The ActivTrak Agent is optimized with each new release to ensure the best experience. Auto-updates are turned on by default, and most Agents update automatically without any action required from Admins.
Note: Customers with Signature Support have auto-updates disabled by default. Your Technical Account Manager coordinates custom support during Agent updates.
Contents
- Auto-update requirements
- Security software considerations
- How auto-updates work
- Auto-update settings
- Filter for active devices
- Update the Agent manually
- Learn more
Auto-update requirements
Auto-updates work on these Agent versions:
- Windows Agent: Version 7.0.0 +
- Mac Agent: Version 8.2.11 +
Check Agent versions by navigating to Settings > Users & Groups > Computer Agents. Here you can view every Computer Agent that has reported back, along with the last report date, operating system and Agent version.
Security software considerations
Security software can interfere with auto-updates. The following links must be allowed in any security software on tracked computers, including Microsoft Defender for Windows. If not added as an exclusion, auto-updates may fail, and a manual Agent update may be necessary.
-
Windows:
https://storage.googleapis.com/activtrak-windowsbuild-images/master/auto_update/version.txt -
Mac:
https://storage.googleapis.com/activtrak-macbuild-images/main/*
Note: The * wildcard is needed because the rest of the link will change with each version
How auto-updates work
When a new Agent version is released, auto-updates pause for all accounts. Each new version is initially available as an explicit download for those who want to update manually. Auto-updates then roll out in waves to push the latest version to all accounts over time.
If you have an open support ticket for an issue that a new version specifically fixes, your support representative works to ensure your account receives the new agent as early as possible in the schedule.
Each time an Agent starts, it checks for available updates without alerting the end user. If the current Agent version is significantly out of date or if the update servers can't be reached, you may need to manually update the Agent.
Auto-update settings
The Auto-update settings section displays the Agent versions your devices are targeting and the number of devices currently updated to these versions. Navigate to Settings > Account Configuration to view this section.
The status appears as a colored circle. Hover over it to see what the status means:
- Green: Auto-update is active for the account. The Agent Count shows how many agents have successfully updated to the listed version.
- Yellow: Auto-update is paused for the account, typically due to ActivTrak rolling out a new version. This status can also indicate the account has opted out of auto-updates.
- Red: Auto-update is disabled for the account, usually because the account has requested to pin a specific agent version.
Example: If auto-update is paused (yellow) for version 8.2.16 but 2 of 23 agents have already been updated manually, the status indicator will turn green once auto-update is turned on. The Agent Count will start increasing until all 23 are updated, assuming they meet the minimum version requirement, are in communication with our servers and are not blocked by a firewall.
Filter for active devices
Many organizations reuse work devices, especially as employees leave and new hires are onboarded. A computer may be idle during this time without online access to auto-update its agent. Admins can filter the Auto-Update Settings view to highlight only those computers active in the past 7, 30 or 90 days, so they can isolate devices expected to auto-update.
Note: This view displays only the total number of devices on the latest agent version. Visit Settings > Users & Groups > Computer Agents to view the complete list of devices. Click the filter icon in the right search bar to access advanced filters, such as Agent Version and Operating System, which help identify specific computers.
Update the Agent manually
There are several options to update the agent manually, depending on access to the device and account.
Direct link method
Admins can generate a secure link under Settings > Account Configuration to share the agent installer with employees, allowing them to perform the update directly on their device. This requires admin credentials on their computer. The same link can be sent to multiple users, but it expires after 72 hours. Users should not rename the file.
Download from the Home page
Admins (and non-admins if allowed via the toggle on Settings > Account Configuration) can download the agent from the blue button on their Home page. This button is contextual and downloads the version of ActivTrak that matches your operating system.
If you need a different version (for example, if you're running Windows but the user is on macOS), click the down arrow on the right side of the button to select the version you need. Then use one of the methods in our Agent Deployment Guide.
Remember: Don't rename the file