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Electron Desktop App Development · Lesson

Auto-Updates Implementation

Integrate auto-update features into your Electron app using `electron-updater` to seamlessly deliver new versions to your users.

Auto-Updates Implementation is a free Electron Desktop App Development lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 2 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Electron Desktop App Development learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

Why Auto-Updates?

Keeping your desktop application up-to-date is crucial for user experience and security. Auto-updates ensure users always have the latest features and bug fixes.

  • Improved Security: Patches vulnerabilities quickly.
  • New Features: Delivers enhancements without manual effort.
  • Bug Fixes: Resolves issues seamlessly.
  • Better User Experience: Users enjoy a consistently fresh and stable app.

Introducing `electron-updater`

electron-updater is a powerful module that simplifies adding auto-update functionality to your Electron app. It handles the complex logic of checking for new versions, downloading them, and installing them.

It works by looking for new releases on a configured update server (like GitHub Releases, Amazon S3, or a custom server) and managing the update process.

Installation & Setup

First, you need to install electron-updater as a dependency in your Electron project. It's best to add it as a regular dependency, not a dev dependency, as it's part of your deployed application.

Open your terminal in your project's root directory and run:

npm install electron-updater

Initial Setup in `main.js`

To use electron-updater, you'll primarily work in your app's main process (usually main.js). You'll import autoUpdater and call its checkForUpdates() method when your app is ready.

Note: This code is part of an Electron app's main process and requires a full Electron environment to run. It won't execute in a standard JavaScript playground.

const { app, BrowserWindow } = require('electron');
const { autoUpdater } = require('electron-updater');

// ... other app setup ...

app.on('ready', () => {
  // createWindow(); // Your window creation function
  autoUpdater.checkForUpdates();
  console.log('Checking for updates...');
});

// ... other app lifecycle events ...

Understanding Update Events

electron-updater uses an event-driven model. This means you 'listen' for specific events that occur during the update process and react to them. This allows you to provide feedback to your users.

  • checking-for-update: Update check started.
  • update-available: New version found.
  • update-not-available: No new version.
  • download-progress: Update download progress.
  • update-downloaded: Update ready to install.
  • error: Something went wrong.

Handling `checking-for-update`

The checking-for-update event is fired as soon as checkForUpdates() is called. It's a good place to show a loading indicator or a message to the user.

Remember: This code needs to be in your Electron main.js file.

const { autoUpdater } = require('electron-updater');

autoUpdater.on('checking-for-update', () => {
  console.log('App is now checking for updates...');
  // You might send a message to the renderer process
  // to update the UI here.
});

Handling `update-available`

When electron-updater finds a new version, it emits the update-available event. At this point, the update download usually begins automatically. You can use this event to notify the user that an update is being downloaded.

const { autoUpdater } = require('electron-updater');

autoUpdater.on('update-available', (info) => {
  console.log(`Update available! Version: ${info.version}`);
  // Display a message to the user that an update is downloading.
});

Handling `update-downloaded` & Install

Once the update has been fully downloaded, the update-downloaded event is emitted. This is the critical moment! You should notify the user and ask them to restart the application to apply the update.

The autoUpdater.quitAndInstall() method will close all windows and install the update, then relaunch the app.

const { autoUpdater } = require('electron-updater');

autoUpdater.on('update-downloaded', (info) => {
  console.log('Update downloaded. Restarting app to install...');
  // In a real app, you'd prompt the user here:
  // dialog.showMessageBox({ /* ... */ }).then(() => autoUpdater.quitAndInstall());
  autoUpdater.quitAndInstall();
});

Handling Errors & No Updates

It's important to handle cases where there are no updates or if an error occurs during the process. The update-not-available event lets you know when your app is already the latest version.

The error event is crucial for debugging and informing users if something went wrong during the update check or download.

const { autoUpdater } = require('electron-updater');

autoUpdater.on('update-not-available', (info) => {
  console.log('No new updates available.');
});

autoUpdater.on('error', (err) => {
  console.error('Error during auto-update:', err);
  // You might display an error message to the user.
});

Update Flow Check

You've learned about the main events in the electron-updater lifecycle. Which of the following statements about auto-updates are generally true?

Recap: Keep Your App Fresh!

In this lesson, you've learned how to implement auto-update functionality in your Electron applications using the electron-updater module.

  • We covered its installation and basic setup in the main process.
  • You explored key events like checking-for-update, update-available, update-downloaded, and error.
  • Understanding these events allows you to build a robust and user-friendly update experience, ensuring your users always have the best version of your app.

Frequently asked questions

Is the “Auto-Updates Implementation” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “Auto-Updates Implementation” is free to read here on the web, and the Electron Desktop App Development course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Electron Desktop App Development course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “Auto-Updates Implementation”?

Integrate auto-update features into your Electron app using `electron-updater` to seamlessly deliver new versions to your users. You practise Electron Desktop App Development with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start Electron Desktop App Development?

No prior experience is required. Electron Desktop App Development on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 2 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “Auto-Updates Implementation” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this Electron Desktop App Development lesson?

Yes. Every Electron Desktop App Development lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

  1. Managing App Lifecycle Events
  2. Auto-Updates Implementation
  3. Crash Reporting
  4. Deep Linking and Protocol Handlers
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