### Author:  [@JonMikelV](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/JonMikelV)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/1 "2018-04-29T13:47:03Z")
WARNING! Due to changes in database versions it is not possible (well, very hands-on) to downgrade ACROSS these versions (as of 2018-10-28):
- 2.0.1.7 (using version 3 - 0 & 2 usage in preview releases only)
- 2.0.1.18 (move to version 4)
- 2.0.3.4 (move to version 5)
- 2.0.3.12 (move to version 6 - see [Release: 2.0.3.12 (canary) 2018-10-23](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/release-2-0-3-12-canary-2018-10-23/5041/22))
- 2.0.4.13 (unconfined move to version 7 - see [\*broken\* Release: 2.0.4.13 (canary) 2019-01-29](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/release-2-0-4-13-canary-2019-01-29/6160))
- 2.0.4.23 from 2.0.4.13 or newer (2.0.4.23 beta is a notification update only - see [Release: 2.0.4.23 (beta) 2019-07-14](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/release-2-0-4-23-beta-2019-07-14/7522/6))
If you do and notice your server not starting, try running `Duplicati.Server.exe` from the command line. If you get a database version error such as `A serious error occurred in Duplicati: System.Exception: Failed to create, open or upgrade the database.` then you’ll have to put the newer version folder back (or see “How to add versions…” block below).
Alternatively, you could revert to the backup automatically during the upgrade (usually named something like `backup 20181026082938.sqlite`) HOWEVER this won’t include anything you did SINCE the upgrade so a database REPAIR (not Recreate) will likely be necessary.
* * *
## Why you might want to downgrade
> **Some of the reasons you might want to downgrade to an earlier version**
>
> - new feature doesn’t work as expected
> - orphaned (no longer supported in the GUI) old feature needs to be removed
> - performance changes
* * *
## Why you might NOT want to downgrade
> **Some reasons you might NOT want to downgrade**
>
> Occasionally there are database or other changes that may cause a downgraded installation to not work correctly. Generally this can be address by re-updating to the previous version or doing additional downgrade steps such as:
>
> - manually updating the sqlite database to resolve issues such as database version errors
>
> Also, be aware the if you are planning a temporary downgrade only (such as to resolve orphaned setting warnings) it’s probably best if you edit your jobs to disable any automatic scheduling. This makes sure a job doesn’t start up while you’re editing in the older version. Just be sure to re-enable the schedules when your done!
* * *
## How to add versions you don’t already have in your updates folder
> **Here's how to add another version to your updates folder**
>
> Please note that these steps were tested on a Windows machine. If you try this on Linux or MacOS and it doesn’t work, please let us know.
>
> If you find you want to downgrade to a version NEWER than what’s in your updates folder, you can MANUALLY “install” that update like this:
>
> 1. Download the zip file version from the [Releases · duplicati/duplicati · GitHub](https://github.com/duplicati/duplicati/releases) link
> 2. Unzip it into a subfolder of your “updates” folder such as:
> a. `~/.config/Duplicati/updates/` for Linux user
> b. `/root/.config/Duplicati/updates` for Linux root
> c. `C:\ProgramData\Duplicati\updates` for Windows
> 3. If necessary, rename the unziped subfolder to be JUST the version number of what you unziped. So if you downloaded `duplicati-2.0.3.4_canary_2018-04-02.zip` you’d name the folder `2.0.3.4` ending up with the `acknowledgements.txt` file at `\Duplicati\updates\2.0.3.4\acknowledgements.txt`
> 4. Proceed with the normal “How to downgrade” process
>
> This process can be useful if you find you’ve downgraded “too far” and Duplicati won’t start or you are finding errors in the `\Duplicati\updates\Duplicati-crashlog.txt` file.
* * *
## How to downgrade
To downgrade / revert your Duplicati version:
1. Use the main menu “About” -\> “System info” Button to confirm your currently running version.
2. Stop Duplicati tray-icon and service AS applicable. (On Windows you can use `Ctrl-Shift-Esc` to open the Task Manager then select the `Services` tab to get access to stopping / starting the Duplicati service. On MacOS you might want to try running something like `sudo launchctl unload /Library/LaunchDamons/net.duplicati.server.plist` or `sudo launchctl unload /Library/LaunchAgents/net.duplicati.tray-icon.plist`.)
3. Go into your Duplicati updates folder and delete (or move it out of `updates`, a rename won’t work) any version folders newer than what you want to run:
**Windows**
a. `C:\ProgramData\Duplicati\updates` (most Windows service instances)
b. `C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Duplicati\updates\` (most Windows user / tray-icon instances)
**Ubuntu Linux**
c. `~/.config/Duplicati/updates` (most Linux user / tray-icon instances)
d. `/root/Duplicati/updates` (most Linux root / daemon instances)
e. `/app/duplicati` (most Linux Docker container instances)
f. `/usr/share/Duplicati` (reported by at least one user as where it was)
**Debian Linux**
g. `/usr/share/Duplicati/updates` (Debian)
h. `/usr/local/share/Duplicati/updates` (Debian)
**MacOS**
i. `/Library/Application Support/Duplicati/updates` (service / daemon on High Sierra 10.13.5)
4. Start Duplicati.
5. Use the main menu “About” -\> “System info” Button to confirm you are no longer running the version from step 1.
Note: You can not downgrade lower than your “base version”. This is the version you installed with an actual installer (not via the GUI updater) and for later versions of Duplicati can be seen in the `BaseVersionName` line of the main “[About](http://localhost:8200/ngax/index.html#/about)” -\> “System info” page.
If you want to go lower than your base version you will need to download and run the installer for an older version. This can usually be done “on top” of your current version, but if you choose to uninstall Duplicati first it would be safest for to export your backup jobs to text files so they can easily be re-added of the uninstall clears them out.
* * *
## How Duplicati installs / updates work
> **Click here for the geeky details! :-)**
>
> When Duplicati is first installed it is put into the “base version” folder - basically where you’d expect an application to be installed.
>
> When an update is installed through the GUI, it is downloaded into the `updates` folder.
>
> When a part of Duplicati is run (from the “base version” folder) it checks the updates folder for anything newer and passes control to that newer version.
>
> Note that there do seem to be some instances (such as certain command line calls) where running the “base version” does NOT seem to pass control to newer versions, which is why you may see some posts about people using the command line but seeing an older version (usually the “base version”) reported.
* * *
## How to tell what version you installed / updated to
> **Click here for even more geeky details! ;-)**
>
> Because Duplicati handles GUI based updates through the `updates` folder as described above, looking at a version number using standard OS methods can cause confusion because only the base version is seen by the OS.
>
> To know both your base version AND “execution version” you can go to the main menu “[About](http://localhost:8200/ngax/index.html#/about)” -\> “System info” page and look at:
>
> - `ServerVersionName` (most recent update “execution version” being run)
> - `BaseVersionName` (manually installed “base version” not including any GUI updates, should match what’s reported by the OS)
* * *
Please note that this post is Wiki - if you see something incorrect or missing, feel free to fix or add it yourself by clicking the  button at the bottom right of this post! 🙂
---
### Author:  [@mikaitech](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/mikaitech)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/2 "2018-05-01T19:42:16Z")
Before I saw this post, I ended up going from 2.0.3.6 down to 2.0.3.5 on a Windows Server setup… it failed with errors the first attempt to install but it did clear out most of the mentioned files above, and then I ran the installer again and chose repair, after that all is good.
---
### Author:  [@Chipmaster](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/Chipmaster)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2018, 10:26am UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/3 "2018-05-09T10:26:59Z")
I found on debian the updates folder could be located at either:
a. /usr/share/Duplicati/updates
or
b. /usr/local/share/Duplicati/updates
---
### Author:  [@JonMikelV](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/JonMikelV)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2018, 6:55pm UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/4 "2018-05-09T18:55:48Z")
Thanks for sharing!
I’ve added your findings to the original post but in case I got anything wrong feel free to fix it yourself as it’s actually a wiki so any user can edit it. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@Chipmaster](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/Chipmaster)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2018, 1:28am UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/5 "2018-05-10T01:28:10Z")
I saw that note, but couldn’t figure out how to edit it. Thanks for adding it! Hope it helps someone else like your post helped me! 🙂
---
### Author:  [@JonMikelV](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/JonMikelV)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2018, 3:23am UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/6 "2018-05-10T03:23:08Z")
> [@Chipmaster](#):
>
> I saw that note, but couldn’t figure out how to edit it.
I updated the post to include using the button for making changes. Hopefully it works that way for people who aren’t logged in as me. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@sjl1986](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/sjl1986)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2018, 6:02am UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/8 "2018-10-26T06:02:55Z")
I tried downgrading from 2.0.3.5 Canary down to 2.0.3.3 Beta. Then every time Duplicati server started, it would immediately crash with no error message. When run as a service it appears to be working, but the actual server isn’t running.
I tried running via command line and finally saw the error below. It would be nice if this showed up with the GUI or service. I deleted the file C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Duplicati\Duplicati-server.sqlite and it now starts correctly. Note that this is a new PC I’m testing on with no existing backups so deleting database files isn’t an issue (in case that matters).
_C:\Program Files\Duplicati 2\>duplicati.server_
_A serious error occurred in Duplicati: System.Exception: Failed to create, open or upgrade the database._
_Error message:_
_ **The database has version 5 but the largest supported version is 4.** _
_This is likely caused by upgrading to a newer version and then downgrading._
_If this is the case, there is likely a backup file of the previous database version in the folder C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Duplicati._
\_ at Duplicati.Server.Program.GetDatabaseConnection(Dictionary`2 commandlineOptions)\_
\_ at Duplicati.Server.Program.RealMain(String _args)_
---
### Author:  [@JonMikelV](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/JonMikelV)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2018, 12:02pm UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/9 "2018-10-26T12:02:05Z")
> [@sjl1986](#):
>
> It would be nice if this showed up with the GUI or service
Yes, it would be nice but the errors are logged into the database so if Duplicati can’t get to the database then there is nowhere to log the error. ☹
I’m not sure why you got the error in the first place as I didn’t think there was a database version change between 2.0.3.3 and 2.0.3.6, but thanks posting it. I’ll update the main post to reflect that.
---
### Author:  [@ts678](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/ts678)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2018, 2:37pm UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/10 "2018-10-26T14:37:58Z")
[https://github.com/duplicati/duplicati/tree/v2.0.3.4-2.0.3.4\_canary\_2018-04-02/Duplicati/Server/Database/Database%20schema](https://github.com/duplicati/duplicati/tree/v2.0.3.4-2.0.3.4_canary_2018-04-02/Duplicati/Server/Database/Database%20schema) is where the server database went to version 5, and I see that we’re now up to 6…
Although it’s not a great solution, sometimes these seemingly silent crashes leave a Duplicati-crashlog.txt although I’m not sure where they go. I’ll show the start of one that’s sitting in my Duplicati “updates” folder:
```
System.Reflection.TargetInvocationException: Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation. ---> System.Exception: A serious error occurred in Duplicati: System.Exception: Failed to create, open or upgrade the database.
Error message:
The database has version 5 but the largest supported version is 4.
This is likely caused by upgrading to a newer version and then downgrading.
If this is the case, there is likely a backup file of the previous database version in the folder C:\ProgramData\Duplicati.
```
[This](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/moving-from-canary-to-beta/3329/14?u=ts678) shows how to get from 5 to 4, however downgrades unfortunately have to be tailored to their upgrades.
---
### Author:  [@JonMikelV](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/JonMikelV)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/11 "2018-10-26T19:45:20Z")
Great info - and thanks for the link. I’ve updated the main post with all the database upgrade versions to date. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@ts678](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/ts678)
#### Post date: [November 9, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/12 "2018-11-09T17:02:01Z")
> [@JonMikelV](#):
>
> Great info - and thanks for the link. I’ve updated the main post with all the database upgrade versions to date.
And more could be said, but there might be a shift in emphasis, maybe aimed primarily at those using Beta.
There’s now a recent safety recommendation to consider about how to do downgrades. While Canary users should be aware that Canary is a risk (even risky downgrades may help them), what should other users do? Canary moves in smaller quicker steps, so downgrade is easier, whereas a Beta-to-Beta downgrade is a lot.
Having this article provide steps for the recommendation below would be an approach. I’ve never been that comfortable with people editing databases manually, but there’s no programmed method - and no test suite. One reason for discomfort is that while structure changes are obvious, changed structure usages are not… Someday there might also be a big-time database redesign for performance, reliability, logging, whatever…
So here’s the conversation at [Any progress in new beta?](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/any-progress-in-new-beta/5141/4) but I don’t know if “bulletproof” changed the reply:
> [@Any progress in new beta?](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/any-progress-in-new-beta/5141/1):
>
> Or, another nice possibility would be: is there a way to safely test new canaries with my existing backup, without messing it, and with a bulletproof way to reverting to the old database?
> [@Any progress in new beta?](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/any-progress-in-new-beta/5141/4):
>
> When you run a new version, Duplicati will upgrade the database as you have discovered. We do not currently have any safe way to roll back the version (it would require a test suite that could verify things worked correctly after downgrading).
>
> Instead, Duplicati makes a copy of the database prior to upgrading it. You can then “switch back” by manually renaming the databases, but this will of course not contain anything you did with the new version.
---
### Author:  [@JonMikelV](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/JonMikelV)
#### Post date: [November 9, 2018, 6:56pm UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/13 "2018-11-09T18:56:49Z")
Thanks - steps to use the automatically created database backup have been added to the main post. 🙂
@kenkendk, are these backups ever cleaned out? If not, we might want to let people know that every Duplicati update creates another copy of their database. I’ve heard of some people with 1-2G databases and that could add up over time…
---
### Author:  [@ts678](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/ts678)
#### Post date: [November 9, 2018, 8:26pm UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/14 "2018-11-09T20:26:34Z")
> [@JonMikelV](#):
>
> If not, we might want to let people know that every Duplicati update creates another copy of their database.
We should likely speak of “database” in the plural, which also begs the question of how to tell what was what, even to the extent of distinguishing former Duplicati-server.sqlite from former database for some backup job.
[How to test which database belongs to which job?](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/how-to-test-which-database-belongs-to-which-job/2531) gets into this, but the solutions discussed are rather crude even before getting into Windows database encryption (I wonder if backups follow --unencrypted-database?).
---
### Author:  [@JonMikelV](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/JonMikelV)
#### Post date: [November 9, 2018, 10:14pm UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/15 "2018-11-09T22:14:51Z")
Nuts - you’re right, it’s unclear based on name alone whether the backup is for `Duplicati-server.sqlite` or `[job].sqlite`.
---
### Author:  [@AimoE](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/AimoE)
#### Post date: [July 21, 2019, 6:35pm UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/16 "2019-07-21T18:35:08Z")
Could you please update this with the latest database versions?
---
### Author:  [@JonMikelV](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/JonMikelV)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2019, 1:04pm UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/17 "2019-07-24T13:04:29Z")
@AimoE, thanks for pointing out that database b versions have changed. I haven’t had time to keep up with the latest versions but I’ll try to take a look in a few days.
Note that the first post should be a wiki so if you already know the release and database numbers you can update it yourself by using the Edit button at the bottom right of the post. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@AimoE](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/AimoE)
#### Post date: [July 24, 2019, 1:27pm UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/18 "2019-07-24T13:27:48Z")
> [@JonMikelV](#):
>
> Note that the first post should be a wiki so if you already know the release and database numbers you can update it yourself by using the Edit button at the bottom right of the post.
But I don’t know the versions, how could I? That is exactly why I hope you would update the info.
Before you publish the first official version of Duplicati, you need to learn to provide users the basic compatibility information, such as db version changes, with the releases (plus link to full list of changes).
---
### Author:  [@JonMikelV](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/JonMikelV)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2019, 1:07am UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/19 "2019-07-29T01:07:40Z")
> [@AimoE](#):
>
> But I don’t know the versions, how could I?
Sorry, I thought you had requested an updated list because you knew a database version had changed.
I figured you had learned it in one of the same way I do:
- review pull requests
- see it mentioned in a release announcement
- experience or hear of a database specific issue with a downgrade.
> [@AimoE](#):
>
> Before you publish the first official version of Duplicati, you need to learn to provide users the basic compatibility information.
If you find something about Duplicati lacking please feel free to join in and help us improve it! If it’s not happening now it’s likely because we either don’t know how or don’t have the time to do it. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@AimoE](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/AimoE)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2019, 4:06am UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/20 "2019-07-29T04:06:22Z")
> [@JonMikelV](#):
>
> Sorry, I thought you had requested an updated list because you knew a database version had changed.
You’ll find the context for my request here: [Release: 2.0.4.23 (beta) 2019-07-14 - #6 by kees-z](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/release-2-0-4-23-beta-2019-07-14/7522/6)
---
### Author:  [@JonMikelV](https://forum.duplicati.com/u/JonMikelV)
#### Post date: [July 30, 2019, 4:56am UTC](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393/21 "2019-07-30T04:56:34Z")
I used the information from that post to update the wiki. Feel free to change it if you think it unclear or incorrect.
[Next page](https://forum.duplicati.com/t/downgrading-reverting-to-a-lower-version/3393.md?page=2)