What's New in AppAudit
Release Notes
See what’s new in AppAudit, including the latest improvements, fixes, and feature updates. The newest release appears first, with earlier versions available below.
Current Release
Beta
Release details
Summary
This release refines the two Pro security actions with friendlier summaries, helper text, copyable details, and better duplicate-copy targeting in Advanced Application Preview.
- Clearer Pro security review: "Verify Signature" and "Inspect Security Profile" now present plain-language summaries, helper text, and collapsible technical details instead of raw command-style output.
- Better trust wording for local builds: AppAudit now explains the difference between a valid local Developer ID signature and a fully notarized public build more carefully, which makes local release-candidate testing less alarming.
- Easier detail sharing: both Pro security review sheets now offer "Copy Details" which includes the app name, version, bundle ID, location, summary findings, and technical details in one report.
- Better duplicate-copy handling: when AppAudit finds multiple copies of the same app, Advanced Application Preview now follows the copy you selected instead of always acting on the primary copy.
- More obvious copy context: duplicate-copy preview now shows "Primary" or "Duplicate" badges and a compact version selector so Advanced/Pro actions stay clearly tied to the copy under review.
- Still local-first: these inspection features continue to rely on local macOS metadata and checks without turning AppAudit into a background-scanning or cloud-dependent utility.
Beta
Release details
Summary
This release introduces a dedicated in-app permissions review, places it earlier in first-run setup, adds direct links to the relevant macOS Settings areas, and stays careful about only showing permission status that AppAudit can check honestly.
- New System Permissions guide: AppAudit now includes a dedicated screen that explains relevant macOS Privacy & Security settings in plain, non-technical language.
- Better first-run setup: AppAudit now presents legal acceptance first, followed by release notes, the permissions review, and then the guided tour.
- Direct links into macOS Settings: AppAudit can open the matching Privacy & Security areas for Files & Folders, App Management, Media & Apple Music, and Full Disk Access.
- Best-effort permission checks: Where macOS allows it, AppAudit reports "Accessible Now" after a local live check succeeds, especially for Files & Folders locations such as Desktop, Documents, Downloads, iCloud Drive, and mounted removable volumes.
- Clearer Full Disk Access guidance: AppAudit explains that this stronger optional setting can override individual Files & Folders controls without claiming it can automatically read that macOS switch.
- Still local-first and user-controlled: AppAudit does not change these settings for you and continues to keep everyday scanning, notes, lists, comparisons, exports, and normal license validation on your Mac.
Beta
Release details
Summary
This release fixes a scan crash that could appear during fresh-user testing, improves follow-up scanning after macOS folder-access prompts, and keeps AppAudit's local-first behavior unchanged.
- More reliable scanning: AppAudit now completes scanning more reliably on a newly set up Mac account, including after macOS asks for access to Desktop, Documents, or Downloads.
- Better first-run stability: The beta is better suited for fresh-user setup and repeat scanning after permission prompts are accepted.
- Permission behavior stays user-controlled: AppAudit still relies on normal macOS prompts and settings instead of trying to take control of permissions behind the scenes.
- Local-first workflow remains intact: Scanning, notes, lists, comparisons, exports, and normal license validation still stay on your Mac during everyday use.
- Updates remain manual: AppAudit still checks for updates only when you ask and does not download anything automatically.
Beta
Release details
Summary
This release makes AppAudit's licensing and update flow more private, keeps sensitive license details out of the browser address during update requests, and preserves AppAudit's offline-friendly core workflows.
- Stronger license protection: AppAudit now protects its local licensing workflow more carefully behind the scenes, helping keep license-related data safer during normal use.
- More private update requests: When an eligible update is requested, AppAudit now hands that request to the website more privately so sensitive license information is not exposed in the web address.
- Offline work stays offline: Scanning, notes, lists, comparisons, exports, and local license validation remain local-first and do not require a server during normal use.
- Clearer update wording: The update panel now uses friendlier wording such as Check for Updates and Release Notes instead of more technical language.
- User-controlled updates: AppAudit still checks for updates only when you ask and does not download anything automatically.
Beta
Release details
Summary
This milestone introduces Consultant and temporary Customer licensing, clearer temporary-access status inside AppAudit, and a more complete workflow for short-term client use.
- Consultant licensing arrives: AppAudit now supports a dedicated Consultant license type, making it easier to handle short-term audit work for clients without changing AppAudit's local-first design.
- Temporary Customer access: Eligible Consultant workflows can now create temporary Customer licenses that unlock AppAudit Pro for a limited time on another Mac.
- Cleaner short-term client workflow: AppAudit now includes a dedicated Consultant area in Settings so temporary Customer access can be created and managed from one focused place.
- Automatic return to Basic: When a temporary Customer license expires, that Mac returns to Basic automatically so short-term access does not remain active longer than intended.
- Clearer active and expired status: AppAudit now shows temporary Customer access more clearly, including whether access is still active or has already expired.
- Easier expiration guidance: When temporary access is active, AppAudit can show how much time is left so the short-term window is easier to understand.
- Better visibility after expiry: When temporary access has ended, AppAudit explains that the Mac has reverted back to Basic instead of leaving the user guessing what changed.
- Customer licenses can show who issued them: Temporary Customer access can now include who created the license, helping consultants and clients keep the short-term access path understandable.
- Stronger license record handling: The supporting license workflow now handles a growing set of records more cleanly, including better organization, sorting, and status handling behind the scenes.
- Local-first behavior stays intact: These new licensing workflows still preserve AppAudit's local-first direction and do not turn everyday app use into an always-online experience.
Beta
Release details
Summary
This release adds AppAudit's first-launch legal acknowledgment flow with readable in-app terms, keeps manual update checks fully user initiated, and preserves the refined workbench layout for everyday use.
- First-launch legal acknowledgment: AppAudit now asks users to review and accept the AppAudit Terms of Use and Software License Agreement before first use, with acceptance stored locally on that Mac and shown again only if the legal version changes.
- Readable in-app legal documents: The legal terms now open inside AppAudit in a cleaner, easier-to-review format, while still linking out to the website versions for published reference.
- Local-first legal access: AppAudit bundles local copies of the app-specific legal documents so users can review the core terms even if they are offline.
- Manual updates remain explicit:
Help > Check for Updates…remains fully user initiated, does not poll in the background, and does not download anything automatically. - Refined workbench polish: The tightened workbench header, panel visibility controls, and smaller-screen behavior remain in place for regular scan and review work.
Beta
Release details
Summary
This release moves AppAudit to a cleaner beta version label, keeps manual update checks fully user initiated, routes production update requests through the licensed-email website flow, and preserves the refined workbench layout for everyday use.
- Simpler beta versioning: AppAudit beta builds now use a cleaner customer-facing version label such as
0.4.1-beta, while the internal build number remains separate for packaging, update comparison, and support. - Secure manual update requests: Production update requests now hand off to the website with the signed local license so the site can verify the request and email the secure magic link to the licensed owner address.
- Better production readiness checks: If a newer release is listed before the artifact or secure request flow is fully configured, AppAudit keeps the result in a clear not-ready state instead of pretending the update is directly downloadable.
- Cleaner release-note text: Public release-note summaries now render without stray escaped characters, so website release notes and in-app summaries stay cleaner and more readable.
- Refined workbench layout: The tightened workbench header, panel visibility controls, and smaller-screen behavior remain in place for regular scan and review work.
Beta
Release details
Summary
This release introduces AppAudit's first user-initiated update-checking flow, improves how new builds hand off to the website, and tightens the main workbench layout so it feels clearer and more usable during regular scans and reviews.
- Manual update checking: AppAudit now includes
Help > Check for Updates…so users can manually check the public AppAudit manifest whenever they want. AppAudit does not poll for updates in the background, and it never downloads anything automatically without user action. - Clearer update handoff: When a newer build is available, AppAudit now shows the available version more clearly and links users to the right website destination, including release notes or the proper update page. Error states such as offline access, site problems, or incomplete release data are also explained more clearly.
- Better tester visibility: Tester and internal licenses can now see a separate tester-build lane when a test manifest is available, while still showing the normal production update result in the same sheet.
- Refined workbench header: The main workbench header has been tightened up with better spacing, stronger left/right grouping, smaller mode controls, and a more balanced search/actions area.
- Better small-window behavior: Panel visibility controls are easier to discover, inventory-only actions stay out of the Home screen, and the layout now behaves more gracefully on smaller or lower-resolution displays.
Beta
Release details
Summary
A small polish update that points AppAudit to its new official website, gives support a clearer home, and refreshes the About details for direct downloads.
Official AppAudit website
- AppAudit now points to tryappaudit.com from About, Settings, and the Home footer so the app matches the newly launched product site.
- Help now uses a simpler Contact Support action that opens the AppAudit contact page for pre-sales questions, bug reports, and feedback.
- The About presentation now shows the AppAudit website and a cleaner HighTechDad copyright line while keeping the current beta version visible.
Beta
Release details
Summary
An update with smarter scan choices, clearer Pro discovery, tighter privacy-first licensing, and safer day-to-day audit actions.
Selectable scan sources
- Choose This Mac, running applications, and Pro locations such as cloud storage, iCloud Documents, and attached volumes before scanning.
- The sidebar smart filter now shows apps opened in the last 30 days, while Pro keeps deeper last-opened filter choices.
- Clear applications, notes, list memberships, scan summaries, or Compare state selectively instead of resetting everything at once.
- You can see what Pro adds before unlocking it, including richer filters, exports, comparison, and Advanced audit tools.
- Direct AppAudit Pro licenses still validate locally on your Mac, now with licensed-email matching for a more personal unlock.
- AppAudit can open apps from Basic, blocks Move to Trash for currently running apps, and adds Pro audit actions for reports, signatures, and entitlements.
Beta
Release details
Summary
A cleaner update with smarter scan choices, clearer Pro discovery, tighter privacy-first licensing, and safer day-to-day audit actions.
Selectable scan sources
- Choose This Mac, running applications, and Pro locations such as cloud storage, iCloud Documents, and attached volumes before scanning.
- The sidebar smart filter now shows apps opened in the last 30 days, while Pro keeps deeper last-opened filter choices.
- Clear applications, notes, list memberships, scan summaries, or Compare state selectively instead of resetting everything at once.
- You can see what Pro adds before unlocking it, including richer filters, exports, comparison, and Advanced audit tools.
- Direct AppAudit Pro licenses still validate locally on your Mac, now with licensed-email matching for a more personal unlock.
- AppAudit can open apps from Basic, blocks Move to Trash for currently running apps, and adds Pro audit actions for reports, signatures, and entitlements.
Beta
Release details
Summary
A cleaner tester build focused on safer scans, clearer Free/Pro discovery, and better day-to-day audit actions.
Selectable scan sources
- Choose This Mac, running applications, and Pro locations such as cloud storage, iCloud Documents, and attached volumes before scanning.
- The sidebar smart filter now shows apps opened in the last 30 days, while Pro keeps deeper last-opened filter choices.
- Clear applications, notes, list memberships, scan summaries, or Compare state selectively instead of resetting everything at once.
- Free users can see locked Pro filter categories and the real Compare workspace preview before unlocking AppAudit Pro.
- AppAudit can open apps from Basic, blocks Move to Trash for currently running apps, and adds Pro audit actions for reports, signatures, and entitlements.