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Upgrade CiviCRM for WordPress

Use this document to upgrade CiviCRM installations on WordPress to the latest CiviCRM release.

Before upgrading

Make sure you have done the steps listed in before upgrading first.

Download the latest code

  1. Go to the CiviCRM website.
  2. Select the latest currently available CiviCRM zip file for WordPress. For example: civicrm-x.x.x-wordpress.zip
  3. Save this file in <wordpress_root>/wp-content/plugins/.

If using localization, also download the latest version of the localization files. See the CiviCRM Localisation page about how to install files for running CiviCRM in languages other than American English.

Prepare WordPress

Make sure you have logged in to WordPress as an administrator. Do not log out until the entire process is complete.

Back up CiviCRM files and the database

  1. Back up your existing <wordpress_root>/wp-content/plugins/civicrm directory by creating an archive or FTPing it to your local computer.
  2. Back up your existing database using your Control Panel or other method so that you can recreate the database if required.
  3. Find your civicrm.settings.php file. CiviCRM needs to use the civicrm.settings.php file during the upgrade. The default location is <wordpress_root>/<content-dir>/uploads/civicrm/civicrm.settings.php. If the file is there, proceed. If not, the settings file may be in its legacy location, <wordpress_root>/wp-content/plugins/civicrm/civicrm.settings.php. If you find it there, move it to <wordpress_root>/<content-dir>/uploads/civicrm/civicrm.settings.php and then proceed.
  4. Check whether you are using a custom settings_location.php file at <wordpress_root>/wp-content/plugins/civicrm/civicrm/settings_location.php. If so, make a copy of this file; you will need to restore it after upgrading.

Upgrade the filesystem

Remove old CiviCRM files

CiviCRM will not run properly if files from a previous version are present after the upgrade.

  1. Make sure you have a good backup of your complete previous version installation.
  2. Delete <wordpress_root>/wp-content/plugins/civicrm.

Install new CiviCRM files

Unpack the files:

$ cd <wordpress_root>/<content-dir>/plugins
$ unzip <civicrm_download_file>.zip

Install localization files (optional)

There are two folders (l10n and sql) in the tar.gz file. Copy the whole l10n folder to <wordpress_root>/wp-content/plugins/civicrm/civicrm/ (for example, via FTP). Note that civicrm appears twice in a row in this path.

Copy the content of the sql folder—or at least the 2 files referring to the language that you want to install CiviCRM in—into <wordpress_root>/wp-content/plugins/civicrm/civicrm/sql/. The sql folder is already there: copy the files into it, and do not replace the whole sql folder.

Note: If you are in the process of Installing CiviCRM you might need to deactivate the plugin and activate it again before you can select the new languages on the installer page in the WP backend.

Clear cached files

Delete all files in your <wordpress_root>/<content-dir>/uploads/civicrm/templates_c directory and, if it exists, all files in <wordpress_root>/<content-dir>/plugins/files/civicrm/templates_c.

Upgrade the database

  1. Point your web browser to the following URL:

    http://example.org/wp-admin/admin.php?page=CiviCRM&amp;q=civicrm/upgrade&amp;reset=1

  2. You should see the Upgrade screen.

  3. If you are ready to upgrade, click the Upgrade Now button.
  4. You should see the message Upgrade successful when the upgrade completes. If you receive any errors during the process, note down the exact error message and check for solutions on Stack Exchange or Mattermost.
  5. Click the Return to CiviCRM home page link. This will rebuild CiviCRM menus automatically and return you to the CiviCRM home dashboard.

Post upgrade

See these steps to take after upgrading.