Updates & licensing
This page is about the Desktop build — how it keeps itself up to date and how licensing works there. (On Android and iOS the store handles updates and purchases; see Settings & platforms.)
Automatic updates
The Desktop app checks for a newer release on startup and, when one is available, walks you through download → verify → install. Downloads are integrity-checked (SHA-256) and signature-verified before anything is launched, so a tampered or partial file is never run.
- Silent on startup — if you're already current, nothing interrupts you.
- Manual check — the About screen has a Check for updates button that shows progress and tells you when you're up to date.
Updates apply to the direct downloads (Windows MSI, Linux Deb/AppImage, macOS DMG). They install over your existing copy and keep your settings in ~/.dr-terminal/.
Microsoft Store build
If you installed DR-Terminal from the Microsoft Store, the Store keeps it updated automatically and the package is read-only — so the in-app updater is turned off by design. You won't see update prompts, and the Check for updates button is hidden. Everything else works the same.
Licensing on Desktop
The Desktop app runs in one of a few license states — trial, active, or expired.
- A valid license unlocks the full feature set and removes any reminders.
- When a license has expired, DR-Terminal stays usable but shows an occasional reminder on startup and every so often as you open new sessions. It's a gentle nudge, not a wall — dismiss it and keep working.
The reminder only appears once expiry is confirmed against the license server — a fresh install or the brief window before the first check is never nagged, and trial users are left alone.