Title: Upgrading Plugins – How? Last modified: August 19, 2016 --- # Upgrading Plugins – How? * Resolved [WatchCount.com](https://wordpress.org/support/users/watchcountcom/) * (@watchcountcom) * [16 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/upgrading-plugins-how/) * I hear that within the Manage Plugins screen, bloggers can see a notification that a certain plugin upgrade is available (I personally haven’t had the opportunity to witness this yet). I think a 1-click upgrade link is also present. A few questions, though… * **1)** Is the above true? * **2)** Assuming I got it right, is this only possible with plugins that are hosted at the WordPress Plugin Directory/Repository? Can non- WP Repository plugins take advantage of this feature? * **3)** Is there any documentation that explains what happens when a user clicks that easy Upgrade button? (Just simple file replacement?) * **4)** If the above isn’t true — or for plugins not listed in the WP Plugin Dir/ Repository — what is the easiest way to get bloggers to upgrade plugin files? Having them “Add New -> Upload” a .zip file like their 1st install doesn’t seem to work, as an error appears that the plugin is already installed. * **5)** How do most plugin developers instruct their users to upgrade? File replacement via FTP? * Thanks, anyone, for your clarifications! * -WC Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total) * Thread Starter [WatchCount.com](https://wordpress.org/support/users/watchcountcom/) * (@watchcountcom) * [16 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/upgrading-plugins-how/#post-1281290) * **1)** It turns out to be true, with 1-click upgrade as well. This is for plugins listed in the WP Plugin Directory. * -WCC * Thread Starter [WatchCount.com](https://wordpress.org/support/users/watchcountcom/) * (@watchcountcom) * [15 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/upgrading-plugins-how/#post-1281350) * **3)** I spoke with Mark Jaquith this past weekend at WordCamp about this. He said that it pretty much is file/folder replacement going on when a user upgrades a plugin. I think he went on to say that any old files in the plugin’s folder would/may be deleted when the upgraded version is installed. In other words, complete file+folder replacement, if I understood him correctly. … I would imagine this isn’t a problem for most plugins, since they usually store data in the WP DB instead of local files. * Moderator [James Huff](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/) * (@macmanx) * [15 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/upgrading-plugins-how/#post-1281351) * To answer the rest: * 2. No, the feature is directly linked to the official plugin directory. * 4. I believe the answer to #3 takes care of this. * 5. If their plugin isn’t included in the official directory (therefore not available via the automated updater), they often instruct their users to download the new. zip archive from their site, go to Plugins/Add New in the admin panel, click the “Upload” link, and upload the new .zip archive. * Thread Starter [WatchCount.com](https://wordpress.org/support/users/watchcountcom/) * (@watchcountcom) * [15 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/upgrading-plugins-how/#post-1281352) * Thanks for jumping in, James. Much appreciated. * Seems just 1 issue remains here, regarding the above questions. I just confirmed in my own copy of WP 3.0.1 that the original file (attempted) replacement behavior still remains – when doing an “Add New -> Upload” with a .zip file of the plugin, and the plugin already exists (i.e. you want to upgrade it), an error message occurs instead: * ``` Destination folder already exists. .../wp-content/plugins/[plugin-folder-name-here]/ Plugin install failed. ``` * So, it seems that aside from WP Plugin Directory upgrades, any plugin outside the Directory would probably need to be upgraded manually via FTP, or via a custom- coded upgrade module. * Moderator [James Huff](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/) * (@macmanx) * [15 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/upgrading-plugins-how/#post-1281353) * > So, it seems that aside from WP Plugin Directory upgrades, any plugin outside > the Directory would probably need to be upgraded manually via FTP, or via a > custom-coded upgrade module. * Whoops, I forgot a step. 🙂 * Most plugin developers who don’t use the official directory instruct their users to first deactivate and delete the plugin via the Plugins section in the admin panel (no FTP access required), then they can upload the new .zip archive via Plugins/Add New. * Thread Starter [WatchCount.com](https://wordpress.org/support/users/watchcountcom/) * (@watchcountcom) * [15 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/upgrading-plugins-how/#post-1281354) * Gotcha. Thanks for the background on that, James! * On a completely different note, I must say I’m really liking this new thread- subscription-by-email feature. It’s been a while since I posted regularly here on the forums, and I’m so glad they finally added it. Hopefully it’ll make the forums a more educational and interactive hangout. * Moderator [James Huff](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/) * (@macmanx) * [15 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/upgrading-plugins-how/#post-1281355) * You’re welcome! Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total) The topic ‘Upgrading Plugins – How?’ is closed to new replies. ## Tags * [upgrade](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/upgrade/) * [upgrades](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/upgrades/) * [upgrading](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/upgrading/) * [zip](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/zip/) * [zip file](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/zip-file/) * 7 replies * 2 participants * Last reply from: [James Huff](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/) * Last activity: [15 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/upgrading-plugins-how/#post-1281355) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics