Use back, forward, and refresh
Navigate desktop app history without confusing app refresh with web page reloads.
Desktop navigation has app history and canvas history
The desktop app supports browser-like Back, Forward, and Refresh, but ALLO is not just a single browser page. A tab can show regular app routes such as Home, Dashboards, Search, or Billing, and it can also show a canvas. Navigation tries to preserve what you mean: go back through recent app surfaces, return from a canvas to the previous page, or refresh stale app data.
If a page looks stale, refresh can help. If you lost permission, opened the wrong account, or the work was archived or deleted, refresh will not fix the root cause.
Availability
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Available on | All plans |
| Available for | macOS and Windows desktop app |
| Back and Forward | Desktop app menu, mouse buttons, and common shortcuts |
| Refresh | Desktop app refresh command |
Back and Forward
Use Back to return to the previous ALLO surface in the active tab. Use Forward to move ahead again if you went back by mistake. On macOS, common shortcuts include Command+[ and Command+]. On Windows, common shortcuts include Alt+Left and Alt+Right.
Back and Forward can move between route pages and canvas views. For example, if you opened a canvas from a project, Back can return you toward the project context. If you navigate inside a canvas or between linked canvases, the app keeps enough history to make the back action feel natural where possible.
Canvas navigation
Canvas tabs can have their own navigation state. Opening a sub-canvas, jumping from one canvas to another, or returning to a project surface may not behave exactly like a normal web page in a browser. That is intentional. ALLO needs to keep canvas state, permissions, and desktop tab ownership coherent.
If you expected Back to return to a specific page and it does not, reopen the source from Home → Recent, Search, the project, or a shared link. For canvas link behavior, see Open canvases in the desktop app.
Refresh
Refresh reloads the active desktop app view. On macOS, Command+R is the common shortcut. On Windows, Ctrl+R is the common shortcut.
Refresh is useful when:
| Use refresh when | Why |
|---|---|
| A dashboard, file list, or settings page looks stale | The tab may have old app data loaded. |
| Billing changed but the banner remains briefly | The page may need the latest workspace state. |
| A teammate just shared work with you | The current route may need to load new permissions. |
| The desktop app received new web content | Refresh can reload the current surface without reinstalling the app. |
For a wider explanation of when refresh helps, see When refresh helps and when it does not.
Refresh is not the same as app update
Refresh reloads the current ALLO content. A desktop app update installs a new version of the desktop app and may ask for restart. If the update toast appears, use Update the desktop app.
If support asks you to refresh, use Refresh. If support asks you to restart the desktop app, quit and reopen ALLO. If support asks you to install an update, use the app update prompt or download the latest installer.
Refresh is not a permission repair
Refresh cannot restore access you no longer have. If a canvas is still blocked after refresh, check whether:
| Persistent issue | Better next step |
|---|---|
| Access denied | When you can't access work |
| Read-only controls | When work is read-only |
| Missing work | When work looks missing |
| Payment warning | Fix a payment issue |
| Storage warning | Fix storage limits |
If refresh interrupts work
Avoid refreshing while uploading a large file, submitting a form, completing checkout, or waiting for an AI action to finish. If a save or upload is in progress, wait for it to complete. Most ALLO work syncs continuously, but a refresh during a local action can still interrupt the visible workflow.
If you refreshed and now cannot find what you were editing, check Home → Recent, Search, the project, and Trash. Then use When work looks missing.
Troubleshooting navigation
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Back does nothing | No earlier route in that tab, focus is inside a control, or canvas history is at the start | Use Home, Recent, Search, or the side navigation. |
| Forward does nothing | You have not gone back in that tab | Navigate normally. |
| Refresh signs you out | Session expired or was revoked | Sign in again and review Manage active sessions. |
| Refresh does not update Billing | Payment or billing state may still be processing | Wait a few minutes, then refresh again or contact support. |
| Keyboard shortcut conflicts | OS, browser control, or input focus is intercepting it | Use the app menu or click outside text input first. |