An update replaces the product's own files. It leaves your settings, uploads, rules and add-ons alone.
- settings.php
- Your database connection and keys.
- .htaccess
- The site's own root rules file.
- storage/
- Private files, downloads, cache and logs.
- media/ and assets/media/uploads/
- Your uploads. Pictures shipped elsewhere under
assets/media/are added when missing and never replace yours. - Add-ons
- Never removed. An update deletes only files a release lists as obsolete, and no release lists an add-on.
Customize a copy of the theme
An update replaces the theme files it ships. Copy the theme and work in the copy, and the updater leaves your work alone.
Upgrading to 1.13
From 1.12.0, Update WBAMS brings a site to 1.13.0, which needs PHP 8.3 or newer. Switch on the free ionCube Loader, version 15 or newer, then update again to 1.13.2.
Upgrading to 1.12.0 from 1.11.0 or earlier
Upload the release's files with its install/ folder and run its installer's Upgrade this installation, not Update WBAMS. It gives the database its current names and keeps every row. Replace the protective block of your .htaccess with 1.12.0's, then delete install/. Everyone signs in again once.
Full guide
The complete reference is What an update never touches in the WBAMS documentation.