Turn off download manager?

[aMUSEd]

How can I turn off the annoying check at startup for new downloads? I have the separate download manager for when I want to check for updates but would rather not have one also built into Waveform, can it be disabled?

[pough]

I have never found a way to turn it off.

[aMUSEd]

It's silly given there is a separate download manager app, I'd rather just use that and not have to wait a couple of seconds for the built in one to do its thing on startup

[talby]

Are you sure that this is indeed the reason for the startup of the app feeling in any way delayed?
I sometimes connect even with a very slow cell phone 3G data speed connection only to the internet, and do not observe any delay related to WF checking for available updates from Tracktion! The related data exchange with the Tracktion servers for this check will not be much more than 20 lines of text becoming sent by a messenger app. Also, if no internet connection would be available at all, then WF handles this very well and does not stuck.

Are you sure that not something different is taking place, like having in the SETTINGS tab on the Plugins pane activated to scan for new plugins when WF is started? Depending on the amount of your plugins this could take some time. But therefore this option can be deactivated.

[aMUSEd]

It starts up instantly but then it has to check for downloads, plus then I have to dismiss the dialogue telling to there is stuff to download because it’s also rubbish at telling what actually needs updating. I don’t need it, I’d rather download stuff when I want to not have it foisted on me.

[Teksonik]

It would be nice if there was an option to turn it off if desired. I'd probably still leave it on as I own Hyperion and other plugins that are handled by the DM so it's nice to be informed when they have updates.

My biggest complaint with the Download Manager has been that frequently it will offer and download the latest version of WF, say it was installed and show the latest version in the DM but WF itself is not updated as confirmed by the About page.

It has to be manually updated which is not a big deal but that makes a Product Manager kind of pointless if things need to be done manually. I have reported it before.

EDIT: I notice there is an uninstaller for the Download Manager. I wonder would happen if one uninstalled the DM? Would WF cease to work or? I'm not brave enough to try it......

[aMUSEd]

EDIT: I notice there is an uninstaller for the Download Manager. I wonder would happen if one uninstalled the DM? Would WF cease to work or? I'm not brave enough to try it......

I presumed that was just for the standalone one?

[Teksonik]

I don't know. Is the standalone somehow connected or integrated into the one that pops up when we load WF?

[talby]

On the internal "Downloads" page of the SETTINGS tab, there, at the bottom, you can switch off to become notified about minor updates. Something would be classified a major update, if it contains a bug fix to an issue with the potential to causes some data loss, if I am correct. You would need strong reasons to not go for the major updates announced there. I right now have nothing to update for checking it once more, but isn't there a check box in the update announcement pop-up to mark it for not becoming informed about the particular update again?
@aMUSEd, would you mind to send a screen shot showing the update page from top to bottom and the pop-up information box? I am curious to see if it looks different than the one I see in the Linux version of Waveform.

[aMUSEd]

I already have that turned off - I just want one more tick box to turn it off completely. I don't see the point of having the internal one if I have the external one.

Screenshot 2025-03-16 at 10.24.37.png

[talby]

Looks like mine.
However, if it in this state pops up a reminder that updates are available, then it behaves different from what I observe here. But I assume that right now these popups will not appear in your app, right? They will only appear if major updates are available, right?

As it does not appear to be a bug, which bothers you, but all appears to be the intended behavior, you could still write a "feature request" for getting implemented an option to switch the internal update-checker on/off.

[aMUSEd]

Yes that’s what I am asking for

[talby]

Oh! This is to be done here:
https://www.tracktion.com/support
but seems to be down today
I remember that it in the past forwarded here:
https://tracktion.zendesk.com/
on the top right you will find the access to the request form
however, as the link on the tracktion.com site is inactive, I am not sure if the zendesk form would reach the developers at the moment or is a stub right now
(here on KVR we are only the user to user community, although developers sometimes pass by)

[Teksonik]

For the record I just booted up WF Pro and the Download Manager did not appear. I assume that's because there were no updates available either for WF or any of the plugins I have installed.

So while you're waiting for a switch to be added it would appear the best solution for now is just to keep everything updated or hidden. It's not like there are updates every day and dismissing the DM when there are is just a couple of mouse clicks. ....

[talby]

In another thread there today was by forum member bravedog published a possibility which maybe could serve also here, at least as a workaround to suppress certain messages: viewtopic.php?p=9060469#p9060469