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// troubleshooting guide · pulsar

Pulsar Broke After Upgrade: How to Roll Back

Status
Workaround available
platforms:
Windows, macOS, Linux
updated:
November 15, 2026
reports:
2
Method
how we research
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RUNBOOK · pulsar/downgrade-after-upgrade3 FIXES

// quick answer

After a big Electron upgrade some setups break. Back up ~/.pulsar and reinstall an earlier release from GitHub.

Most likely fix: Back up first

How to fix it

// try these in order, the most common fix is first

  1. FIX 1Back up first

    1. 01Copy ~/.pulsar (or %USERPROFILE%\.pulsar on Windows) elsewhere
    Did this fix it?

  2. FIX 2Install an earlier release

    1. 01Download an older version from the GitHub releases page
    2. 02Install over the current one
    Did this fix it?

  3. FIX 3Test with safe mode and default themes

    1. 01Run pulsar --safe
    2. 02Switch to a bundled UI theme if project windows fail to start
    Did this fix it?

Symptoms

Packages, themes or windows break after updating Pulsar.

Why it happens

  • C-01Electron 12 to 30 upgrade changed APIs
  • C-02Community UI themes missing variables (fixed in 1.132.1)

// this guide also covers

  • pulsar downgrade
  • pulsar broken after update
  • pulsar theme not working

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