Description
openclaw plugins update --all uses the internally-recorded install version from the plugin index instead of fetching the latest from npm. This actively downgrades plugins that have been manually updated via npm.
Steps to reproduce
- Install Codex plugin — OpenClaw records version
2026.5.12 in its plugin index
- Manually update it to latest:
npm install --prefix ~/.openclaw/npm @openclaw/codex@latest — now on 2026.5.18
- Run
openclaw plugins update --all
- Codex is silently downgraded back to
2026.5.12
Actual output
Installing @openclaw/[email protected] into /home/felix/.openclaw/npm...
Updated codex: 2026.5.18 -> 2026.5.12.
Expected behavior
openclaw plugins update --all should resolve the latest npm version and update to it, not reinstall the originally-recorded install version.
Environment
- OpenClaw: 2026.5.18 (50a2481)
- Node: v24.2.0
- OS: Ubuntu Linux
Related
Related to #40912 (redundant reinstall on already up-to-date plugins) but this is a more severe variant — it causes an actual version downgrade, not just a wasteful no-op reinstall.
Description
openclaw plugins update --alluses the internally-recorded install version from the plugin index instead of fetching the latest from npm. This actively downgrades plugins that have been manually updated via npm.Steps to reproduce
2026.5.12in its plugin indexnpm install --prefix ~/.openclaw/npm @openclaw/codex@latest— now on2026.5.18openclaw plugins update --all2026.5.12Actual output
Expected behavior
openclaw plugins update --allshould resolve the latest npm version and update to it, not reinstall the originally-recorded install version.Environment
Related
Related to #40912 (redundant reinstall on already up-to-date plugins) but this is a more severe variant — it causes an actual version downgrade, not just a wasteful no-op reinstall.