The latest version of Magento has been released, which brings a range of new features and performance improvements. You want to upgrade your Magento store, however, you do not know how to do it? This article is for you! Let’s explore how to upgrade Magento 2.3 to 2.4 with just some short steps and enjoy its benefits to take your online business to the next level.
Table of Contents
I. The end dot of Magento 2.3 support
Adobe has informed that there is no longer offer support for Magento 2.3 since March 2023. This means all websites using this platform will no longer receive any updates and patches, including bug fixes and compliance updates from Adobe after this date. As a result, your Magento store will be vulnerable to security instructions, and you may risk compatibility issues, performance problems and also your customer’s data.
In addition, if you face any technical issues, you have to be on your own instead of submitting the support ticket. Adobe has also removed 2.3 DevDocs from its website, so that you are not able to rely on this source of documentation to resolve tech issues anymore. This is why it’s crucial to upgrade Magento 2.3 to 2.4 in order to ensure your store is secure and stable.
II. Why should you upgrade to Magento 2.4?
The release of Magento 2.4.6 on March 14, 2023, offers several advantages for developers and shop owners. This update comes with significant bug fixes, improved performance, and enhanced security, as with every upgrade from Magento.
2.1. Key highlight updates of Magento 2.4
Each new release of Magento delivers new features and functionality, as well as vital security enhancements. The latest version of Magento, which is 2.4.6, provides various exciting new features and enhancements to improve the overall experience. Let’s explore some of the highlight features of Adobe Commerce Magento 2.4.6 to understand why you need to upgrade Magento 2.3 to 2.4.
#1. Security Enhancements
The latest version Magento 2.4.6 includes various improvements to accomplish the security enhancements:
- 8 security fixes and platform security improvement;
- Filled the gap in Admin action logs with more specific auditing of admin actions;
- Fixed issue regarding reCAPTCHA confirmation failure at unanticipated error during payment processing;
- New setting system configuration added: require email confirmation whenever an admin user changes their email.
#2. Platform Enhancements
Magento 2.4.6 has made some highlights enhancements to improve the overall user experience:
- Support PHP 8.2, Composer 2.2.x and ElasticSearch 8.x;
- Migrate DHL scheme from v6.2 to v10.0
- Update outdated JavaScript libaries to the latest version.
Additionally, in Java development, similar efforts are underway to ensure that projects utilize the most recent and secure versions of libraries and frameworks.
#3. Performance and Scalability Enhancements
This version has a major focus on improving speed and performance including Category Children Tree Processing and Bulk Cart Operation Response Time. The Magento 2.4.6 also support store owners:
- Limit number of products;
- Enhance order processing;
- Improve product import performance.
#4. Accessibility Updates
Magento 2.4.6 release has prioritized the development of a better retail experience on Venia (PWA) that is more accessible, functional, accessible, and flexible.The release includes significant advancements, some of which are worth mentioning:
- The “Sign in” button’s visible marker now corresponds to its accessible name for bettered availability;
- Buttons on the storefront now have more descriptive and memorable names to enhance usability;
- Search filters on the shop now have verbal descriptive captions for Has Video checkboxes to enhance availability;
- The storefront’s page functionalities are now completely accessible to users who calculate solely on a keyboard for navigation.
2.2. What makes Magento 2.4 better than V2.3?
Magento 2.4 has much more features that the 2.3 version does not. Let’s deep dive to get more reasons to upgrade Magento 2.3 to 2.4:
- New Media Gallery: Magento 2.4 version allows licensing stock of image preview, including searches, filters, and short image 30 times faster than 2.3 version.
- New GraphQL features: In the latest version, pickup Locations query the supports the Inventory In-store pickup feature; categories query returns a list of categories that match a specified filter; and with reorderItems mutation, a logged-in user can add all the products from a previous order into their cart.
- Seller-assist shopping: You can manage shopping carts, create orders for registered customers, and update their order easily with Magento 2.4.
Besides, you will get Enhancements for Amazon Pay, BrainTree Payment, Vertex and YotPo and Fix Cart, Checkout, Catalog, Customer and Search Issues after upgrading to Magento 2.4 version.
III. Preparing for the upgrade process
Before deciding to upgrade Magento 2.3 to 2.4, it’s crucial to prepare adequately. Here are some essential steps to take to ensure a smooth upgrade process:
#1. Back up your store’s database and files
Before upgrading, it’s critical to create a backup of your Magento 2.3 database and files. This backup ensures that you can restore your store to its previous state if any issues arise during the upgrade process.
#2. Check for extension compatibility
Review your current extensions and check if they are compatible with Magento 2.4. Incompatibility with extensions can cause significant issues during the upgrade process.
#3. Review system requirements
Make sure your server meets the system requirements for Magento 2.4. Check PHP version, database version, and other necessary software.
#4. Disable customizations
If your store has any customizations, disable them before starting the upgrade process. Customizations can conflict with the Magento 2.4 upgrade and cause issues.
#5. Create a test environment
Set up a test environment to test the upgrade process before implementing it on your live store. This allows you to identify any issues and resolve them before they impact your customers.
By following these essential steps, you can prepare for a successful upgrade Magento 2.3 to 2.4.
IV. How to upgrade Magento 2.3 to 2.4?
- Step 1: Change site to maintenance mode
Use the below command to convert your site into maintenance mode before upgrading:
php bin/magento maintenance:enable- Step 2: Backup composer.json
Grab backup composer.json using this command below:
cp composer.json composer.json.bak- Step 3: Install the Composer update plugin
Now, start installing the Composer update plugin:
composer require magento/composer-root-update-plugin=~1.0 --no-update
composer update- Step 4: Update the composer.json
In the coming step, you need to modernize the composer.json with the latest version by using this command as below:
composer require magento/product-community-edition=2.4.6 --no-update- Step 5: Fire the following command
This process will consume some time to get completed. Essentially this command will download all the needed packages and upgrade your Magento interpretation from 2.3.x to 2.4.6.
After you are done with the 4 steps above, next, fire below given command:
composer update- Step 6: Clear cache and regenerate code
The upgrade process is nearly done. In this step, you need to clear all cache and regenerate code by using below command:
php bin/magento cache:clean
rm -rf var/cache/*
rm -rf var/page_cache/*
rm -rf generated/code/*
php bin/magento setup:upgrade
php bin/magento setup:di:compile
php bin/magento setup:static-content:deploy -f- Step 7: Disable maintenance mode
The last step: do not forget to disable maintenance mode and your Magento store will be upgraded to 2.4.6:
php bin/magento maintenance:disableThis is the step-by-step guide to help you upgrade Magento 2.3 to 2.4 with ease. Follow it and the result will make you surprise!
IV. Post-upgrade activities
After completing the upgrade Magento 2.3 to 2.4, there are some essential tasks you need to perform to ensure that your store is fully functional and ready to use. Here are some post-upgrade tasks that you should perform:
#1. Check your store’s functionality
Once the upgrade process is completed, the first thing you should do is to check your store’s functionality. Test your store’s front-end and back-end functionality to ensure that everything is working correctly. Check for any errors or issues, and if you find any, address them promptly.
#2. Update extensions and custom modules
After upgrading to Magento 2.4, you need to update your extensions and custom modules to ensure they are compatible with the new version. Check with the developers of the extensions and custom modules to see if they have updates available for Magento 2.4. If they do, install and configure them properly.
#3. Re-enable third-party modules
If you disabled any third-party modules before upgrading to Magento 2.4, you need to re-enable them after the upgrade process is completed. Check the compatibility of the modules with the new version and ensure that they are working correctly.
#4. Update your theme
If you are using a custom theme, you need to update it to ensure it is compatible with the new version. Check with the developers of the theme to see if they have updates available for Magento 2.4. If they do, install and configure them properly.
#5. Run Security Scan
After upgrading to Magento 2.4, it is essential to run a security scan on your store to identify and address any security vulnerabilities. Magento provides a free tool called the Magento Security Scan Tool that you can use to scan your store for security issues.
#6. Optimize your store
After upgrading to Magento 2.4, it is a good idea to optimize your store to improve its performance. You can do this by optimizing your store’s images, enabling caching, minimizing HTTP requests, and optimizing your store’s database.
V. Common issues during the upgrade process
During the upgrade Magento 2.3 to 2.4’s process on your own, you may face a lot of common issues as below:
- Incompatibility with third-party extensions: During the upgrade process, some third-party extensions may become incompatible with Magento 2.4. This can cause issues with the functionality of your website. To solve this issue, you may need to update or replace the third-party extensions with versions that are compatible with Magento 2.4.
- Database upgrade issues: Upgrading your database is a crucial part of the Magento 2.4 upgrade process. However, this can sometimes lead to issues such as data corruption, loss, or other errors. To solve this issue, you should ensure that you have a backup of your database before starting the upgrade process. Additionally, it is recommended to work with an experienced Magento development team to perform the database upgrade.
- Theme and layout issues: Upgrading to Magento 2.4 can cause issues with your website’s theme and layout. This can result in broken or missing elements, leading to a poor user experience. To solve this issue, you may need to update your theme and layout to ensure compatibility with Magento 2.4.
- Performance issues: Upgrading to Magento 2.4 can also cause performance issues on your website. This can lead to slow loading times and other issues that can impact the user experience. To solve this issue, you may need to optimize your website’s performance by optimizing your code, minimizing resource-intensive processes, and optimizing your database.
- Payment gateway issues: Upgrading to Magento 2.4 can cause issues with your payment gateway integration. This can result in errors during the checkout process or problems with payment processing. To solve this issue, you should ensure that your payment gateway is compatible with Magento 2.4 and update any necessary configurations or extensions.
Overall, while these issues can be challenging, they can be solved by working with an experienced Magento development team and ensuring that you have a backup of your website before starting the upgrade process. By addressing these common issues, you can ensure a smooth and successful upgrade to the latest version of Magento.
VI. The cost of this Magento version update
The cost of upgrading your Magento store to the latest version can vary depending on several factors, including the size and complexity of your website, the number of customizations and third-party extensions you have, and the experience and expertise of the development team you choose to work with. Generally, upgrading to Magento 2.4 may require additional time and resources compared to smaller updates, which can result in a higher cost.
However, the cost of upgrading is often outweighed by the benefits of improved performance, security, and functionality. It is essential to work with a trusted and experienced development team to ensure that the upgrade is performed efficiently and effectively, reducing the overall cost and minimizing any potential issues that may arise during the process.
Final thought
In conclusion, it is a critical process to upgrade from Magento 2.3 to 2.4, which offers many benefits to your e-commerce businesses, including enhanced security, improved performance, and bug fixes. Additionally, you should keep in mind that this upgrade process requires careful planning, proper preparation, and execution to avoid any potential issues or downtime.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can reduce the risks that you may face. However, the best way is to get in touch with a professional Magento service agency and hire them to upgrade your online business instead of doing it on your own to minimize the issues and ensure a smooth upgrade process.
