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Desktop auto-update

Last updated June 2, 2026 · 3 min read

The Electron desktop app updates differently from PWA — it checks once shortly after launch and asks before downloading a new version.

🚧 Desktop app in development — this article is a preview; the flow may be tweaked on launch.

Account → Preferences (English shown): the Preferences Display card only has font-size controls, no update settings

Auto-update flow

  1. The desktop app checks for updates shortly after launch (about ten seconds in)
  2. Finds a new version → a prompt asks whether to download: two buttons "Download" / "Later"
  3. Click "Download" and it downloads in the background; when complete, a prompt appears: "New version downloaded" + two buttons: "Restart and update now" / "Later"
  4. Click "Restart and update now" → the app restarts into the new version

The whole process doesn't interrupt your writing — the download runs in the background, and you decide when to restart.

Checking for updates manually

If you don't want to wait for the check after launch, you can trigger it manually:

  • OS menu → Help → Check for updates

Update behavior

The desktop app's update behavior is built in — Preferences has no update-related toggles (Preferences only has font-size controls under the Display tab):

  • It won't download automatically: when a new version is found, it asks first; the download only starts after you click "Download"
  • It applies on quit: once a new version is downloaded, it installs the next time you fully close and reopen the app

So updates never download behind your back — you stay in control.

How it differs from PWA updates

  • PWA: checks when you next open it (open-time)
  • Electron desktop: checks once shortly after launch and prompts you when a new version is available

See: PWA auto-update

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