Merge pull request #550 from arduino/HC-1721_About-App-Lab-updates

About app lab updates [HC-1721]

Author: seaxwi

content/Software Support/Arduino App Lab/About-automatic-updates-in-Arduino-App-Lab.md

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+---
+title: About automatic updates in Arduino App Lab
+---
+
+Arduino App Lab is updated regularly with new features and bug fixes. When a new version is available, App Lab will automatically ask you to update.
+
+In this article:
+
+<!-- TOC -->
+
+- [Updates are required](#updates-are-required)
+- [What is updated](#what-is-updated)
+- [Trigger an automatic update in Arduino App Lab](#trigger-an-automatic-update-in-arduino-app-lab)
+- [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting)
+
+<!-- /TOC -->
+
+---
+
+## Updates are required
+
+To ensure compatibility and prevent issues, App Lab needs to check for updates when you connect a board or start App Lab in standalone mode. This process requires an internet connection. An option to skip updates is planned for a future Arduino App Lab release.
+
+---
+
+## What is updated
+
+It's important to understand the difference between updating Arduino App Lab and updating the software on your Arduino board.
+
+- **Board software update:** The software that runs on your Arduino board (like the Arduino UNO Q). This include the Arduino App Lab installation on the board, which can be run standalone mode.
+- **Arduino App Lab (on PC):** The application running on your computer. Updates for App Lab bring new features, bug fixes, and performance improvements to the application itself.
+
+[Learn more about the software components for Arduino App Lab](https://support.arduino.cc/hc/en-us/articles/24358702846748-Code-repositories-for-Arduino-App-Lab-components){.link-chevron-right}
+
+---
+
+## Trigger an automatic update in Arduino App Lab
+
+When you connect to a board in Arduino App Lab, it automatically checks for updates. This process updates both the Arduino App Lab installation on your computer, and the installation on the board.
+
+### On your computer
+
+1. Connect your board to your computer.
+
+1. Select the board in Arduino App Lab.
+
+1. If prompted, configure your account and network settings.
+
+1. If Arduino App Lab detects new updates, they will be displayed.
+
+   ![App Lab update available](img/app-lab-update.png)
+
+1. Click **Install Updates** to confirm.
+
+### In standalone mode
+
+> [!NOTE]
+> When running App Lab on your board standalone mode, only the App Lab installation on that board will be updated.
+
+1. Sign into your board in standalone/SBC mode.
+
+   For instructions, see [UNO Q as a Single-Board Computer](https://docs.arduino.cc/tutorials/uno-q/single-board-computer/#computer-assembly).
+
+1. Open Arduino App Lab if it does not start automatically.
+
+1. If prompted, configure your account and network settings.
+
+1. If Arduino App Lab detects new updates, they will be displayed.
+
+   ![App Lab update available](img/app-lab-update.png)
+
+1. Click **Install Updates** to confirm.
+
+---
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+- If you see a **"Your board software is out of date”** warning, you need to manually flash the Linux image. See [If your Arduino UNO Q board software is out of date](https://support.arduino.cc/hc/en-us/articles/23170731875740-If-your-Arduino-UNO-Q-board-software-is-out-of-date).
+- If the update process completed but without updating App Lab to the latest version, you can [update App Lab manually](https://support.arduino.cc/hc/en-us/articles/24305472458652-Manually-update-Arduino-App-Lab).