Update failed on small webspace without SSH access and limited memory. Alternatives?

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The Basics

  • Nextcloud Server version (e.g., 29.x.x):
    • 32.0.5
  • Operating system and version (e.g., Ubuntu 24.04):
    • Linux 6.1.0-44-amd64 x86_64
  • Web server and version (e.g, Apache 2.4.25)
    • I’m running my NextCloud on a simple Website on Hetzner
  • Reverse proxy and version _(e.g. nginx 1.27.2)
    • replace me
  • PHP version (e.g, 8.3):
    • 8.4
  • Is this the first time you’ve seen this error? (Yes / No):
    • Yes
  • When did this problem seem to first start?
    • replace me
  • Installation method (e.g. AlO, NCP, Bare Metal/Archive, etc.)
    • replace me
  • Are you using CloudfIare, mod_security, or similar? (Yes / No)
    • replace me

Summary of the issue you are facing:

I’m running Nextcloud on a simple Hetzner Webspace – which means, I have a database, PHP, some storage, but it is a shared server and I don’t have access to SSH.

Installation was very smooth, some months ago.

However, the shared server is quite limited, not just that I don’t have SSH access, but also memory is very limited (PHP memory limit is max. 256 MB, which is too small, I guess).

So, when I run the updater, I get an error at step 5:

Verifying integrity
Parsing response failed.
Show detailed response

Detailed response is empty.

The updater log also does not indicate an error, clearly:

2026-04-30T07:35:23+0200 Qk77a7oOCh [info] request to updater
2026-04-30T07:35:23+0200 Qk77a7oOCh [info] currentStep()
2026-04-30T07:35:23+0200 Qk77a7oOCh [info] Step 5 is in state "start".

I also tried the “manual” update process, downloading the update manually, uploading with FTP to the server … but then I have to run SSH, which I can’t on this Hetzner webspace.

Is there any other way to update Nextcloud on such a limited environment?

Thanks.

Steps to replicate it (hint: details matter!):

  1. Run updater in admin settings

  2. Delete “.step” file if it is left over from previous installation

  3. Update failes at step 5

Log entries

Nextcloud

Please provide the log entries from your Nextcloud log that are generated during the time of problem (via the Copy raw option from Administration settings->Logging screen or from your nextcloud.log located in your data directory). Feel free to use a pastebin/gist service if necessary.

PASTE HERE

Web Browser

If the problem is related to the Web interface, open your browser inspector Console and Network tabs while refreshing (reloading) and reproducing the problem. Provide any relevant output/errors here that appear.

PASTE

Web server / Reverse Proxy

The output of your Apache/nginx/system log in /var/log/____:

PASTE HERE

Configuration

Nextcloud

The output of occ config:list system or similar is best, but, if not possible, the contents of your config.php file from /path/to/nextcloud is fine (make sure to remove any identifiable information!):

PASTE HERE

Apps

The output of occ app:list (if possible).

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Since the recommended value of PHP memory limit is 512 MB you better call Hetzner Support and ask for an Update.

Which part of the manual update process are you finding you need SSH for?

That, of course, is a simple solution. I’m looking for a different option, though.

Step 15:

sudo -E -u www-data php occ upgrade

This has to be executed on the server.

It you hit the URL it should trigger the web mode for that stage.

You could try to execute it as a cronjob – I do that on Hetzner instances with 384 MB memory limit:

/usr/www/users/{youraccount}/{ncdirectory}/occ upgrade

Thanks, will try both options.