Settings and appearance#
Settings controls how DevDesk looks, where you find help, backups, privacy, updates, and the local-data reset. Changing a setting does not upload your workspace.
Reinstall recovery#
Use Export Reinstall Recovery Kit before uninstalling Android or Windows. The kit contains independent app-managed data and a sanitized workspace reconnection catalog. After reinstall, use Import Recovery Kit or Backup, then Reconnect Recorded Workspaces. Workspace source folders are not copied into the kit and Android folder access must be granted again.
Protected secrets, permission tokens, execution trust, and AI connector access keys are deliberately excluded and must be entered or approved again.
Appearance#
Choose the options that are easiest to read:
- Brightness: system, light, or dark.
- Palette: an available color theme.
- Contrast: standard or high contrast.
- Density: comfortable for touch or compact for more information.
Use system brightness if your device often changes environments. Try high contrast or a wider window when text is hard to read.
Learning and documentation#
- DevDesk User Manual opens the complete offline guide.
- View Onboarding Again replays the introduction without deleting data.
- DevDesk Agent Connector opens the Windows and Android connector controls for an MCP-compatible client such as Codex or Gemini CLI. On Android, the compatible client must run on the same device and DevDesk must remain open.
The agent connector is stopped by default. Read AI Agent Connector before enabling redacted workspace text sharing, review proposals, or scheduled read-only checks. All three optional permissions are off by default.
Backups and privacy#
Settings can export a backup file or a redacted backup copy, and it previews an import before applying it. Protected secrets are not included in portable backups. External project folders are separate from the Settings backup and need their own copy, sync, or Git workflow.
After importing a recovery kit, Reconnect Recorded Workspaces shows its sanitized workspace catalog. Select Reconnect a workspace to open the normal folder picker; repeat for additional folders. Importing another kit replaces this stored reconnection list with the newly imported catalog.
Use the Privacy Policy, Privacy Question, and Security Report items to understand data handling or contact the developer. Do not include tokens, passwords, private source code, or sensitive request bodies in a public report.
Updates and downloads#
The About section opens the DevDesk website, Downloads page, support, and Microsoft Store listing.
On Android and Windows, select Check for Updates to compare the installed build with the public release record hosted on the official DevDesk website. The check is platform-specific:
- Android opens Google Play when an update is available.
- Windows opens Microsoft Store when an update is available.
DevDesk does not download or install updates itself. A connection failure on the first check leaves the app available; reconnect and try again later.
Clear All Data#
Clear All Data removes known DevDesk-private records, settings, privacy acknowledgement, onboarding completion, update reminder data, and protected secret records. It does not delete external project folders, exported files, or information you already sent to another service.
Export a backup first if you need the private records. Separately verify any external workspace folder you want to keep.
Responsive behavior#
Settings stays in one readable column on Android and uses a constrained content column on wide Windows screens. On a small display, scroll the focused setting, close optional panels, or use a wider window rather than reducing text until it is difficult to read.