content/desktop/installing-and-authenticating-to-github-desktop/updating-github-desktop.md

---
title: Updating GitHub Desktop
shortTitle: Updating
intro: GitHub Desktop automatically downloads updates and installs them when you restart. You can also manually check for updates.
redirect_from:
  - /desktop/getting-started-with-github-desktop/updating-github-desktop
  - /desktop/installing-and-configuring-github-desktop/updating-github-desktop
  - /desktop/installing-and-configuring-github-desktop/installing-and-authenticating-to-github-desktop/updating-github-desktop
versions:
  fpt: '*'
  ghec: '*'
  ghes: '*'
---

{% mac %}

## Updating {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}

1. In the menu bar, select **{% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}**, then click **About {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}**.

   ![Screenshot of the menu bar on a Mac. Under the open "GitHub Desktop" dropdown menu, a cursor hovers over "About GitHub Desktop", highlighted in blue.](/assets/images/help/desktop/desktop-menu-about-desktop-mac.png)

1. In the modal window, click **Check for Updates**.
   ![Screenshot of the "GitHub Desktop" window. Under version details and links to external resources, a "Check for Updates" button is outlined in orange.](/assets/images/help/desktop/check-for-updates.png)
1. If an update is available, quit and relaunch {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} to install the update.

## Resolving a crash at launch by updating {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}

If you encounter a crash when attempting to launch {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} versions 3.0.2 through 3.1.3, download the latest version from the [{% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}](https://desktop.github.com) site, then replace your existing application with the new version. Your preferences and tracked repositories will be retained.

1. Navigate to the [{% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}](https://desktop.github.com) site.
1. Download the latest version of {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}.
1. In your "Downloads" folder, locate the downloaded application.
1. If the downloaded application is in a zip file, unpack the file by double clicking on the zip file.
1. Drag the {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} application from your "Downloads" folder to the "Applications" folder.
1. Approve the dialog asking if you want to replace the existing application.
1. Launch {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}.
1. Approve the prompt stating that application was downloaded from the internet.

{% endmac %}

{% windows %}

1. In the menu bar, select **Help**, then click **About GitHub Desktop**.

   ![Screenshot of the "GitHub Desktop" menu bar on Windows. In the open "Help" dropdown menu, the "About GitHub Desktop" option is outlined in orange.](/assets/images/help/desktop/help-about-desktop-win.png)

1. Click **Check for Updates**.

   ![Screenshot of the "GitHub Desktop" window. Under version details and links to external resources, a "Check for Updates" button is outlined in orange.](/assets/images/help/desktop/check-for-updates.png)

1. If an update is available, quit and relaunch {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} to install the update.

{% endwindows %}