What's new.
Every release of refern — new features, improvements, and fixes.
Latest: v1.3.1 · July 6, 2026 · Download
- v1.3.1Latest
Multi-Root Workspaces & a Smarter Auto Tagger
- A workspace can now hold several separate content folders at once instead of exactly one.
- Upgraded the Auto Tagger's models: general tags, art tags, and Search by meaning all got a big quality boost.
- Added a Configure tab to the Auto Tagger: browse every tag the models can produce, then block unwanted ones.
- You can now re-tag items that were already tagged, and wipe all suggested tags from a selection.
- Auto Tagger review can now be scoped to specific folders.
- When importing from PureRef or Allusion, refern can reference images in place instead of copying.
- 'Find similar' now has a Folder / All toggle.
- Copy and paste elements on the canvas with Ctrl/Cmd+C and Ctrl/Cmd+V.
- Added canvas drag shortcuts: Ctrl/Cmd+Space+drag to zoom.
- Fixed mouse-wheel panning being far too fast on Windows.
- Fixed timed study continuing after session ended.
- Fixed metadata sidebar blanking while paging between images.
- Sped up large image grids, loading and scrolling.
- Made permanently emptying the trash much faster.
- Fixed a crash during thumbnail generation on large libraries.
- Fixed trash bin corruption after renaming files outside the app.
- Fixed animated GIFs continuing to use CPU while minimized.
- Browser extension: multi-root workspace support, auto-scroll toggle, and fixes.
- v1.2.0
Multiple Windows, Custom Data Folder & Recovery
- Added multiple windows: pop out any image or canvas into its own window.
- Added custom data folder: separate location for database, thumbnails, and backups.
- Added one-click workspace recovery from automatic backups.
- Added renaming from the multi-select sidebar.
- Added filter grouping to the search overlay.
- Enabled magnifier tool in preview overlay.
- Better full-screen canvas support across all platforms.
- Improved various grid rendering performance.
- v1.1.0
Auto Tagger, Search by Meaning & Library Imports
- Added the Auto Tagger, a fully on-device engine that suggests tags and recognizes text.
- Review suggestions in a fast, keyboard-driven game.
- Added Suggestions section to the metadata sidebar.
- Added Search by meaning: describe what you're looking for in plain language.
- Built-in importers for Eagle, PureRef, and Allusion libraries.
- v1.0.1
Launch Polish
- Stability improvements and bug fixes.
- Improved onboarding flow.
- Better dark mode support.
- v1.0.0
Initial Release
- Desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Library organization with folders and tags.
- Infinite canvas for moodboarding and study.
- Color and similarity search.
- Relationship graph view.