Best practice to upgrade XenForo

[Andy]

I would like to share my knowledge regarding the best practice to upgrade the XenForo software.

1. We want to download the upgrade package by logging in to https://xenforo.com/customers/ with your customer login email and password.
   Click Download XenForo and make sure Download the upgrade package only is ticked.
2. Before proceeding, it's a good idea to take a full backup copy of your forum.
3. Go to Admin control panel and untick the board active and put a scheduled maintenance message there.
4. Extract the archive and upload all the xenforo_x.x.x_LLLLLLLLLLL_upgrade/upload/* files to the server using FTP/SFTP.
   Hint: x.x.x = XF version and LLLLLLLLLLL is your license ID.
5. Best practice to go to SSH and type in:
   

   root@cana:/home/forum/public_html# /usr/local/php72/bin/php72 cmd.php xf:upgrade

   (This is also recommended if you have large forums)
   If you don't have SSH access, then you have to go to http://yourforum.url/install/ and login with your forum Admin credentials and begin the upgrade process.

If there's an update on the template, your customised template will become outdated, but not too worry, since XenForo have a very good template merging feature, you can just click merge and you will be able to review what are the changes and what to merge.

Spoiler: Here's an example of the successful CLI upgrade process

root@cana:/home/forum/public_html# /usr/local/php72/bin/php72 cmd.php xf:upgrade
Current version: 2001270
Upgrade target: 2010070 (2.1.0)
Are you sure you want to continue with the upgrade? [y/n] y

Running upgrade to 2.0.13, step 1... done.
Running upgrade to 2.1.0 Alpha, step 1... done.
Running upgrade to 2.1.0 Alpha, step 2... done.
Running upgrade to 2.1.0 Alpha, step 3... done.
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Running upgrade to 2.1.0 Beta 6, step 1... done.
Running upgrade to 2.1.0 Release Candidate 2, step 1... done.
Running upgrade to 2.1.0 Release Candidate 3, step 1... done.
All upgrade steps run up to version 2.1.0.

Importing... Master data (Permissions)
Importing... Master data (Phrases)
Importing... Master data (Phrases: 22,8%)
Importing... Master data (Phrases: 40,2%)
Importing... Master data (Routes)
Importing... Master data (Templates)
Importing... Master data (Templates: 17,5%)
Importing... Master data (Templates: 69,5%)
Rebuilding... Phrases .

Upgrade completed successfully.

Running clean up tasks...
root@cana:/home/forum/public_html#

If you have something to add, please let me know by commenting down below

Source: XenForo Official Documentation for Installing/Upgrading