@uzairelahi0011
We’re sorry to hear that you receive the “destination folder already exists” error during the plugin installation process. That must have been disconcerting. Let’s get to the bottom of what’s going on here. The error happens when the plugin is already installed, if a file is missing or corrupt, or if you have renamed the wp-content folder or the wp-content/plugins folder.
If you are using WordPress 5.5 or newer, you will see an option to overwrite the folder with the new files below the error message. Please click ‘Replace current with uploaded‘, and WordPress will update the plugin.
If you are using WordPress 5.4 or lower, please manually update the plugin. Before we discuss manually updating, let’s cover a few important things to be aware of beforehand. First, Yoast SEO stores SEO data and settings in the database, so manually updating is not expected to cause any data loss.
Second, we recommend creating regular backups of your site and database for your site’s health and safety. This is especially important before installing, updating, or removing plugins. It provides you with a safety net in case something were to go wrong. Learn more about the benefits of regular backups.
Thirdly, updating a severely outdated plugin may cause unexpected issues. Thus, we highly recommend using a staging or testing site to reduce the impact on your live site. Some popular web hosts offer quick setups for a staging site, so please contact your web host for assistance. They will probably be able to help you out. If your web host does not offer staging sites, the WordPress plugin repository offers staging plugins or you can create your own staging site.
Now on to your options for updating the plugin manually.
Option 1: Replace current version with uploaded version (requires WordPress 5.5 or higher)
This method is similar to the original installation steps. When you see the warning that the plugin is already installed, please click the ‘Replace current with uploaded’ button to complete the manual update.
This does not remove any plugin files and instead replaces or adds files from the uploaded zip file. While this is the fastest way to manually update, it may use more space on your server; especially if you are changing versions. Having extra copies of files may cause unexpected behavior so if the original issue you reported remains, please try another option below.
Option 2: Uninstall and Reinstall
This method will remove all plugin files and install a freshly downloaded copy. As you are removing and uploading a new copy, you will have a clean install of the plugin. Please follow the steps to uninstall the plugin before you install the latest version. You can download the latest version here.
Option 3: Via S/FTP or File Manager
This method entails deleting the old plugin files and uploading the new plugin files to the same folder path. We have a step by step guide to help you through the process. How can I manually update my plugin? If you are unfamiliar with using FTP, your web host may be able to help.`
