Softaculous can update an app automatically whenever a new version is released, so you don't have to remember to log in and click Update yourself. You can turn this on for a single installation, or set it as the default for every app you install going forward.
Turn On Auto Upgrade for a Single App
- Open Softaculous Apps Installer from your control panel. In cPanel, it's under the Software section. In DirectAdmin, it's under Extras, usually labelled Softaculous Apps Installer directly.
- Click All Installations in the left-hand Softaculous menu.
- Find the app you want to auto-update in the list, and click the pencil (edit) icon next to it.
- Scroll to the Auto Upgrade section and switch on Auto Upgrade [App Name].
- If it's offered, also enable Backup before upgrade, so Softaculous saves a copy of the app before applying any update.
- Click Save Installation Details (or the equivalent save button) to apply the change.
Always leave backup-before-update switched on if it's available. If an automatic update ever breaks a theme or plugin, you can restore the pre-update backup instead of troubleshooting a live site under pressure.
Turn On Auto Upgrade by Default for Every New Install
If you'd rather not repeat the steps above for every app you install, set auto-updates as the default instead:
- In Softaculous, click Settings (the gear icon) in the top menu.
- Find the Auto Upgrade options and enable Auto Upgrade installations by default.
- Set how many days Softaculous should wait after a new version is released before applying it. A short delay lets any early bugs in a fresh release get caught and fixed by other users first.
- Enable email notifications for updates, so you're told whenever an app is upgraded automatically.
- Click Save Changes.
This default only applies to installs where auto-upgrade hasn't already been switched off individually. If you installed apps before changing this setting, go back and turn on Auto Upgrade for each existing installation using the steps in the first section above.
What Auto Upgrade Does and Doesn't Cover
- It updates the core application, for example WordPress core, to the latest version Softaculous supports.
- Depending on the app, it may also update certain official plugins or themes bundled with the installer, but it doesn't manage third-party plugins or themes you added separately.
- It runs on Softaculous's own schedule in the background. You won't see it happen live, which is exactly why the backup and email notification settings matter.
If your site depends on specific plugin or theme versions for compatibility, test major updates on a cloned staging copy first rather than relying only on auto-upgrade. See how to clone a Softaculous app to create a staging copy before switching on auto-updates for a business-critical site.
If you'd rather review and apply each update yourself, see how to update an app installed with Softaculous manually instead.