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Installer Can't Reach the Internet

How to install MuteDeck when a firewall, proxy, or offline machine blocks the installer's online check.

What's Happening​

The MuteDeck installer is built with the Qt Installer Framework. When it starts, it contacts the MuteDeck online repository at https://releases.mutedeck.com to check whether a newer version is available, and installs the newest version it finds.

On locked-down networks (corporate firewalls, filtering proxies, air-gapped machines) that request fails, and the installer stops with an error such as:

Cannot fetch a valid version of Updates.xml from repository

The good news: the installer you downloaded already contains the complete MuteDeck application. Once you tell it to skip the online check, it installs everything from the downloaded file — no internet required.

This is rare, so if your install went through normally you can ignore this page.

The cleanest fix, especially if you're asking IT to make the change:

  • Domain: releases.mutedeck.com
  • Protocol: HTTPS (TCP port 443)

Allowing that single domain also keeps automatic updates working later on.

Option 2: Install Offline by Disabling the Online Repository​

If the domain can't be allowed, turn off the online check in the installer itself:

  1. Start the installer (Windows: mutedeck-win.exe; macOS: open the .dmg and launch the MuteDeck installer inside it)
  2. On the welcome page, click Settings (bottom-left of the wizard)
  3. Open the Repositories tab
  4. Under Default repositories, uncheck MuteDeck Online Repository in the Use column (or click Deselect All)
  5. Click OK and continue the wizard as normal

The installer now installs MuteDeck from the files bundled in the download.

Which version do I get?

The version that was current when you downloaded the installer. To get a newer release later, download a fresh installer from mutedeck.com/downloads.

Option 3: Fix the Proxy Instead​

If the network isn't blocking MuteDeck outright but the installer can't get through your proxy:

  1. Start the installer and click Settings
  2. Open the Network tab
  3. Choose one of:
    • No proxy - when the proxy is the thing causing the failure
    • System proxy settings - use the proxy configured in Windows/macOS
    • Manual proxy configuration - enter the HTTP/FTP proxy host, port, and (if required) username and password
  4. Click Test on the Repositories tab to confirm the repository is reachable, then continue

Command Line Options (Windows, for IT Admins)​

The installer accepts Qt Installer Framework command line options. Useful ones:

OptionWhat it does
--no-proxyIgnore the system proxy
--system-proxyUse the system proxy (default)
--verbosePrint detailed output, helpful when reporting a problem to support

For example, to run the installer while ignoring a broken system proxy:

mutedeck-win.exe --no-proxy

On macOS, use the Settings dialog described above rather than command line options.

After Installing on a Blocked Network​

  • MuteDeck itself works fully offline - meeting detection, hotkeys, and device control need no internet connection.
  • Automatic updates won't work while releases.mutedeck.com stays blocked. Update by downloading a new installer and running it over your existing installation; your settings and license are preserved.
  • Uninstalling still works offline using MuteDeckMaintenanceTool - see Installing MuteDeck.
  • License activation requires internet access to MuteDeck's servers, separate from the installer.

Still Stuck?​

Contact support and include:

  • Your operating system and MuteDeck version
  • The exact error text from the installer
  • Whether you're behind a corporate firewall, proxy, or VPN