diff --git a/gns3server/controller/__init__.py b/gns3server/controller/__init__.py
index 4b8a5001..9f947673 100644
--- a/gns3server/controller/__init__.py
+++ b/gns3server/controller/__init__.py
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ except ImportError:
     from importlib import resources as importlib_resources
 
 from ..config import Config
+from ..utils import parse_version
+
 from .project import Project
 from .template import Template
 from .appliance import Appliance
@@ -69,7 +71,7 @@ class Controller:
     async def start(self):
 
         log.info("Controller is starting")
-        self._load_base_files()
+        self._install_base_configs()
         server_config = Config.instance().get_section_config("Server")
         Config.instance().listen_for_config_changes(self._update_config)
         host = server_config.get("host", "localhost")
@@ -246,7 +248,9 @@ class Controller:
         if "iou_license" in controller_settings:
             self._iou_license_settings = controller_settings["iou_license"]
 
-        self._appliance_manager.install_builtin_appliances()
+        if parse_version(__version__) > parse_version(controller_settings.get("version", "")):
+            self._appliance_manager.install_builtin_appliances()
+
         self._appliance_manager.appliances_etag = controller_settings.get("appliances_etag")
         self._appliance_manager.load_appliances()
         self._template_manager.load_templates(controller_settings.get("templates"))
@@ -274,13 +278,14 @@ class Controller:
         except OSError as e:
             log.error(str(e))
 
-    def _load_base_files(self):
+    def _install_base_configs(self):
         """
         At startup we copy base file to the user location to allow
         them to customize it
         """
 
         dst_path = self.configs_path()
+        log.info(f"Installing base configs in '{dst_path}'")
         try:
             if hasattr(sys, "frozen") and sys.platform.startswith("win"):
                 resource_path = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(sys.executable), "configs"))
diff --git a/gns3server/controller/appliance_manager.py b/gns3server/controller/appliance_manager.py
index ea2b294a..15c4da70 100644
--- a/gns3server/controller/appliance_manager.py
+++ b/gns3server/controller/appliance_manager.py
@@ -81,13 +81,15 @@ class ApplianceManager:
         os.makedirs(appliances_path, exist_ok=True)
         return appliances_path
 
-    def _builtin_appliances_path(self):
+    def _builtin_appliances_path(self, delete_first=False):
         """
         Get the built-in appliance storage directory
         """
 
         config = Config.instance()
         appliances_dir = os.path.join(config.config_dir, "appliances")
+        if delete_first:
+            shutil.rmtree(appliances_dir, ignore_errors=True)
         os.makedirs(appliances_dir, exist_ok=True)
         return appliances_dir
 
@@ -96,17 +98,17 @@ class ApplianceManager:
         At startup we copy the built-in appliances files.
         """
 
-        dst_path = self._builtin_appliances_path()
+        dst_path = self._builtin_appliances_path(delete_first=True)
+        log.info(f"Installing built-in appliances in '{dst_path}'")
         try:
             if hasattr(sys, "frozen") and sys.platform.startswith("win"):
                 resource_path = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(sys.executable), "appliances"))
                 for filename in os.listdir(resource_path):
-                    if not os.path.exists(os.path.join(dst_path, filename)):
-                        shutil.copy(os.path.join(resource_path, filename), os.path.join(dst_path, filename))
+                    shutil.copy(os.path.join(resource_path, filename), os.path.join(dst_path, filename))
             else:
                 for entry in importlib_resources.files('gns3server.appliances').iterdir():
                     full_path = os.path.join(dst_path, entry.name)
-                    if entry.is_file() and not os.path.exists(full_path):
+                    if entry.is_file():
                         log.debug(f"Installing built-in appliance file {entry.name} to {full_path}")
                         shutil.copy(str(entry), os.path.join(dst_path, entry.name))
         except OSError as e:
diff --git a/tests/controller/test_controller.py b/tests/controller/test_controller.py
index 48ba98af..198556a1 100644
--- a/tests/controller/test_controller.py
+++ b/tests/controller/test_controller.py
@@ -381,13 +381,13 @@ async def test_get_free_project_name(controller):
     assert controller.get_free_project_name("Hello") == "Hello"
 
 
-async def test_load_base_files(controller, config, tmpdir):
+async def test_install_base_configs(controller, config, tmpdir):
 
     config.set_section_config("Server", {"configs_path": str(tmpdir)})
     with open(str(tmpdir / 'iou_l2_base_startup-config.txt'), 'w+') as f:
         f.write('test')
 
-    controller._load_base_files()
+    controller._install_base_configs()
     assert os.path.exists(str(tmpdir / 'iou_l3_base_startup-config.txt'))
 
     # Check is the file has not been overwritten
@@ -410,6 +410,7 @@ def test_appliances(controller, tmpdir):
     with open(str(tmpdir / "my_appliance2.gns3a"), 'w+') as f:
         json.dump(my_appliance, f)
 
+    controller.appliance_manager.install_builtin_appliances()
     with patch("gns3server.config.Config.get_section_config", return_value={"appliances_path": str(tmpdir)}):
         controller.appliance_manager.load_appliances()
     assert len(controller.appliance_manager.appliances) > 0