IPFS updater

The IPFS updater is a command-line tool originally used to help users update their IPFS version. It has since been upgraded to allow users to install Go-IPFS as well. The easiest way to install the IPFS updater is by using the pre-built binaries, detailed below. See the project repository (opens new window) if you'd prefer to build it from source.

Install updater

You can download pre-built binaries from dist.ipfs.io (opens new window). Binaries are also available from the IPFS Update GitHub release page (opens new window).

Windows

1. Download the Windows binary from dist.ipfs.io (opens new window).

   cd ~
   wget https://dist.ipfs.io/ipfs-update/v1.6.0/ipfs-update_v1.6.0_windows-amd64.zip -Outfile ipfs-update_v1.6.0_windows-amd64.zip
   

2. Unzip the file and move it somewhere handy:

   Expand-Archive -Path ipfs-update_v1.6.0_windows-amd64.zip -DestinationPath ~\Apps\ipfs-update_v1.6.0
   

3. Move into the ipfs-update_v1.6.0 folder and check that the ipfs-update.exe works:

   cd Apps\ipfs-update_v1.6.0\ipfs-update\
   .\ipfs-update.exe --version
   
   > ipfs-update version 1.6.0
   

   While you can use ipfs-updateright now, it's better to add ipfs-update.exe to your PATH by using the following steps.

4. Print the current working directory and copy it to your clipboard:

   pwd
   
   > Path
   > ----
   > C:\Users\Johnny\Apps\ipfs-update_v1.6.0\ipfs-update
   

5. Check if a profile file for PowerShell already exists:

   Test-Path $profile
   
   > false
   

   If a profile already file exists, skip the next step and proceed with step 7.

6. Create a new PowerShell profile file:

   New-Item -path $profile -type file –force
   
   > Mode                LastWriteTime         Length Name
   > ----                -------------         ------ ----
   > -a----        11/5/2020   6:38 PM              0 Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1
   

7. Add the address you just copied to PowerShell's PATH by adding it to the end of the Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1 file stored in Documents\WindowsPowerShell:

   Add-Content C:\Users\Johnny\Documents\WindowsPowerShell\Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1 "[System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable('PATH',`$Env:PATH+';;C:\Users\Johnny\Apps\ipfs-update_v1.6.0\ipfs-update')"
   

8. Close and reopen your PowerShell window. Test that your PATH is set correctly by going to your home folder and asking ipfs-update for the version:

   cd ~
   ipfs-update --version
   
   > ipfs-update version 1.6.0
   

   If you get an error during the next start of PowerShell while loading the profile file, you need to change ExecutionPolicy of PowerShell to Unrestricted as described in the Microsoft PowerShell documentation (opens new window).

macOS

1. Download the macOS binary from dist.ipfs.io (opens new window).

   curl https://dist.ipfs.io/ipfs-update/v1.6.0/ipfs-update_v1.6.0_darwin-amd64.tar.gz --output ipfs-update_v1.6.0_darwin-amd64.tar.gz
   

2. Unzip the file:

   tar -xvzf ipfs-update_v1.6.0_darwin-amd64.tar.gz
   
   > x ipfs-update/install.sh
   > x ipfs-update/ipfs-update
   

3. Move into the ipfs-update folder and run the install script:

   cd ipfs-update
   sudo bash install.sh
   
   > installed /usr/local/bin/ipfs-update
   

4. Check that ipfs-update installed properly:

   ipfs-update --version
   
   > ipfs-update version 1.6.0
   

Linux

1. Download the Linux binary from dist.ipfs.io (opens new window).

   wget https://dist.ipfs.io/ipfs-update/v1.6.0/ipfs-update_v1.6.0_linux-amd64.tar.gz
   

2. Unzip the file:

   tar -xvzf ipfs-update_v1.6.0_linux-amd64.tar.gz
   
   > x ipfs-update/install.sh
   > x ipfs-update/ipfs-update
   

3. Move into the ipfs-update folder and run the install script:

   cd ipfs-update
   sudo bash install.sh
   
   > installed /usr/local/bin/ipfs-update
   

4. Test that ipfs-update has installed correctly:

   ipfs-update --version
   
   > ipfs-update version 1.6.0
   

Install IPFS

Run ipfs-update install followed by the version of Go-IPFS you want to install:

ipfs-update install 0.5.0

To install the latest release of Go-IPFS use the latest tag:

ipfs-update install latest

ipfs-update install downloads, tests, and installs the specified version of Go-IPFS. If a version of IPFS is already installed, that version is stashed and can be reverted to later.

Downgrade IPFS

Use the revert function to roll-back to a previous version of Go-IPFS:

ipfs-update revert

ipfs-update revert reverts to the previously installed version of Go-IPFS. This is useful if the newly installed version has issues and you would like to switch back to your older stable installation.

Uninstall updater

To uninstall IPFS Update, delete the binary and ipfs-update from your PATH variable.

Windows

1. Find the location of the ipfs-update.exe file:

   gci -recurse -filter ipfs-update.exe -File -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
   
   > Directory: C:\Users\Johnny\Apps\ipfs-update_v1.6.0\ipfs-update
   

2. Remove the ipfs-update directory:

   Remove-Item -Recurse -Force C:\Users\Johnny\Apps\ipfs-update_v1.6.0
   

3. Delete the ipfs-update directory from the PATH variable. This process differs between Windows installations, so please check the Microsoft documentation for details (opens new window).

Linux & macOS

1. Find the location of the ipfs-update file:

   sudo find / -name ipfs-update
   
   /usr/local/bin/ipfs-update
   

2. Remove the file:

   sudo rm /usr/local/bin/ipfs-update