Best Practices for Upgrading FusionAuth to the Latest Version

[wesley]

We are currently running FusionAuth 1.32.x and noticed that 1.42.x has been released.

Questions:

1. What is the recommended upgrade strategy to move to the latest release?
2. Are there any potential pitfalls, such as database changes or template updates, that we should be aware of before upgrading?

[wesley]

When upgrading FusionAuth, we recommend the following approach to ensure a smooth transition:

1. Review Release Notes

• Each release may include breaking changes, bug fixes, and security updates.
• Be sure to check the release notes for any database migrations, template changes, or API modifications that may impact your environment.
• FusionAuth Release Notes

2. Choose an Upgrade Strategy

• You can incrementally upgrade from 1.32.x → 1.42.x version-by-version or upgrade all at once.
• The recommended approach depends on your risk tolerance:
  • Incremental Upgrades: Allows for testing each version before moving forward.
  • Direct Upgrade: Faster but requires careful testing, especially if there are major changes.

3. Database Migrations & Maintenance Mode

• FusionAuth automatically manages DB migrations in maintenance mode or silent mode.
• If you are using advanced configurations, refer to the manual upgrade process to apply database migrations carefully.
• FusionAuth Advanced Installation Guide

4. Testing in a Staging Environment

• Before upgrading production, test the new version in a staging environment to verify that:
  • All integrations (e.g., authentication flows, webhooks, APIs) function as expected.
  • Templates render correctly (in case of UI or email template updates).
  • Database migrations do not introduce issues.

5. Backup & Rollback Plan

• Before upgrading, take full database and configuration backups in case a rollback is needed.

By following these best practices, you can minimize risks while upgrading to the latest version.