Updating to BuddyBoss 4.0 will require a manual update (re-downloading the theme). Auto-updates are not available to 4.0 as this new theme is substantially different. The primary difference is that the Wall and Photos components have been completely removed from the theme and converted into separate BuddyBoss Wall and BuddyBoss Media plugins, available for free to all customers who purchased BuddyBoss prior to the 4.0 launch.
Getting Started
Back Up
The very first thing you should do before performing a major update is to back up your database and files! In case you mess something up, you can then revert back and restore your old setup. The WordPress Codex has a good guide about performing backups.
Download and install BuddyBoss 4.0
First you need to download BuddyBoss 4.0 (not available via auto-update). If you are an existing customer, you can download version 4.0 for free. While logged into this website, click the “My Downloads” link at the top to download BuddyBoss 4.0. You will need to back up and delete your current version of BuddyBoss, and then upload the new version.
Download and install BuddyBoss Wall and Media plugins
When you switch over to BuddyBoss 4.0 your Wall and Photos components will be noticeably absent. This is because they have been removed and converted into plugins that can work with any theme. If you were a customer prior to the release of BuddyBoss 4.0, you should have access to these plugins for free. While logged into this website, click the “My Downloads” link at the top and you should see downloads for “BuddyBoss Wall” and “BuddyBoss Media” plugins. Install and activate both if you want to continue to use their functionality.
Wall and Photos (Media) settings
Previously you could activate the Wall and Photos components via Appearance > BuddyBoss. Now that these components have been removed from the theme, their settings reside within the plugins themselves. To activate the Wall plugin, upload and activate it. Settings are found at Settings > BuddyBoss Wall. To activate the Media plugin, upload and activate it. Settings are found at Settings > BuddyBoss Media.
Child Themes
Your existing child theme should continue to work just fine with BuddyBoss 4.0. The changes are mostly under the hood, with CSS largely the same. JavaScript has been overhauled in many places (we no longer override buddypress.js for example) so you may have some minor adjustments to make if you’ve implemented significant changes.