> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.draftable.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Update procedure and configuration across deployment options

> This article explains how updates work for each Draftable Legal installer type, including automatic updates for the default installer and manual update procedures for the MSI installer.

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.

## 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.

### 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](/hc/en-us/articles/39934335355033-How-to-properly-restart-Draftable-Legal).
* Alternatively, a **system restart** will also apply pending updates.

<Note>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.</Note>

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.

<Frame>
  !\[Version number and Check for Updates in Settings]\(/images/Draftable updating procedures/1.png)
</Frame>

### 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.

```bash theme={null}
Key: HKCU:\Software\Policies\Draftable\Compare
Value name: AutomaticUpdatesEnabled
Value type: REG_DWORD
Value data: <value>
```

| Value | Behavior                            |
| ----- | ----------------------------------- |
| `1`   | Automatic updates enabled (default) |
| `0`   | Automatic updates disabled          |

<Tip>This setting can also be deployed via Group Policy. See [Configuring settings with Group Policy](/hc/en-us/articles/18763487262105-Configuring-settings-with-Group-Policy-Draftable-Legal) for more information.</Tip>

For a complete list of registry configurations, refer to [Most common Draftable Legal registry configurations](/hc/en-us/articles/24732245077401-Most-common-Draftable-Legal-registry-configurations).

***

## 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.

### 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

### How to update the MSI installation

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

<Steps>
  <Step title="Download the new version">
    Download the desired version of the MSI installer from the Draftable download portal or use the direct download URL format:

    ```bash theme={null}
    https://dl.draftable.com/desktop/DraftableDesktopSystem-<version>.msi
    ```

    For example, to download version 26.1.0:

    ```bash theme={null}
    https://dl.draftable.com/desktop/DraftableDesktopSystem-26.1.0.msi
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="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.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify the update">
    Open Draftable Legal and navigate to **Settings > About** to confirm the new version number.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  If you script your MSI installs with `ADDLOCAL`, remember to include `HttpListener` (the required HTTP Listener Service) in your update command as well. Feature selections are not carried over automatically, so any feature omitted from `ADDLOCAL` will not be present after the update.
</Note>

### Upgrade and downgrade behavior

| Scenario                                | Supported | Procedure                                              |
| --------------------------------------- | --------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Upgrade** (earlier → later version)   | Yes       | Install the newer MSI over the existing installation   |
| **Downgrade** (later → earlier version) | No        | Must uninstall first, then install the earlier version |

<Warning>
  **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.
</Warning>

### 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](/hc/en-us/articles/22425102143129-Silent-install-launch-options-for-Draftable-Legal).

***

## Summary comparison

| Feature               | Default Installer (EXE)                 | Machine-Wide MSI                                           |
| --------------------- | --------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Automatic updates** | Yes (enabled by default)                | No                                                         |
| **Update method**     | Automatic download, applied on restart  | Manual installation of new version                         |
| **Version control**   | Can be disabled via registry            | Full administrator control                                 |
| **Upgrade support**   | Automatic                               | Install new MSI over existing                              |
| **Downgrade support** | Via auto-update rollback (if available) | Requires uninstall first                                   |
| **Best for**          | Individual users, small teams           | Enterprise deployments, Citrix/RDS, regulated environments |