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Draftable Legal offers different installer types, each with distinct update behaviors. Understanding these differences helps IT administrators maintain version control and plan update rollouts effectively.

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Default Installer (EXE)

The default installer for Draftable Legal includes automatic updates enabled by default. When a new version is available, Draftable will download and prepare the update automatically.

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How updates are applied

Updates are downloaded in the background and installed when the application is restarted. To ensure updates are applied correctly:
  • Restart Draftable properly by exiting from the system tray (not just closing the New Comparison window). For detailed instructions, see How to properly restart Draftable Legal.
  • Alternatively, a system restart will also apply pending updates.
If Draftable reports it is up to date but the version number doesn’t match the latest release, a proper restart is usually required to complete the update process.
You can check your current version and manually trigger an update check by navigating to Settings > General. The version number and “Check for Updates” link are displayed in the bottom-left corner of the Settings window.
![Version number and Check for Updates in Settings](/images/Draftable updating procedures/1.png)

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Disabling automatic updates

For organizations that require strict version control, automatic updates can be disabled via the registry. When disabled, updates can only be triggered manually from the Settings window. 
Key: HKCU:\Software\Policies\Draftable\Compare
Value name: AutomaticUpdatesEnabled
Value type: REG_DWORD
Value data: <value>
ValueBehavior
1Automatic updates enabled (default)
0Automatic updates disabled
This setting can also be deployed via Group Policy. See Configuring settings with Group Policy for more information.
For a complete list of registry configurations, refer to Most common Draftable Legal registry configurations.

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Machine-Wide MSI Installer

The MSI installer is designed for enterprise environments where administrators require full control over software versions. Unlike the default installer, the MSI version does not include automatic updates.

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Why MSI does not have automatic updates

The MSI installer is intentionally designed without automatic updates to provide:
  • Version control – Administrators can test and approve specific versions before deployment
  • Predictable rollouts – Updates only occur when explicitly deployed by IT
  • Compliance requirements – Organizations can maintain approved software versions across all machines

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How to update the MSI installation

To update Draftable Legal installed via MSI, install the new version over the existing installation:
1

Download the new version

Download the desired version of the MSI installer from the Draftable download portal or use the direct download URL format:
https://dl.draftable.com/desktop/DraftableDesktopSystem-<version>.msi
For example, to download version 26.1.0:
https://dl.draftable.com/desktop/DraftableDesktopSystem-26.1.0.msi
2

Install over the existing version

Run the MSI installer with administrator rights. The new version will install over the existing installation, preserving user settings and configurations.
3

Verify the update

Open Draftable Legal and navigate to Settings > About to confirm the new version number.

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Upgrade and downgrade behavior

ScenarioSupportedProcedure
Upgrade (earlier → later version)YesInstall the newer MSI over the existing installation
Downgrade (later → earlier version)NoMust uninstall first, then install the earlier version
Downgrading is not supported via direct installation. If you need to revert to an earlier version, you must first uninstall the current version of Draftable Legal, then install the desired earlier version.

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Deploying updates at scale

For enterprise-wide MSI updates, you can use your existing software deployment tools (such as SCCM, Intune, or Group Policy) to push the new MSI version to all machines. For silent installation options, see Silent install & launch options for Draftable Legal.

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Summary comparison

FeatureDefault Installer (EXE)Machine-Wide MSI
Automatic updatesYes (enabled by default)No
Update methodAutomatic download, applied on restartManual installation of new version
Version controlCan be disabled via registryFull administrator control
Upgrade supportAutomaticInstall new MSI over existing
Downgrade supportVia auto-update rollback (if available)Requires uninstall first
Best forIndividual users, small teamsEnterprise deployments, Citrix/RDS, regulated environments