XLS Padlock 2026: a padlock and shield protecting an Excel spreadsheet, with the tagline Lock, Protect, Control

XLS Padlock 2026.1 Released: More Reliable Web Update and Some Fixes

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XLS Padlock 2026.1 is now available. It is a maintenance release for version 2026.0, shipped in June, and we recommend it for every customer with active maintenance.

This update fixes several issues reported in protected applications built with 2026.0, makes the Web Update feature noticeably more reliable, and smooths the code signing workflow. Most of the fixes live in the runtime embedded into your protected application, so remember to re-pack and redistribute your workbooks after upgrading. Your existing activation keys and offline license keys keep working unchanged, and nothing changes on your activation server or integration kits.

Fixes for protected applications

  • Applications that combine a license agreement with activation keys no longer ask the end user to accept the license agreement at every launch.
  • Resolved cases where Web Update could fail with a “WUPDATE.INI not found” error in applications created with 2026.0.

More reliable Web Update

Web Update now works correctly when your application is installed in a protected folder such as Program Files, including when a different administrator account approves the update. When an update is downloaded at startup, the application exits cleanly so the installer can replace files before restarting, and it retries briefly if a file is still locked by shutdown or security software.

Flat illustration of a protected Excel workbook application receiving a reliable web update, with refresh and download icons, a success checkmark, and a padlock

Smoother code signing

Advanced code signing setups are handled better in the Designer. Azure Artifact Signing configurations no longer show a false red status, the “Automatically sign my exe file” option now works with Azure Artifact Signing as well as custom SignTool and JSign setups, and in the two-EXE mode (separate 32-bit and 64-bit files) both files are signed.

Hardened offline license-key validation

Offline license-key validation has been strengthened without changing the key format. Keys already issued by the legitimate generators keep working, so nothing changes for you or your customers: it is simply harder to forge a key.

Get XLS Padlock 2026.1

If your maintenance is active, XLS Padlock 2026.1 is a free upgrade: 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 to XLS Padlock? Download the free trial to protect a workbook from start to finish, or buy a license when you are ready. The full list of changes is in the changelog.

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