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This version of GitHub Enterprise Server was discontinued on 2023-09-25. No patch releases will be made, even for critical security issues. For better performance, improved security, and new features, upgrade to the latest version of GitHub Enterprise Server. For help with the upgrade, contact GitHub Enterprise support.

Enabling automatic update checks

You can enable automatic update checks so that your GitHub Enterprise Server instance checks for and downloads the latest GitHub Enterprise Server release.

About automatic update checks

When an upgrade package is automatically downloaded for your GitHub Enterprise Server instance, you'll receive a message letting you know you can upgrade GitHub Enterprise Server. Packages download to the /var/lib/ghe-updates directory on your GitHub Enterprise Server instance. For more information, see "Upgrading GitHub Enterprise Server."

If a hotpatch is available for an upgrade, the .hpkg will download automatically. In the management console you can choose to install the hotpatch immediately or schedule installation for a later time. For more information, see "Upgrading GitHub Enterprise Server."

Enabling automatic update checks

Tip: To enable automatic update checks, your GitHub Enterprise Server instance must be able to connect to https://github-enterprise.s3.amazonaws.com.

  1. From an administrative account on GitHub Enterprise Server, in the upper-right corner of any page, click .

  2. If you're not already on the "Site admin" page, in the upper-left corner, click Site admin.

  3. In the " Site admin" sidebar, click Management Console.

  4. In the top navigation bar, click Updates.

    Screenshot of the header of the Management Console. A tab, labeled "Updates", is highlighted with an orange outline.

  5. Click Yes, automatically check for updates.

  6. Under the "Settings" sidebar, click Save settings.

    Note: Saving settings in the Management Console restarts system services, which could result in user-visible downtime.

  7. Wait for the configuration run to complete.

Viewing whether an update is available

  1. From an administrative account on GitHub Enterprise Server, in the upper-right corner of any page, click .

  2. If you're not already on the "Site admin" page, in the upper-left corner, click Site admin.

  3. In the " Site admin" sidebar, click Management Console.

  4. In the top navigation bar, click Updates.

    Screenshot of the header of the Management Console. A tab, labeled "Updates", is highlighted with an orange outline.

  5. At the top of the page, view whether your instance is up-to-date, or whether an update is available.

Viewing the status of the most recent update check

  1. From an administrative account on GitHub Enterprise Server, in the upper-right corner of any page, click .

  2. If you're not already on the "Site admin" page, in the upper-left corner, click Site admin.

  3. In the " Site admin" sidebar, click Management Console.

  4. In the top navigation bar, click Updates.

    Screenshot of the header of the Management Console. A tab, labeled "Updates", is highlighted with an orange outline.

  5. Under "Logs," view status of the most recent update check.