Updates
How Machine Desktop finds, downloads, and installs new versions, how to check yourself, and what to do if an update fails.
New versions of Machine Desktop bring fixes and new features. The app checks for them for you, and always asks before downloading anything.
How updates work
- Machine Desktop checks for a new version shortly after it opens, then every few hours while it's running.
- When there's a new version, it tells you but doesn't download it until you say so.
- Every update is signed by Machine and checked before it's installed, so you only ever get genuine updates.
- The app never installs an older version over a newer one.
- Updating doesn't affect your bots, conversations, or settings.
Install an update
When an update is available, a card appears in the bottom-left corner of the window.
Download it
The card says Machine version is available. Click Download.
Not a good time? Click Later or ×. You'll be reminded again.
Wait for the download
A progress bar shows how far along it is. You can keep working.
Restart to finish
When the card says the new version is ready, click Restart to update. The app closes and reopens on the new version within a few seconds. You'll see "Restarting to update…" in the meantime.
If you click Later instead, the update installs automatically the next time you quit the app.
Bots keep working while you restart
Your bots run on Machine, not on your computer, so restarting the app doesn't stop cloud work. A bot working on This PC does pause while the app restarts.
Check for updates yourself
Two places:
- Click your name at the bottom of the sidebar. The menu has Check for updates. After checking, it shows You're up to date, or the new version with a button to download it. While an update is waiting, a small badge appears on your name.
- Open Settings → General → Updates. It shows your status and a button: Check for updates, Download, or Restart and install.
To see which version you have, click your name and choose About.
If an update fails
You'll see Update failed with a Try again button.
| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
| Couldn't reach the update server | Check your internet, VPN, or company firewall, then click Try again. |
| No update has been published for this platform yet | Nothing to do. You already have the newest version for your system. |
| Anything else | Click Try again. If it keeps failing, download the newest version from the download page and install it over the current one. |
Installing a fresh copy over the old one keeps your sign-in and settings.
Updates on each system
- Windows and Mac: the update installs in place and the app reopens.
- Microsoft Store: if you installed Machine Desktop from the Microsoft Store, the Store keeps it up to date, the same way as your other Store apps. The app never downloads updates itself.
- Android: updates come from Google Play. In Settings → General → Updates, Check for updates looks for one and Update installs it inside the app. Open Google Play opens the listing. New versions can take a day or two to reach every phone.
- iPhone and iPad: the app is a TestFlight beta, so updates arrive in the TestFlight app. Settings → General → Updates says "This is a TestFlight build. New versions arrive in the TestFlight app." with Open TestFlight. (The row checks the App Store first, ready for a future App Store listing.)