Insights - Drupal 9

Upgrading from Drupal 8 or Drupal 9 to Drupal 11 requires a methodical, step-by-step approach through intermediate versions rather than a direct migration path. This comprehensive guide walks you through the entire upgrade journey, covering critical architectural changes including the CKEditor 5 migration, admin theme transitions from Seven to Claro and potentially GIN, and the Path Alias module introduction. You'll learn how to handle incompatible modules using custom repositories, prepare your codebase by auditing and removing unused dependencies, and modernize your custom code using tools like Upgrade Status and Rector. The article provides practical implementation strategies including using git branches for each upgrade milestone and Makefile automation to ensure repeatable, reliable upgrades. Whether you're starting from an early Drupal 8 version or a recent Drupal 9 release, this guide equips you with the knowledge to navigate version-specific considerations and avoid common pitfalls. For sites with large databases, the guide also covers optimization techniques like creating slimmed-down testing databases to speed up your iteration cycles. With over a decade of Drupal upgrade experience and official Drupal.org partnership credentials, iTech4Web shares battle-tested strategies that have successfully guided dozens of projects through these complex migration paths.