NEW! Substring Search – Find anything that appeared on screen, even partial words. Searching for "ports" now matches "transports," "imports," and "support," so you don't have to remember the exact term. Works for both screen text and notes.
Improvement: Faster Search at Scale – Retrace's search index now lives on disk instead of being rebuilt in memory at every launch. Search returns results faster, especially with long recording histories, and Retrace uses less memory while idle.
Improvement: Notes Use the Same Fast Index – Searching your notes is now powered by the same on-disk index as screen text, so note results appear just as quickly as everything else.
Improvement: Timeline Loads Immediately – If Retrace needs to update its internal database after this update, the timeline still appears right away. Thumbnails finish loading quietly in the background while you scroll.
Stability: Safer Database Updates – Database updates are now interruption-safe. If your Mac shuts down mid-update, Retrace recovers cleanly the next time it opens, with no risk of half-applied schema changes.
Stability — Some additional under the hood (software bugs were harmed in the making of this change log entry).
Version 1.8.1
Build 138
Improvement: Significantly reduced energy impact during screen recording. Retrace now uses up to 50% less energy by eliminating redundant image processing and reducing unnecessary background wake-ups.
Improvement: App exclusions are now fully reflected in the timeline. Excluded apps no longer appear as the active app on captured segments.
Stability — Some additional under the hood (software bugs were harmed in the making of this change log entry).
Version 1.8.0
Build 137
NEW! Battery Saver – Retrace now automatically reduces capture frequency when your Mac is on battery power, cutting energy usage by up to 66%. Your recordings still happen, just less often. Plug back in and full speed is restored instantly. Enable it once in Settings → Storage, and it works automatically every time you unplug.
Improvement: Faster Startup – The timeline filmstrip now appears significantly faster when you open Retrace, with less delay before your recordings are visible.
Improvement: Recording Reliability – Retrace now starts recording more efficiently on launch, eliminating redundant startup work that could briefly delay capture.
Improvement: Update notifications now persist properly. Background update checks will now keep the notification badge visible on the menu bar and gear icon until you take action, so you never miss an available update.
Version 1.7.9
Build 136
Stability — Some additional under the hood (software bugs were harmed in the making of this change log entry).
Version 1.7.8
Build 135
Improved: Backup exports now produce a single clean .retracebackup file. Previously, database journal files could appear alongside your backup. These are no longer generated.
Fixed a crash that could occur when your Mac wakes from sleep shortly after launching Retrace.
Version 1.7.7
Build 134
Improvement: Onboarding & Subscription Experience — Polished the first-run setup and subscription screens for a smoother experience.
Stability — Some additional under the hood (software bugs were harmed in the making of this change log entry).
Version 1.7.6
Build 133
Improvement: Faster Search – Search results now appear significantly faster with reduced input delay and quicker transitions. The entire search-to-results pipeline has been optimized for a snappier experience.
Improvement: Faster Startup. Retrace now opens faster with optimized database access and deferred GPU initialization. Search is ready sooner, especially with large recording histories.
Improvement: Instant Thumbnails on Search Results – Search results now display thumbnails immediately instead of briefly showing loading indicators. Retrace pre-loads thumbnails in the background the moment your search completes.
Improved: Search Visual Transitions – Smoother, cleaner transitions when search results appear and when clearing a search. Fixed an issue where the blur effect could get stuck after quickly cancelling a search.
Improved: Timeline Performance – Several under-the-hood optimizations for smoother scrolling and faster segment navigation across the timeline.
Updated menu bar icon to match the new Retrace brand — the menu bar now shows the signature shoe prints icon.
Version 1.7.5
Build 132
NEW! Refreshed app icon and installer artwork.
NEW! Dynamic App Icon — Retrace now adapts its Dock icon to match your system appearance. Switch between light and dark mode, and the icon follows. You can also set it manually in Settings → General
NEW! Show in Dock — A new toggle in Settings → General lets you keep Retrace visible in the Dock and App Switcher, just like a standard Mac app. Enabled by default for new users.
Stability — Some additional under the hood (software bugs were harmed in the making of this change log entry).
Version 1.7.4
Build 131
NEW! Backup & Restore — Export your timeline data as an encrypted backup file. Choose a time period (30, 60, 90 days, or a custom range), and Retrace creates a portable .retracebackup file you can store anywhere. Each backup gets its own unique encryption key, exported as a separate .retracekey file. So your data stays private even off your Mac.
Refined Visual Design – The player, filmstrip, toasts, and control areas now feature a cohesive glass treatment with subtle borders, inner bevels, and soft shadows that adapt to your system appearance.
Stability — Some additional under the hood (software bugs were harmed in the making of this change log entry).
Version 1.7.3
Build 130
Improvement: Type-to-Search Reliability – Fixed an issue where the first character could be dropped when typing quickly into the search bar. Every keystroke is now captured instantly, even at full typing speed.
Stability — Some additional under the hood (software bugs were harmed in the making of this change log entry).
