---
title: "How to Update Drupal Manually"
description: "There are many ways to update Drupal - manually, automatically, with Drush, or with Composer. Below we cover how to update Drupal manually: Backup Your Drupal Files Replace Drupal Core Files SSH File..."
url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/drupal/update-drupal-manually/
date: 2019-12-23
modified: 2023-10-12
author: "InMotion Hosting Contributor"
categories: ["Drupal"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# How to Update Drupal Manually

There are many ways to update Drupal - manually, automatically, with Drush, or with Composer. Below we cover how to update Drupal manually:

- [Backup Your Drupal Files](#backup)
- [Replace Drupal Core Files](#replace) wp:list /wp:list
  - [SSH](#ssh)
  - [File Manager](#ftp)
- [Finalize Drupal Updates](#update)

## Backup Your Drupal Files

1. [Backup Drupal](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/drupal/create-a-drupal-8-backup-backup-and-migrate/) with a module or [backup cPanel](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/cpanel/cpanel-backups/)
2. [Login to Drupal](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/drupal/how-to-log-into-the-drupal-admin-dashboard/) as an administrator
3. [Enable Maintenance Mode](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/drupal/enable-maintenance-mode/)

## Replace Drupal Core Files

There are two ways to download and remove Drupal core files:

- [SSH](#ssh) requires comfort in the command line interface (CLI) and attention to detail, but it's faster because you can copy commands from the article.
- [cPanel and FTP](#cpanel) are more user-friendly (and harder to make mistakes) but takes longer.

### SSH

1. [Log into SSH](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/server/ssh/how-to-login-ssh/)
2. [Navigate to your Drupal root directory](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/website/where-to-upload-files/)
3. Delete the core and vendor directories: `rm -rf core vendor`
4. Remove all files (not other directories) in the directory: `rm -f *.* .*`
5. Visit [https://www.drupal.org/project/drupal](https://www.drupal.org/project/drupal) and click the download link for the latest Drupal core version
6. Download the core file: `wget https://ftp.drupal.org/files/projects/drupal-.tar.gz`Copy the download link to get the full file path
7. Install the archive: `tar zxf drupal-.tar.gz`
8. `[cd](https://drupal-)` into the new directory with the same name as the extracted archive: `cd drupal-`
9. Copy the core and vendor directories into your Drupal root directory: `cp -R core vendor ../`
10. Copy all of the files (not other directories) into your Drupal root directory: `cp *.* .* ../`
11. (Optional) Make needed changes to your *.htaccess, composer.json, and robots.txt*

### cPanel File Manager or FTP

1. [Log into Panel File Manager](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/cpanel/how-to-log-into-cpanel/) or [FTP](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/website/ftp/getting-started-guide/)
2. [Navigate to your Drupal root directory](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/website/where-to-upload-files/)
3. Delete the core and vendor directories and all files (including [hidden files](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/cpanel/show-hidden-files-in-file-manager/)) in the directory
4. Visit [https://www.drupal.org/project/drupal](https://www.drupal.org/project/drupal) and click the download link for the latest Drupal core version
5. Download the core file
6. [Upload the file to your server](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/website/how-to-upload-files-server/)
7. [Extract the file](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/cpanel/compressing-uncompressing-files/)
8. Enter the new directory with the same name as the extracted archive
9. Copy the core and vendor directories and all files (including [hidden files](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/cpanel/show-hidden-files-in-file-manager/) but not other directories) into your Drupal root directory
10. (Optional) Make needed changes to your *.htaccess, composer.json, and robots.txt*

## Run The Drupal Update

1. Visit /update.php
2. Click **Continue** at the bottom
3. Click **Apply pending updates**
4. Click **site** or **administration pages** to log into Drupal
5. Check the [Status Report](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/drupal/view-admin-reports/#status) for any errors
6. [Disable maintenance mode](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/drupal/enable-maintenance-mode/) when ready
7. Remove the downloaded archive file and the folder of the same name

Stay up to date on available updates by configuring the [Drupal Update Manager Settings](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/drupal/drupal-8-update-manager-settings/).