diff --git a/auto-claude-ui/src/renderer/components/task-detail/TaskReview.tsx b/auto-claude-ui/src/renderer/components/task-detail/TaskReview.tsx
index 45d49ebd..fde4c003 100644
--- a/auto-claude-ui/src/renderer/components/task-detail/TaskReview.tsx
+++ b/auto-claude-ui/src/renderer/components/task-detail/TaskReview.tsx
@@ -227,28 +227,26 @@ export function TaskReview({
               <Eye className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
               View Changes
             </Button>
-            <Button
-              variant="outline"
-              size="sm"
-              onClick={() => {
-                console.log('[TaskReview] Check Conflicts button clicked');
-                onLoadMergePreview();
-              }}
-              disabled={isLoadingPreview}
-              className="flex-1"
-            >
-              {isLoadingPreview ? (
-                <>
-                  <Loader2 className="mr-2 h-4 w-4 animate-spin" />
-                  Checking...
-                </>
-              ) : (
-                <>
-                  <Search className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
-                  Check Conflicts
-                </>
-              )}
-            </Button>
+            {/* Refresh conflicts button - conflicts are auto-loaded but user can refresh */}
+            {mergePreview && (
+              <Button
+                variant="outline"
+                size="sm"
+                onClick={() => {
+                  console.log('[TaskReview] Refresh conflicts clicked');
+                  onLoadMergePreview();
+                }}
+                disabled={isLoadingPreview}
+                className="flex-none"
+                title="Refresh conflict check"
+              >
+                {isLoadingPreview ? (
+                  <Loader2 className="h-4 w-4 animate-spin" />
+                ) : (
+                  <RotateCcw className="h-4 w-4" />
+                )}
+              </Button>
+            )}
             {worktreeStatus.worktreePath && (
               <Button
                 variant="outline"
@@ -260,12 +258,21 @@ export function TaskReview({
                   });
                 }}
                 className="flex-none"
+                title="Open worktree in terminal"
               >
                 <ExternalLink className="h-4 w-4" />
               </Button>
             )}
           </div>
 
+          {/* Loading indicator while checking conflicts */}
+          {isLoadingPreview && !mergePreview && (
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-muted-foreground text-sm mb-3">
+              <Loader2 className="h-4 w-4 animate-spin" />
+              Checking for conflicts...
+            </div>
+          )}
+
           {/* Merge Preview Summary */}
           {mergePreview && (
             <div className={cn(
@@ -643,10 +650,10 @@ export function TaskReview({
                 onShowConflictDialog(false);
                 onMerge();
               }}
-              className="bg-primary"
+              className="bg-warning text-warning-foreground hover:bg-warning/90"
             >
               <GitMerge className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
-              {stageOnly ? 'Stage Anyway' : 'Merge Anyway'}
+              {stageOnly ? 'Stage with AI Merge' : 'Merge with AI'}
             </AlertDialogAction>
           </AlertDialogFooter>
         </AlertDialogContent>
diff --git a/auto-claude-ui/src/renderer/components/task-detail/hooks/useTaskDetail.ts b/auto-claude-ui/src/renderer/components/task-detail/hooks/useTaskDetail.ts
index 68dd721e..77070842 100644
--- a/auto-claude-ui/src/renderer/components/task-detail/hooks/useTaskDetail.ts
+++ b/auto-claude-ui/src/renderer/components/task-detail/hooks/useTaskDetail.ts
@@ -191,9 +191,7 @@ export function useTaskDetail({ task }: UseTaskDetailOptions) {
         const previewData = JSON.parse(stored);
         console.log('%c[useTaskDetail] Restored merge preview from sessionStorage:', 'color: magenta;', previewData);
         setMergePreview(previewData);
-        if (previewData.conflicts?.length > 0) {
-          setShowConflictDialog(true);
-        }
+        // Don't auto-popup - restored data stays silent
       } catch (e) {
         console.warn('[useTaskDetail] Failed to parse stored merge preview');
         sessionStorage.removeItem(storageKey);
@@ -218,10 +216,7 @@ export function useTaskDetail({ task }: UseTaskDetailOptions) {
         setMergePreview(previewData);
         // Persist to sessionStorage to survive HMR reloads
         sessionStorage.setItem(`mergePreview-${task.id}`, JSON.stringify(previewData));
-        // Show conflict dialog if there are conflicts that need attention
-        if (previewData.conflicts.length > 0) {
-          setShowConflictDialog(true);
-        }
+        // Don't auto-popup conflict dialog - let user click to see details if curious
       } else {
         console.warn('%c[useTaskDetail] Preview not successful or no preview data:', 'color: orange;', result);
         console.warn('  - success:', result.success);
@@ -236,6 +231,20 @@ export function useTaskDetail({ task }: UseTaskDetailOptions) {
     }
   }, [task.id]);
 
+  // Auto-load merge preview when worktree is ready (eliminates need to click "Check Conflicts")
+  // NOTE: This must be placed AFTER loadMergePreview definition since it depends on that callback
+  useEffect(() => {
+    // Only auto-load if:
+    // 1. Task needs review
+    // 2. Worktree exists
+    // 3. We haven't already loaded the preview
+    // 4. We're not currently loading
+    if (needsReview && worktreeStatus?.exists && !mergePreview && !isLoadingPreview) {
+      console.log('[useTaskDetail] Auto-loading merge preview for task:', task.id);
+      loadMergePreview();
+    }
+  }, [needsReview, worktreeStatus?.exists, mergePreview, isLoadingPreview, task.id, loadMergePreview]);
+
   return {
     // State
     feedback,