Updates & Backups

Keep Votlie up to date and protect your data with backups. Regular updates give you new features and security fixes.

System Information

The Updates page displays key system information at a glance:

InfoDescription
Current Votlie versionThe version currently installed on your server
PHP versionThe PHP version your server is running
Database type and versionYour database engine (e.g., MySQL 8.0, SQLite) and its version
Server infoWeb server software and environment details

This information helps you verify compatibility before applying an update.

Checking for Updates

When a new version is available:

  1. You'll receive an email from CodeCanyon (if subscribed)
  2. Download the update from your CodeCanyon purchases

Before You Update

Always:

  1. Read the changelog to see what's new
  2. Make sure you have a recent backup
  3. Update during low-traffic times

How to Update

  1. Go to CodeCanyon, find Votlie in your purchases, and download the latest version (ZIP file)
  2. Go to Admin > Settings, click the Updates tab
  3. Click Upload Update and select the ZIP file
  4. Wait for the upload to complete, then proceed through the Update Wizard

Update Wizard

The update process follows a 4-step wizard:

Step 1: Preview

Review what will change before committing:

  • Current version vs new version - Side-by-side comparison
  • File changes - List of files that will be added, modified, or removed
  • Pending migrations - Any database schema changes that will be applied
  • Changelog - Summary of new features, fixes, and improvements

Review all changes carefully before proceeding.

Step 2: Backup

An automatic backup is created before any changes are applied. This backup includes your files and database, ensuring you can roll back if anything goes wrong.

Step 3: Apply

The system applies the update:

  1. Maintenance mode is activated (visitors see an "updating" message)
  2. New files are copied to your installation
  3. Protected files are not overwritten (see Protected Files below)
  4. Database migrations are run to update the schema
  5. Caches are cleared to ensure fresh data

Keep your browser open during this step. Do not close the tab or navigate away until the process completes.

Step 4: Complete

Once the update finishes:

  1. A health check runs automatically to verify everything works
  2. The system exits maintenance mode and your site is back online

Verify the dashboard loads correctly, test key features (login, voting, comments), and check for any error messages.

Protected Files

During an update, the following files and directories are never overwritten to preserve your configuration and data:

  • .env
  • .htaccess
  • storage/app/
  • storage/logs/
  • storage/installed
  • storage/framework/sessions/
  • storage/framework/cache/data/
  • database/database.sqlite
  • public/storage/

These files contain your environment settings, uploaded data, session data, and other installation-specific information that must not be replaced.

Automatic Backups

Before every update, Votlie creates a backup that includes:

  • All application files
  • Database export
  • Uploaded images and attachments

Backups are stored on your server.

Managing Backups

View Backups

  1. Go to Admin > Settings > Updates
  2. Scroll to Backups section
  3. See list of available backups with dates

Download a Backup

  1. Find the backup you want
  2. Click Download
  3. Save the ZIP file to your computer

Delete a Backup

  1. Find the backup
  2. Click Delete
  3. Confirm

Keep at least one recent backup. Download important backups to your computer.

Rolling Back

If something goes wrong after an update:

Automatic Rollback

If the update fails during the process, Votlie automatically detects the failure and restores your installation from the backup created in Step 2. No manual action is required.

Manual Rollback

You can also roll back a completed update from the Update History:

  1. Go to Admin > Settings > Updates
  2. Scroll to Update History
  3. Find the update you want to undo
  4. Click Rollback
  5. Confirm the action
  6. Wait for restoration to complete

This restores files and database to the pre-update state.

Update History

Track all past updates:

  1. Go to Admin > Settings > Updates
  2. Scroll to Update History

Each entry shows:

ColumnDescription
VersionThe version transition (from → to)
DateWhen the update was applied
StatusSuccess or Failed
RollbackOption to revert to the previous version

Recovering Stuck Update

If an update gets stuck and the site remains in maintenance mode:

  1. Go to Admin > Settings > Updates
  2. Click the Recover button
  3. The system will attempt to fix the issue and exit maintenance mode

If you cannot access the admin panel:

  • Via FTP: Delete the file storage/framework/down to manually exit maintenance mode
  • Via cron: The cron job automatically detects stuck updates and attempts recovery

A properly configured cron job can auto-detect and recover from stuck updates. See Cron Jobs for setup instructions.

System Health Check

Check your system status at any time:

  1. Go to Admin > Settings > Updates
  2. Find the System Health section

The health check verifies the following:

CheckWhat It Verifies
PHP version and extensionsCorrect PHP version and all required extensions are installed
Database connectionDatabase is reachable and responding
Directory permissionsRequired directories are writable
Disk spaceSufficient free disk space for updates and backups
Memory limitPHP memory limit meets minimum requirements

Each check displays a status indicator: Green means everything is good, Red means the item needs attention before updating.

Manual Backup

In addition to automatic backups, make your own:

Backup Files

  1. Connect to your server via FTP
  2. Download the entire Votlie folder
  3. Save it to your computer

Backup Database

  1. Go to phpMyAdmin (in cPanel)
  2. Select your Votlie database
  3. Click Export
  4. Choose Quick export
  5. Click Go
  6. Save the SQL file

Tips

TipWhy
Update regularlyGet security fixes and new features
Read changelogsKnow what's changing
Test after updatingCatch problems early
Keep backupsSafety net if something breaks
Update in off-hoursMinimize impact on users

Troubleshooting

ProblemSolution
Upload failsCheck file size limits in PHP settings
Update stuckUse the "Recover" button, then try again
Error after updateRollback and contact support
Can't access adminRestore from backup via FTP/phpMyAdmin
"Maintenance mode" stuckDelete storage/framework/down file

Next Steps

Troubleshooting

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