How to Update Magento 2 to the Latest Version – Complete Guide

• By rathsh.app • 7 min read
Magento 2 Update Maintenance Security

🔄 Keep Your Magento Store Secure & Updated

Learn the safest methods to update Magento 2 with minimal downtime and maximum security. Follow proven practices from 20+ years of e-commerce experience.

Introduction

Keeping your Magento 2 store updated is crucial for security, performance, and accessing new features. Regular updates protect against vulnerabilities, improve site speed, and ensure compatibility with modern web standards. This comprehensive guide covers both Composer-based and manual update methods, along with essential pre and post-update practices.

📋 What This Guide Covers:

  • ✅ Composer-based update method (recommended approach)
  • ✅ Manual update steps (alternative method)
  • ✅ Pre-upgrade checklist (essential preparation)
  • ✅ Post-upgrade best practices (ensuring success)
  • ✅ Troubleshooting common issues (expert solutions)

⚠️ Critical Warning

Never update a live production store directly! Always test updates in a staging environment first. This guide assumes you understand the risks and have proper backups in place.

Before You Begin: Pre-Update Checklist

Essential Preparation Steps

1. 🔍 Check System Requirements

Verify that your server meets the requirements for the target Magento version:

  • PHP version compatibility
  • MySQL/MariaDB version requirements
  • Elasticsearch/OpenSearch compatibility
  • Required PHP extensions

Reference: Official Magento 2 System Requirements

2. 💾 Backup Everything

Database Backup:

# Via CLI
mysqldump -u [username] -p [database_name] > backup.sql

# Or use phpMyAdmin export function

File Backup:

# Create complete backup
tar -czf magento_backup_$(date +%Y%m%d).tar.gz /path/to/magento

3. 🧩 Check Extension Compatibility

Before updating, ensure all third-party modules support the target Magento version:

  • Review extension documentation
  • Contact extension vendors if uncertain
  • Test in staging environment first
  • Have rollback plan for incompatible extensions

4. 🚧 Enable Maintenance Mode

Put your store in maintenance mode to prevent customer access during the update:

php bin/magento maintenance:enable

This displays a maintenance page to visitors while keeping admin access available.

Method 1: Update Magento 2 via Composer (Recommended)

🎯 Why Composer is Recommended

  • Dependency Management: Automatically handles package dependencies
  • Version Control: Maintains precise version tracking
  • Rollback Capability: Easier to revert if issues occur
  • Industry Standard: Official Magento recommendation

Step 1: Update Composer & Dependencies

First, ensure you have the latest Composer version and update existing dependencies:

# Update Composer itself
composer self-update

# Update existing dependencies
composer update

Step 2: Update Magento Core

Replace 2.4.x with your target version (e.g., 2.4.7):

# Specify the target Magento version
composer require magento/product-community-edition 2.4.x --no-update

# Execute the update
composer update

💡 Pro Tip: The --no-update flag prevents immediate execution, allowing you to review changes before proceeding.

Step 3: Run Upgrade Commands

Execute these commands in sequence to complete the update:

Database Schema Update

php bin/magento setup:upgrade

Updates database schema and data to match the new Magento version.

Dependency Injection Compilation

php bin/magento setup:di:compile

Compiles dependency injection configuration for optimal performance.

Static Content Deployment

php bin/magento setup:static-content:deploy -f

Deploys static view files (CSS, JS, images) for the storefront and admin.

Cache Flush

php bin/magento cache:flush

Clears all cache to ensure new code takes effect immediately.

Step 4: Verify the Update

Check Magento Version:

php bin/magento --version

Verify Admin Panel:

  • Log into the admin panel
  • Check for error messages
  • Verify all sections load correctly
  • Test critical functionality

Method 2: Manual Update (Alternative)

⚠️ When to Use Manual Update

Consider manual updates only when:

  • Composer update fails due to dependency conflicts
  • Your hosting environment doesn't support Composer
  • You need to apply custom patches
  • Working with heavily customised installations

Manual Update Steps

1. Download Latest Magento

Get the latest Magento 2 package from Magento Downloads.

2. Replace Core Files

Replace core Magento files while preserving:

  • app/etc/env.php (configuration)
  • pub/media/ (uploaded files)
  • Custom themes and modules
  • var/ directory (logs, cache)

3. Run Upgrade Commands

Execute the same upgrade commands as Method 1:

php bin/magento setup:upgrade
php bin/magento setup:di:compile
php bin/magento setup:static-content:deploy -f
php bin/magento cache:flush

Post-Update Best Practices

🔧 Essential Post-Update Tasks

1. 📊 Reindex Data

php bin/magento indexer:reindex

Updates search indexes and category structures.

2. 🧪 Test Critical Functions

  • Checkout process
  • Search functionality
  • User registration
  • Payment methods

3. 🚀 Enable Store

php bin/magento maintenance:disable

Removes maintenance mode and reopens store.

4. 📋 Monitor Logs

Check for errors in:

  • var/log/exception.log
  • var/log/system.log

FAQs – Magento 2 Update

1. Will updating Magento 2 break my customisations?

Core updates shouldn't affect custom themes or modules if they follow Magento best practices and avoid core file modifications.

Recommendation: Always test in a staging environment first to identify potential conflicts.

2. How long does a Magento 2 update take?

  • Minor updates (2.4.5 → 2.4.6): 10-30 minutes
  • Major updates (2.3 → 2.4): 1+ hours
  • Large stores with many extensions: Several hours

Time depends on store size, number of extensions, and server performance.

3. What if I get "memory limit exhausted" errors?

Increase PHP memory limit in php.ini:

memory_limit = 2G
max_execution_time = 3600

Restart your web server after making changes.

4. Can I skip versions when updating?

  • Minor updates: Yes (e.g., 2.4.3 → 2.4.6)
  • Major updates: Requires careful planning and may need migration steps

Check the official Magento upgrade documentation for version-specific requirements.

5. How to roll back if something goes wrong?

  1. Restore database from backup
  2. Restore file backup
  3. Clear cache and verify functionality
  4. Contact expert support if needed

Important: Never attempt rollback on a live production site without proper planning.

Troubleshooting Common Update Issues

🚨 Common Problems & Solutions

  • Composer dependency conflicts: Use composer update --with-dependencies
  • Static content deployment fails: Run with --force flag and check file permissions
  • Database upgrade errors: Check MySQL/MariaDB version compatibility
  • Extension conflicts: Disable problematic extensions and contact vendors
  • White screen after update: Check error logs and verify file permissions

Security Considerations

🔒 Keep Your Store Secure

  • Regular Updates: Install security patches promptly
  • Extension Audits: Review third-party extensions regularly
  • Admin Security: Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication
  • File Permissions: Maintain proper server file permissions
  • Monitoring: Set up alerts for security-related log entries

Conclusion

Updating Magento 2 is essential for maintaining a secure, performant, and feature-rich e-commerce store. While the process requires careful planning and execution, following this guide will help ensure smooth updates with minimal downtime.

Remember to always test updates in a staging environment, maintain current backups, and monitor your store closely after updates. When in doubt, consult with Magento experts to avoid costly mistakes.

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