The Ultimate Guide to TYPO3 Update/Upgrade

In my long journey of TYPO3 (almost 12+ years), I’ve developed numerous websites (Medium to Large-scale) TYPO3 upgrade from old-school version 4.x to modern 9.x, 10.x, 11.x, 12.x and 13.x.

Here, I would like to share my experience which will help beginners to expert level TYPO3 developers & agencies even with TYPO3 version 12 and TYPO3 version 13. After reading this blog, I’m sure, You will have good enough knowledge to perform the TYPO3 update/upgrade well, and your client will be more than happy.

Download Now: Free TYPO3 Update/Upgrade Kit

As simple it seems, a TYPO3 update or also known as TYPO3 upgrade is the process of renewal of your current TYPO3 content management system (CMS) software to a higher TYPO3 version of improved features and functionalities with or without the help of a TYPO3 agency.

The main purpose of TYPO3 update is to make the life easier for TYPO3 users by adding new features and improving the website security.  In addition, TYPO3 update is very important for your website’s cross device performance. If your website is not optimized for mobile devices, you will lose a significant amount of traffic. By updating your current TYPO3 version to a new version, you can increase the mobile suitability and performance of your website which also helps to reduce loading time.

Source: https://typo3.org/cms/roadmap

TYPO3 version 13 Roadmap

The current TYPO3 version is TYPO3 v13 LTS, released in October 2024. This version brings new improvements in security, usability, and customization options, including enhanced backend UX with features like a reactive page/file tree, streamlined bulk editing, and an upgraded Fluid template engine.

Loading speed of your webpage determines its performance and trust us, it matters to Google search engine and to your visitors. Therefore it is essential to have a faster loading website. Speed of the page has a direct impact on various business metrics such as search engine rankings, conversions and User Experience (UX).

A recent HTTP Archive evaluation shows the efficient performance of TYPO3 and this scores faster in FCP timing compared to the other CMS.

The latest version of TYPO3 gives you a number of features to improve, catch or reduce errors. By updating your TYPO3 version will give you more control over creating and reusing content, and making sure it looks right for their viewers. Your editors can get their work done quickly whenever and whatever they need to.

Editors

Editors and end-users receive active support through TYPO3 innovations and this reduces the internal costs. Version 11.5 has the following features.

• User interface is visually appealing
• Direct image editing in backend such as scaling and trimming is possible
• Better social media and SEO support
• Extensive, new wizard to create forms such as for contact request
• More feedback to the editor from TYPO3
• Referencing media links
• File searches from file storage

SEO

SEO community initiative related to v11 ensures that optimization best practices in TYPO3 do not rely upon third-party extensions anymore. TYPO3 SEO modules are present by default in TYPO3 core. Now TYPO3 is can generate website progressive images that are 2-10% smaller compared to the baseline images. This increases the site speed, improves UX, search rankings, saves energy and reduces the bounce rates. This allows you to add metadata as Open Graph giving the editors control on social media sharing resulting in better SEO.

GDPR

With bulletproof security ad GDPR improvments limits risks related to exposure of sensitive data on the website. It is possible to make IP addresses anonymous in multiple databases after a specific time and this reduces risk related to private data storage. Core General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) initiative improves password hashes, user management and access, external media and cookie handling, makes IP addresses anonymous, removes old data, ensures secure TLS and HTTPS connections.

Please check the link for more details -
https://docs.typo3.org/m/typo3/guide-installation/6.2/en-us/Upgrade/InstallTheNewSource/Index.html

The Custom extension is designed on the functionality of the client requirement so there is not any special way to Upgrade your custom Extension but in the custom extension, we will face the major issue with the deprecation of code so you need to study the Changelog of TYPO3 version.

You can study at TYPO3 officially site https://docs.typo3.org/c/typo3/cms-core/main/en-us/Changelog-11.html  there you will get most of the solution of error and issue 

Here, we would like to write few code which will help to migrate (and make compatible) your particular TYPO3 extension which contains old-school codes.

require_once

All lines beginning with "require_once" and including TYPO3 core files are to be removed.

t3lib_div::loadTCA('')

All occurrences of "t3lib_div::loadTCA('')" are to be removed.

t3lib_extMgm::

All occurrences of "t3lib_extMgm::" should be replaced by "\TYPO3\CMS\Core\Utility\ExtensionManagementUtility::".

t3lib_div::

All occurrences of "t3lib_div::" by "\TYPO3\CMS\Core\Utility\GeneralUtility::" are to be replaced.

tslib_pibase

All occurrences of "tslib_pibase" with "\TYPO3\CMS\Frontend\Plugin\AbstractPlugin" are to be replaced.

tslib_cObj

All occurrences of "tslib_cObj" must be replaced by "\TYPO3\CMS\Frontend\ContentObject\ContentObjectRenderer ".

makeInstance()

All occurrences of "makeInstance()" with "\TYPO3\CMS\Core\Utility\GeneralUtility::makeInstance()"" are to be replaced.

$GLOBALS['TCA']['any_table']

TCA definitions must now be moved to "Configuration/TCA/<any_table.php>" . The section " dynamicConfigFile " within the ctrl-section is omitted.

ExtensionManagementUtility::addStaticFile()

TypoScript definitions must be moved to "Configuration/TCA/Overrides/sys_template.php".

ExtensionManagementUtility::addPageTSConfig()

Page TSConfig definitions must be moved to "Configuration/TCA/Overrides/pages.php".

ExtensionManagementUtility::addTCAcolumns()

Must now be done within "Configuration/TCA/Overrides/<any_table>.php".

ExtensionManagementUtility::addToAllTCAtypes()

Must now be done within "Configuration/TCA/Overrides/<any_table>.php".

ExtensionManagementUtility::addPiFlexFormValue()

Must now be done within "Configuration/TCA/Overrides/tt_content.php".

ExtensionUtility::registerPlugin()

Must now be done within "Configuration/TCA/Overrides/tt_content.php".

ExtensionManagementUtility::addPlugin()

Must now be done within "Configuration/TCA/Overrides/tt_content.php".

ExtensionManagementUtility::getFileFieldTCAConfig()

The parameters of this method must be adjusted if you want to enable backend image editor (Cropping) for FAL images.

$_EXTKEY

The variable is omitted and all occurrences are to bereplaced by the extension keywith the exception of "ext_emconf.php".

ext_localconf.php

To our knowledge, only "\TYPO3\CMS\Extbase\Utility\ExtensionUtility::configurePlugin" is left;)

ext_tables.php

Nothing should be written in $TCA or $GLOBALS['TCA'] and the file should be omitted in future TYPO3 versions. Also allowed are "\TYPO3\CMS\Core\Utility\ExtensionManagementUtility::allowTableOn StandardPages()"

Remove duplicate FAL records after TYPO3 6.2 upgrade

CREATE TABLE sys_file_new LIKE sys_file;

INSERT sys_file_new SELECT tx_phpunit_is_dummy_record, MAX(uid) AS uid, pid, tstamp, last_indexed, missing, storage, type, metadata, identifier, identifier_hash, folder_hash, extension, mime_type, name, sha1, size, creation_date, modification_date FROM sys_file GROUP BY BINARY identifier;

SELECT * FROM sys_file_new;

RENAME TABLE sys_file TO sys_file_bak;

RENAME TABLE sys_file_new TO sys_file;

CREATE TABLE sys_file_reference_new LIKE sys_file_reference;

INSERT sys_file_reference_new SELECT tx_phpunit_is_dummy_record, MAX(uid) AS uid, pid, tstamp, crdate, cruser_id, sorting, deleted, hidden, t3ver_oid, t3ver_id, t3ver_wsid, t3ver_label, t3ver_state, t3ver_stage, t3ver_count, t3ver_tstamp, t3ver_move_id, t3_origuid, sys_language_uid, l10n_parent, l10n_diffsource, uid_local, uid_foreign, tablenames, fieldname, sorting_foreign, table_local, title, description, alternative, link, downloadname FROM sys_file_reference WHERE deleted=0 GROUP BY pid,uid_local,uid_foreign,tablenames,fieldname;

SELECT * FROM sys_file_reference_new;

RENAME TABLE sys_file_reference TO sys_file_reference_bak;

RENAME TABLE sys_file_reference_new TO sys_file_reference;

UPDATE sys_file_reference

LEFT OUTER JOIN sys_file ON (sys_file.uid = sys_file_reference.uid_local) SET sys_file_reference.uid_local = sys_file_reference.uid_local + 1 WHERE sys_file.uid IS NULL;

• https://www.elp.co.at/2015/01/16/migration-from-typo3-4-5-4-6-4-7-to-typo3-6-2-lts-1/
• https://www.elp.co.at/2015/01/16/migration-typo3-4-5-4-6-4-7-to-typo3-6-2-lts-dam-to-fal-2/
• https://stackoverflow.com/questions/28675796/how-to-upgrade-typo3-4-5-to-6-2
• https://jweiland.net/video-anleitungen/typo3/typo3-projekte-verwalten/upgrade-auf-typo3-62.html
• https://jweiland.net/fileadmin/pdf/vortraege-praesentationen/upgrade-45_62-certifuncation.pdf

Thanks for reading such a long article, Let me quickly revise all the points ;)

• Keep communicating with your customer with let them know about the importance of TYPO3 update for minor and major update.
• Guide to your customer to decide between Relaunch website and Upgrade TYPO3.
• Always take care in the estimation process with analysing the whole TYPO3 like prepare extension report, an estimate for each milestone, provision for non-compatible extension etc.,
• Perform step by step TYPO3 upgrade procedure with before & after checklist.
• Apply exclusive tips and tricks techniques during the update procedure.
• Finally, Go-live with well QA testing of your TYPO3 website.

I would love to know your experience and tips/tricks to make smooth and successfully complete TYPO3 upgrade projects. Please feel free to write down your any suggestions or queries using below comment box, Thank you! Also checkout our Support and Maintenance service to keep you store up to date.

Have a happy & secure TYPO3 upgrade :)

• https://usetypo3.com/upgrading-projects.html
• https://typo3.com/blog/how-do-you-know-when-its-time-to-upgrade/
• https://nitsantech.de/en/blog/why-its-important-to-update-your-typo3-websites-on-a-regular-basis
• https://typo3.com/blog/issues-you-might-run-into-when-upgrading-typo3-extensions/
• https://stackoverflow.com/questions/28675796/how-to-upgrade-typo3-4-5-to-6-2
• https://insight.helhum.io/post/162277469210/typo3-upgrades-from-command-line
• https://bstar.de/2016/04/08/typo3-easy-upgrade-of-pibase-extension-to-typo3-6-2-or-7-6/