Plugin Updates Fail with error message but are Actually Successful

I downloaded an older version of Akismet and then installed it and updated it. That worked fine, I got no error message.

The plugins I have updated with this issue have been from several different developers and have license keys (they are paid plugins). I am wondering if this is part of the issue?

For some plugins I have deactivated and reactivated the license key and then performed the update and got the same error message.

Hopefully someone has an idea on how to fix this…

I forgot to mention that there is also a translations update issue which throws a similar error:

Download failed. Not Found

The translations do not appear to get updated and the “New translations are available.” and the update button always appears on the WordPress Updates page.

I’ve now created a copy/clone of the website on a new server (under a sub domain) so I can better run tests to figure this out.

The problem still exists on the new server. I now also have tried without success to fix the problem:

• Deactivated most plugins including WordFence
• Reinstall WordPress 6.5.2

BTW I think this problem has been happening around the time I updated to WordPress 6.5.2 but can’t say for sure that is the cause.

I also just installed an older plugin that requires a license key. I activated it and then updated it and the same problem happened.

So based on this and the fact that a plugin without a license key updated okay my current theory is that the issue only happens with plugins that have license keys. Could this be related to some sort of salt issue?

I am thinking this is related to the way plugins are now installed in WordPress as Ajax loading has been disabled to allow for multiple plugins to be installed at once (Developer Centric). Evidently a fix is in the works.

https://core.trac.www.ads-software.com/ticket/60992

• This reply was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by Andrew Palmer.

Thanks, I’ve skimmed through the ticket. My knowledge about how WordPress works at the code level when dealing with plugin updates/installs at is minimal.

Would you be able to add to the ticket about my issue and why it is maybe related? Over the last 5 days I’ve seen a number of similar tickets to mine pop up.

Obviously something has happened which caused my issue which has possibly corrupted something and preventing the update process with licenses to fail at some level.

I have other websites with a similar stack which update just fine.

What I am worried about is they “fix the issue” but don’t fix any possible corruption caused from the issue thereby my site not being fixed once the “fix” has been released.

I also have noticed an issue occasionally, but thought it was just a temporary issue with my test ( local ) set up. I will have a look and see if I can more accurately replicate.

I wouldn’t jump to the conculson it is related to the Ajax activation, as this is related to updating not install / activate.

• This reply was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by Alan Fuller.

It would be useful to list what plugins are failing.

It could be related to the ‘call home’ of specific licence servers failing.

I have tested some now, but could not reproduce the issue.

Traditionally ‘premium’ issues are not support here on teh forums as they are normally referred back to teh premium provider to resolve, but as this seems it may be more generic it is worth examining further.

• This reply was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by Alan Fuller.

As mentioned, I get the same issue. When I updated plugins via Dashboard > Updates > Select plugin > Update, instead of going to Plugins > ‘There is a new version of.. update now’ I managed to update the plugin (WP Forms Pro) successfully, but also went on to say this:

Updating [plug-in name], updated successfully. Disabling Maintenance mode… Some of your translations need updating. Sit tight for a few seconds while they are updated as well. Updating translations for Elementor Pro (en_ZA)… Download failed. Not Found. All updates have been completed.

It would be useful to list what plugins are failing.

That would be my suggestion as well. It would allow others to try to reproduce this issue by trying to install or update those same plugins.

If the problem only happens with a specific subset of plugins, maybe plugins by a single author, or plugins that all depend on a specific plugin, or plugins that have their own update mechanism to pull in changes from a third-party service, it may be worth contacting the plugin author about this.

Every time I update a plugin (I’ve tried 4 different ones) it ends with a message in red

Do you experience a similar problem when you first install and activate the plugin, or does it only happen when you update it from an oldest version to a new one?

Updating translations for Elementor Pro (en_ZA)… Download failed. Not Found.

@michelleips Do you see that error message with any other plugins, or only with Elementor Pro?

It’s also worth noting that your error message is a bit different from the one @esilverstrike experienced. Yours specifically mentions translation updates (which may indeed not be available for a premium plugin like Elementor Pro), while @esilverstrike seemed to mention it was happening while updating a plugin.

@jeherve – I get the exact same message Update Failed: Download failed. Not Found. in a red block whenever I try to update any plugin from the plugins page (same issue on 2 sites). When I refresh the pIugins page the plugin was updated to the newest version. Nothing ‘broke’ on the sites, I just kept on getting the update failed message when updating to a new version of a plugin. I thought it was a PHP issue/ checked server error reports, fixed some stuff, but still no change. When I changed the way I updated plugins, the translation error showed.

whenever I try to update any plugin from the plugins page (same issue on 2 sites).

Could you give us a few examples of plugins you tried to update when you got this error?

@jeremy Herve, I’ve gotten the error message for any plugin I have updated with a license or has a secondary plugin that requires a license.

The plugins I have updated include Elementor Pro, TranslatePress, Crocoblock plugins (jetengine, jet tricks, etc…), WS Form Pro, and Perfmatters.

I also have a Translation from Elementor getting a similar error (I mentioned this on page 1 in a later comment). It does not update though.

I have another site on the server with a some what similar stack and it doesn’t have this problem.

• This reply was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by Tom.

OK Interesting all those from TOM ( except Elementor Pro ) use Easy Digital Downloads as their checkout process so will be using EDD licence / update manager.

• This reply was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by Alan Fuller.
• This reply was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by Alan Fuller.