Capacitor updater

Update Ionic Capacitor apps without App/Play Store review (Code-push / hot-code updates).

You have 3 ways possible :

Use capgo.app a full featured auto update system in 5 min Setup, to manage version, update, revert and see stats.
Use your own server update with auto update system
Use manual methods to zip, upload, download, from JS to do it when you want.

Community

Join the discord to get help.

Documentation

I maintain a more user friendly and complete documentation here.

Installation

npm install @capgo/capacitor-updater
npx cap sync

Auto-update setup

Create your account in capgo.app and get your API key

See more there in the Auto update documentation.

Manual setup

Download update distribution zipfiles from a custom url. Manually control the entire update process.

Edit your capacitor.config.json like below, set autoUpdate to false.

// capacitor.config.json
{
    "appId": "**.***.**",
    "appName": "Name",
    "plugins": {
        "CapacitorUpdater": {
            "autoUpdate": false,
        }
    }
}

Add to your main code

  import { CapacitorUpdater } from '@capgo/capacitor-updater'
  CapacitorUpdater.notifyAppReady()

This informs Capacitor Updator that the current update bundle has loaded succesfully. Failing to call this method will cause your application to be rolled back to the previously successful version (or built-in bundle).

Add this to your application.

  const version = await CapacitorUpdater.download({
    url: 'https://github.com/Cap-go/demo-app/releases/download/0.0.4/dist.zip',
  })
  await CapacitorUpdater.set(version); // sets the new version, and reloads the app

Failed updates will automatically roll back to the last successful version.
Example: Using App-state to control updates, with SplashScreen: You might also consider performing auto-update when application state changes, and using the Splash Screen to improve user experience.

  import { CapacitorUpdater, VersionInfo } from '@capgo/capacitor-updater'
  import { SplashScreen } from '@capacitor/splash-screen'
  import { App } from '@capacitor/app'

  let version: VersionInfo;
  App.addListener('appStateChange', async (state) => {
      if (state.isActive) {
        // Ensure download occurs while the app is active, or download may fail
        version = await CapacitorUpdater.download({
          url: 'https://github.com/Cap-go/demo-app/releases/download/0.0.4/dist.zip',
        })
      }

      if (!state.isActive && version) {
        // Activate the update when the application is sent to background
        SplashScreen.show()
        try {
          await CapacitorUpdater.set(version);
          // At this point, the new version should be active, and will need to hide the splash screen
        } catch () {
          SplashScreen.hide() // Hide the splash screen again if something went wrong
        }
      }
  })

TIP: If you prefer a secure and automated way to update your app, you can use capgo.app - a full-featured, auto update system.

Packaging `dist.zip` update bundles

Capacitor Updator works by unzipping a compiled app bundle to the native device filesystem. Whatever you choose to name the file you upload/download from your release/update server URL (via either manual or automatic updating), this .zip bundle must meet the following requirements:

The zip file should contain the full contents of your production Capacitor build output folder, usually {project directory}/dist/ or {project directory}/www/. This is where index.html will be located, and it should also contain all bundled JavaScript, CSS, and web resources necessary for your app to run.
Do not password encrypt the bundle zip file, or it will fail to unpack.
Make sure the bundle does not contain any extra hidden files or folders, or it may fail to unpack.

API

notifyAppReady()
download(...)
next(...)
set(...)
delete(...)
list()
reset(...)
current()
reload()
setMultiDelay(...)
cancelDelay()
getLatest()
setChannel(...)
unsetChannel(...)
getChannel()
setCustomId(...)
addListener('download', ...)
addListener('noNeedUpdate', ...)
addListener('updateAvailable', ...)
addListener('downloadComplete', ...)
addListener('majorAvailable', ...)
addListener('updateFailed', ...)
addListener('downloadFailed', ...)
addListener('appReloaded', ...)
addListener('appReady', ...)
getBuiltinVersion()
getDeviceId()
getPluginVersion()
isAutoUpdateEnabled()
removeAllListeners()
Interfaces
Type Aliases

notifyAppReady()

notifyAppReady() => Promise<{ bundle: BundleInfo; }>

Notify Capacitor Updater that the current bundle is working (a rollback will occur of this method is not called on every app launch) By default this method should be called in the first 10 sec after app launch, otherwise a rollback will occur. Change this behaviour with {@link appReadyTimeout}

Returns: Promise<{ bundle: BundleInfo; }>

download(...)

download(options: { url: string; version: string; sessionKey?: string; checksum?: string; }) => Promise<BundleInfo>

Download a new bundle from the provided URL, it should be a zip file, with files inside or with a unique id inside with all your files

Param	Type
`options`	`{ url: string; version: string; sessionKey?: string; checksum?: string; }`

Returns: Promise<BundleInfo>

next(...)

next(options: { id: string; }) => Promise<BundleInfo>

Set the next bundle to be used when the app is reloaded.

Param	Type
`options`	`{ id: string; }`

Returns: Promise<BundleInfo>

set(...)

set(options: { id: string; }) => Promise<void>

Set the current bundle and immediately reloads the app.

Param	Type
`options`	`{ id: string; }`

delete(...)

delete(options: { id: string; }) => Promise<void>

Delete bundle in storage

Param	Type
`options`	`{ id: string; }`

list()

list() => Promise<{ bundles: BundleInfo[]; }>

Get all locally downloaded bundles in your app

Returns: Promise<{ bundles: BundleInfo[]; }>

reset(...)

reset(options?: { toLastSuccessful?: boolean | undefined; } | undefined) => Promise<void>

Set the builtin bundle (the one sent to Apple store / Google play store ) as current bundle

Param	Type
`options`	`{ toLastSuccessful?: boolean; }`

current()

current() => Promise<{ bundle: BundleInfo; native: string; }>

Get the current bundle, if none are set it returns builtin, currentNative is the original bundle installed on the device

Returns: Promise<{ bundle: BundleInfo; native: string; }>

reload()

reload() => Promise<void>

Reload the view

setMultiDelay(...)

setMultiDelay(options: { delayConditions: DelayCondition[]; }) => Promise<void>

Set DelayCondition, skip updates until one of the conditions is met

Param	Type	Description
`options`	`{ delayConditions: DelayCondition[]; }`	are the {@link DelayCondition} list to set

Since: 4.3.0

cancelDelay()

cancelDelay() => Promise<void>

Cancel delay to updates as usual

Since: 4.0.0

getLatest()

getLatest() => Promise<latestVersion>

Get Latest bundle available from update Url

Returns: Promise<latestVersion>

Since: 4.0.0

setChannel(...)

setChannel(options: SetChannelOptions) => Promise<channelRes>

Set Channel for this device, the channel have to allow self assignement to make this work

Param	Type	Description
`options`	`SetChannelOptions`	is the {@link SetChannelOptions} channel to set

Returns: Promise<channelRes>

Since: 4.7.0

unsetChannel(...)

unsetChannel(options: UnsetChannelOptions) => Promise<void>

Unset Channel for this device, the device will return to the default channel

Param	Type
`options`	`UnsetChannelOptions`

Since: 4.7.0

getChannel()

getChannel() => Promise<getChannelRes>

get Channel for this device

Returns: Promise<getChannelRes>

Since: 4.8.0

setCustomId(...)

setCustomId(options: SetCustomIdOptions) => Promise<void>

Set Channel for this device

Param	Type	Description
`options`	`SetCustomIdOptions`	is the {@link SetCustomIdOptions} customId to set

Since: 4.9.0

addListener('download', ...)

addListener(eventName: "download", listenerFunc: DownloadChangeListener) => Promise<PluginListenerHandle> & PluginListenerHandle

Listen for download event in the App, let you know when the download is started, loading and finished, with a percent value

Param	Type
`eventName`	`'download'`
`listenerFunc`	`DownloadChangeListener`

Returns: Promise<PluginListenerHandle> & PluginListenerHandle

Since: 2.0.11

addListener('noNeedUpdate', ...)

addListener(eventName: "noNeedUpdate", listenerFunc: NoNeedListener) => Promise<PluginListenerHandle> & PluginListenerHandle

Listen for no need to update event, usefull when you want force check every time the app is launched

Param	Type
`eventName`	`'noNeedUpdate'`
`listenerFunc`	`NoNeedListener`

Returns: Promise<PluginListenerHandle> & PluginListenerHandle

Since: 4.0.0

addListener('updateAvailable', ...)

addListener(eventName: "updateAvailable", listenerFunc: UpdateAvailabledListener) => Promise<PluginListenerHandle> & PluginListenerHandle

Listen for availbale update event, usefull when you want to force check every time the app is launched

Param	Type
`eventName`	`'updateAvailable'`
`listenerFunc`	`UpdateAvailabledListener`

Returns: Promise<PluginListenerHandle> & PluginListenerHandle

Since: 4.0.0

addListener('downloadComplete', ...)

addListener(eventName: "downloadComplete", listenerFunc: DownloadCompleteListener) => Promise<PluginListenerHandle> & PluginListenerHandle

Listen for download event in the App, let you know when the download is started, loading and finished

Param	Type
`eventName`	`'downloadComplete'`
`listenerFunc`	`DownloadCompleteListener`

Returns: Promise<PluginListenerHandle> & PluginListenerHandle

Since: 4.0.0

addListener('majorAvailable', ...)

addListener(eventName: "majorAvailable", listenerFunc: MajorAvailableListener) => Promise<PluginListenerHandle> & PluginListenerHandle

Listen for Major update event in the App, let you know when major update is blocked by setting disableAutoUpdateBreaking

Param	Type
`eventName`	`'majorAvailable'`
`listenerFunc`	`MajorAvailableListener`

Returns: Promise<PluginListenerHandle> & PluginListenerHandle

Since: 2.3.0

addListener('updateFailed', ...)

addListener(eventName: "updateFailed", listenerFunc: UpdateFailedListener) => Promise<PluginListenerHandle> & PluginListenerHandle

Listen for update fail event in the App, let you know when update has fail to install at next app start

Param	Type
`eventName`	`'updateFailed'`
`listenerFunc`	`UpdateFailedListener`

Returns: Promise<PluginListenerHandle> & PluginListenerHandle

Since: 2.3.0

addListener('downloadFailed', ...)

addListener(eventName: "downloadFailed", listenerFunc: DownloadFailedListener) => Promise<PluginListenerHandle> & PluginListenerHandle

Listen for download fail event in the App, let you know when download has fail finished

Param	Type
`eventName`	`'downloadFailed'`
`listenerFunc`	`DownloadFailedListener`

Returns: Promise<PluginListenerHandle> & PluginListenerHandle

Since: 4.0.0

addListener('appReloaded', ...)

addListener(eventName: "appReloaded", listenerFunc: AppReloadedListener) => Promise<PluginListenerHandle> & PluginListenerHandle

Listen for reload event in the App, let you know when reload has happend

Param	Type
`eventName`	`'appReloaded'`
`listenerFunc`	`AppReloadedListener`

Returns: Promise<PluginListenerHandle> & PluginListenerHandle

Since: 4.3.0

addListener('appReady', ...)

addListener(eventName: "appReady", listenerFunc: AppReadyListener) => Promise<PluginListenerHandle> & PluginListenerHandle

Listen for app ready event in the App, let you know when app is ready to use

Param	Type
`eventName`	`'appReady'`
`listenerFunc`	`AppReadyListener`

Returns: Promise<PluginListenerHandle> & PluginListenerHandle

Since: 5.1.0

getBuiltinVersion()

getBuiltinVersion() => Promise<{ version: string; }>

Get the native app version or the builtin version if set in config

Returns: Promise<{ version: string; }>

Since: 5.2.0

getDeviceId()

getDeviceId() => Promise<{ deviceId: string; }>

Get unique ID used to identify device (sent to auto update server)

Returns: Promise<{ deviceId: string; }>

getPluginVersion()

getPluginVersion() => Promise<{ version: string; }>

Get the native Capacitor Updater plugin version (sent to auto update server)

Returns: Promise<{ version: string; }>

isAutoUpdateEnabled()

isAutoUpdateEnabled() => Promise<{ enabled: boolean; }>

Get the state of auto update config. This will return false in manual mode.

Returns: Promise<{ enabled: boolean; }>

removeAllListeners()

removeAllListeners() => Promise<void>

Remove all listeners for this plugin.

Since: 1.0.0

Interfaces

BundleInfo

Prop	Type
`id`	`string`
`version`	`string`
`downloaded`	`string`
`checksum`	`string`
`status`	`BundleStatus`

DelayCondition

Prop	Type	Description
`kind`	`DelayUntilNext`	Set up delay conditions in setMultiDelay
`value`	`string`

latestVersion

Prop	Type	Description	Since
`version`	`string`	Res of getLatest method	4.0.0
`major`	`boolean`
`message`	`string`
`sessionKey`	`string`
`error`	`string`
`old`	`string`
`url`	`string`

channelRes

Prop	Type	Description	Since
`status`	`string`	Current status of set channel	4.7.0
`error`	`any`
`message`	`any`

SetChannelOptions

Prop	Type
`channel`	`string`
`triggerAutoUpdate`	`boolean`

UnsetChannelOptions

Prop	Type
`triggerAutoUpdate`	`boolean`

getChannelRes

Prop	Type	Description	Since
`channel`	`string`	Current status of get channel	4.8.0
`error`	`any`
`message`	`any`
`status`	`string`
`allowSet`	`boolean`

SetCustomIdOptions

Prop	Type
`customId`	`string`

PluginListenerHandle

Prop	Type
`remove`	`() => Promise<void>`

DownloadEvent

Prop	Type	Description	Since
`percent`	`number`	Current status of download, between 0 and 100.	4.0.0
`bundle`	`BundleInfo`

noNeedEvent

Prop	Type	Description	Since
`bundle`	`BundleInfo`	Current status of download, between 0 and 100.	4.0.0

updateAvailableEvent

Prop	Type	Description	Since
`bundle`	`BundleInfo`	Current status of download, between 0 and 100.	4.0.0

DownloadCompleteEvent

Prop	Type	Description	Since
`bundle`	`BundleInfo`	Emit when a new update is available.	4.0.0

MajorAvailableEvent

Prop	Type	Description	Since
`version`	`string`	Emit when a new major bundle is available.	4.0.0

UpdateFailedEvent

Prop	Type	Description	Since
`bundle`	`BundleInfo`	Emit when a update failed to install.	4.0.0

DownloadFailedEvent

Prop	Type	Description	Since
`version`	`string`	Emit when a download fail.	4.0.0

AppReadyEvent

Prop	Type	Description	Since
`bundle`	`BundleInfo`	Emit when a app is ready to use.	5.2.0
`status`	`string`

Type Aliases

BundleStatus

"success" | "error" | "pending" | "downloading"

DelayUntilNext

"background" | "kill" | "nativeVersion" | "date"

DownloadChangeListener

(state: DownloadEvent): void

NoNeedListener

(state: noNeedEvent): void

AppReloadedListener

(state: void): void

AppReadyListener

(state: AppReadyEvent): void

Listen to download events

  import { CapacitorUpdater } from '@capgo/capacitor-updater';

CapacitorUpdater.addListener('download', (info: any) => {
  console.log('download was fired', info.percent);
});

On iOS, Apple don't allow you to show a message when the app is updated, so you can't show a progress bar.

Inspiration

Contributors

jamesyoung1337 Thanks a lot for your guidance and support, it was impossible to make this plugin work without you.

Updater

Live update for capacitor apps

Capacitor updater

Community

Documentation

Installation

Auto-update setup

Manual setup

Packaging dist.zip update bundles

API

notifyAppReady()

download(...)

next(...)

set(...)

delete(...)

list()

reset(...)

current()

reload()

setMultiDelay(...)

cancelDelay()

getLatest()

setChannel(...)

unsetChannel(...)

getChannel()

setCustomId(...)

addListener('download', ...)

addListener('noNeedUpdate', ...)

addListener('updateAvailable', ...)

addListener('downloadComplete', ...)

addListener('majorAvailable', ...)

addListener('updateFailed', ...)

addListener('downloadFailed', ...)

addListener('appReloaded', ...)

addListener('appReady', ...)

getBuiltinVersion()

getDeviceId()

getPluginVersion()

isAutoUpdateEnabled()

removeAllListeners()

Interfaces

BundleInfo

DelayCondition

latestVersion

channelRes

SetChannelOptions

UnsetChannelOptions

getChannelRes

SetCustomIdOptions

PluginListenerHandle

DownloadEvent

noNeedEvent

updateAvailableEvent

DownloadCompleteEvent

MajorAvailableEvent

UpdateFailedEvent

DownloadFailedEvent

AppReadyEvent

Type Aliases

BundleStatus

DelayUntilNext

DownloadChangeListener

NoNeedListener

UpdateAvailabledListener

DownloadCompleteListener

MajorAvailableListener

UpdateFailedListener

DownloadFailedListener

AppReloadedListener

AppReadyListener

Listen to download events

Inspiration

Contributors

@capgo/capacitor-updater Package Tutorial

Prerequisites

Installation

Setup

Auto-update Setup

Manual Setup

Conclusion

Packaging `dist.zip` update bundles