Umbraco 17 Frequently Asked Questions Making the Most of your Umbraco Build

The recent release of Umbraco 17 LTS marked the next long term support release of the Umbraco Content Management System, an enterprise level CMS. For organisations planning their next digital phase, Umbraco 17 focuses on confidence in production, predictable upgrades and a modern backoffice experience that supports complex editorial and integration needs.

If you want to get up to speed on what Umbraco 17 is, we recently covered its launch in our blog "Everything You Need to Know About Umbraco 17"! Today we answer the most common questions we're hearing from enterprise teams considering Umbraco 17, and a few key questions to consider when planning Umbraco development or migration roadmaps.

Can I upgrade from Umbraco 7 or 8 to Umbraco 17?

Direct upgrades from Umbraco 7 or 8 to Umbraco 17 are not supported. These older versions sit on a very different architecture and technology stack. A move from Umbraco 7 or 8 to Umbraco 17 should be treated as a re-platforming exercise rather than a simple upgrade.

That said, content, structure and functionality can be migrated with the right approach. This is where experienced Umbraco Services add real value, ensuring data integrity, SEO continuity and minimal risk during transition. Migrations such as these should be approached with caution, utilising the expertise of an Umbraco Gold partner agency such as ourselves.

What are the key changes in the back office of Umbraco 17?

Umbraco 17 continues the evolution of the back office experience with a focus on clarity, performance and editor efficiency by leveraging the power of modern web components. The interface is cleaner and more consistent, system dates are now stored in UTC, resolving issues with time zones and ensuring consistency across different regions, and loading times are improved with a structure that supports complex content models without overwhelming users.

For large editorial teams, these refinements reduce friction and training overhead while making everyday content management tasks faster and more intuitive. The result is a Content Management System that scales not just technically but operationally.

Does Umbraco 17 work with older packages?

Package compatibility depends on whether individual package maintainers have updated their solutions to support Umbraco 17. Many widely used packages are already aligned with modern Umbraco versions, but older or unmaintained packages may require replacement or custom development.

A package audit is a critical step in any Umbraco 17 upgrade or migration. It ensures your platform remains secure, supported and fit for purpose.

Can I migrate from a different CMS to Umbraco 17?

Yes. Umbraco 17 is a strong choice for organisations migrating from another Content Management System. Its flexible architecture, clean editing experience and extensive suite of available extensions make it well suited to enterprise migrations from legacy or restrictive platforms.

With the right migration strategy, content, SEO value and business logic can be transferred while improving performance, usability and future scalability.