# Beta Testing

Join our beta testing group to experience new features and updates before they are released to the public. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve DR Sim Manager.

## Getting Beta Builds

Beta builds are published on the [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/DepartedReality/dr-sim-manager-releases/releases) page alongside stable releases. Look for releases tagged as **pre-release**. Download and run the beta installer — it installs side-by-side with the stable version as **DR Sim Manager Beta**, using a separate install directory and app data folder, so you can run both without conflict.

### Update Notifications for Beta Users

DR Sim Manager includes a built-in update checker that notifies you when a new version is available. If you are running a beta build, the update checker will also show pre-release versions — so you'll be notified of new beta builds as well as stable releases. Stable users will only see stable release notifications. See [Settings](/dr-sim-manager/general/settings.md) for how to configure or disable the update check.

## Configuration & Data Folders

DR Sim Manager stores its configuration and data in your local app data folder:

* **Stable**: `%LOCALAPPDATA%\DRSimManager\`
* **Beta**: `%LOCALAPPDATA%\DRSimManagerBeta\`

Because these are separate folders, your stable and beta installations are fully independent by default.

### Copying Settings from Stable to Beta

If you want the beta to start with the same settings as your stable installation, you can copy your configuration files from the stable folder to the beta folder:

1. Close both DR Sim Manager and DR Sim Manager Beta if they are running.
2. Open File Explorer and navigate to `%LOCALAPPDATA%\DRSimManager\`.
3. Copy the files you want (e.g. `app.json`, `sim.json`, `outputs.json`, `ui.config`) into `%LOCALAPPDATA%\DRSimManagerBeta\`.
4. You can also copy the `Profiles\` and `HardwareProfiles\` folders to bring over your profiles.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.departedreality.com/dr-sim-manager/development/beta-testing.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.