Reference

Updates & License

April 25, 2026 docsadmin 4 min read

Updates & License [Pro]

How updates work, how the license validates, what to do if something breaks.

How updates reach you

Your WordPress site BC Pro plugin running checks daily for updates license key site URL fasterthemes.com WPDigiPro license server validates + responds version, download URL Update applied via standard WP plugin update flow Daily cron schedule · `bcpro_daily_license_check` runs once a day · Calls fasterthemes.com → checks license is still active → updates `bcpro_license` option

License lifecycle

Activation

When you paste a license key at Appearance → BC Pro License → Activate:

  1. The plugin sends a request to https://fasterthemes.com/?wpdigipro-action=wpdigipro-activate&license-key={base64}&registered-site={base64}&reference=1955
  2. The server validates: key exists, not refunded, not at install limit
  3. Response includes license_status: active, scheme: <expiry_timestamp>
  4. The plugin stores the response in wp_options.bcpro_license

Daily check

A WordPress cron job runs BCPro_License::maybe_check_license() daily. This:

  1. Calls ?wpdigipro-action=wpdigipro-check with the same key
  2. If the server returns licenseStatus: active, the local status stays “active”
  3. If the server returns licenseStatus: deactive AND status: error, the local status flips to “inactive” (auto-updates stop, but Pro features keep working until you fix the license)

Deactivation

Click Deactivate License in the admin to free the seat for use on another site:

  1. Plugin sends ?wpdigipro-action=wpdigipro-deactive
  2. Server marks the install record inactive
  3. Local bcpro_license is cleared

You can re-activate on the same or a different site any time.

Update process

Auto updates

WordPress’s standard plugin update flow handles this. When BC Pro detects a new version:

  1. Plugins page shows “There is a new version of Best Classifieds Pro available. View details or update now.”
  2. Click Update now.
  3. WordPress downloads from wpdigipro.com/wp-content/uploads/...zip, extracts, replaces files.
  4. The license is preserved (lives in wp_options, untouched by plugin reinstall).

Manual update

If auto-update fails (filesystem permissions, etc.):

  1. Download the new zip from your FasterThemes account.
  2. Deactivate Pro at Plugins.
  3. Delete the old plugin (your license/settings stay safe — they’re in DB, not files).
  4. Upload + activate the new zip.
  5. The license should re-bind automatically.

If it doesn’t, re-paste the license key at Appearance → BC Pro License.

Update notifications and changelogs

The plugin’s update screen shows the changelog from readme.txt. Major changes are emailed to license owners (FasterThemes account → Email Preferences).

Subscribe to release notifications at fasterthemes.com/blog for context on bigger changes.

Moving sites (staging → production, or rebranding)

You have two options:

Option A — Activate on both temporarily

If your single-site license includes a small grace period (we allow up to 3 active installs at once for transition periods), just activate on the new site without deactivating the old. The license server logs both. Once the move is complete, deactivate on the old site.

Option B — Deactivate, then activate

Cleaner audit trail. Deactivate on the old site first (Appearance → BC Pro License → Deactivate). Activate on the new site. The license is now tied to the new URL.

http vs https: A license activated on http://example.com won’t auto-bind to https://example.com — they’re distinct URLs to the server. Deactivate-and-reactivate after enabling SSL.

www vs no-www: Same. Pick one canonical URL per site.

Renewals

License is lifetime — no renewals required. Updates and support continue forever as long as the plugin and license server exist.

If you bought before the lifetime change, your license expiry date is shown at Appearance → BC Pro License. Renew via your FasterThemes account.

Troubleshooting license issues

“License key invalid”

Common causes:

  • Extra whitespace. Re-copy the key from the email; paste; re-activate.
  • Wrong key. You may have multiple licenses; check the email subject lines.
  • Site URL changed. A license for https://oldsite.com rejects activation from https://newsite.com. Deactivate on old, activate on new.

“Failed to check license: cURL error 28: Operation timed out”

Your host blocks outbound HTTPS to fasterthemes.com, or it’s super slow.

Test from SSH:

curl -I --max-time 10 https://fasterthemes.com

If timeout: ask your host to allowlist fasterthemes.com:443. Or switch to a host that doesn’t lock down outbound calls (most managed WP hosts don’t).

License works but Pro features missing

The license check is independent of feature loading. If the license card shows Active but Pro UI is missing:

  • Verify the Best Classifieds theme is the active one (not a child or different theme)
  • Check Plugins for an “inactive” status on Best Classifieds Pro
  • Look for PHP errors in the WP debug log (/wp-content/debug.log if WP_DEBUG_LOG is on)

Auto-update fails with “Download failed. A valid URL was not provided.”

This was a known bug fixed in core WPDigiPro 4.9.18+. If you’re on an older version of the WPDigiPro infrastructure, manually update by downloading the zip and uploading via Plugins → Add New → Upload.

Rolling back to a previous version

If a release breaks something:

  1. Download the previous version from your FasterThemes account (we keep all releases archived).
  2. Plugins → deactivate Pro → delete it.
  3. Upload the older zip → activate.
  4. Pin to that version: Classifieds Pro → Settings → Updates → Pause auto-updates (we add this in 1.1+).

Then file a bug report at support@fasterthemes.com with the version that broke and what you saw.

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