					Local:     old.local != f.local || old.structure != f.structure,
+					Structure: old.structure != f.structure,
+				}
+				select {
+				case ch <- c:
+				case <-ctx.Done():
+					return
+				}
+			}
+			prev = cur
+		}
+	}()
+	return ch
+}
+
+// fingerprints returns the fingerprint of every known repository, keyed by
+// submodule path ("" is the superproject).
+func (p *Provider) fingerprints() map[string]fingerprint {
+	dirs := map[string]string{"": p.root}
+	p.mu.RLock()
+	for path, in := range p.mods {
+		dirs[path] = in.dir
+	}
+	p.mu.RUnlock()
+
+	fps := make(map[string]fingerprint, len(dirs))
+	for path, dir := range dirs {
+		fps[path] = fingerprintOf(dir)
+	}
+	return fps
+}
+
+func fingerprintOf(dir string) fingerprint {
+	var f fingerprint
+	var structure strings.Builder
+	stamp(&structure, filepath.Join(dir, ".gitmodules"))
+	gitDir, common, err := gitDirs(dir)
+	if err != nil {
+		f.structure = structure.String() + "not checked out"
+		return f
+	}
+	f.structure = structure.String()
+
+	var remote, local strings.Builder
+	stamp(&remote, filepath.Join(gitDir, "FETCH_HEAD"))
+	stampTree(&remote, filepath.Join(common, "refs", "remotes"))
+	stampTree(&remote, filepath.Join(common, "refs", "tags"))
+
+	for _, name := range []string{"HEAD", "index", "MERGE_HEAD"} {
+		stamp(&local, filepath.Join(gitDir, name))
+	}
+	stamp(&local, filepath.Join(common, "packed-refs"))
+	stampTree(&local, filepath.Join(common, "refs", "heads"))
+	stampTree(&local, filepath.Join(common, "reftable")) // reftable ref storage
+	f.remote, f.local = remote.String(), local.String()
+	return f
+}
+
+// stamp appends the name, modification time and size of a file; nothing if
+// it doesn't exist.
+func stamp(b *strings.Builder, name string) {
+	if fi, err := os.Stat(name); err == nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(b, "%s %d %d\n", name, fi.ModTime().UnixNano(), fi.Size())
+	}
+}
+
+// stampTree stamps every file below dir.
+func stampTree(b *strings.Builder, dir string) {
+	filepath.WalkDir(dir, func(name string, d fs.DirEntry, err error) error {
+		if err == nil && !d.IsDir() {
+			stamp(b, name)
+		}
+		return nil
+	})
+}
diff --git a/internal/submodule/mock/mock.go b/internal/submodule/mock/mock.go
index a6e1db3..afd8178 100644
--- a/internal/submodule/mock/mock.go
+++ b/internal/submodule/mock/mock.go
@@ -4,9 +4,11 @@ package mock
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"math/rand/v2"
 	"path"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"submarine/internal/submodule"
@@ -15,7 +17,9 @@ import (
 // Provider serves a fixed fixture tree.
 type Provider struct {
 	MinDelay, MaxDelay time.Duration
-	statuses           map[string]*submodule.Status
+
+	mu       sync.RWMutex // Tree can run again (reload) while Status runs
+	statuses map[string]*submodule.Status
 }
 
 func New() *Provider {
@@ -32,6 +36,8 @@ type node struct {
 }
 
 func (p *Provider) Tree(ctx context.Context) (*submodule.Repo, error) {
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	defer p.mu.Unlock()
 	p.statuses = map[string]*submodule.Status{}
 	repo := &submodule.Repo{
 		Path:      "~/coding/my_project",
@@ -57,6 +63,9 @@ func (p *Provider) build(nodes []node, parent *submodule.Submodule) []*submodule
 			Parent:  parent,
 		}
 		m.Children = p.build(n.children, m)
+		if n.status.Presence == submodule.PresenceOK && n.status.FetchedAt.IsZero() {
+			n.status.FetchedAt = now.Add(-2 * time.Minute)
+		}
 		p.statuses[full] = n.status
 		out = append(out, m)
 	}
@@ -64,22 +73,54 @@ func (p *Provider) build(nodes []node, parent *submodule.Submodule) []*submodule
 }
 
 func (p *Provider) Status(ctx context.Context, path string) (*submodule.Status, error) {
-	delay := p.MinDelay
-	if span := p.MaxDelay - p.MinDelay; span > 0 {
-		delay += rand.N(span)
-	}
-	select {
-	case <-time.After(delay):
-	case <-ctx.Done():
-		return nil, ctx.Err()
+	if err := p.sleep(ctx, p.MinDelay, p.MaxDelay); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
+	p.mu.RLock()
 	s, ok := p.statuses[path]
+	p.mu.RUnlock()
 	if !ok {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unknown submodule %q", path)
 	}
 	return s, nil
 }
 
+// Fetchable is true for the superproject and initialized submodules.
+func (p *Provider) Fetchable(path string) bool {
+	if path == "" {
+		return true
+	}
+	p.mu.RLock()
+	defer p.mu.RUnlock()
+	s, ok := p.statuses[path]
+	return ok && s.Presence == submodule.PresenceOK
+}
+
+// Fetch pretends to fetch; one submodule always fails. It changes no data.
+func (p *Provider) Fetch(ctx context.Context, path string) error {
+	if err := p.sleep(ctx, 300*time.Millisecond, 2*time.Second); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if path == "src/my_submodule_3" {
+		return errors.New("git@github.com: Permission denied (publickey).")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// sleep waits a random duration in [min, max) or until ctx is done.
+func (p *Provider) sleep(ctx context.Context, min, max time.Duration) error {
+	d := min
+	if span := max - min; span > 0 {
+		d += rand.N(span)
+	}
+	select {
+	case <-time.After(d):
+		return nil
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		return ctx.Err()
+	}
+}
+
 // --- fixture -----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 var now = time.Now()
diff --git a/internal/submodule/model.go b/internal/submodule/model.go
index 6508567..b658c90 100644
--- a/internal/submodule/model.go
+++ b/internal/submodule/model.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ type Submodule struct {
 	Children []*Submodule
 	Status   *Status // nil while loading
 	Err      error   // set if loading the status failed
+	FetchErr error   // set if the last fetch failed; not an issue
 }
 
 // Presence describes whether the submodule exists on disk.
@@ -177,6 +178,7 @@ type Status struct {
 	Pinned     *Commit
 	CheckedOut *Commit
 	Tip        *Commit
-	Between    []Commit // commits that make up the pin <-> tip difference
-	Changes    *Changes // nil if the worktree is clean or the details are unknown
+	Between    []Commit  // commits that make up the pin <-> tip difference
+	Changes    *Changes  // nil if the worktree is clean or the details are unknown
+	FetchedAt  time.Time // last fetch of the submodule; zero if never
 }
diff --git a/internal/submodule/provider.go b/internal/submodule/provider.go
index 0496149..988f1c9 100644
--- a/internal/submodule/provider.go
+++ b/internal/submodule/provider.go
@@ -8,3 +8,27 @@ type Provider interface {
 	Tree(ctx context.Context) (*Repo, error)
 	Status(ctx context.Context, path string) (*Status, error)
 }
+
+// Fetcher is implemented by providers that can download remote refs. Path
+// "" is the superproject. Fetch must be safe to call concurrently and must
+// never prompt the user.
+type Fetcher interface {
+	// Fetchable reports whether path is a repository that can be fetched
+	// (e.g. not an uninitialized submodule).
+	Fetchable(path string) bool
+	Fetch(ctx context.Context, path string) error
+}
+
+// Watcher is implemented by providers that notice changes made outside the
+// application, e.g. a fetch or commit in another shell. The channel is
+// closed when ctx is done.
+type Watcher interface {
+	Watch(ctx context.Context) <-chan Change
+}
+
+// Change reports that the git metadata of a repository changed.
+type Change struct {
+	Path      string // "" is the superproject
+	Local     bool   // HEAD, index or local branches changed, not only remote refs
+	Structure bool   // .gitmodules changed: submodules may have been added or removed
+}
diff --git a/internal/tui/app.go b/internal/tui/app.go
index 473631d..77be594 100644
--- a/internal/tui/app.go
+++ b/internal/tui/app.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ package tui
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/key"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/spinner"
@@ -26,16 +27,29 @@ const (
 	detailWidthRatio = 0.4
 )
 
+// Options configure the application.
+type Options struct {
+	Fetch bool // fetch all repositories in the background on startup
+}
+
 type Model struct {
 	ctx      context.Context
 	provider submodule.Provider
+	fetcher  submodule.Fetcher // nil if the provider can't fetch
+	watcher  submodule.Watcher // nil if the provider can't watch
+	opts     Options
 	theme    theme.Theme
 	keys     keyMap
 
-	repo    *submodule.Repo
-	byPath  map[string]*submodule.Submodule
-	loading int
-	err     error
+	repo   *submodule.Repo
+	byPath map[string]*submodule.Submodule
+	err    error
+
+	loads          reloader
+	reloadStatuses bool // the running or pending tree load also reloads every status
+	changes        <-chan submodule.Change
+	fetch          header.Fetch
+	ticking        bool // a spinner tick is scheduled
 
 	tree    tree.Model
 	detail  detail.Model
@@ -46,23 +60,30 @@ type Model struct {
 	showDetail    bool
 }
 
-func New(ctx context.Context, p submodule.Provider) Model {
+func New(ctx context.Context, p submodule.Provider, opts Options) Model {
 	t := theme.Default()
 	k := defaultKeys()
 	sp := spinner.New(spinner.WithSpinner(spinner.MiniDot))
-	return Model{
+	m := Model{
 		ctx:      ctx,
 		provider: p,
+		opts:     opts,
 		theme:    t,
 		keys:     k,
+		loads:    newReloader(),
+		ticking:  true, // Init schedules the first tick
 		tree:     tree.New(t),
 		detail:   detail.New(t),
 		footer:   footer.New(t, k),
 		spinner:  sp,
 	}
+	m.fetcher, _ = p.(submodule.Fetcher)
+	m.watcher, _ = p.(submodule.Watcher)
+	return m
 }
 
 func (m Model) Init() tea.Cmd {
+	m.loads.start(treeKey)
 	return tea.Batch(m.loadTree(), m.spinner.Tick)
 }
 
@@ -80,6 +101,74 @@ func (m Model) loadStatus(path string) tea.Cmd {
 	}
 }
 
+// reloadTree loads the tree again, unless a load is running (then it runs
+// once more afterwards). With statuses, every status is reloaded too.
+func (m *Model) reloadTree(statuses bool) tea.Cmd {
+	m.reloadStatuses = m.reloadStatuses || statuses
+	if !m.loads.start(treeKey) {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return m.loadTree()
+}
+
+// reloadStatus loads one status again; the old one stays visible meanwhile.
+func (m *Model) reloadStatus(path string) tea.Cmd {
+	if !m.loads.start(path) {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return m.loadStatus(path)
+}
+
+func (m Model) waitForChange() tea.Cmd {
+	ch := m.changes
+	return func() tea.Msg {
+		c, ok := <-ch
+		return changeMsg{change: c, closed: !ok}
+	}
+}
+
+// startFetch fetches the superproject and every initialized submodule in
+// the background. It does nothing while a fetch is running.
+func (m *Model) startFetch() tea.Cmd {
+	if m.fetcher == nil || m.fetch.Running || m.repo == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	paths := []string{""}
+	submodule.Walk(m.repo.Submodules, func(s *submodule.Submodule) {
+		if m.fetcher.Fetchable(s.Path) {
+			paths = append(paths, s.Path)
+		}
+	})
+	m.fetch = header.Fetch{Running: true, Total: len(paths), At: m.fetch.At}
+	cmds := []tea.Cmd{m.tick()}
+	for _, p := range paths {
+		f, ctx := m.fetcher, m.ctx
+		cmds = append(cmds, func() tea.Msg { return fetchDoneMsg{p, f.Fetch(ctx, p)} })
+	}
+	return tea.Batch(cmds...)
+}
+
+// busy reports whether something shows a spinner.
+func (m Model) busy() bool {
+	if m.repo == nil || m.fetch.Running {
+		return true
+	}
+	loading := false
+	submodule.Walk(m.repo.Submodules, func(s *submodule.Submodule) {
+		loading = loading || (s.Status == nil && s.Err == nil)
+	})
+	return loading
+}
+
+// tick schedules a spinner tick if none is scheduled.
+func (m *Model) tick() tea.Cmd {
+	if m.ticking {
+		return nil
+	}
+	m.ticking = true
+	return m.spinner.Tick
+}
+
 func (m Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	switch msg := msg.(type) {
 	case tea.WindowSizeMsg:
@@ -88,25 +177,35 @@ func (m Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		return m, nil
 
 	case treeLoadedMsg:
-		if msg.err != nil {
-			m.err = msg.err
-			return m, nil
-		}
-		m.repo = msg.repo
-		m.byPath = map[string]*submodule.Submodule{}
-		var cmds []tea.Cmd
-		submodule.Walk(m.repo.Submodules, func(s *submodule.Submodule) {
-			m.byPath[s.Path] = s
-			cmds = append(cmds, m.loadStatus(s.Path))
-		})
-		m.loading = len(cmds)
-		m.tree.SetRoots(m.repo.Submodules)
-		return m, tea.Batch(cmds...)
+		return m.treeLoaded(msg)
 
 	case statusLoadedMsg:
 		if s, ok := m.byPath[msg.path]; ok {
-			s.Status, s.Err = msg.status, msg.err
-			m.loading--
+			if msg.err != nil {
+				s.Err = msg.err
+			} else {
+				s.Status, s.Err = msg.status, nil
+			}
+		}
+		if m.loads.done(msg.path) {
+			return m, m.loadStatus(msg.path)
+		}
+		return m, nil
+
+	case changeMsg:
+		return m.changed(msg)
+
+	case fetchDoneMsg:
+		m.fetch.Done++
+		if msg.err != nil {
+			m.fetch.Failed++
+		}
+		if s, ok := m.byPath[msg.path]; ok {
+			s.FetchErr = msg.err
+		}
+		if m.fetch.Done == m.fetch.Total {
+			m.fetch.Running = false
+			m.fetch.At = time.Now()
 		}
 		return m, nil
 
@@ -115,8 +214,9 @@ func (m Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		m.spinner, cmd = m.spinner.Update(msg)
 		m.tree.SetSpinner(m.spinner.View())
 		m.detail.SetSpinner(m.spinner.View())
-		if m.repo != nil && m.loading == 0 {
-			return m, nil // stop ticking once everything is loaded
+		if !m.busy() {
+			m.ticking = false // stop ticking until there is work again
+			return m, nil
 		}
 		return m, cmd
 
@@ -132,6 +232,81 @@ func (m Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	return m, nil
 }
 
+// treeLoaded installs a (re)loaded tree. On a reload the known statuses are
+// carried over by path, so rows don't fall back to a spinner.
+func (m Model) treeLoaded(msg treeLoadedMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
+	var cmds []tea.Cmd
+	if m.loads.done(treeKey) {
+		cmds = append(cmds, m.loadTree())
+	}
+	initial := m.repo == nil
+	if msg.err != nil {
+		if initial {
+			m.err = msg.err
+			return m, nil
+		}
+		cmds = append(cmds, m.footer.Flash("reload failed: "+msg.err.Error()))
+		return m, tea.Batch(cmds...)
+	}
+
+	old := m.byPath
+	m.repo = msg.repo
+	m.byPath = map[string]*submodule.Submodule{}
+	reload := initial || m.reloadStatuses
+	m.reloadStatuses = false
+	submodule.Walk(m.repo.Submodules, func(s *submodule.Submodule) {
+		m.byPath[s.Path] = s
+		if o, ok := old[s.Path]; ok {
+			s.Status, s.Err, s.FetchErr = o.Status, o.Err, o.FetchErr
+		}
+		if reload || s.Status == nil {
+			cmds = append(cmds, m.reloadStatus(s.Path))
+		}
+	})
+
+	if initial {
+		m.tree.SetRoots(m.repo.Submodules)
+		if m.watcher != nil {
+			m.changes = m.watcher.Watch(m.ctx)
+			cmds = append(cmds, m.waitForChange())
+		}
+		if m.opts.Fetch {
+			cmds = append(cmds, m.startFetch())
+		}
+	} else {
+		m.tree.ReplaceRoots(m.repo.Submodules)
+	}
+	cmds = append(cmds, m.tick())
+	return m, tea.Batch(cmds...)
+}
+
+// changed reacts to a change the watcher saw, whoever made it.
+func (m Model) changed(msg changeMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
+	if msg.closed {
+		return m, nil
+	}
+	cmds := []tea.Cmd{m.waitForChange()}
+	c := msg.change
+	switch {
+	case c.Path == "" || c.Structure:
+		// superproject: pins of all submodules may have moved (local), or
+		// only its header (remote); .gitmodules: the structure changed
+		cmds = append(cmds, m.reloadTree(c.Local))
+	default:
+		s, ok := m.byPath[c.Path]
+		if !ok {
+			break
+		}
+		cmds = append(cmds, m.reloadStatus(s.Path))
+		if c.Local { // the children's pins live in this repository
+			for _, child := range s.Children {
+				cmds = append(cmds, m.reloadStatus(child.Path))
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return m, tea.Batch(cmds...)
+}
+
 func (m Model) handleKey(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	k := m.keys
 	switch {
@@ -162,7 +337,23 @@ func (m Model) handleKey(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		m.tree.PageUp()
 	case key.Matches(msg, k.PageDown):
 		m.tree.PageDown()
-	case key.Matches(msg, k.Update, k.Bump, k.Fetch, k.Filter, k.Issues):
+	case key.Matches(msg, k.Fetch):
+		var flash string
+		switch {
+		case m.fetcher == nil:
+			flash = "this data source can't fetch"
+		case m.fetch.Running:
+			flash = "already fetching"
+		}
+		if flash != "" {
+			cmd := m.footer.Flash(flash)
+			m.layout()
+			return m, cmd
+		}
+		return m, m.startFetch()
+	case key.Matches(msg, k.Reload):
+		return m, m.reloadTree(true)
+	case key.Matches(msg, k.Update, k.Bump, k.Filter, k.Issues):
 		cmd := m.footer.Flash("“" + msg.String() + "” is not implemented in the prototype")
 		m.layout()
 		return m, cmd
@@ -204,7 +395,7 @@ func (m Model) View() string {
 	}
 
 	return zone.Scan(lipgloss.JoinVertical(lipgloss.Left,
-		header.View(m.theme, m.repo, m.width),
+		header.View(m.theme, m.repo, m.fetch, m.spinner.View(), m.width),
 		body,
 		m.footer.View(),
 	))
diff --git a/internal/tui/detail/detail.go b/internal/tui/detail/detail.go
index 5e08c68..ae44621 100644
--- a/internal/tui/detail/detail.go
+++ b/internal/tui/detail/detail.go
@@ -99,6 +99,12 @@ func (m Model) lines(s *submodule.Submodule) []string {
 			label("")+muted.Render("via "+st.Pin.Source.String()),
 		)
 	}
+	if st.Presence == submodule.PresenceOK {
+		out = append(out, label("Fetched")+muted.Render(theme.Ago(st.FetchedAt)))
+	}
+	if s.FetchErr != nil {
+		out = append(out, theme.Fg(t.Warn).Width(labelWidth).Render("fetch")+text.Render("failed: "+s.FetchErr.Error()))
+	}
 
 	// commits
 	commitLine := func(name string, c *submodule.Commit, highlight bool) string {
diff --git a/internal/tui/header/header.go b/internal/tui/header/header.go
index ee112b2..21f5e58 100644
--- a/internal/tui/header/header.go
+++ b/internal/tui/header/header.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package header
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/lipgloss"
 
@@ -10,8 +11,18 @@ import (
 	"submarine/internal/tui/theme"
 )
 
-// View renders repo info, state counts and fetch age on one line.
-func View(t theme.Theme, repo *submodule.Repo, width int) string {
+// Fetch is the progress of the application's own background fetch.
+type Fetch struct {
+	Running bool
+	Done    int       // repositories fetched (or failed)
+	Total   int       // repositories to fetch
+	Failed  int       // failed fetches of the last run
+	At      time.Time // when the last run finished
+}
+
+// View renders repo info, state counts and fetch state on one line. spinner
+// is the current spinner frame.
+func View(t theme.Theme, repo *submodule.Repo, fetch Fetch, spinner string, width int) string {
 	bar := lipgloss.NewStyle().Background(t.Bar)
 	seg := func(c lipgloss.TerminalColor, s string) string { return bar.Foreground(c).Render(s) }
 
@@ -60,7 +71,22 @@ func View(t theme.Theme, repo *submodule.Repo, width int) string {
 		mid += sep + seg(t.Muted, fmt.Sprintf("%d loading", loading))
 	}
 
-	right := seg(t.Muted, "fetched "+theme.Ago(repo.FetchedAt)+" ")
+	var right string
+	switch {
+	case fetch.Running:
+		right = seg(t.Primary, spinner) + seg(t.Muted, fmt.Sprintf(" fetching %d/%d ", fetch.Done, fetch.Total))
+	default:
+		// our own fetch may have finished before the watcher saw FETCH_HEAD
+		at := repo.FetchedAt
+		if fetch.At.After(at) {
+			at = fetch.At
+		}
+		right = seg(t.Muted, "fetched "+theme.Ago(at))
+		if fetch.Failed > 0 {
+			right += seg(t.Muted, " · ") + seg(t.Warn, fmt.Sprintf("%d failed", fetch.Failed))
+		}
+		right += seg(t.Muted, " ")
+	}
 
 	gap := width - lipgloss.Width(left) - lipgloss.Width(mid) - lipgloss.Width(right)
 	if gap < 4 {
diff --git a/internal/tui/keys.go b/internal/tui/keys.go
index 4fed449..3d0382f 100644
--- a/internal/tui/keys.go
+++ b/internal/tui/keys.go
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@ package tui
 import "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbles/key"
 
 type keyMap struct {
-	Up, Down, Left, Right, Toggle       key.Binding
-	CollapseAll, ExpandAll              key.Binding
-	Home, End, PageUp, PageDown         key.Binding
-	Update, Bump, Fetch, Filter, Issues key.Binding
-	Help, Quit                          key.Binding
+	Up, Down, Left, Right, Toggle               key.Binding
+	CollapseAll, ExpandAll                      key.Binding
+	Home, End, PageUp, PageDown                 key.Binding
+	Update, Bump, Fetch, Reload, Filter, Issues key.Binding
+	Help, Quit                                  key.Binding
 }
 
 func defaultKeys() keyMap {
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ func defaultKeys() keyMap {
 		Update:      key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("u"), key.WithHelp("u", "checkout pin")),
 		Bump:        key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("b"), key.WithHelp("b", "bump pin to tip")),
 		Fetch:       key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("f"), key.WithHelp("f", "fetch")),
+		Reload:      key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("r"), key.WithHelp("r", "reload")),
 		Filter:      key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("/"), key.WithHelp("/", "filter")),
 		Issues:      key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("!"), key.WithHelp("!", "problems only")),
 		Help:        key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("?"), key.WithHelp("?", "help")),
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ func (k keyMap) FullHelp() [][]key.Binding {
 		{k.Up, k.Down, k.Left, k.Right, k.Toggle},
 		{k.CollapseAll, k.ExpandAll},
 		{k.Home, k.End, k.PageUp, k.PageDown},
-		{k.Update, k.Bump, k.Fetch, k.Filter, k.Issues},
+		{k.Update, k.Bump, k.Fetch, k.Reload, k.Filter, k.Issues},
 		{k.Help, k.Quit},
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/tui/msgs.go b/internal/tui/msgs.go
index 0c2de2c..cc2a3f0 100644
--- a/internal/tui/msgs.go
+++ b/internal/tui/msgs.go
@@ -12,3 +12,17 @@ type statusLoadedMsg struct {
 	status *submodule.Status
 	err    error
 }
+
+// fetchDoneMsg reports one finished fetch. It only updates the fetch
+// progress; refreshing is left to the watcher, which also sees fetches made
+// outside the application.
+type fetchDoneMsg struct {
+	path string // "" is the superproject
+	err  error
+}
+
+// changeMsg is a change reported by the provider's watcher.
+type changeMsg struct {
+	change submodule.Change
+	closed bool // the watcher stopped
+}
diff --git a/internal/tui/refresh.go b/internal/tui/refresh.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..60c2190
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/tui/refresh.go
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+package tui
+
+// treeKey is the reloader key for loading the tree; submodules use their
+// path.
+const treeKey = "\x00tree"
+
+// reloader allows at most one load per key at a time. A request while a
+// load is running marks the key dirty, and the load runs once more after
+// the current one finishes, so the last result always reflects the latest
+// change and results never arrive out of order.
+type reloader struct {
+	running map[string]bool
+	dirty   map[string]bool
+}
+
+func newReloader() reloader {
+	return reloader{running: map[string]bool{}, dirty: map[string]bool{}}
+}
+
+// start reports whether a load for key should start now. If one is already
+// running, the key is marked dirty instead.
+func (r reloader) start(key string) bool {
+	if r.running[key] {
+		r.dirty[key] = true
+		return false
+	}
+	r.running[key] = true
+	return true
+}
+
+// done marks the load for key as finished. It reports whether the load must
+// run again because it was requested meanwhile; the key then stays running.
+func (r reloader) done(key string) (again bool) {
+	if r.dirty[key] {
+		delete(r.dirty, key)
+		return true
+	}
+	delete(r.running, key)
+	return false
+}
+
+// busy reports whether any load is running.
+func (r reloader) busy() bool { return len(r.running) > 0 }
diff --git a/internal/tui/refresh_test.go b/internal/tui/refresh_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e113cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/tui/refresh_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+package tui
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestReloader(t *testing.T) {
+	r := newReloader()
+	if !r.start("a") {
+		t.Fatal("first start: want true")
+	}
+	if r.start("a") || r.start("a") {
+		t.Fatal("start while running: want false")
+	}
+	if !r.start("b") {
+		t.Fatal("other key: want true")
+	}
+	if !r.done("a") {
+		t.Fatal("done after requests while running: want again")
+	}
+	if r.done("a") {
+		t.Fatal("second done: requests were coalesced into one rerun")
+	}
+	if r.done("b") {
+		t.Fatal("done without requests: want no rerun")
+	}
+	if r.busy() {
+		t.Fatal("busy after all done")
+	}
+	if !r.start("a") {
+		t.Fatal("start after done: want true")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/tui/tree/tree.go b/internal/tui/tree/tree.go
index 05b6023..92b2ded 100644
--- a/internal/tui/tree/tree.go
+++ b/internal/tui/tree/tree.go
@@ -47,6 +47,28 @@ func (m *Model) SetRoots(roots []*submodule.Submodule) {
 	}
 }
 
+// ReplaceRoots swaps in a reloaded tree. Unlike SetRoots it keeps the
+// expansion state and the cursor (by path); if the selected submodule is
+// gone, the cursor moves to the first one.
+func (m *Model) ReplaceRoots(roots []*submodule.Submodule) {
+	var path string
+	if m.cursor != nil {
+		path = m.cursor.Path
+	}
+	m.roots = roots
+	m.cursor = nil
+	for _, r := range m.rows() {
+		if r.kind == rowNode && r.node.Path == path {
+			m.cursor = r.node
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if m.cursor == nil && len(roots) > 0 {
+		m.cursor = m.rows()[m.firstNodeRow()].node
+	}
+	m.clampOffset()
+}
+
 func (m *Model) SetSize(w, h int) {
 	m.width, m.height = w, h
 	m.clampOffset()
diff --git a/internal/tui/tree/tree_test.go b/internal/tui/tree/tree_test.go
index 36cdd6c..7ce9010 100644
--- a/internal/tui/tree/tree_test.go
+++ b/internal/tui/tree/tree_test.go
@@ -69,6 +69,23 @@ func visible(m *Model) []string {
 	return out
 }
 
+func TestReplaceRootsKeepsState(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newTree(t)
+	m.Down()  // b
+	m.Right() // expand b, cursor on c
+	m.Right() // expand c, cursor on d
+	assertCursor(t, m, "d")
+
+	m.ReplaceRoots(fixture()) // same paths, new nodes
+	assertCursor(t, m, "d")
+	if got := len(visible(m)); got != 8 {
+		t.Errorf("visible rows = %v, want b and c still expanded", visible(m))
+	}
+
+	m.ReplaceRoots(fixture()[:1]) // only "a" left
+	assertCursor(t, m, "a")
+}
+
 func TestInitiallyCollapsedWithHeaders(t *testing.T) {
 	m := newTree(t)
 	got := visible(m)