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UPDATE

What it is. HYDRA's built-in updater. HYDRA checks for a new version by itself, shows what has changed, downloads the update, verifies it and installs it with a restart. Your settings, profiles, logs and results stay as they are.

Why use it. You do not have to follow releases or copy files by hand: a lit globe icon tells you that a new build is out, and one window takes you from the changelog to the updated HYDRA. The download is checked before anything is replaced, and a failed update returns to the previous version.

In HYDRA globe icon Check every hour Verification SHA-256 · ES256 Updated 31 Oct 2026

How HYDRA finds updates

  • While HYDRA runs, it asks the update server about a new version once an hour, and right after you sign in. The check is quiet: no window opens.
  • When a newer version is out, the globe icon in the top-right corner of HYDRA lights up.
  • Click the globe icon to open HYDRA / UPDATE. The click also checks the server right away.
  • Updates need an active Early Access subscription on Patreon or an authorization code. Without one, HYDRA shows a message instead of the window.

The HYDRA / UPDATE window

HYDRA / UPDATE window: versions 2.3.2.9 → 2.3.2.9, archive size 30.5 MB, WHAT'S NEW with CHANGELOG BUILD 2329, progress 0 B / 30.5 MB Waiting to start, the message HYDRA is up to date. You can review the changelog below, and the DOWNLOAD UPDATE button.
HYDRA / UPDATE when HYDRA is already up to date.
  1. 1Versions. Your version → the newest one. The same number on both sides means HYDRA is up to date.
  2. 2Size. How much the update archive weighs.
  3. 3WHAT'S NEW. The notes of every build released after your version, newest first, so nothing is lost when you skip a few builds. Up to date, it shows the notes of your build. Select text and press Ctrl+C to copy it.
  4. 4Progress. Downloaded and total size, the download speed, and then the result of the verification.
  5. 5Status. What the window is doing now, or why there is nothing to download.
  6. 6Main button. DOWNLOAD UPDATE, then PAUSE DOWNLOAD or RESUME DOWNLOAD, VERIFYING… and RESTART & UPDATE; RETRY DOWNLOAD after an error. Greyed out when there is nothing to download.

Installing an update

  1. Click the globe icon and read WHAT'S NEW.
  2. Click DOWNLOAD UPDATE. You can pause and resume the download; closing the window cancels it.
  3. When the download ends, HYDRA checks the archive: its SHA-256 hash and ES256 digital signature must match what the update server published. A damaged or altered archive is rejected.
  4. Click RESTART & UPDATE when you are ready. HYDRA closes, the updater replaces its files and starts HYDRA again.
The update keepsWhere
SettingsThe .ini files next to HYDRA.exe.
ProfilesCPU, GPU and T-CONTROL profiles with their backups.
Logs and resultsThe LOGS and RESULTS folders.

Every file the update replaces is backed up first. If installing fails, the updater puts the previous files back and starts the old HYDRA; its log is in %LOCALAPPDATA%\HYDRA\Updater\Logs.

If the update does not work

MessageWhat to do
HYDRA could not reach the update serverCheck the VPN, the firewall and DNS, or try again later.
Download limit reachedUpdates have a daily download limit. Try again later.
Update verification failedThe archive arrived damaged. Download it again.
A newer build is availableA new build came out while the window was open. Close it and click the globe icon again.
Protected updates require an active Early Access subscriptionCheck your subscription on Patreon or your authorization code.

After a network error HYDRA retries the download a few times by itself before it shows RETRY DOWNLOAD.

Good to know

  • The APP PACK packages, such as the benchmarks and y-cruncher, are updated separately, in the APP PACK window.
  • When Microsoft Defender is active, the updater adds the HYDRA driver (HYDRA.sys) to the exclusions of its attack surface reduction rules, so those rules do not block the driver.