How to manually update a Contao installation

When it comes to manually updating a Contao installation, you can either upload the whole Contao download archive to the server (replacing files) or you can upload only the files that have been modified since the last update (synchronizing files). Either way you choose, you should always back up the following files and folders - just in case there is an error or you accidentally override them.

system/config/dcaconfig.php
system/config/localconfig.php
system/config/langconfig.php
templates/*
tl_files/*

This will back up your local configuration, your custom templates and your files.

Replacing files ¶

Replacing the files of a Contao installation is pretty simple. Just unpack the Contao download archive on the server or extract it on your local computer and upload the files with an FTP client (we recommend using WinSCP). Then restore the files that you have backed up.

Attention: if you have installed any third-party extensions, make sure to backup and restore them, too, or do not overwrite them at all. Otherwise you will have to reinstall the modules and depending on the extension you might eventually lose data!

Synchronizing files ¶

To synchronize a Contao installation, you can either use the Unix diff utility or an FTP program. Unix utilities are typically used by server administrators only, so they will not be explained here. To synchronize files via FTP, open WinSCP and connect to the server. Backup the files mentioned above and then navigate to the Contao directory and click the Synchronize files button.

Review the options carefully and make sure to choose Preview changes, so you can check which files will be updated. Then confirm each file in the preview window and doublecheck the files that are marked for deletion! Klick OK to start the synchronization process.

Updating the database ¶

After you have updated the Contao files, you need to update the database, too. Fortunately, the Contao install tool will do most of the work for you. Just open it and enter your password, then scroll down to the database section and confirm the changes.