Drupal 11 Upgrade: Everything You Need to Know for a Successful Update

Every Drupal upgrade will differ depending on where your Drupal website stands currently. For example, upgrading from Drupal 7 to 11 is going to be a bigger overhaul than going from 10 to 11. We’ll be diving into an overview of some tips and tricks you need to know when you upgrade to Drupal 11.

Pre-Migration Considerations

Before embarking on your Drupal update, several key factors need to be addressed:

Assess Your Current Drupal Version

Identify the version of Drupal your website is currently running. The complexity of the migration process can vary significantly depending on whether you are upgrading from Drupal 7, 8, 9, or 10. If your environment is currently running off of Drupal 10.2.x or earlier, you’ll have to take the first step by upgrading to Drupal 10.3 before leaping to 11. 

Drupal 7

If your website is currently utilizing Drupal 7, an upgrade to a new version will most likely require a rebuild of your entire codebase. You may also need to conduct a custom migration if you’re using contributed modules that aren’t compatible with automatic upgrade paths. It’s crucial that you upgrade from this version if you’re still on it since Drupal 7 support will be ending in early 2025. 

Drupal 8+

Drupal versions that are 8 and higher, are much easier to upgrade and won’t require a complex migration. This is thanks to the inclusion of the Symfony Framework (and its OOP-based approach), the Twig templating engine, and modern codebase management with Composer. Once on Drupal 8 or higher, the main things you will need to address during future upgrades will simply be the removal of deprecated code/functions and updating any new features that are added.

Specifically, if you’re utilizing Drupal 8, you’ll need to take certain preliminary steps such as updating to 9.4 or 9.5, then upgrading to 10, and finally 11. Unfortunately, you can’t skip from one older version to the latest version. A good rule of thumb to follow moving forward is to stay up-to-date with minor Drupal updates before you get behind and have to do a major upgrade. 

Evaluate Custom Modules and Themes

Custom modules and themes may require significant modifications to be compatible with Drupal 11 as some of these have been deprecated in the latest version. Conduct a thorough audit to identify any potential issues. Take note of any contributor modules that are in use and whether or not they are compatible with this latest Drupal version.

You can also take advantage of the Rector module tool which helps automate the process of updating PHP code to be compatible with a new Drupal update. 

Backup and Data Integrity

Ensure that you have a complete backup of your website. This step is crucial to prevent data loss during the upgrade process.

Test Environment Setup

Create a staging environment to test the migration process. This allows you to identify and rectify issues without affecting the live website.

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Migration Process

Upgrade to Drupal 10.3 or Higher

First and foremost, to move to Drupal 11, you have to make the switch to Drupal 10 if you haven’t already done so. This is simply because Drupal will only support code compatibility with the most recent major version. 

Install Upgrade Status

Next, you’ll want to make sure you install Upgrade Status on your website. This checks the status of your website and flags any compatibility issues. These checks include:

• Whether or not you’re using a Drupal version that supports an upgrade.

• If your system meets the system requirements of the next major Drupal version.

• Information on the status of all contributed projects.

• php checks that uncover any compatibility issues within the next major version.

Once this is run, it’ll be able to detect any deprecated APIs and confirm whether or not your system is ready to make the switch to Drupal 11. This module can also be uninstalled after it has confirmed your website’s compatibility if you wish to do so. 

Utilize the Project Update Bot

The Project Update Bot can help fix some of the compatibility issues and automate this transitioning process.

Drupal 7 Data Migration

For Drupal 7 users, you need to migrate your content, users, and other data to the new system. Pay close attention to data integrity and consistency throughout this process.

Some features from Drupal 7 are now part of the Drupal 8 core such as the Views module. This allows you to create and manage lists of different types of content on your website. Any Views that are in Drupal 7 will need to be rebuilt manually in 8 and 9 since there’s no way to get the data migrated over.

There’s also a contributed module that aims to simplify the migration process by automating the transfer of View configurations from Drupal 7 to Drupal 8 or 9. It reads the settings and structures of your existing Views in Drupal 7 and attempts to replicate them in the newer versions. The success and ease of using this module can differ based on the specific details and complexity of your Views. Some users might find the process smooth, while others with more complex setups might encounter issues that need manual intervention.

Theme Migration

Your existing theme will need to be adapted or completely redesigned to fit the new Drupal 11 framework. This will require you to review theme hooks and custom variables to ensure they’re transferred to the new templates accurately. 

Drupal 8 brought along a number of improvements to the theming experience that aren’t present in Drupal 7 including:

• Front-end libraries such as Modernizr, Underscore.js, and Backbone.js.

• Twig templates which is a template engine designed specifically for PHP.

• Responsive themes, toolbar, images, and tables.

• Fewer CSS IDs compared to the Drupal 7 version.

• Automatic features that improve CSS and JavaScript aggregation.

The most noteworthy feature is the change to Twig from PHP templates. However, this will require a complete rework of your custom theme but offers a great opportunity to leverage some of the new features that were added.

Post-Migration Steps

Check That The Coding Standards Are Up-to-Date

When upgrading to Drupal 11, it's crucial to ensure that your code adheres to the latest coding standards. Drupal often updates its coding standards with new major versions, so your existing codebase might not fully comply with Drupal 11’s requirements. If you are using PHP CodeSniffer (PHPCS) for code quality checks, you will need to ensure it is configured to recognize the latest standards. 

Run PHPCS on your codebase to identify any deviations from the new standards. Automatic fixes can often be applied, but some changes may require manual adjustments. Review the official Drupal coding standards documentation for any new guidelines or best practices introduced in Drupal 11.

Other standards you need to consider are:

• PHP 

• Accessibility 

• CSS 

• JavaScript 

• SQL 

• Markdown

• Twig

• YAML Configuration

Run Testing and QA

Testing is a critical phase post-migration to verify that your website functions as intended in Drupal 11. Begin with unit tests and functional tests to ensure that all individual components and their interactions are working correctly. This process helps in identifying any performance regressions or improvements and ensures that all functionalities, such as custom modules and integrations, are intact and operating smoothly.

Training and Documentation

Upgrading to a new Drupal version often introduces new features and changes that may impact how your team interacts with the CMS. Provide comprehensive training sessions to your team members to familiarize them with the new functionalities, user interface changes, and any altered workflows. Additionally, update all internal documentation to reflect the changes brought by Drupal 11. This includes user guides, technical documentation, and maintenance procedures. Updated documentation will serve as a valuable resource for your team to navigate the new system effectively.

Monitoring and Maintenance

Continuous monitoring is essential to ensure that your website remains stable and performs optimally. Set up monitoring tools to track website performance, error logs, and user behavior. Regularly review these metrics to identify and address any issues proactively. Schedule periodic maintenance to apply updates, fix bugs, and optimize performance. Establish a routine for reviewing and addressing any emerging issues, ensuring that your website remains secure and up-to-date.

Common Issues During Migration

Migration to a new version of Drupal can present several challenges, one being module incompatibility. Some of your existing modules might not be fully compatible with Drupal 11 or might require updates. This can lead to functionality gaps or even site crashes. Data migration errors are another potential challenge, where data might not be correctly transferred or formatted according to the new system's requirements. It's essential to thoroughly test data integrity and resolve any discrepancies. Be prepared to encounter and address these issues by planning and testing extensively before going live with your updated site.

Tools and Resources for Smooth Migration

To streamline the migration process, leverage a variety of tools and resources. Drupal provides a set of migration tools, including the Migrate API and contributed modules like Migrate Plus and Migrate Tools, which facilitate the migration of content, configurations, and more. 

Don’t forget to explore Drupal community forums, documentation, and online resources for guidance and troubleshooting. Engaging with the community and using available tools can significantly ease the migration process and reduce the risk of complications. Hounder’s expertise in Drupal development is also a great resource to leverage during your next website upgrade.

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