Updating GitHub Desktop

GitHub Desktop automatically downloads updates and installs them when you restart. You can also manually check for updates.

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Updating GitHub Desktop

  1. In the menu bar, select GitHub Desktop, then click About GitHub Desktop.

    Screenshot of the menu bar on a Mac. Under the open "GitHub Desktop" dropdown menu, a cursor hovers over "About GitHub Desktop", highlighted in blue.

  2. In the modal window, click Check for Updates.

    Screenshot of the "GitHub Desktop" window. Under version details and links to external resources, a "Check for Updates" button is outlined in orange.

  3. If an update is available, quit and relaunch GitHub Desktop to install the update.

Resolving a crash at launch by updating GitHub Desktop

If you encounter a crash when attempting to launch GitHub Desktop versions 3.0.2 through 3.1.3, download the latest version from the GitHub Desktop site, then replace your existing application with the new version. Your preferences and tracked repositories will be retained.

  1. Navigate to the GitHub Desktop site.
  2. Download the latest version of GitHub Desktop.
  3. In your "Downloads" folder, locate the downloaded application.
  4. If the downloaded application is in a zip file, unpack the file by double clicking on the zip file.
  5. Drag the GitHub Desktop application from your "Downloads" folder to the "Applications" folder.
  6. Approve the dialog asking if you want to replace the existing application.
  7. Launch GitHub Desktop.
  8. Approve the prompt stating that application was downloaded from the internet.

  1. In the menu bar, select Help, then click About GitHub Desktop.

    Screenshot of the "GitHub Desktop" menu bar on Windows. In the open "Help" dropdown menu, the "About GitHub Desktop" option is outlined in orange.

  2. Click Check for Updates.

    Screenshot of the "GitHub Desktop" window. Under version details and links to external resources, a "Check for Updates" button is outlined in orange.

  3. If an update is available, quit and relaunch GitHub Desktop to install the update.