Updating Alaf Server
Keep your Alaf Server up to date — the one-click desktop updater, the CLI update command, and how the always-on service picks up a new release.
New versions of Alaf Server come out from time to time — bug fixes, new features, the occasional security patch. Updating is how you get them. Think of it like the update button on your phone: Alaf Server checks whether there's a newer version, and if there is, it swaps the old one out for the new one.
Alaf Server gets these updates in one place only: the project's public GitHub releases. It pulls that information — it asks GitHub "is there anything newer?" Nothing is ever pushed to your install, and no Alaf Server-run server can reach in and change your app. You stay in control of when (and whether) you update.
Good to know
- Automatic updates are off by default. Alaf Server tells you when an update exists; it doesn't install it behind your back (the desktop app can, if you turn that on).
- Where it all lives: the dashboard shows update status under Settings → Instance → Updates.
- This only appears for people who run their own Alaf Server — the desktop app and self-hosted servers. On Alaf Server Cloud there's nothing for you to update; we handle it.
Where updates live
Open Settings and choose the Instance tab. Scroll to the Updates section. It shows:
- Which version you're on now, and whether a newer one exists — either "You're on the latest version" or "Alaf Server x.y.z is available".
- A Check now button to ask GitHub again right away (Alaf Server also checks on its own).
- A View changelog & releases link that opens the release notes on GitHub.
- Toggles for Automatic updates (desktop only) and Update & security notifications.
Screenshot
Updating
How you update depends on how you run Alaf Server. Pick your case.
The desktop app updates itself — you just say yes.
Wait for the update notice
When a new version is out, a notice slides in at the top of the dashboard: "Alaf Server x.y.z is available." It sits just above the page, so you don't have to go looking for it.
Screenshot
Press Update now
Click Update now. The notice turns into a progress bar and shows "Downloading Alaf Server x.y.z" with a percentage as it pulls the new version down.
Let it restart
When the download finishes, the bar reads "Installing — Alaf Server will restart". The app replaces itself with the new version and reopens on its own. That's it — you're on the new release. 🎉
Want it hands-free?
In Settings → Instance → Updates, turn on Automatic updates and the desktop app will download and install new releases for you, without waiting for a click. It's off by default so you decide when your app changes.
A self-hosted server (installed with the CLI) updates from the terminal. The alaf server update command
reinstalls the CLI — which bundles the API server — at the latest release.
Run the update command
alaf server updateAlaf Server checks GitHub, and if there's a newer version it reinstalls itself with your package manager (it uses bun if you have it, otherwise npm). If you're already current, it just says so and stops.
Restart the service on the new version
Updating swaps out the files, but the server that's already running keeps running the old version until you restart it. Bring it up again:
alaf server upThis restarts the persistent service on the new release and fetches the matching dashboard automatically.
Just want to know if there's an update?
Check without changing anything:
alaf server update --checkIt tells you your current version and whether a newer one is available — then exits. It installs nothing.
Force a specific package manager if you need to:
alaf server update --via npm # or: --via bunAbout the always-on service
If you started Alaf Server with alaf server up, it runs as a persistent service: it starts again when the
machine reboots and restarts itself if it ever crashes. That keeps your apps online.
What it does not do is change versions on its own. It keeps running whatever version it started with, so
after alaf server update you re-run alaf server up to restart it on the new release (and alaf server stop to
take it down). See Installation for the full service commands.
If something goes wrong
“Could not reach GitHub to check for updates”
Alaf Server pulls updates straight from GitHub, so the check needs internet access — and GitHub limits how
often an address can ask. Wait a moment and press Check now again, or run alaf server update later. If it
keeps failing, reinstall by hand with the same install method you used originally (see
Installation).
The CLI update failed partway
alaf server update reinstalls the global package with bun or npm. If that step errors, it prints the exact
reinstall command to run by hand — copy it and run it yourself. Then restart with alaf server up.
I updated but still see the old version
The running server hasn't been restarted yet. On a self-hosted server, run alaf server up again to restart on
the new version. On the desktop app, fully quit and reopen it if it didn't relaunch on its own.