Software Update Fail

Meewasin
Every time I open Zotero I get a Software update Failed message saying:

The update could not be installed. Please make sure there are no other copies of Zotero running on your computer, and then restart Zotero to try again.

There are no other copies running. Why does this happen everytime I open the software?
  • adamsmith
    Which operating system?
  • dstillman
    @Meewasin: You should try restarting your computer, and if that doesn't help reinstall Zotero from the download page. If you still get the error, or get it in the future, let us know.
  • Meewasin
    Hi I have downloaded, reinstalled and started multiple times over the last couple of times and the error is still occuring.
  • Meewasin
    Windows 10Pro 64 bit operating system
  • dstillman
    Go to C:\Users\[User]\AppData\Local\Zotero and delete the "updates" folder if there is one. Then reinstall Zotero from the download page.
  • Meewasin
    We did that with our computer techs.
  • dstillman
    Not sure what you mean by this. Deleting "updates" should make this go away.
  • Meewasin
    It goes away and then is back after the reinstall on the 2nd time I open the software. Or are you saying I have to go delete the updates folder each day and reinstall each day?
  • dstillman
    No, of course not.

    You shouldn't get that right away if you're actually reinstalling the latest version of Zotero from the download page, because there shouldn't be anything to update.

    But the fact that it's giving an error at all likely means that your user account doesn't have permissions to update the app. Is this a restricted account that can't install programs itself?

    And can you provide a Report ID?
  • Meewasin
    Sorry for the late reply.

    The user account didn't have permissions but it was given the permissions as one of the fixes to try and get the error to stop.

    Zotero 6.0.14 is what is installed. Windows 10Pro 64 bit operating system. When I go to Report ID it said the program has had no errors. But here is the ID # 944520998.
  • dstillman
    edited October 24, 2022
    Right, so 6.0.14 isn't the latest version, which is why it's prompting you to update. 6.0.15 has been out for almost a month.

    In any case, if you're still getting the error, you just still don't have permission to update the app. Note that, if you cancel the admin prompt when you first install Zotero, it should do a local installation that you have permission to update as a local user. So you may want to uninstall Zotero (which won't affect your data) and reinstall that way.
  • Meewasin
    Thanks! Just did and will see how it is in a day or so!
Sign In or Register to comment.