# Safe Update Guide

## Safe plugin update how-to

If your automatic or manual update failed, or updating from a significantly older version, please read the following instruction.

This chapter is also available in the [Knowledge base -> Updating from older versions](https://wp-dreams.com/knowledge-base/updating-from-older-versions/)

1. Download the new version from your [codecanyon downloads page](http://codecanyon.net/downloads)
2. Deactivate and delete the older version - your changes and search instances will remain in the database
3. Upload and install the new version
4. **Important:** Open and save each search instance to upgrade the database records and stylesheets.

   ![](https://i.imgur.com/tSs0Voz.png)
5. Open up the `Cache Settings` and `Fulltext Search Settings` (if available) and save them without changing any values.

The search should be working without issues now.

## Possible Issues and Solutions

If you run into issues, please check if there is a solution in the list below.

### Fatal error: file {xyz}.php missing

It means that the upload or the extraction process failed. Try to install the plugin again with the plugin manager. [Installation instructions](https://github.com/wpdreams/ajax-search-pro-documentation/tree/4c728149805c2ecb056ae1e3d65db08f9e4697df/updates/installation_instructions.md)

### Warning: require\_once(...php): failed to open stream:

It means that the upload or the extraction process failed. Try to install the plugin again with the plugin manager. [Installation instructions](https://github.com/wpdreams/ajax-search-pro-documentation/tree/4c728149805c2ecb056ae1e3d65db08f9e4697df/updates/installation_instructions.md)

### Stylesheets are missing or messed up after update

First of all, if you haven't done so: go to the search instance options and save them to re-generate the stylesheets for the new version. (3. point on the paragraph above).

* Make sure you have your browser cache cleared, try different browsers as well
* Make sure to clear your site cache (W3TC, WP Super cache)
* Make sure to clear your CDN cache if you are using any (clouflare, maxcdn, amazon cloudfront)
* Some cache plugins may take 12-24 hours to completely clear - you can try to de-activate the cache plugins temporarly to see the search works then

### The search stopped working

It's most likely a javascript poblem related to caching.

* Make sure you have your browser cache cleared, try different browsers as well
* Make sure to clear your site cache (W3TC, WP Super cache)
* Make sure to clear your CDN cache if you are using any (clouflare, maxcdn, amazon cloudfront)
* Some cache plugins may take 12-24 hours to completely clear - you can try to de-activate the cache plugins temporarly to see the search works then