nextcloud-desktop/doc/autoupdate.rst

The Automatic Updater

To ensure that you are always using the latest version of the ownCloud client, an auto-update mechanism has been added in Version 1.5.1. The Automatic Updater ensures that you automatically profit from the latest features and bugfixes.

Note

The Automatic Updater functions differently, depending on the operating system.

Basic Workflow

The following sections describe how to use the Automatic Updater on different operating systems:

Windows

The ownCloud client checks for updates and downloads them when available. You can view the update status under Settings -> General -> Updates in the ownCloud client.

If an update is available, and has been successfully downloaded, the ownCloud client starts a silent update prior to its next launch and then restarts itself. Should the silent update fail, the client offers a manual download.

Note

Administrative privileges are required to perform the update.

Mac OS X

If a new update is available, the ownCloud client initializes a pop-up dialog to alert you of the update and requesting that you update to the latest version. Due to their use of the Sparkle frameworks, this is the default process for Mac OS X applications.

Linux

Linux distributions provide their own update tool, so ownCloud clients that use the Linux operating system do not perform any updates on their own. Linux operating systems do, however, check for the latest version of the ownCloud client and passively notify the user (Settings -> General -> Updates) when an update is available.

Preventing Automatic Updates

In controlled environments, such as companies or universities, you might not want to enable the auto-update mechanism, as it interferes with controlled deployment tools and policies. To address this case, it is possible to disable the auto-updater entirely. The following sections describe how to disable the auto-update mechanism for different operating systems.

Preventing Automatic Updates in Windows Environents

You can prevent automatic updates from occuring in Windows environments using one of two methods. The first method allows users to override the automatic update check mechanism whereas the second method prevents any manual overrides.

To prevent automatic updates, but allow manual overrides:

1. Migrate to the following directory:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\ownCloud\ownCloud

2. Add the key skipUpdateCheck (of type DWORD).

3. Specify a value of 1 to the machine.

To manually override this key, use the same value in HKEY_CURRENT_USER.

To prevent automatic updates and disallow manual overrides:

Note

This is the preferred method of controlling the updater behavior using Group Policies.

1. Migrate to the following directory:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\ownCloud\ownCloud

2. Add the key skipUpdateCheck (of type DWORD).

3. Specify a value of 1 to the machine.

Preventing Automatic Updates in Mac OS X Environments

You can disable the automatic update mechanism in MAC OS X operating systems using the system-wide .plist file. To access this file:

1. Using the Windows explorer, migrate to the following location:

   /Library/Preferences/

2. Locate and open the following file:

   com.owncloud.desktopclient.plist

3. Add a new root level item of type bool.
4. Name the item skipUpdateCheck.
5. Set the item to true.

Alternatively, you can copy the file owncloud.app/Contents/Resources/deny_autoupdate_com.owncloud.desktopclient.plist to /Library/Preferences/com.owncloud.desktopclient.plist.

Preventing Automatic Updates in Linux Environments

Because Linux does not provide automatic updating functionality, there is no need to remove the automatic-update check. However, if you want to disable this check:

1. Locate and open the following file:

   /etc/ownCloud/ownCloud.conf

2. Add the following content to the file:

   [General]
   skipUpdateCheck=true