Updates

How you get a new version depends on which Meridian you have.

On a hosted plan (Free, Sites or Studio)

You do not need to do anything. We update every hosted site for you.

• Your site is backed up before each update.
• New versions go to our own test sites first, and only then to customers.
• Your pages, photographs, galleries, clients, settings and style kit are kept exactly as they were. Only the software underneath changes.

New features simply appear in your panel.

Meridian for WordPress

Your purchase includes twelve months of updates and support.

Before your first update: enter your licence key

Updates only reach WordPress once your licence key is entered.

1. In WordPress, go to Meridian Photographers → Settings and open the

Licence tab.

1. Paste your key into Licence key and press Save licence.
2. Status should say Active.

See your licence key for where to find it.

Updating from WordPress

While your twelve months are running, a new version shows up in WordPress like any other theme update:

1. In WordPress, go to Dashboard → Updates, or Appearance → Themes.
2. Press update on Meridian.

WordPress replaces the theme's files only. Your pages, posts, photographs, menus and every Meridian setting are kept.

The theme checks with us for a new version once a day. To look straight away, press Check again on the Licence tab.

Updating by hand

1. Sign in to your account.
2. Under Your licences, press Download to get the current version. Your

licence key stays the same.

1. In WordPress, go to Appearance → Themes → Add New → Upload Theme and

choose the file you downloaded.

1. When WordPress asks whether to replace the theme you already have, choose to

replace it.

Your content, settings and menus are not touched. Even so, take a backup first.

Each licence has a limit on the number of downloads, shown under the key in your account, so download only when you need to.

After twelve months

The version you have keeps working, for good. You just stop receiving new ones: WordPress may tell you a newer version exists, but it is not offered for download. Nothing is switched off. If you want the newer versions, raise a support ticket and ask to renew.

The self-hosted Meridian Sites (no longer sold)

If you still run the self-hosted version, download the current version from your account and copy the new files over the old ones, **leaving the storage folder alone**. That folder holds your content and photographs. Take a backup first.

If you would rather not do this yourself, moving to a hosted plan means updates happen for you. Raise a ticket and we will move your site across.

Big changes

We avoid changes that make you redo anything. If one is ever unavoidable, it is called out at the top of the release notes, with what you need to do.