November 19, 2025
Umbraco 13 has been a reliable LTS release for many organizations, but its lifecycle is approaching the final stages. If your site is still running on version 13, now is the time to start preparing your upgrade plan. This guide explains what the End of Life timeline looks like, what risks to expect if you remain on an unsupported version, and how Umbricians can help you move to a modern and secure release.
Umbraco 13’s End of Life Timeline
Umbraco 13 was released in December 2023 as a Long Term Support version. LTS releases offer an extended support window, but they eventually reach a point where updates stop. Once a version reaches End of Life, it no longer receives security patches, performance improvements, or bug fixes. This puts the responsibility fully on the organization running the website to address any vulnerabilities or issues that appear after the EoL date.
Being aware of the lifecycle allows teams to plan ahead. A well organized upgrade project avoids rushed rebuilds, unnecessary risk, and unplanned downtime.
The Risks of Staying on Umbraco 13 After EoL
Upgrading on time is more than a maintenance best practice. There are real risks associated with staying on an unsupported version. If you need short term help stabilizing an older site, our team provides focused end of life support while you plan the move.
Security and compliance exposure
Without future security patches, even minor vulnerabilities can become major problems. Many organizations must maintain compliance with standards like GDPR or SOC 2, and using unsupported software can create compliance gaps.
Plugin, package, and integration stagnation
Third party packages and integrations evolve quickly. Once Umbraco 13 stops receiving updates, package maintainers typically shift support toward newer versions. Over time, this leads to breakage, errors, and feature limitations.
Performance and compatibility limitations
New .NET improvements, hosting optimizations, and caching efficiencies will not backport to Umbraco 13. As other systems modernize, older Umbraco versions often struggle to keep pace.
Accumulating technical debt
The longer you wait to upgrade, the more painful it becomes. Deferred upgrades tend to create larger rebuild scopes and higher costs later.
Your Umbraco 13 Upgrade Options
Organizations considering an upgrade from Umbraco 13 typically fall into one of two paths. The best path depends on your implementation, custom features, and long term goals.
Direct upgrades vs. full-site rebuilds
Some sites can upgrade directly through supported migration paths. Others may benefit more from a fresh rebuild on a clean, modern codebase.
When a simple upgrade is realistic
Sites that use mostly core features, minimal custom code, and widely supported packages may be eligible for a relatively fast upgrade. This keeps the scope small and maintains your existing structure.
When to consider a redesign or restructure
If your site includes significant legacy code, deprecated packages, or outdated architecture choices, a rebuild may be the more stable option. Many organizations also use this opportunity to refresh their design, simplify content models, or align with new business needs.
Umbraco’s New LTS Version
The newest LTS release for Umbraco offers an extended lifecycle and a more modern development environment. Moving to an LTS version ensures a longer period of guaranteed support and a smooth foundation for ongoing improvements.
What Long Term Support means in practice
LTS versions receive active security updates, compatibility improvements, and bug fixes for a longer period compared to standard releases. This gives organizations predictable stability and a clear upgrade schedule.
High-level benefits of upgrading to an LTS release
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Improved performance through newer .NET versions
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Stronger security baselines
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More modern back-office features
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Better long term support from package maintainers
Why many v13 sites will ultimately move to v17
Version 17 is positioned to be the next widely adopted LTS release. Teams moving off v13 often choose v17 to maximize stability and extend the lifecycle of their platform.
Migration Path From Umbraco 13 to 17
A well planned upgrade path removes uncertainty and reduces risk. At Umbricians, we approach Umbraco 13 migrations with a structured process.
Auditing your existing v13 implementation
We evaluate your codebase, dependencies, integrations, hosting setup, and editorial workflows to determine the most efficient upgrade path.
Mapping custom code, packages, and integrations
Every site is unique. We identify what can be upgraded directly, what needs refactoring, and what should be replaced with modern alternatives.
Migrating content, media, and URLs
We preserve your information architecture, content, SEO structure, and media library to maintain continuity and avoid ranking disruptions.
Testing, launch, and ongoing support
We perform full QA, regression testing, accessibility checks, and performance tuning before launch. Once live, we provide ongoing support to keep your new site stable and secure.
How Umbricians Supports Your Umbraco 13 EoL Plan
Upgrade readiness assessments
We help you evaluate the effort, risks, and timeline required for your specific project.
Fixed-scope upgrades and migrations
For many organizations, predictability matters. We offer fixed-scope packages to simplify budgeting and planning.
Long-term support on modern Umbraco releases
After launch, our support team continues to maintain performance, security, and stability as your site grows.
When to Start Planning Your Move From Umbraco 13
Recommended timelines before December 2026
Upgrades should ideally be planned at least six to twelve months before the End of Life date. This allows flexibility, proper testing time, and space to address unexpected findings.
Priorities if your upgrade window is already tight
If you are behind schedule, focus on an audit and discovery phase first. This will help determine whether a direct upgrade or rebuild is the fastest and safest path.
About Umbricians
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