---
title: "Keep Recordstead up to date"
description: "See how updates arrive, when they install, and where to check or change the update settings."
updated: "2026-10-09"
canonical: https://docs.recordstead.app/getting-started/updates
---

# Keep Recordstead up to date

Recordstead checks for offered builds automatically and installs a downloaded
one when you next quit. [Release notes](https://docs.recordstead.app/release-notes) describe what changed.

## How a new build reaches you

The app checks at launch and every few hours while it runs. It can download
an offered build in the background. When an update is ready, **Restart to Update**
appears at the bottom of the main window's sidebar and in the menu bar panel.
Click it to take the update now; otherwise installation waits until
you quit. To hide a ready update, right-click the sidebar offer and choose
**Hide Until the Next Version**. It disappears from the sidebar and the menu
bar panel, and still installs when you quit.

Nothing checks, downloads or installs during a recording. An offer waits until
the recording ends. After an update, the main window confirms it and offers
**What's New**, which opens the release notes.

## Check for one yourself

[Check for an update in Settings](https://docs.recordstead.app/getting-started/check-for-updates), including
when automatic checks are off.

## Turn it off, or turn part of it off

[Change automatic update settings](https://docs.recordstead.app/getting-started/change-update-settings)
to stop background checks or downloads without losing the manual check.

## What an update keeps

Your meetings, settings, saved voices, trial and recording permissions remain.
Recordstead does not offer a downgrade. An older build installed by hand may
refuse an archive already written by a newer one rather than modify it.

In-app updates stay within the major version you have installed. A Personal
license for version 1.x covers its 1.x updates; it does not activate another
major version.

## Which build you have

[Find the version you are running](https://docs.recordstead.app/troubleshooting/find-your-version) in the
Software update section of Settings.