ComfyUI desktop deleted everything after updating to the latest verson

### Custom Node Testing

- [ ] I have tried disabling custom nodes and the issue persists (see [how to disable custom nodes](https://docs.comfy.org/troubleshooting/custom-node-issues#step-1%3A-test-with-all-custom-nodes-disabled) if you need help)

### Expected Behavior

I went to install the update for comfyUI, and it seems to have deleted all of my files; custom nodes, models, output settings, etc. This is the second time it has done that and sometimes I get a lot of pytorch errors and that venv errors. In the past update, when I updated, it corrupted the while directory and I had to delete the whole folder to reinstall it. It would not install. This time it just deleted all of the files but left the folders.

I was working on my grandmother's World War II photos, using AI to see what all it could do to enhance the photos. the main pictures are okay of course but I lost all of the altered pictures but it left the soldiers.

I am now sad and depressed because it took hours and hours to set this up and its hard because it wont download the custom nodes when it says can't find whatever I have to go in and use AI to help me find the custom nodes I need. You should have it automatically find the custom nodes it needs, just as you have the templates set up, where it can download all of the models it needs.

the software is amazing when it works, but it crashes a lot. My system itself is stable its just comfyui I have problems with.

System specs:
ComfyUI desktop
Windows 11 25H2
RTX4090
Intel 285K
128GB RAM
Asus Maxmous Extreme motherboard

### Actual Behavior

I went to install the update for comfyUI, and it seems to have deleted all of my files; custom nodes, models, output settings, etc. This is the second time it has done that and sometimes I get a lot of pytorch errors and that venv errors. In the past update, when I updated, it corrupted the while directory and I had to delete the whole folder to reinstall it. It would not install. This time it just deleted all of the files but left the folders.

I was working on my grandmother's World War II photos, using AI to see what all it could do to enhance the photos. the main pictures are okay of course but I lost all of the altered pictures but it left the soldiers.

I am now sad and depressed because it took hours and hours to set this up and its hard because it wont download the custom nodes when it says can't find whatever I have to go in and use AI to help me find the custom nodes I need. You should have it automatically find the custom nodes it needs, just as you have the templates set up, where it can download all of the models it needs.

the software is amazing when it works, but it crashes a lot. My system itself is stable its just comfyui I have problems with.

System specs:
ComfyUI desktop
Windows 11 25H2
RTX4090
Intel 285K
128GB RAM
Asus Maxmous Extreme motherboard

### Steps to Reproduce

jsut installed the update using desktop ComfyUI

### Debug Logs

```powershell
N/A it isntalled a fresh copy of comfyUI
```

### Other

Please make it alot easier to install custom nodes when a project required a custom node it should automatically download and install it just like it does for models from the template.

---

*This issue is transferred from: https://github.com/comfyanonymous/ComfyUI/issues/10579*

Original issue was created by @QuantumParadox at 2025-11-01T00:52:37.000Z

**Original Comments:**

@insertcoindottv:

Same trouble here.

maybe we should use an update command via shell...

@shrub100:

same here - did it the last few updates... even user workflows, models etc are all getting trashed every time.

@shrub100:

I would the desktop auto updater is flaky at best - it consistently gets stuck on install saying ComfyUI cannot be closed even though the update was triggered from the comfy install. I have also several times gotten stuck when I first load the installer as I get a terminal request to approve the installation of something, but as the terminal is hidden behind the load screen I cannot interact with it to confirm the install. So I have to crash it and finish the update manually in powershell.

@yankisobapan:

the same issue happened to me. it was triggered by an automatic update. i'm on a tight deadline and furious to put it very mildly

┆Issue is synchronized with this [Notion page](https://www.notion.so/Issue-6596-ComfyUI-desktop-deleted-everything-after-updating-to-the-latest-verson-2a26d73d365081b6a1c4e99600355df8) by [Unito](https://www.unito.io)