How to Upgrade Magento for Improved Performance and Security

Keeping your Magento store updated ensures optimal performance and enhanced security, crucial for a seamless eCommerce experience.

Prerequisites for Upgrading Magento

Before diving into the upgrade process, ensure you have the following prerequisites:

SSH Access: Make sure you can access your server via SSH to execute command-line instructions.
User Permissions: Verify that you have root or dedicated user permissions to avoid command execution issues.
Sufficient Server Resources: Confirm that your server has adequate disk space to back up data, especially if you store many files.

For more detailed guidance, refer to our Magento 2 tutorial.

Why Upgrade Magento to the Latest Version?

Regularly upgrading Magento offers several advantages:

Enhanced Security: Each new version includes security fixes for vulnerabilities in previous versions.
Improved Performance and Scalability: Upgrades often enhance performance, allowing your store to handle more traffic efficiently.
Access to New Features: Upgrading gives access to the latest features, improving your store’s functionality and user experience.
Compliance with Web Standards: Staying updated ensures compliance with the latest web standards and regulations.

Steps to Upgrade Magento to the Latest Version

1. Back up Your Magento Store

Backing up your store is crucial to restore it if the upgrade encounters issues.

Magento Backup on Hostinger:

Log in to hPanel and navigate to VPS → Manage.
Go to Backup & Monitoring → Snapshots & Backups.
Click Create Snapshot to capture your VPS data and current state.

For automatic backups, use the Auto-backups settings feature.

Manual Magento Backup:

Log in to your server via SSH and navigate to your Magento root directory.
Create a compressed archive of your Magento files using tar.
Back up your database using mysqldump.

2. Upgrade Necessary Components

Ensure your server environment is compatible with the latest Magento version by upgrading necessary components.

Update Linux packages and dependencies.
Upgrade Apache or NGINX web server, PHP, and MariaDB/MySQL.

3. Enable Maintenance Mode

Activating maintenance mode takes your site offline temporarily, preventing disruptions during the upgrade.

Navigate to the Magento root directory and enable maintenance mode.

4. Run the Upgrade Commands Through Composer

Use Composer to upgrade Magento to the latest version.

Update Composer and specify the latest Magento version.
Upgrade dependencies and Magento’s database schema.
Recompile Magento code and deploy static content.

5. Update Extensions and Themes

Update all installed extensions and themes to ensure compatibility with the upgraded Magento version.

Check each extension and theme for updates and apply them using Composer.

6. Disable Maintenance Mode

Clear and rebuild caches before bringing your Magento store back online.

Clean Magento cache and disable maintenance mode.

7. Verify the Upgrade

Ensure the upgrade was successful by checking the Magento version and testing frontend and backend functionalities.

Troubleshoot Common Magento Upgrade Issues

Encountering issues during the upgrade? Here are some common problems and solutions:

Missing Dependencies

Resolve by installing missing packages using Composer.

Permission Denied

Fix by ensuring correct file ownership and permissions.

Cache Problems

Clear browser cache or use Magento’s cache management tools.

Reindex Data Issues

Reindex your store data to display updated information.

Extension or Theme Conflicts

Identify and resolve conflicts by disabling extensions or themes sequentially.

For reliable hosting solutions to support your Magento store, consider Hostinger. With their optimized servers, your eCommerce site can achieve faster speeds and improved reliability.

Conclusion

Upgrading Magento ensures your online store remains secure and efficient. Regular updates provide access to new features and improved performance, enhancing the overall shopping experience for your customers.