A Magento upgrade is essential for security, performance, and access to new features. But upgrades carry risk when mishandled – broken functionality, data loss, and extended downtime can damage your business. You need specialists who understand how to upgrade safely.
Illuminise delivers Magento upgrade services that UK businesses trust. We handle the technical complexity while minimising disruption to your trading operations.
Why Upgrade Magento
Staying on older versions creates accumulating problems:
- Security vulnerabilities – Older versions eventually stop receiving patches
- Performance improvements – Newer versions include significant optimisations
- Feature access – New capabilities only in recent releases
- Extension compatibility – Third-party extensions increasingly require newer versions
- PHP support – Older Magento versions need PHP versions reaching end-of-life
Our Magento Upgrade Process
1. Assessment
We document your current installation – version, customisations, extensions, integrations, and hosting. This identifies potential issues and informs the upgrade path.
2. Upgrade Planning
Different upgrades need different approaches. We plan the optimal path, considering whether intermediate versions are needed and which changes require attention.
3. Development Environment
We create an isolated environment matching production. All testing happens here first, protecting your live store.
4. Extension Review
Extensions often cause upgrade problems. We check each one for compatibility, source updates where available, and identify replacements where needed.
5. Custom Code Updates
Your customisations need updating for newer Magento versions. We make necessary changes while preserving functionality.
6. Testing
We test extensively – checkout flows, payments, integrations, admin functions, and customer-facing features. Problems found in staging are far cheaper to fix.
7. Production Deployment
We plan cutover carefully, typically during low-traffic periods. Rollback procedures are ready if needed.
Common Magento Upgrade Challenges
Database Changes
Major versions include schema changes that can break custom code. We handle migrations carefully, ensuring data integrity.
Deprecated Features
Code using deprecated functionality needs updating before it stops working.
Extension Compatibility
Extension vendors do not always maintain compatibility. Some need replacing or custom solutions.
Who Benefits from Upgrade Services
Our Magento upgrade services suit businesses that:
- Run customised Magento installations
- Need to upgrade but lack in-house expertise
- Have experienced problematic upgrades before
- Cannot afford extended downtime
- Want thorough testing before going live
Who This Is Not For
We may not be the right fit if you:
- Run a vanilla installation with no customisations
- Have a full in-house team for upgrades
- Need the cheapest option regardless of risk
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Magento upgrade take?
Duration depends on your versions and complexity. Simple upgrades might complete in 2-3 weeks. Complex upgrades can take 6-8 weeks or more.
Will there be downtime?
We minimise downtime by doing most work in staging. Production cutover typically requires a few hours during low-traffic periods.
What if something goes wrong?
We prepare rollback procedures for every deployment. If issues emerge, we can revert quickly.
Do you upgrade from Magento 1?
Magento 1 to Magento 2 is a rebuild, not an upgrade. We can help plan this larger project.
What about our data?
Your data remains intact. We backup everything and verify integrity after migration.
Start Your Magento Upgrade
Book a discovery call to discuss your current version, target version, and timeline.