diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a08a39f4..a08d781d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 - UI
   - the "Skip" button on the initialization panel is now enabled after 10 seconds [#310](https://github.com/vinifmor/bauh/issues/310)
 
+### Fixes
+- AppImage
+  - upgrade fails when the package was initially imported, but later added to bauh's database [#321](https://github.com/vinifmor/bauh/issues/321)
+
 ### Contributions
 - German translations by [Mape6](https://github.com/Mape6)
 
diff --git a/bauh/gems/appimage/controller.py b/bauh/gems/appimage/controller.py
index b25d0995..bcad21ab 100644
--- a/bauh/gems/appimage/controller.py
+++ b/bauh/gems/appimage/controller.py
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ class AppImageManager(SoftwareManager, SettingsController):
             else:
                 return False
 
-        appim = AppImage(i18n=self.i18n, imported=True)
+        appim = AppImage(i18n=self.i18n, imported=True, manual_update=True)
         appim.name = input_name.get_value().strip()
         appim.local_file_path = file_chooser.file_path
         appim.version = input_version.get_value()
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ class AppImageManager(SoftwareManager, SettingsController):
 
         pkg.local_file_path = file_chooser.file_path
         pkg.version = input_version.get_value()
+        pkg.manual_update = True
 
         reqs = UpgradeRequirements(to_install=None, to_remove=None, to_upgrade=[UpgradeRequirement(pkg=pkg)], cannot_upgrade=None)
         return self.upgrade(reqs, root_password=root_password, watcher=watcher)
@@ -368,6 +369,16 @@ class AppImageManager(SoftwareManager, SettingsController):
 
             download_data = None
 
+            # always changing the 'imported' field based on the 'manual_update' flag that means
+            # "the user is manually installing/updating the AppImage"
+            if not req.pkg.manual_update:
+                req.pkg.imported = False
+
+                if req.pkg.categories and "Imported" in req.pkg.categories:
+                    # removing the imported category in case the file is not considered imported anymore
+                    req.pkg.categories.remove("Imported")
+
+            # manual file updates do not required download it
             if not req.pkg.imported:
                 download_data = self._download(req.pkg, watcher)
 
@@ -593,8 +604,8 @@ class AppImageManager(SoftwareManager, SettingsController):
         Path(out_dir).mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         pkg.install_dir = out_dir
 
-        if pkg.imported:
-
+        # when the package is being imported/upgraded there is no need to download it
+        if pkg.manual_update:
             downloaded, file_name = True, pkg.local_file_path.split('/')[-1]
 
             install_file_path = out_dir + '/' + file_name
diff --git a/bauh/gems/appimage/model.py b/bauh/gems/appimage/model.py
index 7afa291f..69574ff6 100644
--- a/bauh/gems/appimage/model.py
+++ b/bauh/gems/appimage/model.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class AppImage(SoftwarePackage):
                  categories=None, icon_path: str = None, installed: bool = False,
                  url_download_latest_version: str = None, local_file_path: str = None, imported: bool = False,
                  i18n: I18n = None, install_dir: str = None, updates_ignored: bool = False,
-                 symlink: str = None, **kwargs):
+                 symlink: str = None, manual_update: bool = False, **kwargs):
         super(AppImage, self).__init__(id=name, name=name, version=version, latest_version=version,
                                        icon_url=url_icon, license=license, description=description,
                                        installed=installed)
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ class AppImage(SoftwarePackage):
         self.install_dir = install_dir
         self.updates_ignored = updates_ignored
         self.symlink = symlink
+        self.manual_update = manual_update  # True when the user is manually installing/upgrading an AppImage file
 
     def __repr__(self):
         return "{} (name={}, github={})".format(self.__class__.__name__, self.name, self.github)