--- description: Set up Capawesome Cloud Live Updates in your Capacitor app. Install the SDK, create a channel, and ship over-the-air updates in minutes. title: Getting Started with Live Updates - Capawesome image: https://capawesome.io/docs/assets/images/social/cloud/live-updates/setup.png --- [ Skip to content](#getting-started) [ 🎉 Introducing **Capawesome Platform** — one platform for Live Updates, Native Builds, App Store Publishing, and Insider SDKs.](https://capawesome.io) * [ Formbricks ](/docs/plugins/formbricks/) * [ Geocoder ](/docs/plugins/geocoder/) * [ Google Sign-In ](/docs/plugins/google-sign-in/) * [ libSQL ](/docs/plugins/libsql/) * [ Live Update ](/docs/plugins/live-update/) * [ Managed Configurations ](/docs/plugins/managed-configurations/) * [ Media Session ](/docs/plugins/media-session/) * [ ML Kit ](/docs/plugins/mlkit/) * [ NFC ](/docs/plugins/nfc/) * [ OAuth ](/docs/plugins/oauth/) * [ Pedometer ](/docs/plugins/pedometer/) * [ Photo Editor ](/docs/plugins/photo-editor/) * [ PostHog ](/docs/plugins/posthog/) * [ Printer ](/docs/plugins/printer/) * [ Purchases ](/docs/plugins/purchases/) * [ RealtimeKit ](/docs/plugins/realtimekit/) * [ Screen Orientation ](/docs/plugins/screen-orientation/) * [ Screenshot ](/docs/plugins/screenshot/) * [ Secure Preferences ](/docs/plugins/secure-preferences/) * [ Speech Recognition ](/docs/plugins/speech-recognition/) * [ Speech Synthesis ](/docs/plugins/speech-synthesis/) * [ Share Target ](/docs/plugins/share-target/) * [ Square Mobile Payments ](/docs/plugins/square-mobile-payments/) * [ SQLite ](/docs/plugins/sqlite/) * [ Superwall ](/docs/plugins/superwall/) * [ Torch ](/docs/plugins/torch/) * [ Wifi ](/docs/plugins/wifi/) * [ Zip ](/docs/plugins/zip/) * [ Cloud ](/docs/cloud/) * [ Live Updates ](/docs/cloud/live-updates/) * [ Next Steps ](#next-steps) * [ Bundles ](/docs/cloud/live-updates/bundles/) * [ Channels ](/docs/cloud/live-updates/channels/) * [ Devices ](/docs/cloud/live-updates/devices/) * [ Logs ](/docs/cloud/live-updates/logs/) * [ FAQ ](/docs/cloud/live-updates/faq/) * Guides * Advanced * Integrations * [ Native Builds ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/) * [ Configuration ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/configuration/) * [ Environments ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/environments/) * Guides * [ Sample Projects ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/sample-projects/) * [ Troubleshooting ](/docs/cloud/native-builds/troubleshooting/) * [ Automations ](/docs/cloud/automations/) * Account * Organizations * [ Organization and User Management ](/docs/cloud/organizations/memberships/) * [ Single Sign-On (SSO) ](/docs/cloud/organizations/sso/) * [ Teams ](/docs/cloud/organizations/teams/) * [ Two-Factor Authentication ](/docs/cloud/organizations/two-factor-authentication/) * [ Integrations ](/docs/cloud/integrations/) * [ License Keys ](/docs/cloud/license-keys/) * [ Webhooks ](/docs/cloud/webhooks/) * [ Pricing ](https://capawesome.io/pricing/) * [ FAQ ](/docs/cloud/faq/) * [ Support ](/docs/cloud/support/) * [ Contributing ](/docs/contributing/) * [ LLMs ](/docs/llms/) * [ Insiders ](/docs/insiders/) * [ License ](https://capawesome.io/legal/eula/) * [ Support ](/docs/insiders/support/) * [ FAQ ](/docs/insiders/faq/) * [ Blog ](/blog/) * Categories * [ Next Steps ](#next-steps) # Getting Started[¶](#getting-started "Permanent link") In this guide, you will learn how to set up Capawesome Cloud Live Updates in your Capacitor app. ## Prerequisites[¶](#prerequisites "Permanent link") Before you begin, ensure you have: * A [Capawesome Cloud](https://console.cloud.capawesome.io) account and organization. * A Capacitor app project on your local machine. * The latest version of the [Capawesome CLI](/docs/cloud/cli/) installed. ## AI-Assisted Setup (Recommended)[¶](#ai-assisted-setup-recommended "Permanent link") The fastest way to get started is by using an AI coding assistant. First, add the [Capawesome skills](https://github.com/capawesome-team/skills) to your project: `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-0-1)npx skills add capawesome-team/skills --skill capawesome-cloud ` Then, use the following prompt in your preferred AI tool (e.g. [Claude Code](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code), [Cursor](https://www.cursor.com/), or [GitHub Copilot](https://github.com/features/copilot)): `` [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-1-1)Use the `capawesome-cloud` skill from `capawesome-team/skills` to help me set up Capacitor Live Updates in my project. `` The AI assistant will create an app in Capawesome Cloud, install and configure the Live Update SDK, publish your first update, and verify that everything works. Once complete, continue with [Next Steps](#next-steps). ## Manual Setup[¶](#manual-setup "Permanent link") If you prefer to set things up manually, follow the steps below. ### Step 1: Create an App[¶](#step-1-create-an-app "Permanent link") In order for your app to identify itself to Capawesome Cloud, you must first create an app in Capawesome Cloud. If you have already created an app, you can **skip this step** and proceed to Step 2. CLIConsole To create an app using the [Capawesome CLI](/docs/cloud/cli/), use the [apps:create](/docs/cloud/cli/#appscreate) command: `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-2-1)npx @capawesome/cli apps:create ` You will be prompted to select the organization you want to create the app in and to provide a name for the app. The CLI will then create the app and display the app ID. To create an app using the [Capawesome Cloud Console](https://console.cloud.capawesome.io/organizations/%5F/apps), select the organization you want to create the app in and click on the "Create App" button. Provide a name for the app and click on the "Create" button. Make sure to copy the app ID, as you will need it in the next step. ### Step 2: Install SDK[¶](#step-2-install-sdk "Permanent link") Within your Capacitor app project, install the [Capacitor Live Update](/docs/plugins/live-update/) plugin: Capacitor 8Capacitor 7Capacitor 6 `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-3-1)npm install @capawesome/capacitor-live-update@latest ` See the [Capacitor 7 Setup Guide](/docs/cloud/live-updates/setup-capacitor-7/) for instructions on installing and configuring the plugin with Capacitor 7. See the [Capacitor 6 Setup Guide](/docs/cloud/live-updates/setup-capacitor-6/) for instructions on installing and configuring the plugin with Capacitor 6. Next, configure the plugin by pasting the app ID from Step 1 and setting the `autoUpdateStrategy` option to `background` in the [Capacitor configuration file](https://capacitorjs.com/docs/config) of your project: TypeScriptJSON capacitor.config.ts `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-1)import { CapacitorConfig } from "@capacitor/cli"; [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-2) [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-3)const config: CapacitorConfig = { [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-4) plugins: { [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-5) LiveUpdate: { [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-6) appId: "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000", [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-7) autoUpdateStrategy: "background" [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-8) } [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-9) } [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-10)}; [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-11) [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-4-12)export default config; ` capacitor.config.json `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-1){ [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-2) "plugins": { [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-3) "LiveUpdate": { [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-4) "appId": "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000", [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-5) "autoUpdateStrategy": "background" [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-6) } [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-7) } [](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-5-8)} ` The `autoUpdateStrategy` option set to `background` is the **simplest and most effective way** to keep your users up to date. It automatically checks for updates at app startup and when the app resumes, downloads them in the background, and applies them on the next app launch—all without requiring any additional code or user interaction. This makes it the perfect default choice for most applications. See [Update Strategies](/docs/cloud/live-updates/guides/update-strategies/) for more information on alternative strategies. Finally, sync your Capacitor project using the [Capacitor CLI](https://capacitorjs.com/docs/cli) to register the plugin and apply the configuration: `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-6-1)npx cap sync ` ### Step 3: Publish Your First Update[¶](#step-3-publish-your-first-update "Permanent link") To publish your first live update, you need to deploy a build to a live update channel in Capawesome Cloud. This can be done easily using the [Capawesome CLI](/docs/cloud/cli/). First, build the web assets of your Capacitor app: `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-7-1)npm run build ` Then, upload those web assets as a live update bundle to Capawesome Cloud using the following command: `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-8-1)npx @capawesome/cli apps:liveupdates:upload ` This command will ask you to enter the path to your web assets directory (e.g., `www` or `dist`) and the app you want to upload the bundle to. After the upload is complete, the bundle will be instantly available to your users. Navigate to the [Deployments](https://console.cloud.capawesome.io/apps/%5F/deployments) page in the Capawesome Cloud Console to see the details of your deployment. Force Update Check When using an `autoUpdateStrategy`, updates are only checked on app resume if the last check was more than 15 minutes ago. To force a live update check during development, **force-close your app and restart it**. Congratulations! You have successfully set up Capawesome Cloud Live Updates in your Capacitor app. 🎉 ### Step 4: Test Your Setup[¶](#step-4-test-your-setup "Permanent link") To verify that everything is working correctly, you can make a small change to your web assets (e.g., change some text in your HTML or CSS files), build the web assets again, and upload a new live update bundle using the same command as before: `[](#%5F%5Fcodelineno-9-1)npx @capawesome/cli apps:liveupdates:upload ` After uploading the new bundle, force-close your app and restart it. Since you have set the `autoUpdateStrategy` to `background`, the app should automatically download and apply the new bundle in the background. Wait around 15-30 seconds, then restart the app again to see the changes take effect. If you prefer to get a notification when an update is ready, you can extend your setup by implementing the [Always Latest](/docs/cloud/live-updates/guides/update-strategies/#always-latest) update strategy. Debugging The Live Update SDK provides useful debugging information in Android's Logcat and iOS's Xcode console. If you encounter any issues during testing, **check the logs for more details**. ## Next Steps[¶](#next-steps "Permanent link") Now that you have Live Updates set up, explore the following guides to make the most out of it. * **Best Practices** --- Learn about best practices for using Capawesome Cloud Live Updates in your Capacitor app. [ Learn More](/docs/cloud/live-updates/guides/best-practices/) * **Advanced Usage** --- Learn about advanced features and how to customize the Live Update plugin to your needs. [ Learn More](/docs/cloud/live-updates/guides/advanced-usage/) May 7, 2026 Back to top