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Updates & Versioning

Learn how AirShare updates work, including automatic updates, versioning, and update channels.

Updates & Versioning

AirShare includes a built-in updater that keeps your app secure and up-to-date with the latest features.

How Updates Work

Automatic Update System

AirShare uses Tauri's updater with cryptographic signing:

  1. Check: App checks for updates on startup
  2. Download: If available, download in background
  3. Verify: Cryptographically verify signature
  4. Notify: Alert you when ready to install
  5. Install: You choose when to install
  6. Restart: App restarts with new version
Secure: All updates are cryptographically signed. Tampered updates are automatically rejected.

Update Channels

Stable (Recommended)

  • Official releases only
  • Thoroughly tested
  • Production-ready
  • Recommended for all users
  • Default channel

Beta (Early Access)

  • Early access to new features
  • Less tested
  • May have bugs
  • Get features before stable release
  • Help test and provide feedback

Switch channels: Settings → System → Updates → Update Channel

Checking for Updates

Automatic Checks

By default, AirShare checks for updates:

  • On app launch (every time)
  • Every 24 hours (if app is running)

Disable automatic checks:

  1. Settings → System → Updates
  2. Disable "Check for updates automatically"

Manual Check

Check for updates anytime:

  1. Settings → System → Updates
  2. Click "Check Now"
  3. See if update is available

Or from menu:

  • macOS: AirShare menu → Check for Updates
  • Windows: Help → Check for Updates
  • Linux: Help → Check for Updates

Installing Updates

Update Notification

When an update is available:

  1. In-app notification appears
  2. Shows:
    • New version number
    • Release notes / changelog
    • Download size
  3. Options:
    • Install Now: Download and install immediately
    • Later: Dismiss (will remind later)
    • Skip This Version: Don't notify about this version

Download Process

When you choose to install:

  1. Downloading: Progress bar shows download
  2. Verifying: Signature verification (automatic)
  3. Ready: "Ready to install" notification
  4. Install: Click to install and restart
Background download: Updates download in the background. You can keep using AirShare while downloading.

Installation

Click "Install and Restart":

  1. AirShare saves current state
  2. App closes gracefully
  3. Update installer runs
  4. App restarts automatically
  5. You're on the new version!

What's preserved:

  • ✅ All settings
  • ✅ Transfer history
  • ✅ License information
  • ✅ Known devices
  • ✅ Preferences

Update Settings

Configure Update Behavior

Settings → System → Updates:

Check for Updates Automatically

  • Enabled (default): Check on launch and every 24 hours
  • Disabled: Manual checks only

Download Updates Automatically

  • Enabled: Auto-download when available (you still choose when to install)
  • Disabled: Ask before downloading

Install Updates Automatically

  • Enabled: Install and restart at convenient time (e.g., when idle)
  • Disabled (default): You choose when to install
Recommendation: Keep auto-check enabled for security updates, but choose manual installation for control.

Version Information

Viewing Current Version

See your current version:

In-app:

  1. Settings → About
  2. See:
    • Version: e.g., 0.1.4
    • Build: Build number and date
    • Protocol: QUIC protocol version

From app:

  • macOS: AirShare menu → About AirShare
  • Windows: Help → About
  • Linux: Help → About

Version Numbering

AirShare uses Semantic Versioning (semver):

MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH

Example: 0.1.4

  • Major (0): Breaking changes, major rewrites
  • Minor (1): New features, backwards-compatible
  • Patch (4): Bug fixes, minor improvements

Release Cycle

Stable releases:

  • Patch updates: Every 2-4 weeks (bug fixes)
  • Minor updates: Every 2-3 months (new features)
  • Major updates: Yearly (major changes)

Beta releases:

  • Weekly or bi-weekly
  • Access new features early
  • More frequent updates

Release Notes

Viewing Changelog

See what's new in each version:

When updating:

  • Release notes shown in update notification
  • Click "View Release Notes" for full details

Anytime:

  1. Settings → About → "Release Notes"
  2. Or visit GitHub Releases

Changelog Format

Release notes include:

  • ✨ New features: What's been added
  • 🐛 Bug fixes: What issues were fixed
  • ⚡ Improvements: Performance and UX enhancements
  • 🔒 Security: Security patches
  • ⚠️ Breaking changes: Changes that may affect you
  • 📝 Known issues: Current limitations

Update Types

Security Updates

Critical security fixes:

  • Released as soon as possible
  • Recommended to install immediately
  • Marked as "Security Update" in notification
  • May be automatically installed (with your permission)

Feature Updates

New features and improvements:

  • Minor or major version bumps
  • Thoroughly tested before release
  • Backwards compatible (unless major version)
  • Opt-in to install

Bug Fix Updates

Patch releases:

  • Fix reported bugs
  • Small improvements
  • No new features
  • Safe to install anytime

Troubleshooting Updates

Update Check Fails

Problem: Can't check for updates

Solutions:

  1. No internet connection
    • Updates require internet
    • Connect to internet and retry
  2. Firewall blocking
    • Allow HTTPS connections to:
      • raw.githubusercontent.com
      • github.com
    • Check corporate firewall rules
  3. DNS issues
    • Try different DNS server
    • Flush DNS cache
  4. Manual alternative

Update Download Fails

Problem: Update starts downloading but fails

Solutions:

  1. Interrupted connection
    • Retry the download
    • Check network stability
  2. Insufficient disk space
    • Free up space (updates need ~100-200 MB temporarily)
    • Retry download
  3. Antivirus blocking
    • Temporarily disable antivirus
    • Add AirShare to exclusions
    • Retry download

Update Installation Fails

Problem: Update downloads but won't install

Solutions:

  1. AirShare still running
    • Fully quit AirShare (including tray icon)
    • Check Task Manager/Activity Monitor
    • Kill process if needed
    • Retry installation
  2. Insufficient permissions
    • Windows: Run installer as Administrator
    • macOS: Enter password when prompted
    • Linux: Check file permissions
  3. Signature verification failed
    • Update may be corrupted
    • Delete and re-download
    • If persists, download manually from GitHub
  4. Manual installation
    • Download installer from releases page
    • Install manually (will update over existing version)
    • Settings and data are preserved

Update Loop

Problem: Keeps asking to install same update

Solutions:

  1. Clear update cache
    • Settings → Advanced → Clear Cache
    • Restart AirShare
    • Check for updates again
  2. Manual installation
    • Download from GitHub
    • Install manually
    • Should resolve the loop

Manual Updates

Downloading Manually

If automatic updates don't work:

  1. Visit GitHub Releases
  2. Find the latest version
  3. Download for your platform:
    • Windows: .msi installer
    • macOS: .dmg installer
    • Linux: .AppImage or .deb

Installing Manually

Windows:

  1. Download .msi file
  2. Double-click to run
  3. Follow installation wizard
  4. Installs over existing version

macOS:

  1. Download .dmg file
  2. Open DMG
  3. Drag AirShare to Applications (replace existing)
  4. Done!

Linux (AppImage):

  1. Download .AppImage
  2. Make executable: chmod +x AirShare_*.AppImage
  3. Replace old AppImage
  4. Run new version

Linux (.deb):

sudo dpkg -i AirShare_*.deb
Settings preserved: Manual updates don't affect your settings, history, or license.

Downgrading

When to Downgrade

Downgrade if:

  • New version has bugs affecting you
  • Compatibility issues
  • Prefer previous version's behavior

How to Downgrade

  1. Visit GitHub Releases
  2. Find the version you want
  3. Download installer for that version
  4. Install normally (will install over newer version)
Warning: Downgrading may cause compatibility issues with newer database/settings formats. Backup your data first.

Backup Before Downgrading

Backup your data:

Windows:

xcopy "%APPDATA%\io.github.jaksatomovic.airshare" "C:\Backup\AirShare" /E /I

macOS:

cp -r ~/Library/Application\ Support/io.github.jaksatomovic.airshare ~/Desktop/AirShare-Backup

Linux:

cp -r ~/.config/io.github.jaksatomovic.airshare ~/AirShare-Backup

Beta Program

Joining Beta

Access new features early:

  1. Settings → System → Updates
  2. Update Channel → Beta
  3. Check for updates
  4. Install beta version

Beta Expectations

What to expect:

  • ✅ Early access to new features
  • ✅ Help shape development
  • ✅ More frequent updates
  • ⚠️ Potential bugs
  • ⚠️ Less stable than Stable channel

Reporting beta issues:

  • Use GitHub Issues
  • Tag as "beta"
  • Include beta version number
  • Detailed reproduction steps

Leaving Beta

Switch back to stable:

  1. Settings → System → Updates
  2. Update Channel → Stable
  3. Uninstall beta version
  4. Download latest stable from GitHub
  5. Install stable version

Update Best Practices

Recommendations

  1. Enable auto-check: Stay informed about updates
  2. Read release notes: Know what's changing
  3. Install security updates promptly: Protect your system
  4. Test beta if adventurous: Help improve AirShare
  5. Manual install if auto-fails: Always an option
  6. Report update issues: Help us improve the updater
  7. Backup before major updates: Just in case

Update FAQ

Q: Do updates cost money?
A: No! All updates are free for both Free and Pro users.

Q: Will updating reset my settings?
A: No. Settings, history, and license are preserved.

Q: Can I skip an update?
A: Yes. Click "Skip This Version" in the notification.

Q: How often should I update?
A: Install security updates ASAP. Feature updates when convenient.

Q: Do I need internet to update?
A: Yes, for downloading. But you can download on one device and transfer installer to another offline device.

Q: Can I update while a transfer is in progress?
A: Yes, download happens in background. But don't install until transfer completes.

Q: Will updates work forever for Free tier?
A: Yes! Free tier gets all updates, including new features.

Next Steps

Licensing Guide

Everything you need to know about AirShare licenses, activation, and Pro features.

Performance Optimization

Get the fastest possible transfer speeds with AirShare optimization tips and best practices.