Beta Notice: Please Read
Cloak is still in beta. If something appears stuck, try reconnecting or refreshing the client (Ctrl+R / Cmd+R). Your reports continue to shape what we fix next.
What's New?
Background Updatesc
- Small, Silent Updates: Desktop now pulls signed code updates directly from Cloak instead of downloading a full installer every release. Most updates are around 8 MB, download while you work, and apply the next time you open Cloak. At launch you'll see a short progress bar on the splash screen and the app restarts itself in a few seconds.
- Verified and Reversible: Every update is signature-checked before it runs. If a new version fails to start twice, Cloak automatically falls back to the previous working version.
- Clearer Full Updates: On the rare occasion the underlying app framework changes, Cloak now tells you it is closing to finish the update, posts a system notification, and shows "Finishing update" when it reopens instead of looking like a crash.
- Urgent Updates: Security fixes can be marked urgent. You'll see a "Cloak security update" prompt with a Restart Now button and a 30 second countdown.
Bot Invite Links
- Add Bots by Link: Opening a cloak.chat/bots/... link now launches a consent screen on desktop, web, and mobile. You'll see the bot's name, icon, and description, then pick which of your rooms to add it to.
- You Control the Permissions: Every permission the bot requests appears as its own toggle, with Select All and None shortcuts. Administrator is highlighted, and Listen in Voice warns that the bot will hear everyone in any voice channel it joins.
- Honest Warnings: Both the invite flow and Add Bot now explain that a bot receives the room's encryption key and can read and send messages wherever its role allows. Revoked links, missing Manage Server permission, and changed permission lists all show clear messages instead of failing silently.
Voice Reconnects
- Voice Survives Server Deploys: When a server is being updated, desktop and mobile now move your voice session to the new server ahead of time and keep your audio flowing. A full rejoin only happens if the handover isn't confirmed within a couple of seconds.
- Quieter Handovers: Planned reconnects no longer flash the reconnecting banner, blank the voice user list, or play the leave sound.
- Stuck Reconnecting Badge: Users who recovered by rejoining could show the amber reconnecting icon forever to everyone else in the channel. That badge now clears correctly and only appears if someone is actually reconnecting for more than a few seconds.

Known Limitations
Known Limitations
- One More Installer: Background updates require the new desktop shell. Windows and Linux users will download one more full installer to get there; after that, updates apply in the background.
- Stream Quality Tag: The readout appears only on the spotlighted tile. Grid thumbnails are too small to read it and measuring them costs extra each second.
- Mobile Unlock Prompt: After updating, mobile may ask you to unlock once while it migrates your key to the new storage. On Android, changing your screen lock or re-enrolling fingerprints can still make local messages unreadable; sign in again if prompted.
- Voice, Video, and Capture: Behavior still varies by device, driver, and operating system. Reconnecting to the room or refreshing the client resolves most stuck-session cases.
Thank you for testing the rough edges, filing detailed reports, and helping us turn them into a better product.
If you encounter any issues or have suggestions, please contact our support team at admin@cloak.chat.