If you’re up to date on your Drupal news, you’re probably aware that Drupal 10 was released in December 2022, and Drupal 11 was launched in August 2024.
As a current Drupal 9 user, you may be strategizing your website’s transition. Drupal 9 users must first upgrade to Drupal 10.3 before they can move to Drupal 11. As Drupal explains, “All core updates added prior to 10.3.0 have been removed.”
Luckily, the Drupal 9 to 10 upgrade was heralded as the easiest upgrade in Drupal’s history. That’s because Drupal 10 is backward-compatible with Drupal 9 and does not require a major overhaul of the core system. However, the planning and development process will still require time and attention to ensure the upgrade goes smoothly.
Let’s examine the Drupal upgrade process and how your organization’s marketing team can provide support.
Fast Facts about the Drupal 9 to 10 Upgrade
Brush up on your Drupal release history with these fast facts:
- Drupal 9 was released in June 2020. At the time of its release, it offered an easier upgrade than ever before, as it built on features released for Drupal 8.
- Support for Drupal 9 ended in November 2023. That means there aren’t any new features or security updates being released for this version anymore.
- Drupal 11 was released in August 2024. However, before they can upgrade to D11, Drupal 9 users must upgrade to Drupal 10.3.
What’s New in Drupal 11?
As mentioned, Drupal 11 is built on innovations released as part of Drupal 9. When switching to Drupal 10 and 11, you won’t be confronted with an entirely new structure and system to get used to.
That being said, Drupal 11 offers plenty of new features to look forward to, including:
- The experimental Recipes API that enables simple sharing of module configurations and additions.
- The Drupal core Workspace module that facilitates content staging using multiple workspaces on a single site.
- Single-Directory Components for simplified front-end development.
- A new Navigation module that restructures the admin toolbar using modern tools.
- An Access policy API that provides more flexibility for access controls.
Steps to Upgrade From Drupal 9 to 10
If you upgraded your site from Drupal 7 to 9 in the past, you know that migration required transferring all of your data to a brand new Drupal 9 website. The Drupal 9 to 10 migration (and 10 to 11!) won’t be such a significant undertaking.
However, you can still take a few measures to set your website up for success. Follow these steps to prepare your Drupal 9 site for the migration:
- Upgrade to at least Drupal 9.4.4 or later. Core updates made before 9.4 have been eliminated, so you must be on at least Drupal 9.4.4 to use the data upgrade path from CKEditor 4 to CKEditor 5.
- Run Drupal Rector on custom modules and themes. Drupal Rector scans code for deprecated functions and helps developers upgrade them.
- Upgrade to CKEditor 5. CKEditor 4 reached its end-of-life at the end of 2023. To stay up to date, check out Drupal’s step-by-step instructions for upgrading to CKEditor 5.
- Check your PHP version. Drupal 10 requires PHP 8.1 or higher. Log into your website’s hosting account and check the settings in your control panel to verify which version of PHP you’re using.
- Check your modules and themes. Not all modules and themes from Drupal 9 will be compatible with Drupal 10. If your site uses a module or theme that was removed from Drupal core, download the contributed project version before migrating to Drupal 10.
- Update to Drupal 10 and test your site. Run automated code tests using tools like Drupal Rector or PHPStan. Also, conduct manual testing to ensure that everything is working as expected. Check your forms, links, page navigation, and other site elements to note any user experience issues.
If you have a web developer on your team, you can either take these steps yourself or work with an external Drupal developer.
Working with a Drupal Development Expert
Although the Drupal 9 to 10 transition is a more straightforward upgrade, it’s still typically recommended that you work with a Drupal web developer to oversee the process. This can ensure a smooth transition and help maintain data integrity and security.
Look for a Drupal web development firm that offers services such as:
- Overseeing the process from start to finish
- Custom module development depending on your organization’s needs
- An accessibility-focused approach to ensure your website is usable for all audiences
- Third-party and custom API integrations to integrate tools like your payment gateway or security portal seamlessly with your Drupal website
- Mobile responsive design to create a positive mobile user experience
- Search engine optimization (SEO) recommendations to maintain or enhance your website’s search results rankings
- Ongoing support to implement module upgrades and security patches as needed and to help with other aspects like content strategy and performance enhancements
If you’re looking for an experienced Drupal partner, Kanopi Studios is a great choice. Our Drupal team members have an average of 11 years of Drupal experience each. We are also a supporting partner to the Drupal Association, a founding sponsor of Discover Drupal, and regular contributors to the Drupal Project.
Upgrading your website from Drupal 9 to 10 and eventually 11 shouldn’t be a hassle. With these tips, you can make the already simple process even easier.
Looking for more Drupal tips and resources? Start here:
- The Ultimate Guide to Drupal Planning and Development. Kanopi’s Drupal planning and development guide offers tips for keeping your website up-to-date and effective, no matter which version you’re currently using.
- The Top WordPress & Drupal Trends. Want to know the latest trends for top content management systems WordPress and Drupal? Check out this guide.
- 7 Statistics to Guide Your Next Website Refresh or Upgrade. Looking to refresh your website as you upgrade to a new Drupal version? Use these statistics to guide the process.
