diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/qt/home.cc b/selfdrive/ui/qt/home.cc
index f2ac7ff6d2..6299f54e7c 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/qt/home.cc
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/qt/home.cc
@@ -6,9 +6,6 @@
 #include <QVBoxLayout>
 
 #include "selfdrive/common/params.h"
-#include "selfdrive/common/swaglog.h"
-#include "selfdrive/common/timing.h"
-#include "selfdrive/common/util.h"
 #include "selfdrive/ui/qt/util.h"
 #include "selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/drive_stats.h"
 #include "selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/setup.h"
@@ -94,18 +91,24 @@ OffroadHome::OffroadHome(QWidget* parent) : QFrame(parent) {
 
   // top header
   QHBoxLayout* header_layout = new QHBoxLayout();
+  header_layout->setSpacing(16);
 
   date = new QLabel();
-  header_layout->addWidget(date, 0, Qt::AlignHCenter | Qt::AlignLeft);
+  header_layout->addWidget(date, 1, Qt::AlignHCenter | Qt::AlignLeft);
 
-  alert_notification = new QPushButton();
-  alert_notification->setObjectName("alert_notification");
-  alert_notification->setVisible(false);
-  QObject::connect(alert_notification, &QPushButton::released, this, &OffroadHome::openAlerts);
-  header_layout->addWidget(alert_notification, 0, Qt::AlignHCenter | Qt::AlignRight);
+  update_notif = new QPushButton("UPDATE");
+  update_notif->setVisible(false);
+  update_notif->setStyleSheet("background-color: #364DEF;");
+  QObject::connect(update_notif, &QPushButton::released, [=]() { center_layout->setCurrentIndex(1); });
+  header_layout->addWidget(update_notif, 0, Qt::AlignHCenter | Qt::AlignRight);
 
-  QLabel* version = new QLabel(getBrandVersion());
-  header_layout->addWidget(version, 0, Qt::AlignHCenter | Qt::AlignRight);
+  alert_notif = new QPushButton();
+  alert_notif->setVisible(false);
+  alert_notif->setStyleSheet("background-color: #E22C2C;");
+  QObject::connect(alert_notif, &QPushButton::released, [=] { center_layout->setCurrentIndex(2); });
+  header_layout->addWidget(alert_notif, 0, Qt::AlignHCenter | Qt::AlignRight);
+
+  header_layout->addWidget(new QLabel(getBrandVersion()), 0, Qt::AlignHCenter | Qt::AlignRight);
 
   main_layout->addLayout(header_layout);
 
@@ -113,32 +116,29 @@ OffroadHome::OffroadHome(QWidget* parent) : QFrame(parent) {
   main_layout->addSpacing(25);
   center_layout = new QStackedLayout();
 
-  QHBoxLayout* statsAndSetup = new QHBoxLayout();
+  QWidget* statsAndSetupWidget = new QWidget(this);
+  QHBoxLayout* statsAndSetup = new QHBoxLayout(statsAndSetupWidget);
   statsAndSetup->setMargin(0);
-
-  DriveStats* drive = new DriveStats;
+  DriveStats* drive = new DriveStats();
   drive->setFixedSize(800, 800);
   statsAndSetup->addWidget(drive);
-
-  SetupWidget* setup = new SetupWidget;
-  statsAndSetup->addWidget(setup);
-
-  QWidget* statsAndSetupWidget = new QWidget();
-  statsAndSetupWidget->setLayout(statsAndSetup);
+  statsAndSetup->addWidget(new SetupWidget);
 
   center_layout->addWidget(statsAndSetupWidget);
 
+  // add update & alerts widgets
+  update_widget = new UpdateAlert();
+  QObject::connect(update_widget, &UpdateAlert::dismiss, [=]() { center_layout->setCurrentIndex(0); });
+  center_layout->addWidget(update_widget);
   alerts_widget = new OffroadAlert();
-  QObject::connect(alerts_widget, &OffroadAlert::closeAlerts, this, &OffroadHome::closeAlerts);
+  QObject::connect(alerts_widget, &OffroadAlert::dismiss, [=]() { center_layout->setCurrentIndex(0); });
   center_layout->addWidget(alerts_widget);
-  center_layout->setAlignment(alerts_widget, Qt::AlignCenter);
 
   main_layout->addLayout(center_layout, 1);
 
   // set up refresh timer
   timer = new QTimer(this);
-  QObject::connect(timer, &QTimer::timeout, this, &OffroadHome::refresh);
-  timer->start(10 * 1000);
+  timer->callOnTimeout(this, &OffroadHome::refresh);
 
   setStyleSheet(R"(
     * {
@@ -147,61 +147,47 @@ OffroadHome::OffroadHome(QWidget* parent) : QFrame(parent) {
     OffroadHome {
       background-color: black;
     }
-    #alert_notification {
-      padding: 15px;
-      padding-left: 30px;
-      padding-right: 30px;
-      border: 1px solid;
+    OffroadHome > QPushButton {
+      padding: 15px 30px;
       border-radius: 5px;
       font-size: 40px;
       font-weight: 500;
     }
-    OffroadHome>QLabel {
+    OffroadHome > QLabel {
       font-size: 55px;
     }
   )");
-}
-
-void OffroadHome::showEvent(QShowEvent *event) {
   refresh();
 }
 
-void OffroadHome::openAlerts() {
-  center_layout->setCurrentIndex(1);
+void OffroadHome::showEvent(QShowEvent *event) {
+  timer->start(10 * 1000);
 }
 
-void OffroadHome::closeAlerts() {
-  center_layout->setCurrentIndex(0);
+void OffroadHome::hideEvent(QHideEvent *event) {
+  timer->stop();
 }
 
 void OffroadHome::refresh() {
-  bool first_refresh = !date->text().size();
-  if (!isVisible() && !first_refresh) {
-    return;
-  }
-
   date->setText(QDateTime::currentDateTime().toString("dddd, MMMM d"));
 
-  // update alerts
-
-  alerts_widget->refresh();
-  if (!alerts_widget->alertCount && !alerts_widget->updateAvailable) {
-    closeAlerts();
-    alert_notification->setVisible(false);
-    return;
-  }
-
-  if (alerts_widget->updateAvailable) {
-    alert_notification->setText("UPDATE");
-  } else {
-    int alerts = alerts_widget->alertCount;
-    alert_notification->setText(QString::number(alerts) + " ALERT" + (alerts == 1 ? "" : "S"));
+  bool updateAvailable = update_widget->refresh();
+  int alerts = alerts_widget->refresh();
+
+  // pop-up new notification
+  int idx = center_layout->currentIndex();
+  if (!updateAvailable && !alerts) {
+    idx = 0;
+  } else if (updateAvailable && (!update_notif->isVisible() || (!alerts && idx == 2))) {
+    idx = 1;
+  } else if (alerts && (!alert_notif->isVisible() || (!updateAvailable && idx == 1))) {
+    idx = 2;
   }
+  center_layout->setCurrentIndex(idx);
 
-  if (!alert_notification->isVisible() && !first_refresh) {
-    openAlerts();
+  update_notif->setVisible(updateAvailable);
+  alert_notif->setVisible(alerts);
+  if (alerts) {
+    alert_notif->setText(QString::number(alerts) + " ALERT" + (alerts > 1 ? "S" : ""));
   }
-  alert_notification->setVisible(true);
-  // Red background for alerts, blue for update available
-  alert_notification->setStyleSheet(alerts_widget->updateAvailable ? "background-color: #364DEF" : "background-color: #E22C2C");
 }
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/qt/home.h b/selfdrive/ui/qt/home.h
index ab60af0a21..e133710bcd 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/qt/home.h
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/qt/home.h
@@ -19,21 +19,18 @@ class OffroadHome : public QFrame {
 public:
   explicit OffroadHome(QWidget* parent = 0);
 
-protected:
+private:
   void showEvent(QShowEvent *event) override;
+  void hideEvent(QHideEvent *event) override;
+  void refresh();
 
-private:
   QTimer* timer;
-
   QLabel* date;
   QStackedLayout* center_layout;
+  UpdateAlert *update_widget;
   OffroadAlert* alerts_widget;
-  QPushButton* alert_notification;
-
-public slots:
-  void closeAlerts();
-  void openAlerts();
-  void refresh();
+  QPushButton* alert_notif;
+  QPushButton* update_notif;
 };
 
 class HomeWindow : public QWidget {
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/offroad_alerts.cc b/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/offroad_alerts.cc
index 1074548758..0fcdb87161 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/offroad_alerts.cc
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/offroad_alerts.cc
@@ -3,33 +3,21 @@
 #include <QHBoxLayout>
 #include <QJsonDocument>
 #include <QJsonObject>
-#include <QVBoxLayout>
+#include <QPushButton>
 
 #include "selfdrive/common/util.h"
 #include "selfdrive/hardware/hw.h"
+#include "selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/scrollview.h"
 
-OffroadAlert::OffroadAlert(QWidget* parent) : QFrame(parent) {
+AbstractAlert::AbstractAlert(bool hasRebootBtn, QWidget *parent) : QFrame(parent) {
   QVBoxLayout *main_layout = new QVBoxLayout(this);
   main_layout->setMargin(50);
   main_layout->setSpacing(30);
 
-  QWidget *alerts_widget = new QWidget(this);
-  alerts_layout = new QVBoxLayout(alerts_widget);
-  alerts_layout->setMargin(0);
-  alerts_layout->setSpacing(30);
-  alerts_widget->setStyleSheet("background-color: transparent;");
-
-  // release notes
-  releaseNotes.setWordWrap(true);
-  releaseNotes.setVisible(false);
-  releaseNotes.setStyleSheet("font-size: 48px;");
-  releaseNotes.setAlignment(Qt::AlignTop);
-
-  releaseNotesScroll = new ScrollView(&releaseNotes, this);
-  main_layout->addWidget(releaseNotesScroll);
-
-  alertsScroll = new ScrollView(alerts_widget, this);
-  main_layout->addWidget(alertsScroll);
+  QWidget *widget = new QWidget;
+  scrollable_layout = new QVBoxLayout(widget);
+  widget->setStyleSheet("background-color: transparent;");
+  main_layout->addWidget(new ScrollView(widget));
 
   // bottom footer, dismiss + reboot buttons
   QHBoxLayout *footer_layout = new QHBoxLayout();
@@ -38,14 +26,14 @@ OffroadAlert::OffroadAlert(QWidget* parent) : QFrame(parent) {
   QPushButton *dismiss_btn = new QPushButton("Dismiss");
   dismiss_btn->setFixedSize(400, 125);
   footer_layout->addWidget(dismiss_btn, 0, Qt::AlignBottom | Qt::AlignLeft);
-  QObject::connect(dismiss_btn, &QPushButton::released, this, &OffroadAlert::closeAlerts);
-
-  rebootBtn.setText("Reboot and Update");
-  rebootBtn.setFixedSize(600, 125);
-  rebootBtn.setVisible(false);
-  footer_layout->addWidget(&rebootBtn, 0, Qt::AlignBottom | Qt::AlignRight);
-  QObject::connect(&rebootBtn, &QPushButton::released, [=]() { Hardware::reboot(); });
+  QObject::connect(dismiss_btn, &QPushButton::released, this, &AbstractAlert::dismiss);
 
+  if (hasRebootBtn) {
+    QPushButton *rebootBtn = new QPushButton("Reboot and Update");
+    rebootBtn->setFixedSize(600, 125);
+    footer_layout->addWidget(rebootBtn, 0, Qt::AlignBottom | Qt::AlignRight);
+    QObject::connect(rebootBtn, &QPushButton::released, [=]() { Hardware::reboot(); });
+  }
   setStyleSheet(R"(
     * {
       font-size: 48px;
@@ -64,49 +52,55 @@ OffroadAlert::OffroadAlert(QWidget* parent) : QFrame(parent) {
   )");
 }
 
-void OffroadAlert::refresh() {
+int OffroadAlert::refresh() {
   if (alerts.empty()) {
     // setup labels for each alert
-    QString json = QString::fromStdString(util::read_file("../controls/lib/alerts_offroad.json"));
+    QString json = util::read_file("../controls/lib/alerts_offroad.json").c_str();
     QJsonObject obj = QJsonDocument::fromJson(json.toUtf8()).object();
-    for (auto &k : obj.keys()) {
-      QLabel *l = new QLabel(this);
-      alerts[k.toStdString()] = l;
-      int severity = obj[k].toObject()["severity"].toInt();
+    // descending sort labels by severity
+    std::vector<std::pair<std::string, int>> sorted;
+    for (auto it = obj.constBegin(); it != obj.constEnd(); ++it) {
+      sorted.push_back({it.key().toStdString(), it.value()["severity"].toInt()});
+    }
+    std::sort(sorted.begin(), sorted.end(), [=](auto &l, auto &r) { return l.second > r.second; });
 
+    for (auto &[key, severity] : sorted) {
+      QLabel *l = new QLabel(this);
+      alerts[key] = l;
       l->setMargin(60);
       l->setWordWrap(true);
-      l->setStyleSheet("background-color: " + QString(severity ? "#E22C2C" : "#292929"));
-      l->setVisible(false);
-      alerts_layout->addWidget(l);
+      l->setStyleSheet(QString("background-color: %1").arg(severity ? "#E22C2C" : "#292929"));
+      scrollable_layout->addWidget(l);
     }
-    alerts_layout->addStretch(1);
+    scrollable_layout->addStretch(1);
   }
 
-  updateAlerts();
-
-  rebootBtn.setVisible(updateAvailable);
-  releaseNotesScroll->setVisible(updateAvailable);
-  releaseNotes.setText(QString::fromStdString(params.get("ReleaseNotes")));
-
-  alertsScroll->setVisible(!updateAvailable);
-  for (const auto& [k, label] : alerts) {
-    label->setVisible(!label->text().isEmpty());
+  int alertCount = 0;
+  for (const auto &[key, label] : alerts) {
+    QString text;
+    std::string bytes = params.get(key);
+    if (bytes.size()) {
+      auto doc_par = QJsonDocument::fromJson(bytes.c_str());
+      text = doc_par["text"].toString();
+    }
+    label->setText(text);
+    label->setVisible(!text.isEmpty());
+    alertCount += !text.isEmpty();
   }
+  return alertCount;
 }
 
-void OffroadAlert::updateAlerts() {
-  alertCount = 0;
-  for (const auto& [key, label] : alerts) {
-    auto bytes = params.get(key.c_str());
-    if (bytes.size()) {
-      QJsonDocument doc_par = QJsonDocument::fromJson(QByteArray(bytes.data(), bytes.size()));
-      QJsonObject obj = doc_par.object();
-      label->setText(obj.value("text").toString());
-      alertCount++;
-    } else {
-      label->setText("");
-    }
+UpdateAlert::UpdateAlert(QWidget *parent) : AbstractAlert(true, parent) {
+  releaseNotes = new QLabel(this);
+  releaseNotes->setWordWrap(true);
+  releaseNotes->setAlignment(Qt::AlignTop);
+  scrollable_layout->addWidget(releaseNotes);
+}
+
+bool UpdateAlert::refresh() {
+  bool updateAvailable = params.getBool("UpdateAvailable");
+  if (updateAvailable) {
+    releaseNotes->setText(params.get("ReleaseNotes").c_str());
   }
-  updateAvailable = params.getBool("UpdateAvailable") && alertCount < 1;
+  return updateAvailable;
 }
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/offroad_alerts.h b/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/offroad_alerts.h
index 88a69c8dac..c285457c6f 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/offroad_alerts.h
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/offroad_alerts.h
@@ -2,37 +2,41 @@
 
 #include <map>
 
-#include <QFrame>
 #include <QLabel>
-#include <QPushButton>
 #include <QVBoxLayout>
 
 #include "selfdrive/common/params.h"
-#include "selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/scrollview.h"
 
-class OffroadAlert : public QFrame {
+class AbstractAlert : public QFrame {
+  Q_OBJECT
+
+protected:
+  AbstractAlert(bool hasRebootBtn, QWidget *parent = nullptr);
+  QVBoxLayout *scrollable_layout;
+  Params params;
+
+signals:
+  void dismiss();
+};
+
+class UpdateAlert : public AbstractAlert {
   Q_OBJECT
 
 public:
-  explicit OffroadAlert(QWidget *parent = 0);
-  int alertCount = 0;
-  bool updateAvailable;
+  UpdateAlert(QWidget *parent = 0);
+  bool refresh();
 
 private:
-  void updateAlerts();
-
-  Params params;
-  std::map<std::string, QLabel*> alerts;
+  QLabel *releaseNotes = nullptr;
+};
 
-  QLabel releaseNotes;
-  QPushButton rebootBtn;
-  ScrollView *alertsScroll;
-  ScrollView *releaseNotesScroll;
-  QVBoxLayout *alerts_layout;
+class OffroadAlert : public AbstractAlert {
+  Q_OBJECT
 
-signals:
-  void closeAlerts();
+public:
+  explicit OffroadAlert(QWidget *parent = 0) : AbstractAlert(false, parent) {}
+  int refresh();
 
-public slots:
-  void refresh();
+private:
+  std::map<std::string, QLabel*> alerts;
 };