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‘Please update Driftstack to keep editing’ (old desktop build refused)

You might be here because: “please update driftstack to keep editing” · “it says my app is too old” · “can’t save or launch after an update was released” · “426 upgrade required” · “update banner won’t go away” · “do I have to update” · “desktop_update_required”

Short answer

Your copy of the desktop app is older than the version the service now requires, so saves and launches from it are refused with “Please update Driftstack to keep editing.” (HTTP 426). Reading still works — you can see everything, you just cannot change it or start a session. Install the update from the banner, or Settings → Check for updates, then try again.

Check first

  • Is there an update banner in the app? The app installs updates on its own, but not while a session is running, and not when Install updates without asking is off in Settings; then a banner offers the update and you choose when to install it.
  • Settings shows the app version. Settings → Check for updates fetches the newest one.
  • Does the update fail to install? See Update couldn’t be installed / app couldn’t restart / move to Applications.

Likely causes and fixes

  1. The app is behind the required build. The app sends its own version with every request; a build older than the service’s minimum — or a build that sends no version — gets 426 on every write and launch. Fix: update, then retry the save or launch. Nothing was changed by the refused request.

  2. What is refused, exactly. Adding, editing, deleting or importing proxies; changing folders and tags; creating, editing, deleting, restoring, purging, cloning, importing or transferring profiles; and every session launch. Reads are never in that list.

  3. Scripts and API keys are not affected. Only the desktop app’s own sign-in is gated; an API key or SDK never sees this error. If your script gets a 426, it is using the desktop app’s credential — create a real API key in the dashboard.

  4. Updated, still refused. Quit and reopen the app so the new version is the one running; check Settings shows the new version. Turning on Install updates without asking avoids this next time.

  5. The app shows a different sentence. “Please update Driftstack to keep editing.” is the server’s answer. The desktop app does not always show the server’s wording, so an app that is too old may show only a general error such as “The request could not be completed. Check your input and try again.”. Update the app either way.

If it still fails

Press Talk to a person in this chat (or open Help) and include the app version from Settings, the exact sentence, and what you were saving or launching. Nothing here needs an account or billing action.