# How to update

Back up and rehearse first.

<Danger>
**Back up and rehearse first.** Package updates can overwrite modified product files. Keep customizations under version control and test the new release on staging.
</Danger>

1. Read the release notes and compare new requirements with your server.
2. Back up the database, `.env`, storage, and customizations.
3. Enable maintenance mode or otherwise prevent writes while replacing application files.
4. Download the latest Envato archive and replace the application with the contents of its `Script` directory. Preserve your `.env` and required persistent storage.
5. Visit `https://your-domain.example/update` while signed in as an administrator and complete the database update wizard.
6. Clear application caches if the release notes require it and restart every queue worker.
7. Disable maintenance mode and run the launch smoke test: login, email, storage, AI, integration, queued flow, webhook, scheduled flow, approval, and payment callback.

If the installer appears after an update, confirm `storage/app/installed` was preserved. If the application fails before the update wizard loads, inspect `storage/logs/laravel.log`, PHP compatibility, file ownership, the restored `.env`, and whether the complete `vendor/` directory was uploaded.