# Intrusive updates on windows

**URL:** <https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107>\
**Category:** Features\
**Created:** [15 May 2018 11:27 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107 "2018-05-15T11:27:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![AllanJeremy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/allanjeremy/32/40_2.png) [@AllanJeremy](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/AllanJeremy)\
**Post date:** [15 May 2018 11:27 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/1 "2018-05-15T11:27:38Z")

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Normally I wouldn’t go as far as looking for a product site/forum with such things but here we go. First of all, I’d like to say that I love Joplin, and have been using it to plan my projects recently in place of one note, decided to give opensource a shot in hopes of finding something to contribute to in future.

As you may guess by the title of this topic, I absolutely hate the regular intrusive update prompts. I’m in the middle of work and bam! Update request. Now don’t get me wrong, updates are awesome, but there is currently no known (at least to me) way to disable automatic update checking. So that’s my **first feature request** , add an option to choose how regularly you’d like to check for updates, or turn off checking for updates if you so desire [Pointed out to me].

The second issue is with the updates themselves. Adding insult to injury, after ‘shoving’ the updates down my throat everytime I open the program, once I download the update, I need to run the installer again. Would help if it could be similar to VSCode’s update system or other similar systems. The update installs itself.

Currently a frustrated customer tbh, but if you guys could make those happen, I believe the entire community would benefit.

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**Author:** ![foxmask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c68b51/32.png) [@foxmask](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/foxmask)\
**Post date:** [15 May 2018 14:35 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/2 "2018-05-15T14:35:26Z")

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Hi,  
Can’t you uncheck the box “automatically update the application” (in the menu “tools \> general options”)  
Then, you decide when you want to make a check with “help \> check for updates” ?

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**Author:** ![AllanJeremy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/allanjeremy/32/40_2.png) [@AllanJeremy](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/AllanJeremy)\
**Post date:** [16 May 2018 08:56 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/3 "2018-05-16T08:56:47Z")

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Hey, thanks, hadn’t seen the option. That solves one issue, less frustrated now.

Sorry for being a noob

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**Author:** ![foxmask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c68b51/32.png) [@foxmask](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/foxmask)\
**Post date:** [16 May 2018 09:03 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/4 "2018-05-16T09:03:04Z")

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no problem 🙂

there is no noob question here, may be a different could exist in the rendering, so in that case , asking is make sense

if that answers to your question, do not hesitate to "tick" the "reply solve the problem" so we'll know the question is solved

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**Author:** ![AllanJeremy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/allanjeremy/32/40_2.png) [@AllanJeremy](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/AllanJeremy)\
**Post date:** [16 May 2018 09:15 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/5 "2018-05-16T09:15:59Z")

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> [@foxmask](#):
>
> if that answers to your question, do not hesitate to “tick” the “reply solve the problem” so we’ll know the question is solved

Done

> [@AllanJeremy](#):
>
> once I download the update, I need to run the installer again. Would help if it could be similar to VSCode’s update system or other similar systems. The update installs itself

Is there any way to get around this?

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**Author:** ![foxmask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c68b51/32.png) [@foxmask](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/foxmask)\
**Post date:** [16 May 2018 09:21 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/6 "2018-05-16T09:21:59Z")

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I can’t help, I don’t know VSCode. I’ve just noticed that, for example with notepad++, when an update is available, it runs the installer again too.

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**Author:** ![AllanJeremy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/allanjeremy/32/40_2.png) [@AllanJeremy](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/AllanJeremy)\
**Post date:** [16 May 2018 09:25 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/7 "2018-05-16T09:25:23Z")

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Ah yeah it does, the issue isn’t exactly running the installer, but rather having to do the installation manually, they all run some kind of installer.

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**Author:** ![foxmask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c68b51/32.png) [@foxmask](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/foxmask)\
**Post date:** [16 May 2018 09:26 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/8 "2018-05-16T09:26:48Z")

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You would like the installer to be triggered once downloaded ?

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**Author:** ![AllanJeremy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/allanjeremy/32/40_2.png) [@AllanJeremy](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/AllanJeremy)\
**Post date:** [16 May 2018 09:33 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/9 "2018-05-16T09:33:32Z")

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Absolutely. Yes. I think _it is safe to assume that by accepting to download an update, the user wants to install it immediately. Otherwise they would just visit the site to download a version if they wanted to wait._

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**Author:** ![zblesk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/zblesk/32/11_2.png) [@zblesk](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/zblesk)\
**Post date:** [16 May 2018 09:42 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/10 "2018-05-16T09:42:58Z")

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> [@foxmask](#):
>
> I can’t help, I don’t know VSCode. I’ve just noticed that, for example with notepad++, when an update is available, it runs the installer again too.

Slightly OT: Oh, if you're using Notepad++, definitely [check out VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/)! It's like SublimeText, but free. 🙂 It's awesome.

And it really does handle updates very well (and it also is an open-source: it asks you if you want to download an update. Once that's done, it asks whether you want to reload. The window just refreshes and you can continue working, it takes seconds.

I have no idea how any of that is implemented, but VS Code is [open source](https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode) and implemented in Electron as well, so maybe someone who knows what they're doing would be able to "borrow" it. 🤷‍♀️

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**Author:** ![laurent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@laurent](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/laurent)\
**Post date:** [16 May 2018 09:48 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/11 "2018-05-16T09:48:22Z")

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There’s currently no plan to add auto-installation of updates as it’s tricky to get right and would not be very useful for Joplin. In the past few days there was many updates but in general it’s not as frequent.

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**Author:** ![AllanJeremy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/allanjeremy/32/40_2.png) [@AllanJeremy](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/AllanJeremy)\
**Post date:** [16 May 2018 09:48 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/12 "2018-05-16T09:48:38Z")

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> [@zblesk](#):
>
> I have no idea how any of that is implemented, but VS Code is [open source](https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode) and implemented in Electron as well, so maybe someone who knows what they’re doing would be able to “borrow” it.

For sure L

> [@zblesk](#):
>
> Oh, if you’re using Notepad++, definitely [check out VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/)! It’s like SublimeText, but free. 🙂 It’s awesome.

He definitely should consider it.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![AllanJeremy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/allanjeremy/32/40_2.png) [@AllanJeremy](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/AllanJeremy)\
**Post date:** [16 May 2018 09:50 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/13 "2018-05-16T09:50:23Z")

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Ah, alright, thanks Laurent. Yeah, been getting a lot of updates recently, good to know it’s not normally the case

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**Author:** ![daniel-hmc](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/daniel-hmc/32/1398_2.png) [@daniel-hmc](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/daniel-hmc)\
**Post date:** [12 September 2019 18:56 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/14 "2019-09-12T18:56:29Z")

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Using Joplin on 5 devices (synced), and given the high frequency of Joplin updates, I’m also quite annoyed by the update dialogues. However, instead of entirely switchin auto-updates off, what about an option (that I have seen in other applications already) for reducing update checks to e.g. once a week? Then the user doesn’t have to remember to manally start the update, but is not overwhelmed with update offers either.

Daniel

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**Author:** ![laurent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@laurent](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/laurent)\
**Post date:** [12 September 2019 22:43 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/15 "2019-09-12T22:43:59Z")

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Why not disable auto-updates and manually check from time to time? If you don’t need the latest versions right away there’s no need to enable auto-update. I do that with most apps as I’m fine running “old” versions.

The auto-update feature won’t be changed as it’s not worth it. Too much work for a tiny annoyance that can easily be switched off.

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**Author:** ![daniel-hmc](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/daniel-hmc/32/1398_2.png) [@daniel-hmc](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/daniel-hmc)\
**Post date:** [13 September 2019 07:06 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/16 "2019-09-13T07:06:57Z")

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Sure, if it’s clear that this behaviour won’t be changed, switching auto-updates off will be the best option.  
Thanks,  
Daniel

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**Author:** ![vb0](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/vb0/32/1299_2.png) [@vb0](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/vb0)\
**Post date:** [18 September 2019 20:27 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/17 "2019-09-18T20:27:21Z")

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**please ignore - user error**

I also noticed a slightly dangerous thing too: the portable version asks for update and will download the installer, which if installed can lead the user into thinking all the notes are lost (as the installed version uses a different default folder).

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**Author:** ![laurent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@laurent](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/laurent)\
**Post date:** [19 September 2019 08:04 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/18 "2019-09-19T08:04:50Z")

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Right, that’s true. And that makes me think: it might explain all the mysterious disappearance of data that happen for some users. They use the portable app, then they unknowingly upgrade to the regular app, which has a different profile directory. And that makes it looks like all the data is gone.

I’m going to add an issue on GitHub to fix this.

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**Author:** ![laurent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@laurent](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/laurent)\
**Post date:** [19 September 2019 17:22 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/19 "2019-09-19T17:22:04Z")

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@vb0, I’ve checked but actually I see that I had added some logic to make the portable app update to download the JoplinPortable.exe file and not the installer. So normally it should work. Is your version definitely downloading the installer?

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**Author:** ![zblesk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/zblesk/32/11_2.png) [@zblesk](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/zblesk)\
**Post date:** [19 September 2019 19:46 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107/20 "2019-09-19T19:46:13Z")

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I use the portable version all the time; the auto-updater always downloads the correct exe as expected.

[Next page](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/intrusive-updates-on-windows/107.md?page=2)