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draw.io Desktop 28.1.2: Offline Features, Downloads, and Limitations

draw.io Desktop 28.1.2 is the official offline Electron diagram editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Learn what changed, which packages are available, how offline privacy works, and where Desktop differs from the online editor.

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draw.io Desktop 28.1.2 is the official offline Electron build of the draw.io diagram editor. It supports Windows, macOS, and Linux and is best understood as a maintenance release: Electron 37.2.3, a security fix in node-tmp, and draw.io core 28.1.2 are the main published changes.

draw.io Desktop 28.1.2 is the official offline Electron build of the draw.io diagram editor. This release is primarily a maintenance and dependency update: it uses Electron 37.2.3, fixes a security issue in the node-tmp dependency, and brings the bundled draw.io editor core to version 28.1.2.

It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The main reason to choose it over the web editor is that you can create and edit diagrams locally, without sending diagram data to an online service. That offline model has important exceptions and limitations, however: the application checks for updates unless you disable that behavior, external resources referenced by an untrusted diagram may still be fetched, AI diagram generation is unavailable, and some conversions require the online editor.

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What changed in draw.io Desktop 28.1.2?

The exact 28.1.2 desktop release contains three material changes:

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  • Electron 37.2.3: the desktop shell and runtime were updated.
  • A security fix in node-tmp: the release notes specifically identify an update addressing a security issue in this dependency.
  • draw.io core 28.1.2: the desktop package incorporates core-editor changes from versions 28.0.7 through 28.1.2.

This is best understood as a maintenance release rather than a feature-major release. The editor remains the familiar draw.io environment, with the release emphasis on the runtime, dependency security, and synchronization with the core editor. Do not assume that 28.1.2 is the newest desktop build: the project’s moving GitHub releases page may show later versions by the time you read this.

Downloads and installation options

The 28.1.2 release publishes the following package families:

Platform Available formats Important detail
Windows NSIS installer, MSI, and portable no-installer executable Intel 32-bit builds are separately marked with -ia32-.
macOS Universal build A universal build is intended for the supported Mac processor architectures in one package.
Linux DEB, AppImage, and RPM Choose the package matching your Linux distribution or use AppImage where appropriate.

Windows: which package should you choose?

  • NSIS installer: installs per-machine into Program Files and requires administrator privileges. This is the conventional choice for a managed or shared Windows computer when you have administrative access.
  • MSI package: installs per-user without administrator privileges. This is useful when you cannot modify machine-wide software settings.
  • Portable no-installer executable: runs without a formal installation and without administrator rights. It is suitable for a USB drive, a restricted work profile, or a temporary test.
  • Microsoft Store APPX: the project documentation describes this as another per-user installation option.

For a standard personal PC, use the installer that matches your permissions and processor architecture. Most current Windows systems use 64-bit Intel or AMD processors; the separately marked -ia32- package is for 32-bit Intel Windows. If you are unsure, check Settings > System > About > System type before downloading.

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macOS and Linux

macOS users receive a universal build rather than separate Intel and Apple-silicon downloads. Linux users can select DEB for Debian-based systems, RPM for distributions using that package format, or AppImage for a distribution-independent executable workflow. Package installation behavior and permissions still depend on your operating system’s security settings.

How offline is draw.io Desktop?

Desktop is designed to work fully offline. The security documentation says the application has operated completely isolated from the internet since version 10.7.5 while retaining the editor and diagramming functionality. In normal use, your diagram files remain on storage locations you choose rather than being uploaded to draw.io.

There is one deliberate network exception: the application checks GitHub for updates at startup and downloads updates from a GitHub-owned AWS S3 bucket. If an isolated computer must not make that check, disable it with either of these methods:

DRAWIO_DISABLE_UPDATE=true

Or launch the application with:

--disable-update

The exact way to set an environment variable or pass a launch argument depends on your operating system and deployment method. In a managed environment, test the setting with your organization’s software-distribution policy rather than assuming that blocking the process at the firewall is equivalent to configuring the application.

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Privacy: diagram data versus referenced resources

The desktop repository states that diagram data and usage analytics are not sent externally. Its content-security policy also prevents remotely loaded JavaScript, and the application restricts its own network connections.

That does not make every diagram harmless to open. A diagram can contain references to external images, backgrounds, or fonts. When Desktop opens a file containing such references, it may fetch those resources. The referenced server could then observe connection metadata such as the user’s IP address. The documentation distinguishes this from transmitting the diagram itself: the diagram content is not sent to that server, but opening an untrusted file can still cause network requests.

For sensitive work, use locally stored images and fonts, inspect diagrams from unknown sources, and open untrusted files in an appropriately isolated environment. If your policy requires no network traffic at all, combine application-level update disabling with operating-system or network controls.

What can you create with Desktop 28.1.2?

The desktop editor provides the broad diagramming environment used across draw.io applications. Its shape libraries and tools support, among other things:

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  • Flowcharts and process diagrams
  • UML and entity-relationship diagrams
  • Network and infrastructure diagrams
  • Tables and swimlanes
  • Timelines and organizational charts
  • Infographics and technical illustrations
  • Circuit diagrams and rack diagrams

The workspace includes an infinite canvas, rulers, grids, positioning guides, automatic layouts, layers, tags, metadata, placeholders, links, interactive actions, comments, and freehand shapes. You can customize palettes and text formatting, create custom shape libraries, and use HTML-formatted text and mathematics typesetting.

For more specialized workflows, Desktop supports Mermaid, CSV, SQL, custom editor configuration, and templates. Mermaid conversion runs client-side, so Mermaid insertion workflows can work offline in Desktop 28.1.2.

Templates, shape libraries, and clipart when you are offline

The full shape libraries and default templates are available offline. That makes the desktop application practical for restricted networks and travel, because the basic diagramming resources do not depend on a live connection.

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There are two boundaries to remember:

  • The extended online clipart search library is not included in Desktop.
  • Additional repository-hosted or team-specific templates must be downloaded separately and imported locally; they cannot simply be imported by URL in an entirely offline workflow.

If a team uses a shared template set, establish a local distribution folder or another approved file-sharing method and import the templates into each Desktop installation. Do not assume that a template available in the online editor is automatically bundled with the desktop application.

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Files, storage, and conversion workflows

Desktop lets you work with diagram files stored locally, and you choose where those files live. Keep project diagrams in a deliberate folder structure and back them up like any other important working files. The application also maintains local application and session data.

The documented Windows application-data location is:

C:Users<USER-NAME>AppDataRoamingdraw.io

On macOS, the corresponding documented location is:

~/Library/Application Support/draw.io

These are application-data locations, not a replacement for a project backup. A diagram saved in a chosen work folder should be backed up there; copying only the application-data directory may not preserve all of your project files.

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Opening and saving diagrams

Native draw.io files can be opened and saved locally in Desktop. The online and integrated editions can also work with locations such as GitHub, GitLab, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox where the relevant integration is available. Those cloud-storage and collaboration functions are not the same as offline Desktop operation: they require the applicable online or integrated edition and network access.

Important: VSDX conversion is not fully offline

The .vsdx conversion path is a notable exception to the desktop-first workflow. Official guidance instructs users to convert VSDX files in the online editor, then save the result as .drawio or .xml before opening it in Desktop.

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Therefore, if you receive a Microsoft Visio file on an isolated computer, Desktop 28.1.2 is not a complete offline VSDX conversion solution. Arrange an approved online conversion step first, and review the converted diagram for layout, fonts, connectors, and unsupported features before treating it as an exact replacement.

What Desktop does not include

AI diagram generation

AI-powered diagram generation is unavailable in the desktop build because it requires an online connection to a large language model. Desktop’s offline Mermaid, CSV, and SQL workflows are not substitutes for the online AI feature; they are separate ways to generate or structure diagram content.

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Online and cloud collaboration features

Compared with the online editor, an entirely offline desktop workflow does not provide online autosave, cloud collaboration, cloud-storage integration, or other server-dependent functions. Desktop is a strong fit for individual local editing and controlled environments, but it is not a self-contained replacement for every team collaboration feature.

Web and Google fonts

Fonts delivered from the web are not automatically available offline. If a diagram depends on a web or Google font, download and install that font locally before opening or editing the diagram in Desktop. Otherwise, the operating system may substitute another font, changing text width and potentially affecting layout.

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Licensing and support

The desktop repository says the application may be used for any purpose under the Apache 2.0 license, provided users accept that it is supplied as-is and do not change the code. The underlying draw.io project also includes the Apache License, Version 2.0.

Support is provided through the public repository on a reasonable-business-constraints basis and is not contractually binding. Buying draw.io for Confluence or Jira does not confer commercial support for draw.io Desktop. Organizations that require contractual support should treat Desktop’s public-repository support model separately from support arrangements for those Atlassian products.

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Is draw.io Desktop 28.1.2 the right choice?

Choose Desktop 28.1.2 when… Consider the online or integrated edition when…
You need local diagram editing on Windows, macOS, or Linux. You need browser-based collaboration or online autosave.
Your work must remain on a local device or within a controlled file system. Your files live in cloud storage or a team workspace that requires an integration.
You need the standard shape libraries and templates without an internet connection. You need extended online clipart or templates fetched from an online source.
You can work around the lack of AI generation and online font delivery. You need AI diagram generation or server-dependent features.
You can convert VSDX files through an approved online step before taking them offline. You regularly need server-side file conversion and cannot use an online workflow.

Practical setup checklist

  1. Confirm the platform and architecture. On Windows, determine whether you need the normal package or the separately marked -ia32- build.
  2. Select the installation scope. Use NSIS for a per-machine installation with administrator rights, MSI or APPX for a per-user option, or the portable executable when installation is not possible.
  3. Plan local storage. Choose a project folder, establish backups, and do not confuse that folder with the application-data directory.
  4. Set the update policy. If the computer is isolated, configure DRAWIO_DISABLE_UPDATE=true or use --disable-update, subject to your organization’s policy.
  5. Prepare fonts and templates. Install required fonts locally and download any additional templates before disconnecting from the internet.
  6. Review incoming diagrams. Untrusted files may reference remote images, backgrounds, or fonts that trigger network requests when opened.
  7. Handle VSDX files before going offline. Convert them in the online editor, save as .drawio or .xml, and then transfer the converted file through an approved process.

Bottom line

draw.io Desktop 28.1.2 is a capable, free standalone diagram editor for local work. Its defining advantages are broad diagramming features, offline access to the core editor and standard libraries, and a local-first privacy model. The release itself is mainly a maintenance update centered on Electron 37.2.3, a node-tmp security fix, and draw.io core 28.1.2.

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It is not completely network-blind by default, and it does not reproduce every online feature. Disable update checks when required, treat externally referenced resources as a privacy consideration, install needed fonts locally, and plan online conversion for VSDX files. With those qualifications, 28.1.2 is a sensible choice for offline diagramming on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can draw.io Desktop 28.1.2 work without an internet connection?

Yes, for normal diagram editing. The application is designed to operate fully offline, with its editor, standard shape libraries, default templates, and client-side Mermaid workflows available locally. By default, it still checks GitHub for updates at startup, and diagrams containing external images, backgrounds, or fonts may trigger network requests when opened.

Does Desktop 28.1.2 include AI diagram generation?

No. AI-powered diagram generation requires an online connection to a large language model. Offline Mermaid, CSV, SQL, templates, and standard diagramming tools remain available, but they are separate from the online AI feature.

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Can Desktop 28.1.2 convert VSDX files offline?

No. The documented workflow is to convert the VSDX file in the online editor, save it as .drawio or .xml, and then open that converted file in Desktop.

Which Windows package should I use?

Windows users can choose an NSIS installer, MSI package, portable no-installer executable, or Microsoft Store APPX option. NSIS installs per-machine and requires administrator rights; MSI, APPX, and the portable option support per-user or no-installation scenarios as documented by the project.

Where does draw.io Desktop store data on Windows?

The documented Windows application-data path is C:Users<USER-NAME>AppDataRoamingdraw.io. This is application/session storage, not necessarily the location of every diagram you save. Your project files remain wherever you choose to store them.

The Bottom Line

Bottom line: draw.io Desktop 28.1.2 is an offline-first desktop diagram editor, not a feature-major release. It adds the Electron 37.2.3 runtime, a node-tmp security fix, and draw.io core 28.1.2 while retaining broad diagramming support across Windows, macOS, and Linux. Remember that update checks, externally referenced resources, VSDX conversion, AI generation, cloud collaboration, online clipart, and web fonts have important network or availability limitations.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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