Updating from 3.5.2 to 6.5.4

  • I was contacted by a friend if I could update his website as it missed the latest 8 releases (he said) and wordpress was complaining about the php version. Just logged in and the website is missing the last 200+ releases as it is running 3.5.2 on php 5.4.

    Any tips on how to proceed? I guess I will need to up the php version gradually? and maybe pick an in between version of wordpress to update to?

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  • lisa

    (@contentiskey)

    Test all all of the upgrades (WordPress version, Plugins, Theme, PHP version) in a staging site or local development environment before accepting in production environment. Use a tool like localwp.com to set up a staging environment if there is no staging environment available in the friend’s webhosting environment.

    Be sure to create and download a COMPLETE backup of files and database before accepting any updates into production (live) site. If the webhosting plan does not have a robust backup system, try a plugin like updrafts plus.

    • This reply was modified 5 months, 1 week ago by lisa.
    • This reply was modified 5 months, 1 week ago by lisa.
    threadi

    (@threadi)

    To be honest, I’ve also been thinking for a while about which way to recommend an upgrade. Now, however, I tend to recommend setting up the project from scratch. Even if you get WordPress updated, you also need to keep an eye on the theme and the plugins you’re using. If even one of them does not provide updates, you need to look at what you could use as a replacement. The effort involved may not be insignificant.

    I would therefore recommend installing a new WordPress and transferring the existing content via export and import: https://learn.www.ads-software.com/tutorial/tools-import-and-export/ – you can then configure the new project so that it can replace the previous one. Although this could also be time-consuming, it is the safest way for the future than dragging legacy content with you. As soon as this is completed, you would then have to point the domain to the new hosting.

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