Advanced users can update WHMCS manually using the command line. This is useful if you are provisioning WHMCS for multiple installations.

Manually Update Using the Command Line #

1. Prepare to Update #

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.

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. Upload and extract the release files. #

Upload the WHMCS .zip file to your WHMCS installation’s server. Extract the files to a private location (for example, /home/update-staging).

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. #

To perform the update:

1. Move the staged files to the existing installation folder, replacing any existing folders and files, using the following command, where /home/path/to/whmcs is the path to your WHMCS installation:

   cp -R /home/update-staging/whmcs/* /home/path/to/whmcs

2. Run the update script using the following command, where path/to/whmcs/install is the path to your WHMCS installation:

   php -f path/to/whmcs/install/bin/installer.php -- -u

   For more information about the installation script, see Installing on the Command Line.

3. Follow the onscreen instructions to begin the update process. When the process finishes, a Program Completed success message will appear.

   If a failure message appears, see Updating WHMCS.

4. Run the following command to delete the install directory from your server:

   rm -r /home/path/to/whmcs/install

5. 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.

6. If you have customized the permissions on any files (for example, /crons/pipe.php), reapply those changes.

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:

Last modified: November 19, 2024