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For a supported self-hosted Ghost installation, the normal update is an in-place operation: switch to the non-root user that owns the site, check the current versions, run ghost backup, then use ghost check-update followed by ghost update. A major-version change needs release-note review, theme checks and a rollback plan. Ghost installations below 3.0 and production sites running SQLite3 should be treated as reinstall-and-migrate projects rather than forced in-place upgrades.
This guide gives the complete sequence, explains when each path applies, and provides a verification checklist for the public site and its administration, content, media, mail and membership features.
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What you need before updating
Updating software on a live publication is safer when you can identify exactly what is installed and can restore the site if the process stops part-way through. Perform the work from the Ghost installation directory and use the non-root Linux account that normally manages that installation. Ghost’s supported self-hosting documentation identifies Ubuntu 24, Node.js 22 LTS, MySQL 8.0, NGINX and systemd as the current reference stack, with at least 1GB of memory. It also recommends running Ghost commands as a non-root user. Other operating systems, databases and web servers may work, but Ghost does not list them as officially supported or widely adopted configurations. Ghost’s hosting requirements should be your baseline when diagnosing an update problem.
Confirm the installation account and directory
Log in to the server account that owns the Ghost site, not root, and change to the directory containing the installation. If you administer more than one site, make sure the shell prompt and working directory identify the intended publication before running any command. Updating the wrong directory can affect a different Ghost instance.
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Record versions before changing anything
Write down the current Ghost and supporting software versions so that you can compare the post-update state and describe a failed update accurately to a maintainer. From the installation directory, run:
ghost version
ghost check-update
node --version
Also record the database engine and version, the active theme version, and versions of important integrations. The exact commands for obtaining a database version depend on how your server is administered, so use your normal MySQL or MariaDB administration method. Keep this record with the backup archive. Ghost’s command-line documentation describes ghost update for the latest release and ghost update [version] when you need to select a specific target. Read the Ghost-CLI command reference before choosing a target version.
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Run a backup before changing Ghost, even for a small patch update:
ghost backupThe official Ghost backup ZIP contains the core recovery material: JSON content, a complete member CSV export, all installed themes, images, files, media, routes and redirects. The backup guide documents what is included and how to create and use the archive. See Ghost’s manual backup guide.
Keep independent copies of critical exports
A single archive on the same server is not a complete disaster-recovery plan. After ghost backup finishes, copy the ZIP to storage that is independent of the server. Keep a second copy of the most important items where possible:
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- An export of content JSON from Ghost Admin’s Labs area.
- The member CSV export.
- Routes and redirects exports.
- Downloaded copies of custom and commercial themes for the version you are running.
- A separate copy of the
contentdirectory’s images, files and media.
Do not overwrite the pre-update archive with a later backup. Give each archive a date and the Ghost version it represents. That makes it possible to identify the correct restore point if a later update introduces a compatibility problem.
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For a current Ghost 3.x, 4.x or 5.x installation using MySQL, Ghost’s update guidance favors an in-place update. Use this sequence for ordinary updates after the backup is complete.
- Check the starting state. In the installation directory, run
ghost versionandghost check-update. The first command identifies the installed Ghost-CLI and Ghost versions; the second tells you whether a newer Ghost release is available. - Choose the target. Run
ghost updateto move to the latest release offered for the installation. If you need a controlled target for compatibility or change-management reasons, useghost update [version], replacing[version]with the exact Ghost version you have selected. - Allow the CLI to manage the update. Ghost-CLI performs the package update and normally handles the service restart. Ghost documents automatic rollback when an update fails. Do not interrupt the process or close the session while it is changing files and services.
- Stage a restart when necessary. If you need to coordinate the restart with a maintenance window, use
ghost update --no-restart. Complete the remaining checks and then runghost restartat the planned time. - Confirm the resulting version. Run
ghost versionagain and retain the output with your change record. If the command reports an error, stop treating the operation as complete and move to the rollback or troubleshooting steps below.
Ghost’s CLI documentation says normal releases are typically issued every one to two weeks, while major versions arrive approximately every 12 to 18 months and can break backward compatibility. Frequent minor releases are not a reason to skip backups; the backup is what gives a routine update a recoverable failure path. Ghost-CLI release and update behavior is documented here.
Handling a major Ghost version upgrade
A major upgrade is a compatibility project, not merely a longer download. Ghost describes major releases as backward-incompatible changes that require a more involved process, including backups and theme compatibility checks. Before crossing the major-version boundary, read the release-specific changes and identify anything in your theme or integrations that depends on old behavior.
Use the latest minor release first
Bring the existing major version to its latest minor release before moving to the next major boundary. This reduces the number of changes made at once and gives the migration code and database the most current starting point supported for that branch. Record the resulting version and create a fresh ghost backup immediately before the major upgrade.
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Check the theme and integrations
Review the theme’s compatibility statement for the target Ghost major version and keep a downloadable copy of the current theme. Pay particular attention to custom templates, membership features, routes, redirects, newsletter or transactional-mail connections, payment integrations and any custom code that calls Ghost APIs. A theme can install successfully yet render a broken navigation, missing card or incorrect post template after a major change, so plan to inspect the site visually and functionally after the restart.
Select and document the target
Use ghost update [version] when your change plan requires a specific target instead of the newest available release. Write the selected version, the release notes you reviewed and the backup filename into the maintenance record. If the migration fails, Ghost-CLI supports rollback; the explicit form is:
ghost update --rollbackUse rollback only when the update process or its resulting state requires reversal, and preserve the failed-update logs before repeating the operation. A rollback is not a substitute for an independent backup, particularly when database migrations or custom file changes are involved.
Update or reinstall? Use the installation’s age and database
Ghost’s update guide distinguishes installations that can be upgraded in place from those that should be migrated to a fresh installation. The following decision table reflects that guidance.
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| Installation condition | Preferred path | Reason and preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Ghost 3.x, 4.x or 5.x with MySQL | In-place update | Use ghost check-update, ghost backup and ghost update; review major-version compatibility when crossing a major boundary. |
| Ghost below 3.0 | Reinstall and migrate | Ghost’s update guide recommends a reinstall rather than forcing an old installation through current upgrade steps. |
| Production Ghost installation using SQLite3 | Reinstall and migrate | The update guide recommends reinstalling production SQLite3 sites instead of relying on an in-place upgrade path. |
| MariaDB database | Plan migration to MySQL 8 | Ghost advises MariaDB users to migrate to MySQL 8 as part of moving toward the supported stack. |
| Ghost installed with a pre-1.0.0 Ghost-CLI | Assess a legacy migration or reinstall | Deprecated CLI installations can need manual cleanup and migration before normal update commands work. |
The database and Ghost major version are not the only considerations. Include theme compatibility, the amount of downtime you can tolerate, migration complexity, rollback options and whether the current CLI is legacy when choosing a path. Ghost’s update guide explains the in-place and reinstall recommendations.
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How to plan a reinstall-and-migrate path
A reinstall does not mean abandoning your content. It means building a supported Ghost installation and moving the backed-up content and configuration into it under a controlled procedure.
- Update the prerequisites first. Ghost’s reinstall guidance says to update Node.js and Ghost-CLI before beginning the migration. Align the server with the supported stack where practical: Ubuntu 24, Node.js 22 LTS, MySQL 8.0, NGINX, systemd and at least 1GB of memory.
- Reach the latest minor release of the current major version. This gives the migration a clean, current source state and avoids combining an old minor release with the reinstall operation.
- Create a full backup. Run
ghost backup, retain the resulting ZIP off-server and keep the independent content, member, routes, redirects and theme exports described earlier. - Follow the official migration procedure. Use the step-by-step process in Ghost’s reinstall guide for the new installation, database setup and content restoration. Do not improvise database edits or copy only selected directories when the migration procedure calls for an export and import.
- Reapply configuration deliberately. Recheck the domain, NGINX proxying, TLS termination, systemd service, mail settings, storage paths, membership settings, payment connection and integrations. Treat each item as a configuration change to verify rather than assuming the old server’s files map cleanly to the new stack.
- Test before changing DNS or exposing the new instance. Confirm that the restored content, theme, images, routes, redirects, admin login, mail and memberships work on the new installation. Keep the old server intact until the new instance has passed the complete verification checklist.
The reinstall guide is the authoritative procedure for the migration mechanics. The important operational rule is to preserve the old installation and its backup until the new site is demonstrably complete.
Legacy Ghost-CLI installations need special handling
Very old Ghost-CLI installations are a separate risk from an old Ghost application. Ghost’s deprecated-CLI guidance warns that sites created with CLI versions before 1.0.0 can require manual cleanup, migration or a reinstall path before ordinary updates work. If ghost version identifies a pre-1.0.0-era CLI, do not repeatedly run ghost update in the hope that it will repair the installation.
First preserve the complete backup and version record. Then read Ghost’s deprecated Ghost-CLI migration guidance and decide whether the documented cleanup steps are appropriate for your server. A reinstall is often the more predictable route when the old service layout, Node runtime or database is also outside the supported stack.
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A successful CLI exit code confirms that the update process completed; it does not prove that every reader-facing feature still works. Use a private browser window and an administrator session to check the following in order:
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- Public home page and navigation: load the home page, open primary navigation and visit representative posts and pages.
- Theme rendering: inspect desktop and mobile layouts, typography, menus, post cards, code blocks, images, author information and any custom templates.
- Ghost Admin: sign in, open the editor, view the post list and confirm that publishing and scheduling controls load normally.
- Content and media: open posts containing galleries, cards, downloadable files and large images. Verify that image URLs resolve and that newly uploaded media can be retrieved.
- Routes and redirects: test important custom routes and representative old URLs. Confirm that redirects lead to the intended destination rather than a loop or error page.
- Mail: trigger a controlled member or account email and confirm delivery, sender identity and links. Check the mail provider logs if delivery is delayed.
- Memberships and payments: test the member sign-up flow, sign-in, account page and any Stripe-connected subscription or checkout path using an appropriate test or controlled account.
- Integrations: exercise webhooks, analytics, search, comments or other custom integrations that matter to your publication. Verify both inbound events and outbound requests.
- Service health: run
ghost restartif the update required it, then inspect the site again after the process manager has brought the service back. Check the Ghost and web-server logs for repeated errors.
Record the verification result, the final Ghost version and any follow-up work. If a feature fails, capture its URL, timestamp, browser or API response and relevant log lines before attempting another update.
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The update is unavailable
If ghost check-update reports no available release, confirm that you are in the correct installation directory and that the non-root account owns the site. Recheck the current version and Ghost-CLI version. Do not download a Ghost archive manually and replace application files; use the CLI’s supported update path or the documented reinstall procedure for an unsupported installation.
The process stops with an error
Leave the server state unchanged while you collect the error output and logs. Confirm that the backup archive exists and is readable. If Ghost-CLI offers its automatic rollback or the update must be reversed, use ghost update --rollback as documented, then run ghost version and test the site. Avoid starting a second update until you understand whether the failure came from disk space, permissions, an incompatible runtime, database connectivity or a theme or integration problem.
The site starts but the theme is broken
Keep the updated Ghost core in place while determining whether the theme supports the target major version. Restore the compatible theme copy you saved before the change or switch temporarily to a known-compatible theme, then repair the custom templates using the target version’s guidance. Do not delete the only copy of the pre-update theme.
The database or runtime is outside the supported stack
When the server uses production SQLite3, an old MariaDB release or an obsolete Node.js runtime, prioritize migration over repeated in-place attempts. Ghost specifically advises MariaDB users to move to MySQL 8 and identifies MySQL 8.0 and Node.js 22 LTS in the current recommended stack. A clean reinstall can reduce the risk created by several unsupported components changing simultaneously.
Keeping future updates routine
- Maintain a dated version record for Ghost, Ghost-CLI, Node.js, the database, the theme and important integrations.
- Run
ghost backupbefore every update and copy the archive away from the server. - Read release notes and check the theme whenever the update crosses a major Ghost version.
- Keep enough free disk space for the backup archive, package download, temporary files and rollback data.
- Schedule major upgrades during a low-traffic maintenance window and tell anyone who publishes or administers the site.
- Keep the server aligned with Ubuntu 24, Node.js 22 LTS, MySQL 8.0, NGINX, systemd and at least 1GB of memory where those versions are available for your deployment.
- After every update, test public pages, Admin, media, routes, redirects, mail, memberships, payments and integrations instead of relying solely on the command result.
Ghost’s documented release rhythm makes regular maintenance preferable to allowing several major versions to accumulate. Small, backed-up updates are easier to diagnose than a single jump across years of changes.
The safe operating pattern
For a supported MySQL installation, the repeatable pattern is: identify the correct site and versions, back up with ghost backup, check with ghost check-update, update with ghost update or a selected ghost update [version], and verify every publication feature after restart. For a major upgrade, add release-note review, theme and integration checks, a staged maintenance window and a tested rollback plan. For Ghost below 3.0, production SQLite3, MariaDB that has not been migrated, or a pre-1.0.0 Ghost-CLI installation, follow the reinstall or legacy-migration guidance instead of forcing an in-place update.
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