Tips for a smooth upgrade to XF 2.1

We know you’ve been staring at the update available for XenForo 2.1 wondering if you’re ready to take the plunge. A million questions and considerations are running through your head. Stop holding your breath, as a XenForo developer we’re here to walk you through it with some tips to make upgrading to XenForo 2.1 a breeze.

Set up a staging board

When in doubt, try it out first on a neutral environment - somewhere you can upgrade, test, and break everything possible without affecting your live site.

Backups, backups, backups

Backup your site prior to upgrading. Ensure all files are stored in a safe location - we recommend keeping at least two copies for yourself. You’ll also want to create backups and duplicate all themes you plan to upgrade.

Ok but really, BACK IT UP

Just in case you missed the last tip – we want to make sure you know how serious we are. There’s no heartbreak greater than that of irretrievable data lost.

Take your board offline

When you are ready to upgrade, take your board offline for the duration of the upgrade. That should help avoid potential issues and then you will be able to fix any issues that arise before making the site live.

Disable all add-ons prior to upgrading

This helps reduce potential incompatibilities and allows you to easily troubleshoot should issues arise during your upgrade.

Software, add-ons, THEN your themes

Your upgrade order matters. Upgrade your software (XenForo) first, then proceed to upgrade your add-ons, and finally your themes.

Check for outdated templates

After upgrading, take a look at your themes to ensure there are no outdated templates. If an outdated template appears, try using the ‘Automatically merge’ button in the top right hand corner of your outdated templates page. If the templates do not merge automatically, you will need to merge them by hand - identifying changes you may have made in the past. If you are sure you have not made changes to the templates that appear, go ahead and revert your templates.

Get excited - shout it from the rooftops

Let your community know about any of the style or functionality changes you’ve made to the site. You’ve done the work - be proud and celebrate.

If you’re still feeling shaky even after reading through our tips, never fear. We offer support with upgrading and migration. If you’d like us to take care of the heavy stuff, go ahead and create a ticket and our team will ensure all data is ported correctly; replace, rebuild, or create add-ons and themes; provide consultation; and provide support before, during and after the upgrade.

Enjoy XenForo 2.1!