Update safely and keep your answers

Before an update

Back up the database and plugin files, read the release notes, and test the update on a staging copy when possible. Make a note of your installed Free and Pro versions.

Check the download page for the current website release and its requirements. A prepared WordPress.org release may be newer than the public website download.

Replace; do not uninstall

Review the impact of disabling Pro before starting. Its rules and exceptions stop while it is inactive, which can change what visitors see. Prefer a staging check or a quiet maintenance window.

1. If you use Pro, deactivate Pro temporarily.
2. Update Free using WordPress’s plugin update flow, or upload the new ZIP and choose to replace the installed version.
3. Install a compatible Pro update if needed, then reactivate Pro.
4. Check saved answers, group order, product assignments and a signed-out page.

Do not click Delete as a normal update step. Optional removal settings can delete CatalogFAQ data when the plugin is uninstalled.

Still using the old catalog-faq folder?

Very old installations need a folder migration, not a routine ZIP replacement. Follow the detailed migration instructions for that installation before proceeding.

Deactivate the old plugin, install the new folder, and verify the existing content. Keep the old copy inactive. Remove it through SFTP only after verification, without invoking its uninstaller. Never activate both copies at once.

Finish with a small storefront check

• Open a page that uses a shared FAQ group.
• Check a product FAQ placement if WooCommerce is active.
• Confirm an account or licence is not being requested for Free.
• Follow any cache notice and check the public wording again.

Keep the backup until you have verified the result. Contact support with the installed versions and precise steps if something differs.