Before you begin
- Read the changelog for the new version on CodeCanyon. Pay attention to any special instructions for major updates.
- Create a full backup of your database and files. See our Backup Before Updating article.
- Make sure your server meets the requirements for the new version (check the changelog for any PHP version or extension changes).
- If you have made any CSS customizations, back up your custom CSS file so you can restore it after the update.
- If you have made any translation changes, back up your language files in the
/lang/folder so you can merge their content after the update.
Note: Loading times during the upgrade process may seem long, but this is by design: pause times of 1–2 seconds are used to avoid asynchronous execution issues across different server configurations.
Method 1: SSH upgrade (recommended)
This method is faster and more reliable. It requires SSH (terminal) access to your server.
- Put your website under maintenance from the Admin panel → Settings → General → Maintenance Mode. Do not log out as admin.
- Clear the website cache from the Admin panel (Clear Cache button).
- Download the latest version from CodeCanyon (Downloads → Larapen → "Installable PHP File").
- Copy the
.zipfile to the root of your server (the same folder where files were uploaded during installation). - Rename the zip file to
larapen.zipon the server. - Delete the
vendordirectory from your server so no old unused files remain from previous versions. - Open a terminal and navigate to your website's root folder.
- Run the following command:
unzip -o larapen.zip -x ".htaccess" -x "public/.htaccess"The
-xflags exclude.htaccessfiles so your existing server configuration is preserved. - Wait for the command to complete.
- If you have installed any add-ons, update them to their latest version (see How to Update Add-ons).
- Visit
https://yoursite.com/upgradein your browser and click the "Upgrade Now" button. - Once the upgrade is completed, your website will go live automatically (maintenance mode is disabled).
Critical: Never delete or replace the
/.env and /storage/installed files. These files contain your site configuration and installation marker. Deleting them will break your site.
Method 2: Traditional upgrade (FTP)
Use this method if you do not have SSH access to your server.
- Put your website under maintenance from the Admin panel → Settings → General → Maintenance Mode. Do not log out as admin.
- Clear the website cache from the Admin panel (Clear Cache button).
- Download the latest version from CodeCanyon.
- Copy the
.zipfile to the root of your server. - Delete the
vendordirectory from your server (via FTP or File Manager). - Extract the
.zipfile into the website's root folder, overwriting old files. - If you have installed any add-ons, update them to their latest version.
- Visit
https://yoursite.com/upgradein your browser and click the "Upgrade Now" button (make sure you are logged in as admin). - Once the upgrade is completed, your website will go live automatically.
Critical: Never delete or replace the
/.env and /storage/installed files during the upload. These are essential for your site to function.
After the upgrade
Verify the update
- Check that the version number displayed in the admin panel footer matches the new version.
- Browse your website's front-end pages to ensure everything displays correctly.
- Test key functionality: contact form, media uploads, page editing.
Clear additional caches
If you experience any display or behavior issues after the upgrade:
- Go to Settings → Cache in the admin panel and click "Clear All Caches".
- Clear your browser cache (Ctrl+Shift+Delete / Cmd+Shift+Delete).
Important: If your server or hosting provider uses file caching (supercacher, opcache, Cloudflare cache, etc.), you will need to clear that cache after updating, otherwise some changes from the update may not work properly.
Data safety
No users, data, uploads, or settings will be lost on your site when applying updates. The upgrade process only modifies the application code and runs database migrations to add new features.
Done! Your Larapen core application is now updated to the latest version.