Desktop v6.1.0: remove auto-updates, EXE installer by cwarnermm · Pull Request #8732 · mattermost/docs

cwarnermm · 2026-02-06T21:32:23Z

Summary

Complete documentation updates for Mattermost Desktop v6.1.0 that removes automatic updates and replaces them with in-app notifications, and discontinues the Windows EXE installer in favor of MSI only.

Changes

Updated end-user installation guide with manual update workflows
Documented new in-app notification system for all platforms
Rewrote silent Windows distribution guide (removed EXE, MSI-only)
Updated MSI/GPO guide for notification-only behavior
Added troubleshooting sections for update notifications
Updated deprecated features to reflect completed transition
Added platform-specific manual update instructions

Fixes #8725

🤖 Generated with Claude Code

github-actions · 2026-02-06T21:35:42Z

Newest code from mattermost has been published to preview environment for Git SHA a33a3a2

devinbinnie · 2026-02-09T20:58:37Z

@claude Remove all the changes that don't have to do with the Desktop App

claude · 2026-02-09T20:58:57Z

Claude finished @devinbinnie's task in 10m 55s —— View job

Removing non-Desktop changes ✅

Analyze all changed files to identify non-Desktop changes
Revert non-Desktop files to base branch state
Commit changes locally

Successfully reverted 7 non-Desktop files:

.gitignore ✅
advanced-permissions-backend-infrastructure.rst ✅
guest-accounts.rst ✅
workflow-automation.rst ✅
learn-about-playbooks.rst ✅
share-and-collaborate.rst ✅
work-with-playbooks.rst ✅

Summary

I've successfully reverted all non-Desktop changes from this PR. The 7 files listed above contained changes from the Playbooks v2.6 update (commit 5fb0a2b) that shouldn't be included in the Desktop v6.1.0 documentation PR.

All files have been reverted to their state before the Playbooks commit and the changes are committed locally (commit 2fd7953: "Revert non-Desktop changes from Playbooks v2.6 update").

Action needed: The remote branch was updated during my work, so I wasn't able to push automatically. You'll need to manually fetch, pull, and push the changes. The commit is ready locally with all the correct reverts applied.

Once pushed, this PR will contain only Desktop v6.1.0 documentation changes (6 files) instead of the previous 13 files.

| Branch: claude/issue-8725-20260206-2127

Complete documentation updates for Mattermost Desktop v6.1.0 that removes automatic updates and replaces them with in-app notifications, and discontinues the Windows EXE installer in favor of MSI only. Changes: - Updated end-user installation guide with manual update workflows - Documented new in-app notification system for all platforms - Rewrote silent Windows distribution guide (removed EXE, MSI-only) - Updated MSI/GPO guide for notification-only behavior - Added troubleshooting sections for update notifications - Updated deprecated features to reflect completed transition - Added platform-specific manual update instructions Fixes #8725 Co-authored-by: Carrie Warner (Mattermost) <cwarnermm@users.noreply.github.com>

github-actions · 2026-02-09T21:07:22Z

Newest code from mattermost has been published to preview environment for Git SHA 991a2b7

devinbinnie · 2026-02-09T21:07:26Z

source/deployment-guide/desktop/desktop-app-deployment.rst

+.. important::

-See additional deployment options below to manage distribution of the mobile app to your users.
+   **Update Mechanism Change in v6.1.0**


@claude This is unnecessary, remove it.

Claude finished @devinbinnie's task in 48s —— View job

Removing unnecessary content

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Remove the unnecessary content at line 18

Commit and push changes

Removed the "Update Mechanism Change in v6.1.0" important block from the Desktop App Deployment page as requested.

| Branch: claude/issue-8725-20260206-2127

devinbinnie · 2026-02-09T21:07:55Z

source/deployment-guide/desktop/desktop-msi-installer-and-group-policy-install.rst

  | Default Server List      | Define one or more default, permanent servers.             | v4.3 or later        | ``DefaultServerList``      |
  +--------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------+----------------------+----------------------------+
-  | Automatic Updates        | If disabled, automatic desktop app updates are disabled.   | v5.1 or later        | ``EnableAutoUpdates``      |
+  | Update Notifications     | If disabled, in-app update notifications are not shown.    | v5.1 or later        | ``EnableAutoUpdates``      |


@claude Don't include the v6.1.0 deprecation bit.

Claude finished @devinbinnie's task in 1m 26s —— View job

Removing v6.1.0 deprecation reference

Read the file to identify the v6.1.0 deprecation content

Remove the v6.1.0 reference from line 46-48

Create local commit with the change

I've successfully removed the v6.1.0 deprecation text from the Update Notifications table description at lines 47-48. The table row now simply reads:

| Update Notifications | If disabled, in-app update notifications are not shown. | v5.1 or later | ``EnableAutoUpdates`` |

The change has been committed locally. However, the remote branch has new commits that aren't in my local copy, so I cannot push without first syncing. I need fetch approval in my --allowedTools configuration to complete the push.

The change is ready - it just needs to be pushed to the remote branch once git operations are approved.

| Branch: claude/issue-8725-20260206-2127

devinbinnie · 2026-02-09T21:08:18Z

source/deployment-guide/desktop/desktop-msi-installer-and-group-policy-install.rst

   * ``\\FQDNDomain\sysvol\FQDNDomain\Policies\PolicyDefinitions\en-US`` can be used instead of ``C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US`` if available.

-**Disable automatic updates**
+.. important::


@claude Remove this "important" bit

Claude finished @devinbinnie's task in 1m 2s —— View job

Removing "important" bit

Read file to identify the "important" block at line 81

Remove the "important" block (lines 81-92)

Commit changes locally

The "important" block has been successfully removed from the MSI installer guide. The changes have been committed locally but require approval to sync with the remote branch (other commits were pushed concurrently).

What was removed: The entire important directive (lines 81-92) that explained the v6.1.0 update mechanism change, including the forum post link and bullet points about the EnableAutoUpdates Group Policy behavior.

To complete the push, I need approval to run:

git pull origin claude/issue-8725-20260206-2127 && git push origin HEAD

| Branch: claude/issue-8725-20260206-2127

Co-authored-by: Devin Binnie <devinbinnie@users.noreply.github.com>

devinbinnie · 2026-02-09T21:09:17Z

source/deployment-guide/desktop/desktop-msi-installer-and-group-policy-install.rst

 .. note::
-   - Installing the MSI for all users disables automatic updates for the desktop app on Windows.
-   - To disable automatic updates on a per-user basis, use the ``DISABLEAUTOUPDATE`` parameter: ``msiexec /i mattermost-desktop-v6.0.4-x64.msi DISABLEAUTOUPDATE=1``
+   - The ``ALLUSERS`` and ``DISABLEAUTOUPDATE`` parameters control update notification behavior from v6.1.0 onwards (automatic updates have been replaced with notifications).


@claude You can just remove all of this. The parameters have all been removed.

Removing parameters section

Read file to identify the parameters section at line 216

Remove the entire parameters section (lines 215-218)

Commit and push changes

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devinbinnie · 2026-02-09T21:09:55Z

source/deployment-guide/desktop/desktop-troubleshooting.rst

+
+1. **Check your internet connection**: The desktop app checks ``https://mattermost.com/desktop/version/latest-[platform].json`` for updates. Ensure outbound HTTPS to ``mattermost.com`` is allowed.
+
+2. **Manually check for updates**: Go to **Help > Check for Updates** or **Settings > Updates > Check Now** to trigger an immediate check.


@claude This should be Settings > General > Check for Updates Now

Claude Code is working…

I'll analyze this and get back to you.

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cwarnermm changed the base branch from master to v11.4-documentation February 6, 2026 21:32

cwarnermm changed the base branch from v11.4-documentation to desktop-v6.1-documentation February 6, 2026 21:33

cwarnermm requested a review from devinbinnie February 6, 2026 21:33

cwarnermm added 1: Dev Review Requires review by a core commiter Guidance labels Feb 6, 2026

cwarnermm added this to the Desktop v6.1.0 milestone Feb 6, 2026

devinbinnie force-pushed the claude/issue-8725-20260206-2127 branch from a33a3a2 to 991a2b7 Compare February 9, 2026 21:03

devinbinnie reviewed Feb 9, 2026

View reviewed changes

docs: Remove unnecessary v6.1.0 update mechanism notice

bce5fdb

Co-authored-by: Devin Binnie <devinbinnie@users.noreply.github.com>

devinbinnie reviewed Feb 9, 2026

View reviewed changes


		1. Check your internet connection: The desktop app checks ``https://mattermost.com/desktop/version/latest-[platform].json`` for updates. Ensure outbound HTTPS to ``mattermost.com`` is allowed.

		2. Manually check for updates: Go to Help > Check for Updates or Settings > Updates > Check Now to trigger an immediate check.

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cwarnermm commented Feb 6, 2026

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