Updates that require a computer restart vs not required

JohnnyBook · 12-06-2025, 07:08 PM

Many times, (usually?) when updating Calibre a computer restart is not needed.

But occasionally a restart is required before Calibre will launch.

This can be a bit annoying if I have something else going on that I can't stop and do a restart, so I can't relaunch Calibre and use it in the background if I have updated it.

For example the last 2 updates (IIRC) 8.16.1 & 8.16.2 both required Computer restarts to complete the installation. The time before that when I upgraded, it did not require a computer restart. (I don't know what version that was, as I don't always do every upgrade.)

A notice/warning/banner that a computer restart is required for this upgrade version, either on the download page, or (I don't know if its possible) in the installer before installation.

- - - - -

Yeah is just an annoyance, but if I know a restart will be required, I can hold off on the upgrade, until I have finished whatever I am doing that is keeping my computer tied up for several hours or more.

BetterRed · 12-06-2025, 07:53 PM

I've installed every version of calibre since 0.8.27, that's well over 400 installs. I have never needed to do a restart to use the newly installed software.

That suggests having to do a restart after an install is not by design.

BR

Comfy.n · 12-06-2025, 08:17 PM

Occasionally I may forget some calibre process open (viewer, editor...), then what I do in such cases, instead of restarting the OS, is to run a repair install. Of course, after making sure all calibre processes aren't running.

On Windows, the repair install can be initiated either by right-clicking the .msi installer and selecting Repair, or running the installer as usual.

kovidgoyal · Yesterday, 12:21 AM

No upgrade requires a restart. It's very much a mysterious thing that windows installer itself decides during the upgrade process, there is no way to know in advance if it will or will not decide that. Generally speaking, make sure no calibre processes are running before doing the update to minimise chances of windows deciding a restart is needed. The installer does check if calibre.exe itself is running, but not for every single possible other calibre exe.

ShellShock · Yesterday, 03:13 PM

Also, whether the installer thinks a restart is necessary often depends on the current state of the machine, e.g. if the installer wants to update files that are currently locked, in which case the update will be deferred until a restart. So, it is impossible to predict whether a particular version of Calibre will require a restart on your machine which is in an unknown state.

JohnnyBook · Yesterday, 03:18 PM

Hmm, I do shut down Calibre when I am upgrading, but, I suspect having a book open in the viewer may have been the cause of the problem.

I read a lot of books on my computer while waiting. I will keep an eye on that in the future.

12-06-2025, 07:08 PM	#1
JohnnyBook Addict Posts: 214 Karma: 126824 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Out There Device: K3 W/3G (Fixed screen!) & Paperwhite Wifi	Updates that require a computer restart vs not required Many times, (usually?) when updating Calibre a computer restart is not needed. But occasionally a restart is required before Calibre will launch. This can be a bit annoying if I have something else going on that I can't stop and do a restart, so I can't relaunch Calibre and use it in the background if I have updated it. For example the last 2 updates (IIRC) 8.16.1 & 8.16.2 both required Computer restarts to complete the installation. The time before that when I upgraded, it did not require a computer restart. (I don't know what version that was, as I don't always do every upgrade.) A notice/warning/banner that a computer restart is required for this upgrade version, either on the download page, or (I don't know if its possible) in the installer before installation. - - - - - Yeah is just an annoyance, but if I know a restart will be required, I can hold off on the upgrade, until I have finished whatever I am doing that is keeping my computer tied up for several hours or more.

Yesterday, 03:18 PM	#6
JohnnyBook Addict Posts: 214 Karma: 126824 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Out There Device: K3 W/3G (Fixed screen!) & Paperwhite Wifi	Hmm, I do shut down Calibre when I am upgrading, but, I suspect having a book open in the viewer may have been the cause of the problem. I read a lot of books on my computer while waiting. I will keep an eye on that in the future. Last edited by JohnnyBook; Yesterday at 03:23 PM.

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12-06-2025, 07:53 PM	#2
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 22,055 Karma: 30277960 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	I've installed every version of calibre since 0.8.27, that's well over 400 installs. I have never needed to do a restart to use the newly installed software. That suggests having to do a restart after an install is not by design. BR

12-06-2025, 08:17 PM	#3
Comfy.n want to learn what I want Posts: 1,700 Karma: 7908443 Join Date: Sep 2020 Device: none	Occasionally I may forget some calibre process open (viewer, editor...), then what I do in such cases, instead of restarting the OS, is to run a repair install. Of course, after making sure all calibre processes aren't running. On Windows, the repair install can be initiated either by right-clicking the .msi installer and selecting Repair, or running the installer as usual.

Yesterday, 12:21 AM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,690 Karma: 28549304 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	No upgrade requires a restart. It's very much a mysterious thing that windows installer itself decides during the upgrade process, there is no way to know in advance if it will or will not decide that. Generally speaking, make sure no calibre processes are running before doing the update to minimise chances of windows deciding a restart is needed. The installer does check if calibre.exe itself is running, but not for every single possible other calibre exe.

Yesterday, 03:13 PM	#5
ShellShock Wizard Posts: 1,180 Karma: 2431850 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: IPad Mini 2 Retina	Also, whether the installer thinks a restart is necessary often depends on the current state of the machine, e.g. if the installer wants to update files that are currently locked, in which case the update will be deferred until a restart. So, it is impossible to predict whether a particular version of Calibre will require a restart on your machine which is in an unknown state.

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