Updates and local data#
Installed and managed-portable releases check for updates shortly after startup and hourly. Updates download in the background and restart Hotshot only when capture, recording, conversion, AI work, and editing are idle, with no active editor/Settings window or unsaved work.
Check status or choose Check now under Settings > About Hotshot > Automatic updates. Downloading updates does not require a GitHub account. Older development ZIPs and raw build outputs cannot update themselves; use a current installer or managed-portable bundle.
| Location | Contents |
|---|---|
| Your chosen captures folder | Saved PNG, MP4, GIF, and exported files |
%AppData%\Hotshot |
Local settings/cache, sync configuration, history, thumbnails, logs, and private originals/sidecars |
<OneDrive>\Apps\Hotshot\settings.json |
Portable preferences, when settings roaming is enabled |
%LocalAppData%\Hotshot |
Installer-managed application files; not the place to keep user captures |
Updates keep your profile outside the installer directory. Use the workspace's backup/cleanup actions instead of manually deleting application-data files.