Add auto-update mechanism on macOS (in-app updates like Tailscale) to avoid manual .pkg installs

[maxpain]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe. Yes. Updating the macOS app currently requires manually downloading a new .pkg and running the installer each time. This is inconvenient, easy to forget, and adds friction for keeping endpoints up-to-date (especially across multiple Macs). Tailscale provides a smooth in-app auto-update experience, and NetBird feels behind on macOS maintenance because of the manual update flow.

Describe the solution you'd like Add a built-in auto-update mechanism for the macOS client, ideally with: • Automatic update checks (e.g., daily/weekly) and a “Check for Updates…” action in the app/menu. • In-app download + install (or a guided update flow) without requiring the user to manually fetch a .pkg. • Clear release notes + version info. • Optional settings: auto-download updates, auto-install updates, update channel (stable/beta) if applicable. • Safe behavior: verify signatures, fail gracefully, and allow postponing.

Additional context Auto-updates are a major usability and security improvement: users stay on supported versions, bugfixes roll out faster, and support burden decreases. Tailscale is a good reference for the expected macOS experience here.

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🔗 Similar Issues

Related Issues

• https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/4786
• https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/4788
• https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/4976
• https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/4906
• https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/issues/4892

👤 Suggested Assignees

• spupuz
• manpreettrehan
• marco-brandizi
• stich86
• pierrechapuis

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[marco-brandizi]

This is useful in general, but personally, I prefer to manage updates via Homebrew and this typically requires headless updates (without any need to launch a GUI), see #4976.