# Update Prior

> Check which version you run and install the latest on desktop, Android or the web. Includes what to do when the update fails or the app asks you to update.

Source: https://priortasks.com/docs/troubleshooting/update-the-app/
Last updated: 2026-11-05

The web app updates by itself: it is always the latest version when you load it. The desktop and Android apps check for updates, and you choose when to install.

## See your version and check for an update

Open **Settings → General** and look at **Application**. The **Version** row shows "Prior {version}" and a status on the right: **Up to date**, or a button to install. Choose the refresh button, or **Check for updates**, to look again. On the web, the row shows the latest release number instead.

The desktop app also checks in the background, 5 seconds after it starts and once a day. When an update is ready, an **Update available** button appears next to your account at the bottom of the sidebar.

## Install it

### Windows, macOS, Linux
1. Choose **Install v{version} & restart** in **Settings → General**, or the **Update available** button in the sidebar ("Update available. Click to install and restart.").
2. Prior downloads the update, installs it and reopens on macOS and Linux. On Windows, the installer finishes the update. If Prior says "Update installed" and asks you to restart, close it and open it again.
### Android
1. If you installed Prior from Google Play, choose **Update now** in **Settings → General**. Play's own update screen opens. You can also update from the Play Store page of Prior.
2. If you installed the APK from the releases page, choose **Download v{version}**. Your browser downloads the APK: open it to install over the current app. Allow "unknown apps" once if Android asks. Your data stays, because releases are signed with the same key.
### Web
Reload the page. If a message says "Prior was updated" and "A new version is ready. Reload to continue, nothing you wrote is lost.", choose **Reload**.

A Play install and a downloaded APK are two separate channels: an APK from the releases page cannot update a Play install, and the other way round.

## When the app asks you to update

On Android, the app can show **Prior needs an update** with "This version is no longer supported. Update to keep syncing." Choose **Update now**. Older versions can no longer sync with the server, so you must update to use Prior again. Your data on the device is kept.

## If the update fails

- **"Update install failed".** Prior suggests trying again from Settings: open **Settings → General** and choose **Try again**, or **Check for updates**.
- **"Couldn't check for updates."** Prior could not reach the update server. Check your connection and try again.
- **Still stuck.** Download the latest installer from the [releases page](https://github.com/gh-Constant/prior/releases/latest) and install it over the current version. Your synced data comes back when you sign in. Let any waiting changes sync first: see [Fix sync problems](https://priortasks.com/docs/troubleshooting/sync-problems/).

## Good to know

- Updates are signed. Prior installs only an update signed with its own key.
- The web app and the apps share your data, so different versions can run side by side for a while.
- Version history is on the [changelog](https://priortasks.com/changelog/).