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Install and update problems

Blank window titles on macOS, first-run security warnings, and updates that will not finish.

Most install and update snags are expected operating-system behaviour rather than bugs in Cadence: a permission macOS needs, a first-run security prompt, or an update that simply needs re-downloading.

Window titles are blank on macOS

On macOS, Cadence needs the Screen Recording permission to read the titles of the windows you are working in. Without it, the app still tracks, but window titles come through blank, which makes your day far harder to read.

  1. Open Privacy & Security
    Go to System Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Screen Recording.
  2. Allow Cadence
    Turn on the permission for Cadence. macOS may ask you to quit and reopen the app for it to take effect.
  3. Restart Cadence
    Fully quit and reopen the app. Window titles should now come through on new activity.
  4. Re-check inside Cadence
    Open Settings > Tracking and choose Re-check in the permissions card. Cadence reads the macOS Screen Recording status directly. If recent titles are flowing, it also confirms that window-title capture is healthy.
Permission is on, but titles are still blank
First quit Cadence fully and reopen it. If Settings confirms the permission is granted but reports that recent browser titles are unavailable, remove Cadence from System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording, add or enable it again, then relaunch Cadence. This refreshes the macOS permission record without changing your account or tracked time.
Note
Cadence only ever reads window titles to label your time: it does not record your screen. See what Cadence tracks for exactly what is and is not captured. The full setup is in the macOS install guide.

A security warning on first run

The first time you open a fresh build, your operating system may warn you before letting it run. This is the standard check for newly downloaded apps, not a sign anything is wrong with the download.

  • On macOS, Gatekeeper may hold the app on first launch. Follow the steps in the macOS install guide to open it.
  • On Windows, SmartScreen may show a warning. The Windows install guide covers how to proceed.
Only run builds from the downloads page
Always install Cadence from the official downloads page. If you got the file from anywhere else, delete it and download a fresh copy before clicking past any security warning.

An update will not finish

Cadence updates itself to signed releases in the background. Now and then an update stalls, usually due to a network interruption part-way through.

  1. Restart the app
    Quit Cadence fully and reopen it. A stalled update will often pick up and complete on the next launch.
  2. Re-download if it still stalls
    If the update still will not finish, download the latest build from the downloads page and install it over the top. Your account and settings are unaffected.

For how the updater works and what to expect from each release, see updates.