XF 2.3 [GUIDE] Upgrading from XenForo 2.2 to XenForo 2.3 Guide

CedricV

Well-known member
Because a lot of people are running into issues which are probably often related to add-ons, I thought about posting a simple guide how I successfully upgraded from 2.2 to 2.3.

Upgrading your XenForo installation from version 2.2 to 2.3 involves some careful planning and execution. If you're just gonna hit the upgrade button without any research, you're bound to run into issues. This guide will walk you through the entire process to ensure a smooth transition.

Preparation​

!Test on a Duplicate Forum First!

Create a Duplicate
: Set up a test version of your forum to apply all changes before implementing them on your live site. This will help you identify any potential issues without affecting your live forum.
  1. Review Third-Party Add-ons and Themes:​

    • Check Compatibility: Visit the XenForo community and check if your third-party add-ons and themes are compatible with XenForo 2.3.
    • Decide on Sacrifices: Be prepared to disable or remove any add-ons or themes that are not yet compatible. Some add-ons may still work even if not officially updated, but this is not guaranteed.
  2. Backup Your Forum:
    • Full Backup: Ensure you have a complete backup of your XenForo files and database. This is crucial to prevent data loss in case something goes wrong during the upgrade.

Upgrade Process​

  1. Disable Add-ons and Switch to Default Theme:
    • Admin CP: Log in to your Admin Control Panel (ACP).
    • Disable Add-ons: Navigate to the add-ons section and disable all third-party add-ons.
    • Default Theme: Set the default XenForo theme as the active theme to avoid any conflicts during the upgrade.
  2. Run the Upgrade:
    • Upgrade Button: In the ACP, click the upgrade button to start the process.
    • Follow Prompts: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the upgrade to XenForo 2.3.
  3. Post-Upgrade Steps:
    • Update Add-ons: Go back to the ACP and update all third-party add-ons to their 2.3 versions. This will automatically re-enable them if they are compatible.
    • Enable Official Add-ons: RM, MG, etc. will automatically prompt an upgrade button once they are enabled. You can safely click to upgrade.
    • Install New Themes: If you have updated versions of your themes, upload them now and set the desired theme as the default.
  4. Test and Troubleshoot:
    • Enable Add-ons One by One: Gradually enable your remaining add-ons, testing each one for functionality and checking for server errors.
    • Report Issues: If you encounter any errors, keep the problematic add-ons disabled and report bugs to the XenForo community.

New Features in XenForo 2.3​

XenForo 2.3 introduces several exciting new features:
  • Passwordless Logins: Enhanced security with support for passkeys.
  • Payment Enhancements: Integration with Stripe Checkout and PayPal's REST API.
  • Content Activity Log: Track metrics like view counts and reactions for better content management.
  • OAuth2 Support: Single sign-on (SSO) capabilities with OAuth2 providers. (Wordpress - XenForo bridge being the most desired one.)
  • Content Embedding: Improved sharing and embedding of forum content across various platforms.
  • Webhooks: Automate workflows with event-triggered actions.
  • Image Optimization: Enhanced resizing and support for WebP format for faster loading times.
 
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What's the best way to pull your live, production, XF installation into a test directory or area of your host to perform the upgrade to 2.3 there and then move it back over? I'll do the backups, I can make a 'test' directory, I'm just not sure what the best practice solution may be ... so that I can do this upgrade, upgrade all my add-ons, make sure all looks great and then push it back over to its proper directory..

Just a little nervous...
 
What's the best way to pull your live, production, XF installation into a test directory or area of your host to perform the upgrade to 2.3 there and then move it back over? I'll do the backups, I can make a 'test' directory, I'm just not sure what the best practice solution may be ... so that I can do this upgrade, upgrade all my add-ons, make sure all looks great and then push it back over to its proper directory..

Just a little nervous...
Read the guide above. You don't copy it back over, you just simply run a test on a COPY of the production site and make notes on any potential issues to resolve before running the upgrade on the production/live site. The whole point of taking a copy of your live site is to avoid making mistakes on the live site. Once you're done testing and confident with the steps, you can delete the copy and do the upgrade on your live site. Of course, before you start the upgrade, you need to take a full backup of the site before starting, so that you can easily rollback if something goes wrong.

You need to carefully evaluate any addons you're using, ensure that a version has been updated or confirmed working with 2.3. This is a big sticking point if you're going from 2.2 to 2.3.

The process of copying your site is just a matter of copying the live database and the public folder wherever your site files are hosted at. Either do it on your local system or a server where you have space to test with. (I really don't recommend doing this on your live server unless you really know what you are doing.)
 
Read the guide above. You don't copy it back over, you just simply run a test on a COPY of the production site and make notes on any potential issues to resolve before running the upgrade on the production/live site. The whole point of taking a copy of your live site is to avoid making mistakes on the live site. Once you're done testing and confident with the steps, you can delete the copy and do the upgrade on your live site. Of course, before you start the upgrade, you need to take a full backup of the site before starting, so that you can easily rollback if something goes wrong.

You need to carefully evaluate any addons you're using, ensure that a version has been updated or confirmed working with 2.3. This is a big sticking point if you're going from 2.2 to 2.3.

The process of copying your site is just a matter of copying the live database and the public folder wherever your site files are hosted at. Either do it on your local system or a server where you have space to test with. (I really don't recommend doing this on your live server unless you really know what you are doing.)

Thanks for the reply, @ENF , and to clarify I did read above - I like to do my due diligence also, it doesn't mean that I was 100% comfortable with the above since this seems like a rather large upgrade compared to the ones before it.

I will figure it out.... it would seem easier, to me, to simply do a fresh install - install the updated add-ons - and then import users and content from the original..

Oh well... everyone has their level of learning curve... so appreciate the reply!
 
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