Umbraco 17 Upgrade Guidelines: Tips for a Smooth Migration

Upgrading your CMS is more than a technical task—it’s a strategic decision. With Umbraco 17 now available as a Long-Term Support (LTS) release, businesses have an opportunity to enhance performance, security, and scalability. Important: Your current Umbraco installation must be version 13 or higher to start this upgrade path. This guide walks you through the essential steps and best practices to ensure a smooth migration.

Why Upgrade to Umbraco 17?

Umbraco 17 is the newest Long-Term Support (LTS) release, built on .NET 10. It offers:

• 3 years of support (2 years full + 1 year security patches).
• A modern backoffice powered by Web Components and TypeScript.
• Performance boosts with distributed caching and improved scalability.
• Future-proof architecture for easier upgrades and fewer breaking changes.

Staying on older versions like Umbraco 13 (EOL: Dec 2026) increases security risks and maintenance costs. Upgrading now ensures stability and compliance.

Preparation Checklist

Before upgrading, make sure to:

1. Audit Your Setup
   • Review custom code and third-party packages.
   • Identify deprecated features (e.g., Nested Content) and plan replacements.
2. Plan Your Upgrade Path
   • Direct upgrade from Umbraco 13 → 17 is supported.
3. Set Up Resources
   • Prepare a staging environment for testing.
4. Backup Everything
   • Database, media, and configuration files.
   • Create a rollback plan.

Step-by-Step Upgrade Process

1. Update Target Framework
   • Switch to .NET 10.0 in your project file.
2. Upgrade Umbraco CMS
   • Use NuGet to install Umbraco.CMS 17.0.0.
3. Resolve Breaking Changes
   • Remove obsolete code in Program.cs.
   • Regenerate models via Model Builder.
4. Test Thoroughly
   • Validate custom components and multilingual setups.
5. Deploy
   • Merge upgrade branch and deploy after successful staging tests.

Best Practices

• Start Early: Avoid last-minute rush before Umbraco 13 EOL.
• Stay on LTS → LTS: Reduces complexity and cost.
• Check Package Compatibility: Ensure all extensions support Umbraco 17.
• Use Version Control: Keep changes isolated in a dedicated branch.
• Communicate Clearly: Inform stakeholders about timelines and risks.

What’s New in Umbraco 17?

• Modern Backoffice: Faster, accessible, and extensible.
• Distributed Cache: Better scalability for large sites.
• Block-Level Language Variants: Efficient multilingual content management.
• Better Cloud Integration: Optimized for Umbraco Cloud and .NET 10 hosting.

Final Thoughts

Upgrading to Umbraco 17 is a strategic move to secure your CMS, boost performance, and future-proof your digital presence. Plan early, follow best practices, and leverage the stability of an LTS release.

NashTech is a certified Umbraco gold partner offering flexible Umbraco web development services tailored to businesses of all sizes. Our comprehensive range of services includes:

• Umbraco web build
• Customized enterprise-level Umbraco solutions
• Umbraco migration and upgrades
• Umbraco maintenance and support
• Umbraco integration for e-commerce and more.

To receive more information about Umbraco services, please fill out the form provided at https://www.nashtechglobal.com/contact-us/.