Hello.
I see both versions (33 and 4) are available on GitHub, what is the difference?
Thank you, Adam
bb77
May 1, 2026, 7:16am
2
Hi @adam-tj
The current latest branch is 33.x.x. Version 4.x.x is the previous version, which is still being maintained. This means that it still receives bug fixes, just as multiple Nextcloud versions (currently 32 and 33) are maintained in parallel.
For a detailed explanation directly from a developer on the Desktop Team, see here: Why are there new 4.0.x releases still being released? - #9 by iva.horn
Also, please see this issue on GitHub, if you are there already.
opened 11:55AM - 22 Nov 24 UTC
In this post, we provide the current status of the recent releases of the deskto… p client.
| Client Release | Covered By |
|-|-|
| 33.\*.\* | 🟢 Community support |
| 4.0.10 | 🟡 Enterprise support only |
For enterprise customers, the corresponding update channel for the client will be activated soon.
## Highlights in Version 33
- semantic versioning like Nextcloud Server
- macOS app sandboxing for enhanced security
- macOS 13 Ventura is the new minimum requirement
- Windows VFS on demand for performance
- support for new Files High Performance Backend (notify_push) to reduce server load
- Client integration for app specific file actions via the right-click context menus
- Nextcloud assistant integration by clicking the AI-Icon in the tray window
- Better indication of account errors when using more than one accounts
- Redesigned settings user interface
## macOS Compatibility
| macOS Release | Latest Supported Client Release |
|-|-|
| 11 Big Sur | 3.13.4 |
| 12 Monterey | 4.\*.\* |
| 13 Ventura and later | 33.\*.\* |
## Frequently Asked Questions
### Why are older major versions still getting maintenance releases?
Like many mature software projects — think Firefox ESR, Windows 10 alongside Windows 11, macOS receiving security updates across multiple generations, or Microsoft Office suites being supported in parallel — we maintain more than one major release at a time. Active bug fixes and security patches are backported to older stable branches as long as they are supported. So seeing (in example) a 4.0.10 appear after 33.0.2 is completely expected. People on the older branch receive bug fixes and smaller improvements as well.
### Why did the version jump from 4 to 33?
For clarity. Starting with version 33, the desktop client’s major version number is aligned with the Nextcloud server release. This makes it immediately obvious which client generation pairs with which server generation. From here on, the major version will just increment by one as usual. Major releases bring features while point releases bring fixes. Important: there neither was nor is a dependency between these client and server releases! Older clients will work with newer servers, too, and vice versa.
### Which version should I use?
Use whatever is offered by default on the [Nextcloud download page](https://nextcloud.com/install/#desktop-files) unless you need to work on older operating systems no longer supported by it or have an enterprise environment which still operates with a previous release.
