Updating QGIS: Multiple Versions and Caveats
What you'll learn
- How to update QGIS to the latest version
- How to install multiple versions of QGIS on one device
- Points to note when using multiple versions of QGIS
Recommended for
- Anyone who wants to use the stable long-term release (LTR) of QGIS while trying the latest features
- Anyone who wants to understand the differences between QGIS versions
Introduction
QGIS is updated regularly, and each update adds new features. QGIS has no automatic update feature, so to use a newer version, you need to download and install it manually. QGIS also lets you keep several versions on the same device, so you can keep using the stable long-term release (LTR) while you try the latest features.
This article explains how to install multiple versions of QGIS on one device and what to watch for.
Check for a new version
To find out whether a new version of QGIS is available, click Help → Check QGIS Version in the menu bar.
If a newer version of QGIS has been released, a QGIS Version Information window like the one below opens. Click the https://download.qgis.org link in the window to go to the download page for the latest version of QGIS.
Install the latest version of QGIS
This section assumes that the LTR (3.40 at the time of writing) is already installed. If you have not installed it yet, follow the article below.
To install the latest version (3.42 at the time of writing), follow the same steps as in the article above, but click Latest Version for Windows on the QGIS download page to download the installer.
When the latest version finishes installing, enter QGIS in the Start menu or the search bar to confirm that two versions of QGIS are installed.
When you open QGIS 3.42, the latest version, the start screen appears without problems. As you can see, QGIS lets you install multiple versions on a single device.
Items shared across versions
When you install multiple versions of QGIS on one device, the following user settings are shared as they are.
- QGIS settings (such as language and UI theme)
- Installed plugins
- Recent projects
This lets you switch between versions with confidence.
When you start the LTR and the latest version one after the other, you can see that plugins and recent projects are shared.
QGIS 3.40 LTR
QGIS 3.42
Points to note when using multiple versions
As described above, you can switch freely between QGIS versions. However, opening a project that uses new features of the latest version in an older version can cause problems.
For example, labeling for raster data was introduced in QGIS 3.42. Consider a project in which you set labels on raster data in the latest version (3.42) and save it.
When you open this project in the older version (3.40), a warning message appears: “This project file was created by a newer version of QGIS (3.42) and could not be completely loaded.” The raster label settings cannot be applied.
As this shows, when you switch between versions, pay close attention to compatibility.
Conclusion
This article explained how to update QGIS to the latest version. The update procedure is simple: choose the version you need on the QGIS download page and install it.
User settings such as language and plugins are shared automatically across all versions, so you can keep working in the LTR and still try the new features of the latest version with ease. Be careful when you open a project created in the latest version in an older version, because compatibility problems can occur.
QGIS LAB also covers the new features of each version in detail, so take a look at those articles too.
QGIS LAB is a comprehensive information hub for QGIS, the open-source GIS software. Under the concept of “Geospatial for Greater Good,” we share the knowledge and skills to open up the world through location data.
