1.6.1

Favorite versions and version notes, managed Node.js setup, and improved onboarding

Dyad v1.6.1 adds favorite versions and version notes, introduces automatic managed Node.js setup for app previews, improves onboarding with API key validation and prompt resume, enables MCP tool search by default with size gating, and includes several fixes for preview setup, app history, chat behavior, MCP tool calls, and file editing.

v1.6.1 fixed a critical regression in v1.6.0, which has been pulled.

If your settings (e.g. GitHub and AI credentials) were dropped during the v1.6 upgrade, You should also be able to restore your previous settings, including your GitHub token and other integrations, by following this guide.

You should see a folder named: v1.6.0_[Timestamp]_upgrade_from_v1.5.0 and you can copy and paste the user-settings.json from this folder into the main Dyad directory and this will restore your settings.

Highlights

Favorite versions and version notes

Dyad now makes it easier to keep track of important app versions.

You can mark versions as favorites and add notes to explain what changed, why the version matters, or what you may want to return to later. This helps with milestone tracking, experiment management, and comparing meaningful points in your app history.

Version history is also easier to navigate in larger apps. The version list now uses virtualization for better performance, and selecting a version focuses the workspace on the preview and diff panels so you can review that version without extra UI noise.

Automatic managed Node.js setup for previews

Dyad can now automatically set up a Dyad-managed Node.js runtime for app previews.

When a preview needs Node.js and Dyad can manage the setup, Dyad can install and use its own runtime instead of requiring you to configure Node manually. This reduces setup friction, especially for new users or machines that do not already have a compatible Node.js environment.

The preview setup experience has also been improved with clearer install states, better warnings when package manager setup needs attention, and improved detection of newly installed Node.js on Windows.

Managed Node.js is designed to make previews easier to start. If your app needs additional package manager setup, Dyad will now surface clearer guidance in the preview panel.

Improved onboarding with API key validation and prompt resume

The first-run setup flow is now smoother.

Dyad now validates provider API keys before saving them, helping catch invalid keys earlier instead of failing later during chat. The AI setup flow on the home page has also been polished so setup steps are clearer before you start building.

If you submit your first prompt before setup is complete, Dyad can now open the required setup flow and resume your prompt after setup finishes. This makes it easier to start with a goal first and complete configuration only when needed.

MCP tool search enabled by default

MCP tool search is now enabled by default, making it more efficient to use large numbers of MCP tools.

Instead of loading all connected MCP tools into the model context upfront, Dyad can progressively disclose tools to the AI model when they are needed. Dyad also size-gates MCP tool search so it can avoid unnecessary overhead for smaller tool sets while still helping with larger MCP configurations.

Enhancements

Added a Deep Review skill for more thorough app review and analysis workflows.
Defaulted new chats to Agent Mode for non-Google providers, making the default mode better aligned with providers that support agent workflows.
Improved MCP consent prompts so approval requests appear immediately while Dyad checks whether the tool call may be safe to auto-approve.
Combined MCP tool calls and results into a single chat card, making MCP activity easier to scan.
Improved streaming performance for long responses by reducing expensive partial-output processing during generation.
Clarified Supabase publishable key errors so setup problems are easier to understand and fix.
Added a disclosure for free API keys so users have clearer context during setup.
Updated the Google Auto model alias.
Added an OpenRouter free Auto fallback.
Kept cancelled messages in LLM context, improving continuity when a generation is stopped.
Added support for dotted app references.
Fixed saving files that are ignored by Git, such as .env.local.
Made Group by app a sticky tab mode, so Dyad remembers the grouping behavior across use.
Fixed an attachment area layout issue where growing attachments could push chat messages off-screen and prevent scrolling.
Improved preview setup behavior when submitting from chat, including opening setup when required.
Improved package manager handling for Dyad-managed runtimes, including better pnpm setup.
Fixed some Capacitor preview setup issues related to pnpm and Corepack.
Improved Windows Node.js detection by refreshing PATH from the registry after new installs.
Fixed home page chat mode syncing so the selected default mode stays consistent.
Preserved manually selected chat modes when submitting from the home page.
Fixed an issue where rejected Enter-key submits could clear the chat input.
Improved sandbox file writing support for agent workflows.

Feedback

If you run into issues or have suggestions, please help us improve by reporting a bug or uploading a chat session.