1. Full Backup and Site Preservation

Before any upgrade, the first critical step is to back up the complete TYPO3 environment. This includes:

• Full database export
• Backup of all TYPO3 files (core, extensions, media, uploads)
• Configuration files and .htaccess

This ensures we can revert to the current stable version immediately if needed, avoiding any permanent data loss. Our automated backup protocols also provide versioning and restoration within minutes.

2. Compatibility & Requirements Check

Next, we perform a comprehensive audit of your server environment. Each TYPO3 version has specific requirements for PHP, MySQL/MariaDB, and server software (Apache/Nginx). We ensure that:

• PHP version is compatible
• Database supports InnoDB and UTF-8 encoding
• File permissions and symlinks are correctly configured

We also list every installed extension and template to check compatibility with the target TYPO3 version.

3. Extension & Template Upgrade

TYPO3’s power lies in its extensibility, but incompatible or outdated extensions are a common upgrade blocker. We follow this approach:

• Identify active and unused extensions
• Replace deprecated extensions with supported alternatives
• Upgrade all extensions to the latest compatible versions
• Refactor custom code to match new TYPO3 APIs and coding guidelines

Similarly, we update Fluid templates and TypoScript to align with structural changes introduced in newer TYPO3 versions.

4. Create and Test in a Staging Environment

Before applying any changes to your live site, we clone the entire project to a staging server. Here, we:

• Perform the full upgrade process step-by-step
• Run database migrations using the Install Tool
• Fix deprecated syntax or removed features
• Test all frontend and backend functionality (forms, page modules, user permissions, etc.)

We simulate real user interactions and thoroughly validate performance and responsiveness.

5. Production Environment Preparation

Once staging tests are successful, we prepare your live environment for deployment:

• Place the site in maintenance mode
• Run final backup of the live system
• Disable cronjobs, caching tools, and indexing features temporarily
• Notify your internal team and schedule upgrade window (preferably off-peak hours)

6. Live Upgrade Execution

We carefully follow TYPO3’s upgrade instructions, including:

• Replacing core system files with the new version
• Executing Install Tool database migrations
• Clearing and rebuilding system caches
• Re-enabling all critical configuration files and extensions

This process is closely monitored and logged at each step.

7. Post-Upgrade QA & Optimization

After going live, we perform detailed Quality Assurance (QA):

• Check frontend layout, menus, content rendering, and multimedia
• Validate backend access, user groups, and module access
• Test third-party integrations (APIs, payment gateways, CRMs)
• Monitor error logs, PHP warnings, and MySQL queries for anomalies

We also run performance profiling using TYPO3 Debug Console and Lighthouse audits.

8. Final Touches & Monitoring

Once everything is stable:

• Re-enable cronjobs, automated indexing, and caching tools
• Update documentation if any admin workflows changed
• Provide post-upgrade training to your editorial or development team
• Enable error tracking and monitoring tools to catch delayed bugs