# Settings: About

> Scalpel's About tab: your version and build, licence status and managing computers, the update channel, automatic downloads, checking and going back.

Source: https://scalpeltrade.com/guides/settings-about
Guide 11.10, Settings reference. Intermediate, 4 min read.
Checked with Scalpel 1.12.8 on 2026-10-15. By Scalpel Team.

**In short:**

The About tab shows your Scalpel version and build, your licence status with a **Manage licence and computers** button, and the update controls: the channel (Stable by default, or Beta for early builds), **Download updates automatically** (on), the updater's status, **Check for updates**, and **Go back** to the previous version when it is still kept. The credits for the charts, fonts and broker library are at the bottom.

This is the tab to open when support asks which version you run, or when you want an update now. Open **Settings** (`Ctrl`+`,`) and pick **About**.

*Screenshot: The About tab: the version and build, the licence, and Updates. Demo data.*

## Scalpel

The first line is your version and build, for example **v1.12.6 (4f2c9a1)**: the version number, then the code revision it was built from. Quote both when you ask for help in [Discord](https://scalpeltrade.com/guides/discord-support). The note under it reads: "Market data and orders go through your own TWS or IB Gateway; nothing leaves your machine except the optional intel lookups you switch on."

## Licence

| Item | What it tells you | What to do with it |
|---|---|---|
| Status line | **Licensed** with the last four characters of your key, then how many of your licence's computers it is active on, for example **Active on 1 of 2 computers.** If Scalpel could not reach scalpeltrade.com, it says it checked offline and how long it can keep running before it must reach the site. | Nothing while it says Licensed. If it counts down an offline period, check your internet connection. |
| **Manage licence and computers** | Opens your account page at scalpeltrade.com in the browser, where you see your key and free up a computer. | Use it before you move to a new computer. |

Scalpel checks the licence when it starts and every 12 hours, and keeps running on its last check for up to 72 hours offline. A licence problem never interrupts a session. See [guide 1.3](https://scalpeltrade.com/guides/activate-licence) and [guide 12.1](https://scalpeltrade.com/guides/move-licence-new-computer).

## Help

Four buttons open help in your browser: **Guides** (these pages), **Troubleshooting** (fixes for common problems), **Help on Discord** and **Email support**. The same links, plus getting started, the hotkey cheatsheet and what is new, are in the **Help** menu in the header. Every Settings tab also has a guide link at the top of the window that opens that tab's page here.

## Updates

| Option | What it does | Default | Allowed values | When to change it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Channel** | Which releases you get. **Stable** is for everyone; **Beta (early builds)** gets new versions first. | Stable | Stable, Beta (early builds) | Beta only if you want new features early and can live with the odd rough edge. See [guide 12.3](https://scalpeltrade.com/guides/beta-channel). |
| **Download updates automatically** | Downloads a new version in the background as soon as it is found. Off: the status bar says an update is available and it downloads when you click. | On | On or off | Off on a slow or metered connection. |

The note reads: "Scalpel checks for a new version when it starts and every 30 minutes. It never installs on its own while you trade: you choose when to restart, or let it install when you quit." The first check comes within a minute of starting, then every 30 minutes.

Under it, the status line says where the updater is, for example:

- **Scalpel 1.12.6 is up to date (checked 12 minutes ago).**
- **Downloading version 1.12.7 (40%).**
- **Version 1.12.7 is ready. It installs when you restart Scalpel.**
- **The last update failed:** and the reason.

**Check for updates** checks now. **Go back to 1.12.5** appears when the previous version is still kept: it restores it and restarts Scalpel. Both restarts are refused while you have an open position, a working order or a live stop, because Scalpel watches your stops and that stops while it restarts. Close them first, or choose to update when you quit. More in [guide 12.2](https://scalpeltrade.com/guides/updates).

**Careful.**

An update or a go-back restarts Scalpel, and app-monitored stops are not watched while it is closed. Scalpel will not restart for either while anything is open; do not force-close it mid-trade to get round that.

## Credits

Scrolled down, the tab credits the open-source work Scalpel is built on: TradingView's free, open-source Lightweight Charts library for the desk charts (no TradingView subscription needed), JetBrains Mono and Chakra Petch fonts, Lucide icons, and the rust-ibapi broker library. It also states that Interactive Brokers, TWS and IB Gateway are trademarks of Interactive Brokers LLC and that Scalpel is independent software, not affiliated with or endorsed by Interactive Brokers. The full list is in THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md next to the application.

*Screenshot: Scrolled down: the credits for the charts, fonts and icons, and the broker library.*

## What can go wrong

- **"Updates are off in this build."** A development build does not update itself; release builds from scalpeltrade.com do.
- **The status says the last update failed.** See [An update did not install, or Scalpel went back a version](https://scalpeltrade.com/guides/fix-update-failed).
- **The licence line says no licence key is on this computer.** Activate it again from your account page; see [Licence: machine limit reached](https://scalpeltrade.com/guides/fix-licence-machine-limit) if it says the limit is reached.

## Questions

**How do I check my Scalpel version?**

Open Settings > About. The first line is the version and build, for example v1.12.6 (4f2c9a1).

**How do I update Scalpel now?**

Open Settings > About and click Check for updates. When the status says the version is ready, restart Scalpel, or let it install when you quit.

**Can I go back to the previous version?**

Yes, while it is still kept: Settings > About shows Go back to that version. It restarts Scalpel, so close your positions and orders first.

**How often does Scalpel check for updates?**

When it starts, then every 30 minutes while it runs. Click Check for updates on Settings > About to check now.

**Will Scalpel restart for an update while I am in a trade?**

No. It refuses while you have an open position, a working order or a live stop, and offers to install when you quit instead.