diff --git a/gitplusplus.cpp b/gitplusplus.cpp
index 273ec96..bfd174b 100644
--- a/gitplusplus.cpp
+++ b/gitplusplus.cpp
@@ -515,8 +515,7 @@ void GitPlusPlusView::setupFileWatcher()
     delete m_watcher;
     m_watcher = new QFileSystemWatcher(this);
 
-    // Watch .git/index (changes on stage/unstage/commit/pull/merge)
-    // and .git/HEAD (changes on branch switch)
+    // Determine the actual .git directory
     // For worktrees, .git is a file pointing to the real git dir
     QString gitDir;
     QString dotGit = m_gitDir + QStringLiteral("/.git");
@@ -536,24 +535,36 @@ void GitPlusPlusView::setupFileWatcher()
 
     if (gitDir.isEmpty()) return;
 
+    // Watch the git directory itself — picks up renames of index, HEAD, refs, etc.
+    // This is more robust than watching individual files which get replaced atomically.
     QStringList watchPaths;
+    watchPaths << gitDir;
+
+    // Also watch refs/heads for branch changes
+    QString refsHeads = gitDir + QStringLiteral("/refs/heads");
+    if (QFileInfo::exists(refsHeads))
+        watchPaths << refsHeads;
+
+    m_watcher->addPaths(watchPaths);
+    connect(m_watcher, &QFileSystemWatcher::directoryChanged, this, [this](const QString &) {
+        m_fsDebounce.start();
+    });
+    // Still watch individual files as a fallback for systems where dir watching is coarse
     QString indexFile = gitDir + QStringLiteral("/index");
     QString headFile = gitDir + QStringLiteral("/HEAD");
-    if (QFileInfo::exists(indexFile)) watchPaths << indexFile;
-    if (QFileInfo::exists(headFile)) watchPaths << headFile;
-
-    if (!watchPaths.isEmpty()) {
-        m_watcher->addPaths(watchPaths);
+    QStringList filePaths;
+    if (QFileInfo::exists(indexFile)) filePaths << indexFile;
+    if (QFileInfo::exists(headFile)) filePaths << headFile;
+    if (!filePaths.isEmpty()) {
+        m_watcher->addPaths(filePaths);
         connect(m_watcher, &QFileSystemWatcher::fileChanged, this, [this](const QString &path) {
-            // Re-add the path: QFileSystemWatcher drops watches when files are
-            // replaced atomically (git writes a temp file then renames over it)
+            // Re-add: atomic renames remove the watch
             if (!m_watcher->files().contains(path)) {
-                QTimer::singleShot(100, this, [this, path]() {
-                    if (QFileInfo::exists(path))
+                QTimer::singleShot(200, this, [this, path]() {
+                    if (QFileInfo::exists(path) && m_watcher)
                         m_watcher->addPath(path);
                 });
             }
-            // Debounce: multiple changes can fire rapidly
             m_fsDebounce.start();
         });
     }