# Updates and News (/en/docs/platform/dashboard/updates)



The dashboard is a web app, so it updates without you installing anything. When a new version is ready, it asks you to reload.

## Check for updates [#check-for-updates]

Go to **Settings › General**. At the top you'll see your current version, for example *SafeCircle 0.3.1*, and the update status:

| Status                          | Meaning                                                       |
| ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **You're up to date**           | You're on the latest version. Shows when it was last checked. |
| **Update available to install** | A newer version is ready.                                     |
| **Missing updates**             | The dashboard has never managed to check.                     |

* **Check** looks for a new version now.
* **Reload to update** appears when an update is ready.
* **News** opens the release notes.

SafeCircle also checks in the background. To stop that, switch off **Check for updates automatically** under **Updates**.

You can run the same check and open the notes from the **···** (**More**) menu in the top bar, which also shows the version.

## Installing an update [#installing-an-update]

When a new version is available, a bar appears: **Update available · vX.Y.Z**.

* **Reload** (or **Reload now**) applies it. It takes a second and keeps you signed in.
* **What's new** opens the release notes first.
* **Later** (or **Ignore for now**) dismisses it. A small indicator stays in the interface so you can update when you're ready.

Occasionally an update is required, and the bar says *SafeCircle was updated. Reload to continue.*

After reloading you'll see *You're up to date — Updated to version X*.

<Callout type="info">
  If checking for updates fails, your dashboard keeps working. Click **Details** to see technical details, then retry or click **Reload page**.
</Callout>

## The SafeCircle Times [#the-safecircle-times]

Release notes are published as a newspaper called **The SafeCircle Times**. Open it from **News** in Settings › General, or **What's new** in the **···** or account menu.

* Each release has a version, a codename and a label: **Major release**, **Minor release** or **Patch release**.
* Use **Prev** and **Next**, or the left and right arrow keys, to move between releases.
* After an update, **What's new** opens at the version you just installed.

## Android beta builds [#android-beta-builds]

If you're a beta tester, you can also opt in to early builds of the SafeCircle Android app on Google Play from here.

1. Go to **Settings › General › Updates**.
2. Switch on **Google Play beta updates**.
3. In the **Join the beta testers** dialog, click **Join the group**. This opens the **SafeCircle Testers** Google group.
4. Join the group with the Google account you use on Google Play.
5. Update the app from its Play Store page.

The dashboard can't tell whether you've joined the group, so it saves the switch once you follow the link. See [Join the beta](/en/docs/platform/private-beta/join) for the whole process.

## Report a problem [#report-a-problem]

Having trouble updating, or spotted a bug? Use **More › Report a bug** or **More › Request a feature**. Your current page and version are attached automatically. You can also email **[support@safecircle.tech](mailto:support@safecircle.tech)**.