Installing FileMaker Pro updates or upgrades (Windows)

Within FileMaker Pro, users can check for updates to the current version or for upgrades to the next major version and install them by choosing Help > Check for Updates. To disable this feature when you first install, see Setting personalization properties in Assisted Install.txt. Users must have an internet connection and Windows administrator privileges to update FileMaker Pro.

If you'd rather control when users receive an update or upgrade, you can install it manually on individual computers or deploy it to multiple computers. For multiple computers, you can install using either the command line, or Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM).

Note  When you use the updater to install an upgrade to the next major version silently—from the command line or using SCCM—the upgrade replaces the previous version in its original folder without keeping a copy of it first. The option to keep the previous version is offered only when you install the upgrade manually (below) or use Check for Updates.

For more on how upgrading works, see the following in FileMaker Pro Installation Guide:

To install an update or upgrade manually:

  1. Download the ProductUpdaterName.exe file from Updates and release notes.

  2. Quit FileMaker Pro.

  3. Double-click the ProductUpdaterName.exe file.

    The files are extracted to a folder in the same location as the .exe file, then the updater starts.

  4. Follow the onscreen instructions.

  5. If the updater is for the next major version, you're asked whether you want to keep the previous version. Choose:

    • Yes to keep the previous version. The updater copies the previous version to a new folder alongside the original and adds a shortcut to it on the desktop. As a result, the original folder will contain the new version, and the previous version will be in the new folder.

    • No to upgrade without keeping the previous version.

    FileMaker Pro in its original folder is upgraded.

  6. Quit the updater and open FileMaker Pro.

  7. To verify that the update or upgrade was successful, choose Help > About FileMaker Pro and check the version number.

For how to remove the previous version later, see Upgrading FileMaker Pro (Windows) in FileMaker Pro Installation Guide.

To install an update or upgrade from the command line:

  1. Follow steps 1 to 3 for a manual installation, but click Cancel after the files are extracted.

  2. In the folder that's created, locate the Setup.exe file.

  3. Follow the instructions in step 2 and 3 of Setting up silent assisted installations (Windows) to run Setup.exe with the /qn, /qn+, or /qb+ command-line switch.

    The updater doesn't support the other switches.

To install an update or upgrade using Microsoft SCCM:

  1. Follow steps 1 to 3 for a manual installation, but click Cancel after the files are extracted.

  2. In the folder that's created, locate the ProductUpdaterName.msp file in the Files subfolder.

  3. In SCCM, create an update package that includes ProductUpdaterName.msp. In the package setup, use the following command line for a silent installation:

    msiexec.exe /p ProductUpdaterName.msp /qn

  4. Deploy the package.