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Update the desktop app

Keep the Clevera desktop app up to date on Mac and Windows, understand why an outdated app can't record, and fix an update that fails.

Updated 5 min read

Clevera only lets you record with the latest version of the desktop app. Updating takes a minute and keeps your settings, shortcuts and sign-in. On a Mac the app tells you when an update is waiting; on Windows you check for updates yourself.

Why updates are required

Recordings from the desktop app feed the AI that builds your video, and each version of the app changes what it captures and how. To make sure every recording works with the current Clevera, Clevera's servers turn away recordings from older versions. Your earlier recordings and videos aren't affected.

The Mac app also checks before every recording. If any newer version is available, Start recording shows Update Required instead of starting.

When Clevera checks for updates

When What you see if there's an update
A couple of seconds after the app opens (at most once a day) New Version Available — "A new version of Clevera is available. … Please update to get the latest features and improvements." with Update Now and Later.
Every time you start a recording Update Required — "Please update Clevera to the latest version before recording." with Update Now and Cancel.
When you choose Check for updates... The Clevera updates window shows Update available.
The Update Required alert with Update Now and Cancel.

If Clevera can't reach the update server, it doesn't block you on the app side, but you still need a connection to start a recording.

Update the app

  1. Open Clevera updates

    On a Mac, click Update Now in either alert. On either platform you can open the recording window and click More → Check for updates... (on a Mac, also the Clevera menu → Check for updates...; on Windows, also the tray icon → Check for updates).

    The Clevera updates window shows your Current version and checks automatically. Click Check again to re-check.

  2. Download the update

    If a new version is available, you see Update available with its version number. Click Download and install. The window shows Downloading update and how far along it is.

    The Clevera updates window showing an available update.

  3. Install it

    When the download finishes, you see Ready to install. Click Install now, or Install later to keep working and install from this window later.

    The Clevera updates window with the update ready to install.

  4. Let Clevera restart

    The window shows Installing update — "Clevera will restart automatically when the install finishes." Clevera closes, installs the new version and opens again. On Windows the installer runs in the background without any windows.

If Clevera is already current, the window says You're up to date — "Clevera will keep checking in the background."

What the update does

  1. Downloads the new version to your Downloads folder as Clevera-Update.dmg.
  2. Replaces Clevera in your Applications folder, keeping a backup until the install succeeds.
  3. Restarts Clevera.

Your settings, shortcuts, speaker notes, sign-in and macOS permissions carry over. If macOS asks for a permission again after an update, see Grant the permissions Clevera needs to record.

If an update fails

The window shows Update failed with a Try again button.

Message What to do
"Network connection failed" Check your internet connection and click Try again.
"Failed to download update" Click Try again. If it keeps failing, try another network.
"Failed to mount DMG: …" Delete Clevera-Update.dmg from your Downloads folder and try again.
"Failed to copy new app: …" Make sure your Mac user can change apps in the Applications folder, then try again.
"Current app not found at expected location: …" Clevera isn't running from the Applications folder. Install it there (see below).

Update by hand

If the in-app update keeps failing, install the latest version over the top:

  1. Quit Clevera.
  2. Download the latest version from https://app.clevera.ai/download/app/mac.
  3. Open the disk image and drag Clevera onto Applications. Choose Replace when asked.
  4. Open Clevera.

@tab Windows

  1. Quit Clevera: right-click the tray icon → Quit.
  2. Download the latest version from https://app.clevera.ai/download/app/windows.
  3. Open the ZIP file and run CleveraSetup-<version>.exe.
  4. Open Clevera.

Your settings and sign-in are kept.

Install the Clevera desktop appRequirements and a fresh install.Uninstall the desktop appRemove Clevera and its data.Clevera can't record my screenOther reasons a recording won't start.Change desktop app settingsSettings that survive an update.