Upgrading from v3.

Reward Loyalty 5 does not install straight over a version 3 installation. The path runs in two steps: bring your installation to the latest version 4 release, then move from version 4 to version 5. Your data survives both steps: partners, members, cards, stamps, vouchers, transactions, and settings.

Before you start

• Back up your installation. Export the database and download a copy of your files, including .env. If your hosting panel offers one-click backups, use that as well.
• Upgrade PHP to 8.4.1 or newer. Version 4 needs PHP 8.4 and version 5 refuses anything older than 8.4.1, so one PHP upgrade covers both steps. Check the requirements for the full list.
• Test on a copy first if you can. See Separate staging from production.

Step 1: update to the latest version 4

Sign in as an administrator, open License & Updates, and click Check for Updates. The update server keeps every v3 and v4 installation on the version 4 track, so your existing purchase code receives the latest 4.x release. Version 4 upgrades a version 3 installation in place, with no manual data migration.

The same update methods work as on any release: the dashboard update, an update package, or manual file replacement on hosting without exec(). Updating walks through each method.

Step 2: continue to version 5

With your installation on the latest version 4 release, follow Upgrading from v4. Version 5 activates with a Reward Loyalty license key; that guide covers getting the key and running the update.