How to Update Your Vue 2 Project to Vue 3: Step-by-Step Migration Guide (2025)

Posted On: 21, April 2025

How to Update Your Vue 2 Project to Vue 3 Step-by-Step

Introduction: Time to Give Your Vue Project a Fresh Boost!

If you've been working with Vue 2 for a while, you’re probably loving its simplicity and power. But with Vue 3 out in the wild, it's a great time to upgrade and take advantage of its faster performance, Composition API, and improved TypeScript support. Don't worry—it might sound like a big leap, but with the right steps, updating your Vue 2 project to Vue 3 can be smooth and rewarding.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the update process step by step, using simple language and real examples. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Evaluate Your Project for Migration Readiness

Understand Vue 3 Features and Breaking Changes

Before diving in, take a moment to check the official Vue 3 docs. Key changes include:

Composition API
Fragment support
Changes in lifecycle hooks
Removal of filters
Some syntax and behavioral differences

Use the Vue 3 Migration Guide

The official Vue 3 Migration Guide is your best friend here. It outlines deprecated features and their replacements. This helps you spot what might break in your project during the upgrade.

Step 2: Upgrade Dependencies

Install the Vue 3 Compatible Packages

First, update your `package.json`. Replace Vue 2 packages with Vue 3-compatible versions.

npm install vue@next vue-router@4 vuex@4

If you're using Vue CLI, update it too:

npm install -g @vue/cli

vue upgrade

Step 3: Refactor Your Code

Update Your `main.js` or `main.ts`

The Vue 3 initialization is a bit different. Here's what it should look like:

Old Vue 2 style:

new Vue({

render: h => h(App),

}).$mount('#app')

New Vue 3 style:

import { createApp } from 'vue'

import App from './App.vue'

createApp(App).mount('#app')

Update Vue Router and Vuex Configs

Vue Router and Vuex have also changed slightly. Make sure you update their syntax according to Vue 3 standards. For example, Vue.use(Router) is no longer used in Vue 3.

Step 4: Remove or Replace Deprecated Features

Say Goodbye to Filters

Vue 3 doesn’t support filters. You’ll need to move any filter logic into computed properties or methods.

Old Vue 2:

New Vue 3:

computed: {

capitalizedMessage() {

return this.message.toUpperCase();

}

Update Lifecycle Hooks (If Using Composition API)

If you’re migrating to the Composition API, lifecycle hooks like mounted become onMounted.

import { onMounted } from 'vue'

onMounted(() => {

console.log('Component mounted')

})

Step 5: Test Everything Thoroughly

Run your project and look for any console warnings or errors. Use unit tests if available. If something breaks, refer back to the migration guide or Vue 3 docs.

Step 6: Consider Using the Migration Build

If your project is large, Vue offers a temporary "Migration Build" to help ease the transition. It lets you run Vue 3 while still using Vue 2 features, giving you more time to refactor your code gradually.

Install with:

npm install vue@3.2.0 vue-compat

Then update your config:

import { createApp } from 'vue'

import App from './App.vue'

const app = createApp(App)

// enable compat mode

app.config.compatConfig = { MODE: 3 }

app.mount('#app')

Step 7: Go Live with Vue 3

Once everything is running smoothly, and all outdated features are removed, your project is now officially Vue 3-powered! You’re now set to enjoy better performance, more flexibility, and future updates.

Upgrading to Vue 3 might seem challenging at first, but it's totally doable—especially if you follow a clear and structured approach. From understanding changes to testing your updated code, every step brings you closer to a more modern and powerful Vue app.

If you're looking for expert help with upgrading Vue projects, or even building full-featured web apps using Vue and Laravel, consider reaching out to CodeHunger. They specialize in modern web development solutions tailored to your business needs.