Notice (really a reminder) for users of Joseph Lee's add-ons: preparing divergent upgrade paths for NVDA 2025.3.3 and 2026.x users with August 2026 add-on releases and beyond

[Joseph Lee]

Hi all,

Back in May 2026, I announced that starting with add-on releases scheduled for August 2026, my add-ons (at least ones I currently maintain) will require NVDA 2026.1.1 or later (the actual minimum version will be set to 2026.1 but I strongly recommend keeping NVDA up to date). This notice is a follow-up to my May 2026 notice on what you should do to prepare for diverging add-on update paths between 2025.3.3 and 2026.x. Add-ons affected include AudioScreen, Braille Essentials, Enhanced Touch Gestures, Event Tracker, GoldWave, ObjPad, Resource Monitor, StationPlaylist, Windows App Essentials, and Zoom Enhancements.

Prerequisites:

1. You must be running NVDA 2025.3.3 or later. If you are using NVDA 2025.3.2 or earlier, please upgrade to at least 2025.3.3.
2. Once you are on NVDA 2025.3.3 or later, check for add-on updates and install stable channel releases. CAUTION: do NOT install beta or dev add-on releases for the aforementioned add-ons because doing so can cause add-ons to no longer load after installation (changes were made to some of the add-ons listed above that breaks compatibility with NVDA 2025.3.3 and earlier). In some cases I do encourage users to try out beta and dev channel releases; not this time.

As I stated back in May, for the rest of this year, I will be updating minimum NVDA requirement for my add-ons to NVDA 2026.1. Because doing this for all add-ons is disruptive, it will be done gradually - one to three add-ons will have requirements updated every month or two.

After looking at NVDA user statistics (publicly accessible), I decided to offer a "nightlight" option for NVDA 2025.3.3 users. As of time of this announcement, about 40% of NVDA installations (installed and portable) report NVDA 2026.x while about 10% report 2025.3.3. Therefore, after an add-on release requiring NVDA 2026.1 or later is released, I will offer releases for NVDA 2025.3.3 for at least two months (60 days). For example, AudioScreen 2026.3 requires NVDA 2026.1, so I will offer AudioScreen 2026.2.x for at least two months. In other words, NVDA 2026.1 and later users will receive AudioScreen 2026.3 while AudioScreen 2026.2.x will be presented to NVDA 2025.3.3 users.

The nightlight option will have some differences from mainline releases with higher version numbers:

• Focusing on localization updates (if possible; user interface localizations can be done but not for documentation in most cases)
• Updating last tested NVDA version value whenever new stable NVDA versions are released throughout nightlight maintenance
• Changes can be backported on a case by case basis with or without localizations

Note: future (mainline) add-on releases may require future NVDA releases. For example, a future Enhanced Touch Gestures add-on release will require upcoming NVDA 2026.2 release.

I could have just delayed NVDA 2026.x requirement until 2027. However, since a significant percentage of NVDA installations are on NVDA 2026.x, it makes more sense to update requirements now. Also, getting add-on code to use latest NVDA assumptions eases maintenance for maintainers should I step away again.

To prepare for diverging add-on update paths, follow these steps:

1. Open add-on store settings (NVDA menu/Preferences/Settings, add-on store category).
2. From add-on store settings, make sure "default update channel" is set to "same" or "stable" ("same" is preferred), and make sure "Allow automatic updates to install incompatible add-ons" is unchecked. If not, change these settings and select OK button.
3. Open NV Access add-on store (NVDA menu/Tools/add-on store).
4. Check if you have one or more of the add-ons listed above installed.
5. For each add-on entry you found, note down the "channel" column value. If it says "stable", no further action is required.
6. If the "channel" column says something other than "stable", uninstall the add-on(s), say "yes" when NVDA prompts you to restart it, revisit the add-on store, go to "available add-ons" tab, and install the latest stable versions of the add-ons you have removed.
7. Once add-on download is complete, exit add-on store, then say "yes" when NVDA asks you to restart it. You are all set.

Lastly, as of time of this notice, the order of add-ons with changing NVDA version requirements is (phases subject to change):

1. August 2026: AudioScreen, StationPlaylist (divergent update path is already set up for StationPlaylist)
2. September 2026 or two weeks after NVDA 2026.2 stable version is released, whichever happens later: Enhanced Touch Gestures, ObjPad, Windows App Essentials (for Windows App Essentials, once that update is installed, the add-on will do nothing (again)); these add-ons will require NVDA 2026.2
3. At least a month after second phase: Event Tracker, GoldWave
4. December 2026: Resource Monitor, Zoom Enhancements
5. 2027: Braille Essentials (delaying NVDA 2026.1 requirement upon request of Dalen, the co-maintainer)

Add-ons with high download count and impact are placed last (hence the order above). For example, Resource Monitor 26.07.x has at least 7000 downloads, people use Zoom for videoconferencing, and Braille Essentials patches NVDA's braille support system extensively and thus has high impact.

One more thing, or rather a recommendation: I know some of us cannot let go of NVDA 2025.3.3 for various reasons. However, we need to let go of old technologies at some point for the future is NVDA 2026.x. Please upgrade to NVDA 2026.1.1 today rather than upgrading tomorrow. Keep an eye on upcoming NVDA 2026.2 as it includes some cool features.

Thanks.

Cheers,

Joseph

[Joseph Lee]

Hi all,

Updates:

* The following add-ons will be excluded from divergent update paths process: Windows App Essentials (there will be one final Windows App Essentials release compatible with NVDA 2025.3.3 and no more) as the add-on will be discontinued again.

* Enhanced Touch Gestures and ObjPad: the next stable releases (August 2026) will be the last releases supporting NVDA 2025.3.3 (and if things work out, 2026.1.x).

* AudioScreen: the next release (August 2026) will require NVDA 2026.1. AudioScreen 2026.2.x will be offered to NVDA 2025.3.3 users.

* StationPlaylist: the next stable release (August 2026) will require NVDA 2026.1. SPL add-on 26.07.x will be offered to NVDA 2025.3.3 users.

Cheers,

Joseph