How to Manually Update a Magento 1 / OpenMage Extension

This guide shows how to update a Magento 1 / OpenMage extension that was installed by copying its files (not via Composer/Modman). The process works for virtually every extension.

Make sure you have FTP/SFTP access to copy files into your Magento installation, and always create a backup of your files and database first.

Update step by step

1. Go to System → Cache Management and disable/flush all Magento caches.
2. Put a file named maintenance.flag into your Magento root directory to enable maintenance mode.
3. Upload the new extension directories — app, js, skin, lib — into your Magento root and merge them with the existing folders.
4. On the next page request, Magento automatically runs any required setup/upgrade scripts.
5. Remove the maintenance.flag file.
6. Return to System → Cache Management and refresh/re-enable all caches.

That's it — the extension is updated.

Tips

• Always test the update on a staging copy before touching production.
• For third-party extensions, also follow the vendor's own update instructions, as some require extra steps.
• If your store uses the compiler (System → Tools → Compiler), disable it before the update and recompile afterwards.