Update Flow Launcher Without Losing Your Setup
Before updating Flow Launcher, back up the active UserData folder and record how you installed the app. Update through that same installation method, then verify the app and plugins separately. Version compatibility matters: the 2.x branch changed Windows support and the default-plugin framework.
Steps to follow
- Open About and record the current Flow version. Identify whether this copy came from the installer, portable ZIP, WinGet, Scoop, or Chocolatey.
- Locate UserData from Flow, close the application, and make a dated backup. Include custom themes and plugin configuration rather than only the executable.
- Read the target release notes. Apply the update with the current install method and avoid running two different app folders during migration.
- Reopen Flow and test app search, file search, and an important plugin individually. Check for plugin updates only after the base app works.
Check the result
The expected version appears in About and your hotkey, theme, and saved paths remain usable. A plugin-specific error should be reproducible without affecting basic app search.
Limits and common pitfalls
Installing newer plugin files into an older Flow branch can introduce incompatibilities. Keep an application/profile backup pair, not just one old EXE.
Make the check repeatable
A useful update record includes the source version, target version, Windows build, backup path, and the first failing feature, if any. Do not reset all settings before isolating a single failing plugin: doing so removes evidence and makes it harder to reproduce the original issue.
Questions and answers
Will all old themes work after a major update?
Not always. Release 2.1.0 changed the UI framework; themes using the old ModernWpf namespace may need migration.
Sources and scope
Related guides
Flow Launcher with Chocolatey: Setup and Updates
Chocolatey is another package-manager route documented by Flow Launcher. Review the package details and source, install it through your existing.
Uninstall Flow Launcher and Keep a Recoverable Backup
To remove Flow Launcher, first exit it and preserve any settings you may want later. Uninstall through the method that installed it, then check startup.
Flow Launcher First Setup: A Practical Baseline
A useful first setup keeps Flow Launcher small: select a reliable hotkey, check Program and Explorer, and add only the plugins you need. Use a few known.