How to Upgrade The MyWorkDrive Server


The MyWorkDrive server is designed to be upgraded in place. Upgrades are free to licensed clients; we do not charge a fee for upgrades or a software maintenance fee for access to upgrades.

Servers using Active Directory or Entra ID for the user directory use the same upgrade process.

Before you begin

  • Download the latest version of the MyWorkDrive server installer from the MyWorkDrive portal.
  • Backup your settings. Either by making a manual backup of the settings folder in c:\wanpath\Wanpath.Data, or, if you're upgrading from version 5.2 or later, using the Export feature in Settings.
  • Have your license key readily available. In some instances, you may need to reapply your license key in Settings after the upgrade. You can retrieve your license key by logging into the portal at https://www.myworkdrive.com/login with your licensed email.
    • Contact support if you do not know your login email or need help retrieving your License Key.
  • Review the release notes so you are aware of changes and new features.

We always encourage you to test the new version of the server in a QA or lab environment prior to upgrading any production servers.

Conducting the Upgrade

The install is designed to be run on the existing server. You do not need to stop any services or make any changes. Just run the downloaded server update installer.

During the installation, existing connections to the server by users and clients will be disconnected, and new connections will not be serviced. Make sure to conduct the upgrade at a time when it is acceptable for the service to be unavailable.

Depending on the version you are upgrading from, you will get different prompts to confirm during the upgrade.

The MyWorkDrive server can take several minutes. You are encouraged to complete this process at a time when connections are closed and a reboot is possible. Leaving the server pending a reboot is not advised.

If the installer detects that a .NET upgrade is required, note that the installation may take a bit longer while .NET is installed, and a reboot may be required.

The MyWorkDrive install process for upgrades will preserve all of your existing settings and migrate/apply them to the new version. Unless otherwise noted by the installer or release notes, you will have a fully functional server after the setup completes.

You may receive a message on the admin or web client consoles if you attempt to immediately re-connect after the upgrade, stating that the services are starting up and to please wait. This is normal, retry after 60-90 seconds.

  • Upgrades and downgrades within the same version, ie 5.2.0 to 5.2.1 to 5.2.4 to 5.2.3 will work seamlessly.
  • Upgrades to newer versions, i.e., 5.2.1 to 5.3.0, will also work seamlessly, unless otherwise noted by the installer or the release notes.
  • Downgrades to previous versions, ie, 5.3.2 to 5.2.1, are not advised without consulting MyWorkDrive Support and will result in the loss of any features, enhancements, or functionality introduced in the newer version. Additionally, you may encounter licensing issues when going back to prior versions, and you are strongly encouraged to contact support prior to downgrading.
  • Downgrading from 6.x back to 5.x is not possible due to significant changes to configuration files, and a restore is recommended to revert to 5.x from 6.x.

As always, it is prudent to back up any data stored on the server. We do not recommend keeping your shares local to the MyWorkDrive server or running any other applications on the same server, but if you do, you are strongly encouraged to back them up before upgrading.

Scripting the Upgrade

Starting with version 5.4.2 or higher, the MyWorkDrive server setup now supports installing via a script. Simply run the setup.exe with /q to upgrade silently, retaining existing settings.

Things to Check After Upgrading

  • In Settings, check that your server is properly licensed; if it is not, reapply your license key.
  • If you are using the Cloud Web Connector, check that it is enabled in Settings. If it is not, re-enable it.
  • If you are using Office 365, check that it is enabled in Settings. If it is not, re-enable it.
  • If you are using SSO, verify that it is enabled and configured on the Enterprise tab.
  • If you are using Two Factor Authentication, verify that it is enabled and configured on the Enterprise tab.

If you have an issue during installation, you are encouraged to review the installation log file at c:\wanpath\Wanpath.Data\Logs\Installer for details about the installation process and errors.

Migrating from Active Directory to Entra ID for the User Directory

From Version 7, MyWorkDrive supports using either Active Directory or Entra ID for user directory.

Migrating MyWorkDrive servers configured with Active Directory to Entra ID authentication is not supported. No upgrade path exists between the MyWorkDrive server Active Directory identity and Entra ID due to differences in storage provisioning and user access, as well as the numerous features which are no longer required with Entra ID.

To deploy a MyWorkDrive server with Entra ID identity native authentication, it's advised to set up a new server and configure it from scratch. To ease the new installation process, we've created a more robust setup wizard that runs the first time you log in to a new server connected to Entra ID, making connecting to Azure for the user database and storage easy.

Upgrading an existing server configured with Active Directory is fully supported, as described in this article, continuing to use Active Directory, optionally with a SAML SSO or Duo MFA, for the user login.

If you have any questions about upgrading your MyWorkDrive server, please contact support prior to upgrading.


We appreciate your feedback. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about this article please contact our support team at support@myworkdrive.com.