# ath --update

> Update ATH and refresh an existing agent skill in this folder.

Website: https://ath.fit/docs/update/
Markdown: https://ath.fit/docs/update.md

ATH v0.4.3 · MIT license. Documentation source: [cd89f72](https://github.com/mwhitham/ath/blob/cd89f72eceae3961ef1a05694226515c9e4321d2/src/update.ts). If your installed version differs, check its command help.

Checked 27 September 2026: v0.4.3 is available on npm.

## Usage

Requires an installed CLI at v0.4.2 or newer. Run it from your ath folder. --update is a top-level flag, so include both dashes.

Checked 27 September 2026: v0.4.3 is available on npm.

```text
ath --update
```

## What it does

Checks npm for the latest published version. For a global npm, pnpm or bun installation, it upgrades with the same package manager. An installation that is already current is left alone; a version ahead of npm is not downgraded.

It then refreshes the skill in the current folder if at least one installed copy exists. If you used ath init --no-skill and have not installed a skill since, it does not create one. Your ath file and training history are unchanged.

## Older versions

Versions before v0.4.2 do not recognize --update. Rerun the install command you originally used, then check the version. For an npm installation:

This gets the latest published release. Refresh the skill separately from your ath folder.

```text
npm install -g athleticstandard
ath --version
ath skill install
```

## Other installations

For an npx, pnpm dlx or bunx copy, the command does not create a global installation. It can still refresh a skill that already exists in the current folder. The fetched CLI must support --update.

A project-local dependency or source checkout cannot update itself with this flag. Update through that project's package manager or source workflow instead; the command exits without changing the installation or skill.

## Check the update

Check the version and skill status after updating. To refresh skill copies in other ath folders, run ath --update there too. Use ath skill install when you only need to install or refresh a skill.

If the registry check or package installation fails, the command reports the error and does not refresh the skill. Resolve the reported problem before retrying.

```text
ath --version
ath skill
```

## Related guides

- [Getting started](https://ath.fit/docs/)
- [ath skill](https://ath.fit/docs/skill/)