Update and install problems

BRUTAL Optimizer keeps itself up to date by downloading a small installer, verifying it, and running it silently to replace the running app in place. When that flow hiccups, it's almost always one of three things: a declined Windows elevation prompt, a SmartScreen prompt on a brand-new release, or a network stall mid-download. Here's how each one looks and how to clear it. This page covers updating the app itself; for updating your installed programs see App Updates, and for hardware drivers see Driver Update.

How updating actually works

When you click Check for Updates in Settings (or accept the update banner), the app POSTs your current version to the BRUTAL update server. If a newer version exists, it downloads the installer to a private updates folder, verifies its SHA-256 hash and its digital signature, and then launches it with /VERYSILENT. The installer closes the running app, swaps the exe in Program Files, and relaunches the new version automatically.

The hash check is mandatory by design. If the downloaded file's fingerprint doesn't match what the server published, the app deletes it and refuses to install — it will never run an update it can't verify. This is the same honesty principle behind "couldn't check".

"Update available" but nothing installs

The download and the elevation prompt are two separate steps, so the app can tell them apart — and so can you:

When you start the update, let the download finish (you'll see a progress percentage).
A UAC prompt then appears to run the installer. Click Yes. The prompt should name Arhas India (OPC) Private Limited as the verified publisher.
If you clicked No or closed the prompt, the download is not wasted. The app keeps the verified installer and offers an Install now option so you can retry elevation without re-downloading.

SmartScreen or antivirus warns about the installer

BRUTAL Optimizer's installer is digitally signed by Arhas India (OPC) Private Limited. A brand-new release can still get a blue "Windows protected your PC" prompt from Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for a while, because SmartScreen builds its reputation per file.

On the SmartScreen dialog, click More info and check the publisher. If it reads Arhas India (OPC) Private Limited, click Run anyway. If it says Unknown publisher or any other name, don't run it — delete it and download the installer again from the official site.
If your antivirus flags the file, don't add an exclusion. Check the signature yourself (right-click the file, Properties → Digital Signatures) and download it again from the official site. If a correctly signed installer is still flagged, email us the detection name so we can report the false positive to your antivirus vendor.
Still unsure? You can always download the latest installer directly from the official site and run it yourself — an in-place install over the top updates cleanly.

Only ever install BRUTAL Optimizer from brutaloptimizer.com or its official download link. The updater itself only accepts files from trusted BRUTAL domains and re-checks the host even after redirects, but a manual download should come from the official site too.

The app didn't restart after updating

Older builds had a bug where a silent update would replace the exe but leave the app closed, or the "Launch" step would fail with an elevation error. This was fixed: the installer now relaunches the app with administrator rights after both silent and manual updates. If you're on a very old version and hit this:

Just start BRUTAL Optimizer again from the desktop or Start Menu shortcut — the update did apply; only the auto-relaunch was skipped.
The new version then carries the fix, so future updates relaunch on their own.

The download stalls or fails

The updater bounds each download with a total time cap and a per-chunk inactivity window, and it automatically retries once if the connection stalls or drops. If it still can't finish:

Check your internet connection and any VPN — a flaky link is the usual cause.
Temporarily disable a download-scanning proxy or aggressive firewall, then retry.
As a last resort, grab the installer from the website and run it manually; the in-place install gives you the same result.

Common issues / troubleshooting

"Up to date" but you expected a new version: the rollout may be staged, or you're already current. The app compares versions numerically and won't offer a downgrade.
A mandatory update keeps nagging: some releases are marked required for security; install it to clear the prompt.
Update server unreachable: you'll see a "couldn't check" style result, never a false "up to date." Retry later — see What "couldn't check" means.