diff --git a/.changeset/shared-ide-restart-hint.md b/.changeset/shared-ide-restart-hint.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0e42e87b6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/shared-ide-restart-hint.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@fission-ai/openspec": patch
+---
+
+`openspec init` and `openspec update` now share the IDE restart hint: "Restart your IDE to refresh commands." or "Restart your IDE to refresh skills." The message also covers removing workflows, without claiming that new files were generated.
diff --git a/src/core/init.ts b/src/core/init.ts
index 2d098cb9e7..7707f749d7 100644
--- a/src/core/init.ts
+++ b/src/core/init.ts
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ import {
   resolveToolSkillsDir,
   toolSupportsSkills,
   type ToolSkillStatus,
+  formatIdeRestart,
 } from './shared/index.js';
 import { getGlobalConfig, type Delivery, type Profile } from './global-config.js';
 import { getProfileWorkflows, CORE_WORKFLOWS, ALL_WORKFLOWS } from './profiles.js';
@@ -148,7 +149,6 @@ type ValidatedInitTool = {
   skillsRoot: string;
   isGlobalSkillTarget: boolean;
   wasConfigured: boolean;
-  requiresIdeRestart?: boolean;
   writesSkills: boolean;
 };
 
@@ -843,7 +843,6 @@ export class InitCommand {
         skillsRoot: isGlobalSkillTarget ? skillsPath : projectPath,
         isGlobalSkillTarget,
         wasConfigured: preState?.configured ?? false,
-        requiresIdeRestart: tool.requiresIdeRestart,
         writesSkills: !tool.skillsDir || skillWriters.has(tool.value),
       });
     }
@@ -1402,37 +1401,16 @@ export class InitCommand {
     console.log(`Learn more: ${chalk.cyan('https://github.com/Fission-AI/OpenSpec')}`);
     console.log(`Feedback:   ${chalk.cyan('https://github.com/Fission-AI/OpenSpec/issues')}`);
 
-    // Restart instruction only when at least one IDE/editor-resident tool
-    // actually received a generated surface. Two conditions, coupled to the SAME
-    // tool: (1) its commands/skills are loaded by a long-running editor process
-    // (CLI tools pick the files up immediately, so a restart line would be wrong
-    // for them — see #1067), and (2) a surface was actually generated for it
-    // under the active delivery (an IDE tool that generated nothing has nothing a
-    // restart would pick up, even if a co-configured CLI tool did generate).
-    // Wording follows what the IDE tool itself generated, not the global
-    // aggregate: it must not say "commands" when the IDE tool only got skills
-    // while a co-configured CLI tool got commands. Not "slash commands" either:
-    // Amazon Q's generated files are prompt-library entries invoked with @, so a
-    // restart line promising slash commands would be wrong for it.
-    const restartCommandsGenerated = successfulTools.some(
-      (tool) =>
-        tool.requiresIdeRestart &&
-        shouldGenerateCommandsForTool(tool.value, activeDelivery)
-    );
-    const restartSkillsGenerated = successfulTools.some(
-      (tool) =>
-        tool.requiresIdeRestart &&
-        shouldGenerateSkillsForTool(tool.value, activeDelivery)
+    // Restart instruction for successfully configured IDE/editor-resident tools
+    // with a supported surface under the active delivery. The rule and wording live in
+    // formatIdeRestart so `update` says the same thing for the same event.
+    const restartHint = formatIdeRestart(
+      successfulTools.map((tool) => tool.value),
+      activeDelivery
     );
-    if (restartCommandsGenerated || restartSkillsGenerated) {
+    if (restartHint) {
       console.log();
-      console.log(
-        chalk.white(
-          restartCommandsGenerated
-            ? 'Restart your IDE for the new commands to take effect.'
-            : 'Restart your IDE for the new skills to take effect.'
-        )
-      );
+      console.log(chalk.white(restartHint));
     }
 
     console.log();
diff --git a/src/core/shared/ide-restart.ts b/src/core/shared/ide-restart.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2a5db017b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/shared/ide-restart.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+/**
+ * IDE restart hint
+ *
+ * Shared restart guidance for tools successfully configured by init or update.
+ * The wording covers additions, updates, and removals, including an empty
+ * workflow selection that removes every generated file.
+ */
+
+import { AI_TOOLS } from '../config.js';
+import {
+  shouldGenerateCommandsForTool,
+  shouldGenerateSkillsForTool,
+} from '../command-surface.js';
+import type { Delivery } from '../global-config.js';
+
+/** The surface a restart hint names. Absent when no hint is due. */
+export type IdeRestartSurface = 'commands' | 'skills';
+
+function isIdeResident(toolId: string): boolean {
+  return Boolean(
+    AI_TOOLS.find((tool) => tool.value === toolId)?.requiresIdeRestart
+  );
+}
+
+/**
+ * Both conditions stay coupled to the SAME tool: its surfaces are loaded by a
+ * long-running editor process (a CLI picks them up immediately, so a restart
+ * line would be wrong for it — see #1067), and it supports a generated surface
+ * under the active delivery. A CLI tool's commands must not determine the hint
+ * for an IDE tool that only supports skills. Commands take precedence when
+ * both surfaces are supported under the active delivery.
+ */
+export function resolveIdeRestartSurface(
+  toolIds: readonly string[],
+  delivery: Delivery
+): IdeRestartSurface | null {
+  const ideTools = [...new Set(toolIds)].filter(isIdeResident);
+
+  if (ideTools.some((toolId) => shouldGenerateCommandsForTool(toolId, delivery))) {
+    return 'commands';
+  }
+
+  if (ideTools.some((toolId) => shouldGenerateSkillsForTool(toolId, delivery))) {
+    return 'skills';
+  }
+
+  return null;
+}
+
+/**
+ * The restart line to print, or null when no restart is needed. Deliberately
+ * not "slash commands": Amazon Q's generated files are prompt-library entries
+ * invoked with `@`, so promising slash commands would be wrong for it.
+ */
+export function formatIdeRestart(
+  toolIds: readonly string[],
+  delivery: Delivery
+): string | null {
+  const surface = resolveIdeRestartSurface(toolIds, delivery);
+  return surface
+    ? `Restart your IDE to refresh ${surface}.`
+    : null;
+}
diff --git a/src/core/shared/index.ts b/src/core/shared/index.ts
index 53533b6907..fc7c1cd547 100644
--- a/src/core/shared/index.ts
+++ b/src/core/shared/index.ts
@@ -36,3 +36,9 @@ export {
   hasGlobalSkillTarget,
   resolveToolSkillsDir,
 } from './skill-paths.js';
+
+export {
+  type IdeRestartSurface,
+  resolveIdeRestartSurface,
+  formatIdeRestart,
+} from './ide-restart.js';
diff --git a/src/core/update.ts b/src/core/update.ts
index 4af31cd2f4..ccbc9b24b0 100644
--- a/src/core/update.ts
+++ b/src/core/update.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import {
   resolveToolSkillsDir,
   toolSupportsSkills,
   type ToolVersionStatus,
+  formatIdeRestart,
 } from './shared/index.js';
 import {
   detectLegacyArtifacts,
@@ -501,18 +502,9 @@ export class UpdateCommand {
 
     console.log();
     const affectedToolIds = [...new Set([...newlyConfiguredTools, ...updatedToolIds])];
-    const shouldRestartIde = affectedToolIds.some((toolId) => {
-      const tool = AI_TOOLS.find((candidate) => candidate.value === toolId);
-      return Boolean(
-        tool?.requiresIdeRestart &&
-        (
-          shouldGenerateCommandsForTool(toolId, delivery) ||
-          shouldGenerateSkillsForTool(toolId, delivery)
-        )
-      );
-    });
-    if (shouldRestartIde) {
-      console.log(chalk.dim('Restart your IDE for changes to take effect.'));
+    const restartHint = formatIdeRestart(affectedToolIds, delivery);
+    if (restartHint) {
+      console.log(chalk.dim(restartHint));
     }
     if (failedTools.length > 0) {
       throw new Error(`OpenSpec update failed for: ${failedTools.map((tool) => tool.name).join(', ')}`);
diff --git a/test/core/init.test.ts b/test/core/init.test.ts
index 3c20733671..43a03d77d5 100644
--- a/test/core/init.test.ts
+++ b/test/core/init.test.ts
@@ -1067,7 +1067,7 @@ describe('InitCommand', () => {
 
       await initCommand.execute(testDir);
 
-      expect(getConsoleOutput()).toContain('Restart your IDE for the new commands to take effect.');
+      expect(getConsoleOutput()).toContain('Restart your IDE to refresh commands.');
     });
 
     it('should word the restart hint for skills when an IDE tool gets only a skill surface', async () => {
@@ -1078,7 +1078,7 @@ describe('InitCommand', () => {
 
       await initCommand.execute(testDir);
 
-      expect(getConsoleOutput()).toContain('Restart your IDE for the new skills to take effect.');
+      expect(getConsoleOutput()).toContain('Restart your IDE to refresh skills.');
     });
 
     it('should create skills for multiple tools at once', async () => {
@@ -2099,7 +2099,7 @@ describe('InitCommand - profile and detection features', () => {
 
     // Commands were generated, but they are not slash commands.
     const restartHint = logCalls.find((entry) => entry.includes('Restart your IDE'));
-    expect(restartHint).toContain('Restart your IDE for the new commands to take effect.');
+    expect(restartHint).toContain('Restart your IDE to refresh commands.');
     expect(restartHint).not.toContain('slash commands');
   });
 
diff --git a/test/core/shared-ide-restart.test.ts b/test/core/shared-ide-restart.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..118a2e06c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/core/shared-ide-restart.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+
+import { CommandAdapterRegistry } from '../../src/core/command-generation/index.js';
+
+import {
+  formatIdeRestart,
+  resolveIdeRestartSurface,
+} from '../../src/core/shared/ide-restart.js';
+
+describe('resolveIdeRestartSurface', () => {
+  afterEach(() => vi.restoreAllMocks());
+
+  it('names commands when an IDE-resident tool received command files', () => {
+    expect(resolveIdeRestartSurface(['cursor'], 'both')).toBe('commands');
+    expect(resolveIdeRestartSurface(['cursor'], 'commands')).toBe('commands');
+  });
+
+  it('names skills when the IDE-resident tool only received skills', () => {
+    expect(resolveIdeRestartSurface(['cursor'], 'skills')).toBe('skills');
+  });
+
+  it('stays silent for CLI-resident tools, which pick files up immediately', () => {
+    expect(resolveIdeRestartSurface(['claude'], 'both')).toBeNull();
+    expect(resolveIdeRestartSurface(['codex'], 'skills')).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    ['commands', null],
+    ['both', 'skills'],
+  ] as const)('does not borrow CLI commands when delivery is %s', (delivery, expected) => {
+    // Model an IDE tool without an adapter: it receives no files with commands
+    // delivery, and only skills with both. Claude still receives commands.
+    const hasAdapter = CommandAdapterRegistry.has.bind(CommandAdapterRegistry);
+    vi.spyOn(CommandAdapterRegistry, 'has').mockImplementation(
+      (toolId) => toolId !== 'cursor' && hasAdapter(toolId)
+    );
+
+    expect(resolveIdeRestartSurface(['claude', 'cursor'], delivery)).toBe(expected);
+  });
+
+  it('handles duplicates and empty input', () => {
+    expect(resolveIdeRestartSurface(['cursor', 'cursor', 'claude'], 'commands')).toBe(
+      'commands'
+    );
+    expect(resolveIdeRestartSurface([], 'both')).toBeNull();
+  });
+});
+
+describe('formatIdeRestart', () => {
+  it('produces the same sentence init and update both print', () => {
+    expect(formatIdeRestart(['cursor'], 'both')).toBe(
+      'Restart your IDE to refresh commands.'
+    );
+    expect(formatIdeRestart(['cursor'], 'skills')).toBe(
+      'Restart your IDE to refresh skills.'
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('returns null when no restart is needed', () => {
+    expect(formatIdeRestart(['claude'], 'both')).toBeNull();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/core/update.test.ts b/test/core/update.test.ts
index a8e2634a11..db193b3d22 100644
--- a/test/core/update.test.ts
+++ b/test/core/update.test.ts
@@ -1947,7 +1947,12 @@ metadata:
       consoleSpy.mockRestore();
     });
 
-    it('should suggest an IDE restart for IDE-resident tools', async () => {
+    it.each([
+      ['both', 'commands'],
+      ['commands', 'commands'],
+      ['skills', 'skills'],
+    ] as const)('should name the generated IDE surface with %s delivery', async (delivery, surface) => {
+      setMockConfig({ featureFlags: {}, profile: 'core', delivery });
       const skillsDir = path.join(testDir, '.cursor', 'skills');
       await fs.mkdir(path.join(skillsDir, 'openspec-explore'), {
         recursive: true,
@@ -1962,11 +1967,64 @@ metadata:
       await updateCommand.execute(testDir);
 
       expect(consoleSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-        expect.stringContaining('Restart your IDE')
+        expect.stringContaining(`Restart your IDE to refresh ${surface}.`)
       );
+      expect(await FileSystemUtils.fileExists(
+        path.join(testDir, '.cursor', 'commands', 'opsx-explore.md')
+      )).toBe(delivery !== 'skills');
+      expect(await FileSystemUtils.fileExists(
+        path.join(skillsDir, 'openspec-explore', 'SKILL.md')
+      )).toBe(delivery !== 'commands');
+
+      consoleSpy.mockClear();
+      await updateCommand.execute(testDir);
+
+      expect(consoleSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('up to date'));
+      expect(consoleSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('Restart your IDE'));
 
       consoleSpy.mockRestore();
     });
+
+    it.each(['both', 'commands', 'skills'] as const)(
+      'should describe removal-only IDE updates with %s delivery',
+      async (delivery) => {
+        setMockConfig({ featureFlags: {}, profile: 'core', delivery });
+        await new InitCommand({ tools: 'cursor', force: true }).execute(testDir);
+        setMockConfig({ featureFlags: {}, profile: 'custom', workflows: [], delivery });
+        const consoleSpy = vi.spyOn(console, 'log');
+
+        await updateCommand.execute(testDir);
+
+        expect(await FileSystemUtils.fileExists(
+          path.join(testDir, '.cursor', 'commands', 'opsx-explore.md')
+        )).toBe(false);
+        expect(await FileSystemUtils.fileExists(
+          path.join(testDir, '.cursor', 'skills', 'openspec-explore', 'SKILL.md')
+        )).toBe(false);
+        const surface = delivery === 'skills' ? 'skills' : 'commands';
+        expect(consoleSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+          expect.stringContaining(`Restart your IDE to refresh ${surface}.`)
+        );
+        expect(consoleSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+          expect.stringContaining('Restart your IDE for the new')
+        );
+      }
+    );
+
+    it('should not suggest an IDE restart when only a CLI tool needs updating', async () => {
+      await new InitCommand({ tools: 'claude,cursor', force: true }).execute(testDir);
+      await fs.writeFile(
+        path.join(testDir, '.claude', 'skills', 'openspec-explore', 'SKILL.md'),
+        'old'
+      );
+      const consoleSpy = vi.spyOn(console, 'log');
+
+      await updateCommand.execute(testDir);
+
+      expect(consoleSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('Updated: Claude Code'));
+      expect(consoleSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('Updated: Cursor'));
+      expect(consoleSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('Restart your IDE'));
+    });
   });
 
   describe('smart update detection', () => {
@@ -2570,7 +2628,13 @@ ${OPENSPEC_MARKERS.end}
       expect(menuLines).toHaveLength(1);
       expect(menuLines[0]).toContain('/opsx-propose');
       expect(logCalls.some((entry) => entry.includes('/opsx:propose'))).toBe(false);
-      expect(logCalls.some((entry) => entry.includes('Restart your IDE'))).toBe(true);
+      // The hint names what was generated, the same sentence init prints, rather
+      // than update's older generic "changes".
+      expect(
+        logCalls.some((entry) =>
+          entry.includes('Restart your IDE to refresh commands.')
+        )
+      ).toBe(true);
     });
 
     it('should preserve legacy Codex prompts when a configured Codex tool lacks the replacement workflow', async () => {