diff --git a/tests/test_update1.py b/tests/test_update1.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..07e0e5b80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_update1.py
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+import pytest
+import os
+import numpy as np
+from pathlib import Path
+import tempfile
+import datajoint as dj
+from . import PREFIX
+from datajoint import DataJointError
+
+
+class Thing(dj.Manual):
+    definition = """
+    thing   :   int
+    ---
+    number=0  : int
+    frac    : float
+    picture = null    :   attach@update_store
+    params = null  : longblob
+    img_file = null: filepath@update_repo
+    timestamp = CURRENT_TIMESTAMP :   datetime
+    """
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
+def mock_stores_update(tmpdir_factory):
+    og_stores_config = dj.config.get("stores")
+    if "stores" not in dj.config:
+        dj.config["stores"] = {}
+    dj.config["stores"]["update_store"] = dict(
+        protocol="file", location=tmpdir_factory.mktemp("store")
+    )
+    dj.config["stores"]["update_repo"] = dict(
+        stage=tmpdir_factory.mktemp("repo_stage"),
+        protocol="file",
+        location=tmpdir_factory.mktemp("repo_loc"),
+    )
+    yield
+    if og_stores_config is None:
+        del dj.config["stores"]
+    else:
+        dj.config["stores"] = og_stores_config
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def schema_update1(connection_test):
+    schema = dj.Schema(
+        PREFIX + "_update1", context=dict(Thing=Thing), connection=connection_test
+    )
+    schema(Thing)
+    yield schema
+    schema.drop()
+
+
+def test_update1(tmpdir, enable_filepath_feature, schema_update1, mock_stores_update):
+    """Test normal updates"""
+    # CHECK 1 -- initial insert
+    key = dict(thing=1)
+    Thing.insert1(dict(key, frac=0.5))
+    check1 = Thing.fetch1()
+
+    # CHECK 2 -- some updates
+    # numbers and datetimes
+    Thing.update1(dict(key, number=3, frac=30, timestamp="2020-01-01 10:00:00"))
+    # attachment
+    attach_file = Path(tmpdir, "attach1.dat")
+    buffer1 = os.urandom(100)
+    attach_file.write_bytes(buffer1)
+    Thing.update1(dict(key, picture=attach_file))
+    attach_file.unlink()
+    assert not attach_file.is_file()
+
+    # filepath
+    stage_path = dj.config["stores"]["update_repo"]["stage"]
+    relpath, filename = "one/two/three", "picture.dat"
+    managed_file = Path(stage_path, relpath, filename)
+    managed_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    original_file_data = os.urandom(3000)
+    with managed_file.open("wb") as f:
+        f.write(original_file_data)
+    Thing.update1(dict(key, img_file=managed_file))
+    managed_file.unlink()
+    assert not managed_file.is_file()
+
+    check2 = Thing.fetch1(download_path=tmpdir)
+    buffer2 = Path(check2["picture"]).read_bytes()  # read attachment
+    final_file_data = managed_file.read_bytes()  # read filepath
+
+    # CHECK 3 -- reset to default values using None
+    Thing.update1(
+        dict(
+            key,
+            number=None,
+            timestamp=None,
+            picture=None,
+            img_file=None,
+            params=np.random.randn(3, 3),
+        )
+    )
+    check3 = Thing.fetch1()
+
+    assert (
+        check1["number"] == 0 and check1["picture"] is None and check1["params"] is None
+    )
+
+    assert (
+        check2["number"] == 3
+        and check2["frac"] == 30.0
+        and check2["picture"] is not None
+        and check2["params"] is None
+        and buffer1 == buffer2
+    )
+
+    assert (
+        check3["number"] == 0
+        and check3["frac"] == 30.0
+        and check3["picture"] is None
+        and check3["img_file"] is None
+        and isinstance(check3["params"], np.ndarray)
+    )
+
+    assert check3["timestamp"] > check2["timestamp"]
+    assert buffer1 == buffer2
+    assert original_file_data == final_file_data
+
+
+def test_update1_nonexistent(
+    enable_filepath_feature, schema_update1, mock_stores_update
+):
+    with pytest.raises(DataJointError):
+        # updating a non-existent entry
+        Thing.update1(dict(thing=100, frac=0.5))
+
+
+def test_update1_noprimary(enable_filepath_feature, schema_update1, mock_stores_update):
+    with pytest.raises(DataJointError):
+        # missing primary key
+        Thing.update1(dict(number=None))
+
+
+def test_update1_misspelled_attribute(
+    enable_filepath_feature, schema_update1, mock_stores_update
+):
+    key = dict(thing=17)
+    Thing.insert1(dict(key, frac=1.5))
+    with pytest.raises(DataJointError):
+        # misspelled attribute
+        Thing.update1(dict(key, numer=3))