diff --git a/_modules/scripts/ipv6_controller.sh b/_modules/scripts/ipv6_controller.sh
index de5272048..1ff5eb198 100644
--- a/_modules/scripts/ipv6_controller.sh
+++ b/_modules/scripts/ipv6_controller.sh
@@ -5,14 +5,65 @@
 
 # 1) Check if the host supports IPv6
 get_ipv6_support() {
-  if grep -qs '^1' /proc/sys/net/ipv6/conf/all/disable_ipv6 2>/dev/null \
-    || ! ip -6 route show default &>/dev/null; then
+  # ---- helper: probe external IPv6 connectivity without DNS ----
+  _probe_ipv6_connectivity() {
+    # Use literal, always-on IPv6 echo responders (no DNS required)
+    local PROBE_IPS=("2001:4860:4860::8888" "2606:4700:4700::1111")
+    local ip rc=1
+
+    for ip in "${PROBE_IPS[@]}"; do
+      if command -v ping6 &>/dev/null; then
+        ping6 -c1 -W2 "$ip" &>/dev/null || ping6 -c1 -w2 "$ip" &>/dev/null
+        rc=$?
+      elif command -v ping &>/dev/null; then
+        ping -6 -c1 -W2 "$ip" &>/dev/null || ping -6 -c1 -w2 "$ip" &>/dev/null
+        rc=$?
+      else
+        rc=1
+      fi
+      [[ $rc -eq 0 ]] && return 0
+    done
+    return 1
+  }
+
+  if [[ ! -f /proc/net/if_inet6 ]] || grep -qs '^1' /proc/sys/net/ipv6/conf/all/disable_ipv6 2>/dev/null; then
     DETECTED_IPV6=false
-    echo -e "${YELLOW}IPv6 not detected on host – ${LIGHT_RED}disabling IPv6 support${YELLOW}.${NC}"
-  else
-    DETECTED_IPV6=true
-    echo -e "IPv6 detected on host – ${LIGHT_GREEN}leaving IPv6 support enabled${YELLOW}.${NC}"
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}IPv6 not detected on host – ${LIGHT_RED}IPv6 is administratively disabled${YELLOW}.${NC}"
+    return
   fi
+
+  if ip -6 route show default 2>/dev/null | grep -qE '^default'; then
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}Default IPv6 route found – testing external IPv6 connectivity...${NC}"
+    if _probe_ipv6_connectivity; then
+      DETECTED_IPV6=true
+      echo -e "IPv6 detected on host – ${LIGHT_GREEN}leaving IPv6 support enabled${YELLOW}.${NC}"
+    else
+      DETECTED_IPV6=false
+      echo -e "${YELLOW}Default IPv6 route present but external IPv6 connectivity failed – ${LIGHT_RED}disabling IPv6 support${YELLOW}.${NC}"
+    fi
+    return
+  fi
+
+  if ip -6 addr show scope global 2>/dev/null | grep -q 'inet6'; then
+    DETECTED_IPV6=false
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}Global IPv6 address present but no default route – ${LIGHT_RED}disabling IPv6 support${YELLOW}.${NC}"
+    return
+  fi
+
+  if ip -6 addr show scope link 2>/dev/null | grep -q 'inet6'; then
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}Only link-local IPv6 addresses found – testing external IPv6 connectivity...${NC}"
+    if _probe_ipv6_connectivity; then
+      DETECTED_IPV6=true
+      echo -e "External IPv6 connectivity available – ${LIGHT_GREEN}leaving IPv6 support enabled${YELLOW}.${NC}"
+    else
+      DETECTED_IPV6=false
+      echo -e "${YELLOW}Only link-local IPv6 present and no external connectivity – ${LIGHT_RED}disabling IPv6 support${YELLOW}.${NC}"
+    fi
+    return
+  fi
+
+  DETECTED_IPV6=false
+  echo -e "${YELLOW}IPv6 not detected on host – ${LIGHT_RED}disabling IPv6 support${YELLOW}.${NC}"
 }
 
 # 2) Ensure Docker daemon.json has (or create) the required IPv6 settings
@@ -21,7 +72,7 @@ docker_daemon_edit(){
   DOCKER_MAJOR=$(docker version --format '{{.Server.Version}}' 2>/dev/null | cut -d. -f1)
   MISSING=()
 
-  _has_kv() { grep -Eq "\"$1\"\s*:\s*$2" "$DOCKER_DAEMON_CONFIG" 2>/dev/null; }
+  _has_kv() { grep -Eq "\"$1\"[[:space:]]*:[[:space:]]*$2" "$DOCKER_DAEMON_CONFIG" 2>/dev/null; }
 
   if [[ -f "$DOCKER_DAEMON_CONFIG" ]]; then
 
@@ -38,12 +89,18 @@ docker_daemon_edit(){
     fi
 
     # Gather missing keys
-    ! _has_kv ipv6 true       && MISSING+=("ipv6: true")
-    ! grep -Eq '"fixed-cidr-v6"\s*:\s*".+"' "$DOCKER_DAEMON_CONFIG" \
-                              && MISSING+=('fixed-cidr-v6: "fd00:dead:beef:c0::/80"')
-    if [[ -n "$DOCKER_MAJOR" && "$DOCKER_MAJOR" -le 27 ]]; then
+    ! _has_kv ipv6 true && MISSING+=("ipv6: true")
+
+    # For Docker < 28, keep requiring fixed-cidr-v6 (default bridge needs it on old engines)
+    if [[ -n "$DOCKER_MAJOR" && "$DOCKER_MAJOR" -lt 28 ]]; then
+      ! grep -Eq '"fixed-cidr-v6"[[:space:]]*:[[:space:]]*".+"' "$DOCKER_DAEMON_CONFIG" \
+                                && MISSING+=('fixed-cidr-v6: "fd00:dead:beef:c0::/80"')
+    fi
+
+    # For Docker < 27, ip6tables needed and was tied to experimental in older releases
+    if [[ -n "$DOCKER_MAJOR" && "$DOCKER_MAJOR" -lt 27 ]]; then
       _has_kv ipv6 true && ! _has_kv ip6tables true && MISSING+=("ip6tables: true")
-      ! _has_kv experimental true                 && MISSING+=("experimental: true")
+      ! _has_kv experimental true && MISSING+=("experimental: true")
     fi
 
     # Fix if needed
@@ -60,9 +117,19 @@ docker_daemon_edit(){
         cp "$DOCKER_DAEMON_CONFIG" "${DOCKER_DAEMON_CONFIG}.bak"
         if command -v jq &>/dev/null; then
           TMP=$(mktemp)
-          JQ_FILTER='.ipv6 = true | .["fixed-cidr-v6"] = "fd00:dead:beef:c0::/80"'
-          [[ "$DOCKER_MAJOR" && "$DOCKER_MAJOR" -lt 27 ]] \
-            && JQ_FILTER+=' | .ip6tables = true | .experimental = true'
+          # Base filter: ensure ipv6 = true
+          JQ_FILTER='.ipv6 = true'
+
+          # Add fixed-cidr-v6 only for Docker < 28
+          if [[ -n "$DOCKER_MAJOR" && "$DOCKER_MAJOR" -lt 28 ]]; then
+            JQ_FILTER+=' | .["fixed-cidr-v6"] = (.["fixed-cidr-v6"] // "fd00:dead:beef:c0::/80")'
+          fi
+
+          # Add ip6tables/experimental only for Docker < 27
+          if [[ -n "$DOCKER_MAJOR" && "$DOCKER_MAJOR" -lt 27 ]]; then
+            JQ_FILTER+=' | .ip6tables = true | .experimental = true'
+          fi
+
           jq "$JQ_FILTER" "$DOCKER_DAEMON_CONFIG" >"$TMP" && mv "$TMP" "$DOCKER_DAEMON_CONFIG"
           echo -e "${LIGHT_GREEN}daemon.json updated. Restarting Docker...${NC}"
           (command -v systemctl &>/dev/null && systemctl restart docker) || service docker restart
@@ -97,12 +164,19 @@ docker_daemon_edit(){
   "experimental": true
 }
 EOF
-      else
+      elif [[ -n "$DOCKER_MAJOR" && "$DOCKER_MAJOR" -lt 28 ]]; then
         cat > "$DOCKER_DAEMON_CONFIG" <<EOF
 {
   "ipv6": true,
   "fixed-cidr-v6": "fd00:dead:beef:c0::/80"
 }
+EOF
+      else
+        # Docker 28+: ipv6 works without fixed-cidr-v6
+        cat > "$DOCKER_DAEMON_CONFIG" <<EOF
+{
+  "ipv6": true
+}
 EOF
       fi
       echo -e "${GREEN}Created $DOCKER_DAEMON_CONFIG with IPv6 settings.${NC}"
@@ -122,7 +196,7 @@ configure_ipv6() {
   # detect manual override if mailcow.conf is present
   if [[ -n "$MAILCOW_CONF" && -f "$MAILCOW_CONF" ]] && grep -q '^ENABLE_IPV6=' "$MAILCOW_CONF"; then
     MANUAL_SETTING=$(grep '^ENABLE_IPV6=' "$MAILCOW_CONF" | cut -d= -f2)
-  elif [[ -z "$MAILCOW_CONF" ]] && [[ ! -z "${ENABLE_IPV6:-}" ]]; then
+  elif [[ -z "$MAILCOW_CONF" ]] && [[ -n "${ENABLE_IPV6:-}" ]]; then
     MANUAL_SETTING="$ENABLE_IPV6"
   else
     MANUAL_SETTING=""
@@ -131,38 +205,34 @@ configure_ipv6() {
   get_ipv6_support
 
   # if user manually set it, check for mismatch
-  if [[ -n "$MANUAL_SETTING" ]]; then
-    if [[ "$MANUAL_SETTING" == "false" && "$DETECTED_IPV6" == "true" ]]; then
-      echo -e "${RED}ERROR: You have ENABLE_IPV6=false but your host and Docker support IPv6.${NC}"
-      echo -e "${RED}This can create an open relay. Please set ENABLE_IPV6=true in your mailcow.conf and re-run.${NC}"
-      exit 1
-    elif [[ "$MANUAL_SETTING" == "true" && "$DETECTED_IPV6" == "false" ]]; then
-      echo -e "${RED}ERROR: You have ENABLE_IPV6=true but your host does not support IPv6.${NC}"
-      echo -e "${RED}Please disable or fix your host/Docker IPv6 support, or set ENABLE_IPV6=false.${NC}"
-      exit 1
+  if [[ "$DETECTED_IPV6" != "true" ]]; then
+    if [[ -n "$MAILCOW_CONF" && -f "$MAILCOW_CONF" ]]; then
+      if grep -q '^ENABLE_IPV6=' "$MAILCOW_CONF"; then
+        sed -i 's/^ENABLE_IPV6=.*/ENABLE_IPV6=false/' "$MAILCOW_CONF"
+      else
+        echo "ENABLE_IPV6=false" >> "$MAILCOW_CONF"
+      fi
     else
-      return
+      export IPV6_BOOL=false
     fi
-  fi
-
-  # no manual override: proceed to set or export
-  if [[ "$DETECTED_IPV6" == "true" ]]; then
-    docker_daemon_edit
-  else
     echo "Skipping Docker IPv6 configuration because host does not support IPv6."
+    echo "Make sure to check if your docker daemon.json does not include \"enable_ipv6\": true if you do not want IPv6."
+    echo "IPv6 configuration complete: ENABLE_IPV6=false"
+    sleep 2
+    return
   fi
 
-  # now write into mailcow.conf or export
+  docker_daemon_edit
+
   if [[ -n "$MAILCOW_CONF" && -f "$MAILCOW_CONF" ]]; then
-    LINE="ENABLE_IPV6=$DETECTED_IPV6"
     if grep -q '^ENABLE_IPV6=' "$MAILCOW_CONF"; then
-      sed -i "s/^ENABLE_IPV6=.*/$LINE/" "$MAILCOW_CONF"
+      sed -i 's/^ENABLE_IPV6=.*/ENABLE_IPV6=true/' "$MAILCOW_CONF"
     else
-      echo "$LINE" >> "$MAILCOW_CONF"
+      echo "ENABLE_IPV6=true" >> "$MAILCOW_CONF"
     fi
   else
-    export IPV6_BOOL="$DETECTED_IPV6"
+    export IPV6_BOOL=true
   fi
 
-  echo "IPv6 configuration complete: ENABLE_IPV6=$DETECTED_IPV6"
+  echo "IPv6 configuration complete: ENABLE_IPV6=true"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/generate_config.sh b/generate_config.sh
index 9610bf18d..2dba91d51 100755
--- a/generate_config.sh
+++ b/generate_config.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,26 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
+# Ensure the script is run from the directory that contains a link of .env
+# Resolve the directory this script lives in for consistent behavior when invoked from elsewhere
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]:-$0}")" >/dev/null 2>&1 && pwd)"
+
+# Ensure script is executed in the mailcow installation directory by checking for a .env symlink that points to mailcow.conf
+if [ ! -L "${PWD}/.env" ]; then
+  echo -e "\e[33mPlease run this script from the mailcow installation directory.\e[0m"
+  echo -e "  \e[36mcd /path/to/mailcow && ./generate_config.sh\e[0m"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+# Verify the .env symlink points to a mailcow.conf file
+env_target="$(readlink -f "${PWD}/.env" 2>/dev/null || true)"
+if [ -z "$env_target" ] || [ "$(basename "$env_target")" != "mailcow.conf" ]; then
+  echo -e "\e[31mThe found .env symlink does not point to a mailcow.conf file.\e[0m"
+  echo -e "\e[33mPlease create a symbolic link .env -> mailcow.conf inside the mailcow directory and run this script there.\e[0m"
+  echo -e "\e[33mNote: 'ln -s mailcow.conf .env' will create the symlink even if mailcow.conf does not yet exist.\e[0m"
+  echo -e "  \e[36mcd /path/to/mailcow && ln -s mailcow.conf .env && ./generate_config.sh\e[0m"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 # Load mailcow Generic Scripts
 source _modules/scripts/core.sh
 source _modules/scripts/ipv6_controller.sh
diff --git a/helper-scripts/_cold-standby.sh b/helper-scripts/_cold-standby.sh
index bfda3ba94..f02436a95 100755
--- a/helper-scripts/_cold-standby.sh
+++ b/helper-scripts/_cold-standby.sh
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ if ! ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no \
   -i "${REMOTE_SSH_KEY}" \
   ${REMOTE_SSH_HOST} \
   -p ${REMOTE_SSH_PORT} \
-  ${SCRIPT_DIR}/../update.sh -f --gc ; then
+  "cd \"${SCRIPT_DIR}/../\" && ./update.sh -f --gc" ; then
     >&2 echo -e "\e[31m[ERR]\e[0m - Could not cleanup old images on remote"
 fi
 
diff --git a/update.sh b/update.sh
index 89dec3e66..4ec0e7e40 100755
--- a/update.sh
+++ b/update.sh
@@ -3,6 +3,20 @@
 ############## Begin Function Section ##############
 
 SCRIPT_DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" && pwd )"
+MAILCOW_CONF="${SCRIPT_DIR}/mailcow.conf"
+
+# Ensure the script is run from the directory that contains mailcow.conf
+if [ ! -f "${PWD}/mailcow.conf" ]; then
+  if [ -f "${SCRIPT_DIR}/mailcow.conf" ]; then
+    echo -e "\e[33mPlease run this script directly from the mailcow installation directory:\e[0m"
+    echo -e "  \e[36mcd ${SCRIPT_DIR} && ./update.sh\e[0m"
+    exit 1
+  else
+    echo -e "\e[31mmailcow.conf not found in current directory or script directory (\e[36m${SCRIPT_DIR}\e[31m).\e[0m"
+    echo -e "\e[33mRun this script directly from your mailcow installation directory.\e[0m"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+fi
 BRANCH="$(cd "${SCRIPT_DIR}" && git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD)"
 
 MODULE_DIR="${SCRIPT_DIR}/_modules"
@@ -27,8 +41,6 @@ if [ "$(id -u)" -ne "0" ]; then
   exit 1
 fi
 
-SCRIPT_DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" && pwd )"
-
 # Run pre-update-hook
 if [ -f "${SCRIPT_DIR}/pre_update_hook.sh" ]; then
   bash "${SCRIPT_DIR}/pre_update_hook.sh"