Update in the Browser

We strongly recommend updating using the Automatic Updater feature at Utilities > Update WHMCS. We only recommend manual updates for advanced users.

Advanced users can update WHMCS manually using a web browser.

Upgrade Service: Have our team update your installation.

Manually Update Using the Browser

1. Prepare to Update

Do not skip this step.

Perform our recommended steps to check our release notes and system requirements, verify the status of your customizations, test the update on a testing environment, and perform a backup.

For steps and more information and recommendations, see Prepare to Update WHMCS.

2. Download the release files.

If you buy your license directly from WHMCS, download the latest full release.

If you buy your license from a reseller, retrieve these files from your license provider.

3. Unzip the release files.

Unzip the contents of the downloaded WHMCS .zip file to a folder on your computer.

4. Rename customized admin directories.

If you have customized the admin directory, rename the /whmcs/admin directory in the new files (if it is present) to match it.

5. Perform the update.

Perform the update using the correct method for your distribution (Full Release or Patch Set).

For more information about WHMCS’s distributions, see Distributions.

Full Release

To update using a Full Release distribution:

  1. Upload the new files to your existing installation folder, replacing any existing folders and files.
  2. If you have customized the location of the crons directory, make certain that you move that directory’s contents in your distribution to the custom location.
  3. Visit the update page at example.com/whmcs/install/install.php, where example.com is the domain for your WHMCS installation.
    If a WHMCS Not Installed Error message appears, you may have overwritten the configuration.php file when you performed the upload step. Restore that file from your backup before continuing.
  4. Click I AGREE.
  5. Click Continue.
  6. Check to ensure that you have successfully backed up your installation (above).
  7. Click I have a backup, start the upgrade.
    • The database update process will start.
    • Within a few minutes, a success message will display.
      If a failure message appears, see Updating WHMCS.
  8. Delete the install directory from your server.
  9. If you have customized the permissions on any files (for example, /crons/pipe.php), reapply those changes.
  10. If you have custom themes, make any necessary changes to your custom templates.
    For more information, see the Template Changes section of the version’s release notes.

Patch Set

Before you begin, you must ensure that you are running the correct version for the patch set (the version immediately before the patch set’s version).

To update using a Patch Set distribution:

  1. Upload the new files from the /whmcs/ directory to your existing installation folder, replacing any existing folders and files.
  2. Go to the WHMCS Admin Area. WHMCS will increment the version number and complete the process.
  3. If you have customized the permissions on any files (for example, /crons/pipe.php), check to ensure that the customizations remained in place.
  4. If you have custom themes, make any necessary changes to your custom templates.
    For more information, see the Template Changes section of the version’s release notes.

Verifying the Upgrade

After the update finishes, check to ensure that WHMCS is working properly. We recommend testing all of the important features and functions in WHMCS, like logging in as a client and as an admin, viewing products, submitting support tickets, and placing new orders.

We also recommend monitoring the alert messages at Configuration () > System Health for the 24 hours following the update:

System Health

updates releases

Last modified: October 30, 2024