JOURNAL TOOLS · DESKTOP APP · WINDOWS 10 AND 11

Learning Tools Launcher

One small Windows program that installs, updates, opens and uninstalls every Learning Tools desktop app. It shows which apps are on this computer, which version each one is, and whether a newer version is on jeffapierson.com. Pick an app and press Install or Update: the launcher downloads the official installer, checks it against its published SHA-256 fingerprint, and runs it.

Download LearningToolsLauncher-Setup-1.0.0.exe (2.0 MB) All tools

SHA-256: c846ad5677886b1d42f2e1ee4ac83c05b5bea9f116bae8b222043ffdb05f4bc5

The Learning Tools Launcher window listing eight apps with installed and latest versions, status, and Reinstall, Open, Uninstall, web version and help buttons — The launcher after pressing Check for updates. The panel on the right acts on the selected app.

How it works

1. LookReads the Windows Apps list to see which Learning Tools apps are installed and their versions. Nothing is sent anywhere.

2. CheckOnly when you press Check for updates, it reads the public app list at /downloads/learning-tools-apps.json.

3. DownloadGets the installer from jeffapierson.com/downloads into your own AppData folder, with progress shown.

4. VerifyCompares the file's SHA-256 with the published one. If they differ, it stops and runs nothing.

5. InstallRuns the installer. Windows asks for permission, and the app goes into Program Files with Desktop and Start menu icons.

Install the launcher

Download LearningToolsLauncher-Setup-1.0.0.exe above.
Run it. Windows asks for administrator permission because it installs into C:\Program Files\Learning Tools Launcher.
The installer is not code-signed, so SmartScreen may say "Windows protected your PC." Choose More info, then Run anyway. You can compare the SHA-256 above first: in PowerShell, Get-FileHash .\LearningToolsLauncher-Setup-1.0.0.exe.
Open Learning Tools Launcher from the Desktop icon or the Start menu.

Needs Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit) and .NET Framework 4.8, which Windows 10 and 11 already include. Nothing else to install.

Using it

Check for updates gets the current list of apps and versions. The launcher never checks on its own.
Install or Update downloads, verifies and runs the selected app's installer. Update all does every app that has a newer version, one after another.
Open starts the app from its Start menu icon. Uninstall runs the app's own uninstaller, which asks before it removes anything.
Open the web version and Download page and help go to the app's pages on this site.
Updates keep your settings and data. Each app keeps its data outside Program Files.

Apps it manages

App	What it is	Page
HandNotes	Handwriting, drawings, photos, voice recordings and typed notes on your own computer	Download page
CaptureDesk	Capture web pages, documents and media with AI summaries into a folder you choose	Download page
MetaClean	Removes hidden metadata from photos, documents and media before you share them	Download page
StudioConverter	Converts audio and video files for the studio tools	Download page
YouTube Downloader	Saves videos and audio you have the right to keep	Download page
Reel Saver for Facebook	Browser extension for Chrome or Edge, installed with a Windows setup	Download page
Idaho News	Idaho news reader for Windows	Download page
US and Idaho News Priority	Ranks US and Idaho news by priority, for Windows	Download page

New apps appear in the launcher as soon as they are added to the public app list. If a newer launcher is out, the status line says so after Check for updates.

Uninstall

Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Learning Tools Launcher > Uninstall, or Start menu > Learning Tools Launcher > Uninstall. Removing the launcher leaves every app it installed in place. Downloaded installers are kept in %LOCALAPPDATA%\LearningToolsLauncher\downloads; you can delete that folder yourself to free space.

Learning Tools Launcher 1.0.0 · October 22, 2026 · © 2026 Jeff A Pierson / Sharing and reposting permitted if the document remains unaltered and attribution is retained. Commercial use requires written permission.