ChessBase´26 – Tips for beginners, part 23: Stay up to date with program updates

by Stefan Liebig
7/19/2026 – Working with ChessBase´26 is so enjoyable because it builds on the experience of the developers from 18 previous versions. But you don’t have to wait for the next release — you’ll receive ongoing improvements directly to your computer through the free update service. And don’t worry: staying up to date with the latest updates takes just a few clicks. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how.
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
FRITZ is more than just a chess engine – it’s a training revolution! Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.

ChessBase´26 Update

The ChessBase development team is constantly working to improve the program, both technically and in terms of user-friendliness. You don’t need to wait for the next version of ChessBase to benefit from these updates. With just a few clicks, you can update your program.

For clarity, please note that you can only use the update service if you have purchased the current version and are logged in with the appropriate credentials.

The main menu bar shows your login details on the far right. You need to be logged in with your account here in order to perform updates.

EXPAND YOUR CHESS HORIZONS
Data, plans, practice – the new Opening Report In ChessBase there are always attempts to show the typical plans of an opening variation. In the age of engines, chess is much more concrete than previously thought. But amateurs in particular love openings with clear plans, see the London System. In ChessBase ’26, three functions deal with the display of plans. The new opening report examines which piece moves or pawn advances are significant for each important variation. In the reference search you can now see on the board where the pieces usually go. If you start the new Monte Carlo analysis, the board also shows the most common figure paths.

Update via Popup

When you start ChessBase, a popup window appears once a day in the bottom right corner, offering to install an update if one is available:

Click on "Update Program" and then continue with the second screenshot that follows.

Update via the "File" Menu

If the popup doesn't appear, you can access the update through the "File" option in the main menu:

From the "Activation" menu, select "Update Program" to run the update.

YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
FRITZ is more than just a chess engine – it’s a training revolution! Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.

Pro tips:

  • In general, you need to activate the program using the activation button. You can do this on up to three of your personal computers. If you get a new computer and have already used all three activations, you can deactivate the program on one of your other devices here in order to use it on the new one.
  • Using "Undo Update," you can roll back the last update and restore the previously used version of the program. This might be useful, for example, if you're using an older computer that may have trouble with a new update. In such cases, it's a good idea to contact our support team.
  • Under "ChangeLog.txt," tech-savvy users can see what was updated most recently. 

The update process works as follows once you have selected "Update Program":

The window shows that the current available update is version 13, while your computer is currently running version 10. Click "Yes" to start the update process. You’ll then see the following status message:

... along with these self-explanatory prompts (here in the ChessBase 18-view):

The premiere chess database with over 11.7 million games
The ChessBase Mega Database 2026 is the premiere chess database with over 11.7 million games from 1475 to 2025 in high quality.

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... and ChessBase´26 is running the latest version.

We hope you enjoy the latest updates for ChessBase´26. In the next part of the tutorial, we’ll show you how to get the most out of your current ChessBase version by regularly updating your Mega Database 2026...

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ChessBase has developed over decades to become what it is now in its 2026 version. The program has countless options, which we will present here in small portions – so you can design your interface for pleasant daily use and keep learning about new options and how to use them to get the most out of ChessBase´26 and save time.

We hope that this tip will help you to have more fun and be more successful when using ChessBase´26. You can find more tips and hints on our support pages and FAQ pages.

All parts of the series and more links:

The free app from ChessBase! ChessBase Mobile has everything you need as a chess player on the go: access your chess data in cloud databases - and 13 million games.
ChessBase Mobile has everything you need as a chess player on the go:
  • Access the ChessBase online database - with more than 13 million games: search for players, positions, openings etc.
  • Save your own games and analyses in cloud databases
  • Synchronise your personal databases across all your devices
  • Analyse your games with the built-in engine
  • Live opening book: use the most comprehensive and up-to-date statistics for every opening position
  • Access your opening repertoire in the cloud: create and edit your personal opening repertoire
  • 300 opening overviews, with repertoire suggestions: get started with new systems!
  • Practise opening variations with three modes.
  • Advanced notation: add comments, symbols, variations, arrows and markings to your games
  • Advanced sharing options: share games and positions via link, image, GIF, FEN or QR code
  • PGN compatibility: upload and download games or databases as PGN files

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Topics: ChessBase´26, Tutorial
Stefan Liebig, born in 1974, is a journalist and co-owner of a marketing agency. He now lives in Barterode near Göttingen. At the age of five, strange pieces on his neighbour’s shelf aroused his curiosity. Since then, the game of chess has cast a spell over him. Flying high in the NRW youth league with his home club SV Bad Laasphe and several appearances in the second division team of Tempo Göttingen were highlights for the former youth South Westphalia champion.
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ChessBase´26 – Beginner's Tips Part 22: Maximum training effect with the ‘Replay Training’ power tool (Part 2)

7/12/2026 – Let's continue with ChessBase´26's powerful training tool "Replay Training": Replay Training! We already introduced you to this super feature in the last article, and in this tutorial, we'll show you some additional features that will help you noticeably improve your playing strength in a fun way. Let's continue ...!
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ChessBase´26 – Tips for beginners, part 18: What the mouse can do!

6/12/2026 – What the mouse can do! Following on from the aesthetic aspects covered in the last ChessBase´26 tutorial for beginners, this time we show you how you can use the mouse in different ways. The scroll wheel and mouse buttons can be used in a variety of ways. Here, too, it is a matter of personal preference which settings you choose.
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Video

60m English The Elephant Gambit

The Elephant Gambit (1.e4.e5 2.Nf3 d5!?) has never really been given the attention it deserves. It is a very useful surprise weapon. Let us list the advantages of playing this particular opening: 1) Shock value 2) It is very aggressive. Black can take over the initiative early. 3) Many tricky lines 4) Unorthodox. Black is basically taking the game to the opponent as early as move two. Not many openings do that! It's a perfect opening for young players and club players to adopt. Let Andrew Martin select a repertoire for you on this 60 mins, which, if used with discretion, will rack up the points. I am sure that you will enjoy this unusual tour of the Elephant Gambit.