Keeping a utility like GoMount current should feel invisible. Starting with v1.5, GoMount can check for updates in the background, download them silently, and install the patch the next time the app restarts. For users on slower connections, delta updates reduce download sizes dramatically by only fetching the bytes that changed. This guide explains how the update channel works, what the menu-bar badges mean, and when you should still update manually.
Why Silent Updates?
Manual update dialogs interrupt your workflow and are easy to dismiss indefinitely. Silent updates solve this by separating availability from installation:
- Availability: GoMount checks the update server periodically and knows when a newer version exists.
- Download: The update package is fetched in the background while you work.
- Installation: The new version is applied the next time GoMount launches or restarts.
This model is common for modern Mac utilities because it keeps users on the latest release without forcing a relaunch in the middle of a file transfer.
How the Update Flow Works
GoMount uses a Sparkle-compatible update feed hosted at https://api.gomount.top/updates/appcast.xml. The flow looks like this:
- Scheduled check: The app polls the feed once every few hours, or immediately on launch.
- Version comparison: If the feed advertises a newer build, GoMount compares version numbers and minimum system requirements.
- Silent download: On a supported plan and with the setting enabled, the package is downloaded to a temporary location.
- Validation: The downloaded archive is signature-checked to verify it came from GoMount.
- Ready state: A menu-bar badge appears to let you know an update is staged.
- Installation: The update is installed automatically the next time GoMount restarts, or when you choose Install Update from the menu.
You do not need to keep GoMount running continuously for updates to arrive. The check runs briefly when the app launches, so opening it once a day is enough to stay current.
Menu Bar Red Dots
GoMount uses the menu-bar icon to communicate update state without popping up windows:
| Indicator | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Normal icon | No update available | None |
| Small red dot | Update available, not yet downloaded | Open menu and select Download Update |
| Solid red badge | Update downloaded and ready to install | Click Install Update or restart GoMount |
The badge state is also shown in the main window status area. If you prefer to control every update yourself, you can disable silent downloads in Settings and rely on the badge alone as a notification.
What Are Delta Updates?
A delta update is a patch that contains only the difference between your current version and the new version. Instead of downloading the full application archive, GoMount downloads a much smaller binary patch and applies it to the installed app bundle.
The savings depend on how much changed, but typical results look like this:
| Update Type | Approximate Size | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Full update | 25-40 MB | Major releases or skipped versions |
| Delta update | 1-8 MB | Bug fixes and small feature releases |
Delta patches are generated for consecutive version pairs. If you are several releases behind, GoMount automatically falls back to the full update package.
Every delta patch is signed with the same Developer ID certificate as a full release. The patch is validated before it is applied, so partial or corrupted downloads cannot install.
Enabling & Disabling Silent Updates
Silent updates are enabled by default for most users. You can change the behavior in GoMount Settings:
- Open GoMount and click the settings gear icon.
- Go to the General tab.
- Find the Software Updates section.
- Toggle Download updates automatically on or off.
Even when automatic downloads are off, GoMount still checks for updates and shows the menu-bar badge. You keep control over when the download starts and when the app restarts.
When to Update Manually
Silent updates cover the normal release cadence, but there are a few cases where a manual update is safer:
- You skipped several major versions: Delta patches may not be available, and a fresh download from the website avoids any legacy state.
- The app will not launch: If GoMount crashes on startup, the built-in updater cannot run. Download the latest DMG from the website and replace the app.
- You are on a metered connection: Disable automatic downloads and install only when you are on Wi-Fi.
- A release note mentions a manual migration: Rare database migrations are described in the changelog; follow those steps before updating.
If you are running a GoMount release older than 1.6, the in-app auto-update channel will not deliver later releases. Please download the current version from the website once, and future updates will flow through silently. This is a one-time migration.
Troubleshooting
If updates are not behaving as expected, try the following:
- Check your internet connection. The updater needs to reach
api.gomount.top. Corporate proxies or VPNs may block the feed. - Verify the setting. Make sure Download updates automatically is enabled in General settings.
- Restart GoMount. A stuck update state is usually cleared by a fresh launch.
- Free up disk space. The updater needs enough space to stage the package and swap the app bundle.
- Check macOS Gatekeeper. If you see a warning that the update cannot be verified, download the latest DMG manually and replace the app.
Read the Getting Started guide for installation basics, the changelog for release-specific notes, or use the in-app feedback tool to send logs if an update repeatedly fails.