By G.D.G. Software
XLS Padlock 2026.1 is available today. It is a maintenance release for the major 2026.0 version shipped in June: it fixes several issues reported in protected applications created with 2026.0, makes Web Update noticeably more reliable, and smooths the code signing workflow in the Designer.
We recommend that every customer with active maintenance upgrade to 2026.1, and re-pack the workbooks they distribute. Most of the fixes below live in the runtime that is embedded into your protected application, so your end users only get them once you re-compile with this release. Existing activation keys and offline license keys keep working unchanged, and no change is required on your activation server or integration kits.
Fixes for deployed protected applications
Two issues affecting applications created with XLS Padlock 2026.0 are resolved:
- License agreement shown at every launch. Protected applications that combine a license agreement with activation keys stored in the registry no longer ask the end user to accept the license agreement every time they start the application.
- “WUPDATE.INI not found” during Web Update. Fixed cases where Web Update could fail with this error in applications created with 2026.0.
Re-pack your workbook with 2026.1 and distribute the new EXE to fix applications already in your customers’ hands.
More reliable Web Update
Beyond the control-file fix above, the Web Update feature received two deeper reliability improvements:
- Installs in protected folders. Web Update now works correctly when the protected application is installed in a folder that requires administrator rights, such as Program Files, including when the end user approves the update with a different administrator account.
- Cleaner restart sequence. When an update is downloaded at startup, the protected application now exits immediately so the update installer can replace files before the updated version starts. The installer also retries briefly when a file is still locked by application shutdown or by security software.
If your customers rely on Web Update to receive new versions of your workbook, this alone is worth the upgrade.
Smoother code signing in the Designer
Code signing setups that go beyond a local certificate file are now handled better:
- A valid Azure Artifact Signing configuration no longer shows a red status on the Code Signing page until the Preferences dialog is opened: stored Global Preferences are loaded at Designer startup.
- The “Automatically sign my exe file” option now works with Azure Artifact Signing, custom SignTool commands, and JSign configurations that do not use the local certificate field.
- In the “32-bit and 64-bit (two separate EXE files)” packaging mode, the “Sign EXE file now” command signs both generated EXE files.
Hardened offline license-key validation
Offline license-key validation has been strengthened without changing the license-key format. Keys already issued by the legitimate generators keep working unchanged, so nothing changes for you or your customers: it is simply harder to forge a key.
The complete list of changes is in the changelog.
Get XLS Padlock 2026.1
👉 Existing users: XLS Padlock 2026.1 is a free upgrade if your maintenance is active. Download it, install it over your current version, and re-pack your workbooks. If your maintenance has expired, you can renew it at a discount from your account.
👉 New users: download the free trial to protect a workbook end to end, or buy XLS Padlock when you are ready.
As always, tell us what you think and what you would like to see next through our feedback forum or our contact form.