2.4.8 is the latest Magento version, which was released on April 8, 2025, and has official support until April 2028.
Magento, now known as Adobe Commerce after its acquisition by Adobe in 2018, remains one of the most trusted and flexible digital commerce platforms out there.
But if your store is still running an older version of Magento 2, you could be exposed to security risks, performance issues, and compatibility problems with newer technologies.
Magento 2 upgrade in 2025 is not just adding some new features.
It’s more than that. Magento upgrade is about keeping your business safe, fast, and compatible with the latest technologies.
If you’re wondering, “How do I upgrade my Magento version?”, “What are the best ways to upgrade Magento” or “Is now the right time?” – you’re in the right place.
This guide will walk you through what to expect, what to avoid, and how to upgrade Adobe Commerce version.
Why Upgrading Magento in 2026 Is a Smart Business Move?
Are you still using Magento 2.3 or an early 2.4 version? Then your Magento store may be:
- Missing critical security patches
- Slower than it could be
- At risk of not working with newer payment gateways, plugins, or hosting setups
- Falling behind competitors using the latest Adobe Commerce features
The newest version, Magento 2.4.8, supports modern technologies like PHP 8.4 and offers major upgrades in stability, speed, and GraphQL API performance.
That means smoother storefronts, better checkout flows, and fewer support tickets.
If you’re using Adobe Commerce, you benefit from tighter security, extended support, and access to tools like the Upgrade Compatibility Tool, which helps you plan upgrade to Magento 2 with fewer surprises.
Waiting too long can also mean more cost later. The further behind your version gets, the more complex and expensive the upgrade becomes.
So, the real question is: Can your business afford not to upgrade Magento 2 in 2025?
What’s My Magento Version and Why It Matters?
Before you upgrade Magento 2, you need to know which version you’re running right now. This helps you figure out if the upgrade will be simple or if it needs more planning.
How to check your Magento version?
You can check your Magento version in two easy ways:
1. From the Admin Panel
- Log into your Magento Admin
- Scroll to the bottom of the dashboard
- You’ll see the version number in the footer (e.g. Magento 2.4.5)
2. Using the Command Line
Run this command in your Magento root folder:
This will show something like: Magento CLI version 2.4.3
If you’re asking, “What is my Magento version?” – now you know.
Why your current version matter?
If you’re on Magento 2.4.6 or lower, it’s time to upgrade. These versions may not support the latest PHP or MariaDB versions.
If you’re on Magento 2.3, the upgrade will be more complex. It may involve code refactoring and third-party module checks.
Upgrading from older versions means fixing more compatibility issues. That’s why it’s important to audit your store before starting.
Knowing your Magento versions helps answer questions like:
- How do I upgrade my Magento version?
- Do I need to update my extensions too?
- Will this break my custom theme?
This step helps plan the safest and smoothest upgrade path.
What Are You Upgrading: Magento Open Source vs Adobe Commerce?
Not all Magento stores are the same. Some use Magento Open Source (free), while others run on Adobe Commerce (paid, with extra features and support).
What is the difference between Adobe Commerce and Commerce Cloud?
| Criteria | Magento Open Source | Adobe Commerce |
| Cost | Free | Paid license |
| Features | Basic eCommerce | Advanced tools: B2B, content staging, AI, dashboards |
| Support | Community-based | Adobe support and SLAs |
| Hosting | Self-managed | Cloud or custom hosting |
If you’re not sure what you’re using, check your admin panel or ask a Magento 2 developer.
Why it matters for your upgrade?
Adobe Commerce needs more testing during upgrades because of its advanced features. It also gives you tools like the Upgrade Compatibility Tool to check for issues before upgrading.
If you’re on Adobe Commerce Cloud, you’ll also follow Adobe’s cloud deployment process.
This step helps answer:
- How do I upgrade Adobe Commerce?
- What is the upgrade compatibility tool in Adobe Commerce?
- Should I move to Adobe Commerce Cloud?
Can You Downgrade Magento and Should You?
Technically, yes. You can downgrade Magento. But in most cases, you really shouldn’t.
Why downgrading Magento is risky?
- It can break your store. Your themes, extensions, and database may not work properly.
- You could also lose data. Downgrades don’t support the latest database changes.
- Adobe and the Magento community don’t officially support downgrades.
So if you’re wondering, “How do I downgrade my Magento version?” – the better question is: “How do I fix the issues after an upgrade without rolling back?”
What to do instead?
- Set up a staging environment before you upgrade.
- Test everything which includes checkout, login, and third-party modules.
- If something goes wrong, you can roll back using your backup.
Our Magento 2 development company helps clients avoid downgrades by planning ahead. But if you’ve already upgraded and hit a problem, we can help fix it without starting over.
What’s the Right Path: Install vs Upgrade?
When planning your Magento move, you have two main options:
- Upgrade your current Magento store
OR
- Do a fresh install of the latest version
Each has its use case. Let’s break it down:
When to upgrade Magento?
This is the most common and cost-effective option. Upgrade to Magento when
- You’re on a recent version like 2.4.x
- Your theme and extensions are still supported
- You want to keep your current data, layout, and setup
When to install Magento fresh?
It is true that a clean installation gives you a fresh start with less technical debt. But you should do it only when:
- You’re still on Magento 2.2 or early 2.3
- Your store has bugs, bloated code, or outdated extensions
- You’re planning a redesign or full rebuild
We receive many queries from business leaders asking, “How to install Magento 2.4.7?” or “Can I install Magento manually?”
And we just say – Yes, you can.
But do you have the technical expertise to do this setup.
Our Magento2 development company helps clients choose the best path based on version, goals, and upgrade complexity.
Step-by-step guide specifically for upgrading to 2.4.8
If you’re thinking, “How do I upgrade my Magento version without risking sales, data, or design?” – this section is for you.
Here’s how we upgrade Magento 2 in 2025 and you can do the same:
Step 1: Take a Full Backup
Before touching anything, we back up everything:
- Database – all orders, customer info, settings
- Codebase – including themes and custom modules
- Media – product images, logos, banners
This is important because if the upgrade breaks something, we can instantly roll back without losing a single file or sale.
Step 2: Set Up a Staging Environment
A staging environment is a private copy of your website. We use it to run the upgrade and test everything before going live.
This way, your live site keeps running, and customers never see any issues.
Step 3: Check Your Current Magento and Module Versions
We check:
Your current Magento version:
All your installed modules:
And then we also review your theme, payment plugins, shipping integrations, and any custom code. Some extensions might not be compatible with Magento 2.4.8, so it’s better to find that now.
We use tools like the Upgrade Compatibility Tool to make this faster and safer. Here is the diagram showing the workflows when running the Upgrade Compatibility Tool. Image is taken from |experienceleague.adobe.com|
Step 4: Run the Upgrade Using Composer
Our Magento upgradation is done using Composer, which is a dependency manager for PHP. Developers use it to install and upgrade Magento safely. Here’s the upgrade command sequence we use:
What this process does is pull the latest Magento version, compiles your code, deploys assets, clears cache, and reindexes your data.
If you’re on Adobe Commerce, we adapt this process depending on whether you’re hosted on-premise or on Adobe Commerce Cloud.
Step 5: Post-Upgrade Testing
Most Magento upgrade failures aren’t on the homepage. They happen deeper. That’s why we go through a complete QA checklist, including:
- Homepage, category, and product pages
- Add to cart, checkout, and guest login
- Admin dashboard: order flow, product updates, shipping methods
- Custom features (like one-step checkout, loyalty modules, etc.)
- Mobile and speed performance
- Third-party modules and payment gateways
We also run:
- Security scans
- Error log checks
- Frontend performance reviews
If there are some kind of breaks or failures after Mageno2 upgradation, we fix it on staging.
Step 6: Only Go Live When Testing is 100% Clean
Once everything works on staging, clone the working version to live or re-run the exact same upgrade steps on production.
Monitor your store for:
- Slowdowns in performance
- Checkout drop-offs
- Module-related errors in logs
Keep your backup ready for 48 hours post-launch, just in case. Don’t push upgrades close to big sales events. Plan them like a campaign.
Common Magento Upgrade Errors and How to Fix Them
If you’re planning for a update with Magento 2 upgrade services in 2026, there’s something you need to understand up front:
Most Magento 2 upgrade failures are caused by poor planning, missed checks, and assumptions; especially when the upgrade is treated as “just a developer’s job.”
Let’s look at some of the most common upgrade issues, not from a developer’s perspective, but from a business leader’s perspective and more importantly, how to avoid them.
| What Can Go Wrong | How to Prevent It |
| Payment methods vanish, cart doesn’t work, orders fail | Test full checkout flow (guest + logged-in). Validate discount codes and payments. |
| Loyalty, ERP sync, or custom logic stops working | Run custom modules through Adobe’s Upgrade Compatibility Tool before the upgrade. |
| Team can’t update products, refund orders, or pull reports | Reindex, clear cache, and test admin workflows after upgrade. |
| Menus, carousels, or buttons don’t work properly on mobile devices | Test the entire user flow on real mobile phones. |
| Drop in traffic from broken sitemaps, missing meta tags, bad URLs | Recheck SEO plugins, run a site crawl, and resubmit sitemaps to Google Search Console. |
How Long Does Magento 2 Upgrade Take?
The duration depends on your current version. Based on our experience as a Magento 2 development company, we estimate the following timelines:
- Small upgrades (e.g., 2.4.6 → 2.4.8): 1–3 days
- Major version jumps (e.g., 2.3 → 2.4.8): 1–2 weeks (including testing and extension updates)
How Much Does It Cost to Upgrade Magento 2 in 2026?
The cost of upgrading Magento 2 depends on a few key factors. Here’s what affects the price:
Your current Magento version
Upgrading from 2.4.6 to 2.4.8 is much simpler and cheaper than jumping from 2.3 or below.
Custom code and extensions
If your store has heavy customization, old third-party modules, or a custom theme, expect more time for compatibility fixes.
Testing and QA requirements
Businesses that need full regression testing or multi-device QA might see a higher quote, but also fewer post-upgrade issues.
Adobe Commerce vs Open Source
Adobe Commerce upgrades generally involve additional steps, cloud workflows, and enterprise modules.
Estimated Magento Upgrade Cost Ranges
| Upgrade Type | Estimated Cost |
| Basic upgrade (2.4.x to 2.4.8) | $800 – $1,500 |
| Mid-level upgrade with custom modules | $1,500 – $3,000 |
| Major upgrade (2.3 → 2.4.8 with custom dev) | $3,000 – $6,000+ |
Note: These are ballpark figures. The actual Magento 2 upgradation cost depends on store complexity, integrations, and business magento requirements.
Conclusion
Upgrading Magento 2.4.8 isn’t just about getting the latest version. It’s about doing it without disrupting your business.
Rushing the process or skipping key steps can cost more in downtime, lost orders, and cleanup than the upgrade itself. On the other hand, a well-planned Magento 2 upgrade can strengthen your store for years to come.
We’ll review your current setup, share upgrade insights, and help you move forward with clarity.
FAQs
Q1. How do I upgrade my Magento version to the latest release?
The safest way is to upgrade using Composer in a staging environment. Back up everything, check extension compatibility, and test thoroughly before going live.
Q2. Can I upgrade Magento without using Composer?
Technically yes, but it’s risky. The composer ensures version control and dependency checks. It’s the recommended method for all Magento 2.4.x upgrades.
Q3. What is the Upgrade Compatibility Tool in Adobe Commerce?
It’s a free tool from Adobe that checks if your custom code and modules will work with the new version. A must-use before any upgrade.
Q4. What is the latest Magento version in 2025?
As of now, it’s Magento 2.4.8, compatible with PHP 8.4 and MariaDB 11.4, and supported until April 2028.
Q5. How much does Adobe Commerce cost?
Adobe Commerce licenses vary based on your revenue and feature needs. Pricing starts around $22,000/year and can go to $130,000/year. Note that this number is just an industry estimate.
Q6. Should I install Magento from scratch or upgrade my existing version?
If your store is running well and on a recent version, upgrade it. But if you’re on a much older version or planning a redesign, a fresh install may be smarter.
