For every Drupal website, it’s crucial to upgrade to its latest version as needed. Like other CMSs, Drupal also requires regular updates to ensure optimal performance and security. Regular Drupal update also ensures compatibility with new technologies and modules.
However, updating a Drupal website is not as easy as it seems, unlike other CMSs such as WordPress, especially from older versions like Drupal 7 or 8. If done incorrectly, it can cause the website to break.
In this post, we have shared a few basic steps to update a Drupal website safely. However, we strongly recommend that before performing any of the steps mentioned in this post, you take a complete backup of your Drupal site. If possible, do it after consulting a professional web developer who’s experienced in building Drupal websites.
Step#1: Analyze the gap
The first step is to analyze the gap between the current version of your Drupal website and the one that you need to upgrade to. In most cases of a Drupal website update, there are two cases:
- Minor updates (e.g., Drupal 10.0 to 10.2): These types of updates are typically minor and include security patches and performance enhancements.
- Major updates (e.g., Drupal 7 → 10): It’s a significant update. These kinds of updates involve a complete system upgrade and require more preparation, as the base architecture of your site may change significantly.
Step #2: Backup Your Website
Before making any changes on the website, it’s a good idea to take a complete backup of your Drupal site, just in case you need to restore your website if anything goes wrong during or after the update. The backup should include all the files, folders, and the database from your server.
You can use tools like the “Backup and Migrate” module, or manually export your files and database using your hosting control panel.
Step #3: Check compatibility of current modules & themes
Before you start the update process, ensure that the theme and modules of your website are compatible with the latest Drupal version.
How to do that?
- Visit Drupal.org to check module updates.
- Disable or replace any deprecated modules.
- Update themes or switch to a newer compatible version if needed.
Step #4 Update
The best way to update Drupal (especially from version 8 onwards) is by using Composer, a dependency management tool for PHP.
How to do it?
- Open your terminal and navigate to your Drupal root directory.
- Run the following command:
“composer update drupal/core –with-dependencies” - Clear your site cache using:
“drush cr”
Sound unfamiliar or too technical? Hire a Drupal developer.
Composer ensures that all core files, libraries, and dependencies are updated correctly.
Step #5: Test before going live
Before going live, ensure that you test everything on your site.
What all should you check?
- Check all user features, including pages, menus, and forms.
- Check all the admin features.
- Test custom modules and integrations (like payment gateways or CRMs).
- Ensure that the design of your website remains unaffected.
Hire a Drupal professional
If your Drupal website has lots of customizations. In that case, we strongly recommend you don’t update it yourself and instead hire a Drupal specialist in Singapore or an agency that can help you update your site efficiently and safely.
Why?
Professional Drupal website builders can handle version upgrades, troubleshoot errors, and ensure a seamless transition without downtime or data loss.