Upgrading older WooCommerce sites

Hi

Upgrading WooCommerce from version 3.6.7 to a newer version can be a significant jump, and it’s important to approach it carefully to avoid any potential issues. While there isn’t a specific best practice guide for upgrading from that specific version, I can provide you with some general steps and considerations to help you with the upgrade process:

1. Backup your website: Before making any changes, it’s crucial to create a backup of your website files and database. This ensures that you have a restore point in case anything goes wrong during the upgrade process.
2. Review system requirements: Check the system requirements for the latest version of WooCommerce to ensure that your hosting environment meets those requirements. Pay attention to PHP version compatibility, WordPress version compatibility, and any other prerequisites.
3. Update WordPress and plugins: Before upgrading WooCommerce, make sure you are using the latest version of WordPress and update all your plugins and themes to their latest compatible versions. This helps ensure compatibility and reduces the chances of conflicts during the upgrade.
4. Familiarize yourself with the release notes: Review the release notes of all the major versions of WooCommerce that were released between your current version and the latest version. Pay attention to any backward-incompatible changes, deprecated features, or specific instructions for upgrading from older versions. This will give you an idea of what to expect and any potential hurdles you may encounter.
5. Test in a staging environment: Set up a staging environment, which is an identical copy of your website, to perform the upgrade and test its impact without affecting your live site. This allows you to identify and resolve any compatibility issues or conflicts before applying the changes to your production site.
6. Update WooCommerce: Once you’ve tested the upgrade in the staging environment, it’s time to update WooCommerce on your live site. Disable any caching plugins temporarily, download the latest version of WooCommerce from the official website, and follow the provided installation instructions.
7. Verify compatibility and functionality: After the upgrade, thoroughly test your website to ensure that all functionalities, including product display, cart, checkout, payment gateways, and any customizations, are working as expected. Pay attention to any error messages, console logs, or warnings that may indicate compatibility issues or conflicts.
8. Monitor for post-upgrade issues: Keep an eye on your website after the upgrade for any unforeseen issues that may arise. Monitor error logs, user feedback, and performance to identify and address any problems promptly.
9. Update customizations and extensions: If you have any custom code or third-party extensions that interact with WooCommerce, make sure they are compatible with the new version. Update them if necessary, or contact the respective developers for compatibility information and guidance.

Remember, every website is unique, and it’s essential to test thoroughly in your specific environment to ensure a smooth transition. If you encounter any specific issues during the upgrade process, you may want to reach out to the WooCommerce community, the plugin’s official support channels, or consider consulting with a WordPress developer or agency for assistance.

Thanks
Ahir

Hi,

Updating WooCommerce can be quite a task, especially when there’s a large version jump like in your case.

Using a staging site is important to make sure you can test the changes first, if your host doesn’t offer that option, we recommend WP Staging for quickly spinning up a new test site.

Here there is a guide you can follow to update your WooCommerce:
https://woocommerce.com/document/how-to-update-woocommerce/

Cheers!

• This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by Igor H.

Thanks guys. Should I jump in stages or the full jump?

Hello @pgilpat

We appreciate your patience and are here to assist you with your query.

Upgrading from an older version of WooCommerce to the latest one might seem daunting, but it’s a straightforward process if done correctly. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Backup: It is highly recommended to backup your entire site before you proceed with the update. This includes your database, WordPress, Theme, and WooCommerce files. This will ensure you can restore your site to its current state if anything goes wrong.

• Check Compatibility: Verify that your theme and other plugins are compatible with the latest version of WooCommerce. You can visit the developers’ websites or contact them directly.

• Staging Environment: If possible, perform the update on a staging site first. This is a clone of your live site and allows you to test the update process and resolve any issues without affecting your live site.

• Update Plugins and Theme: Before you update WooCommerce, ensure that all your plugins and theme are up to date.

• Update WooCommerce: Now you’re ready to update WooCommerce. You can do this from your WordPress dashboard by going to Dashboard > Updates.

• Test: Once the update is complete, thoroughly test your site to ensure everything works as expected. Check your shop page, product pages, and checkout process.

• Update Live Site: If everything is working correctly on your staging site, you can now update WooCommerce on your live site. Remember to take a backup first!

It’s important to note that if you have many customizations or use a lot of plugins, the update might be more complex. We recommend working with a professional if you’re uncomfortable performing the update. Our WooCommerce community is brimming with skilled open-source developers who are active on the following channels:

• WooCommerce Developer Resources Portal
• WooCommerce Advanced Facebook group
• WooCommerce Developer Slack Channel
• Hire a WooCommerce Expert

If you’re feeling stuck, don’t worry! Check out our detailed guide on updating WooCommerce in the right way: https://woocommerce.com/document/how-to-update-woocommerce/

I hope this helps. Thanks!