Umbraco V17 is here: the LTS release you've been waiting for!

Umbraco 17 launched as the newest Long-Term Support (LTS) version of the popular CMS. As an LTS release, it offers a stable foundation for years. 

If you've been holding off on upgrading or planning your next Umbraco project, now's the time to pay attention.

What Makes Umbraco V17 Special?

Umbraco V17 is built on .NET 10 LTS, Microsoft's latest long-term framework. That gives you improved performance, better memory handling, and a rock-solid foundation for enterprise projects. But more importantly, it marks the maturity of the Bellissima Project – the complete backoffice rewrite that started with V14.

Remember when V14 dropped and everyone was like "whoa, Web Components instead of AngularJS?" Well, V17 is where all that work pays off. The growing pains are over. What you get now is a modern, stable platform that's been stress-tested and refined through V14, V15, and V16.

Why Should You Care?

For New Projects: If you're starting fresh, V17 is a no-brainer. You get the latest tech stack, long-term support through 2028, and a platform that won't need major upgrades for a while.

For V13 Users: This is your upgrade path. V17 supports direct LTS-to-LTS migration from V13, with automatic database migrations and clear documentation for handling breaking changes.

For Everyone: Extensions are now first-class citizens. Your custom backoffice work isn't just clever hacks anymore – it's supported by design, protected when Umbraco updates, and built on modern tools that won't randomly break.

What's New in Umbraco V17?

Here's what landed in this release:

• Support for .NET 10 – Future-proof tech stack with Microsoft's latest LTS framework
• Load-Balanced Backoffice – Scale your setup without headaches
• UTC Date Handling – Consistent time zones and a new date property editor that actually makes sense
• Better UI/UX – Entity signs, keyboard shortcuts, validation badges, dynamic browser titles, and deep linking
• Modern Extension Framework – Web Components, TypeScript, and your choice of frontend framework (React, Vue, Svelte, whatever)

The Elephant in the Backoffice

Let's be real: if you're upgrading from V13, there's work involved. The Bellissima rewrite means custom extensions need to be rebuilt with modern tools. Methods like SendingContentNotification have been replaced with more structured alternatives.

Is it annoying? Sure. But here's why it matters: you're not just patching old code anymore. You're building on a platform that won't become obsolete, won't tie you to dead frameworks (RIP AngularJS), and won't surprise you with breaking changes every six months.

How Much Work Is It Really?

From V15 or V16? Easy upgrade, minimal changes.

From V13? It's a proper LTS-to-LTS jump. Expect to:

• Let automatic migrations handle database updates (back up first, obviously)
• Check third-party packages for V17 compatibility
• Rebuild custom backoffice extensions using the new architecture

The more custom stuff you've built, the more testing you'll need. But the Umbraco team has documented everything, provided migration guides, and even built playground examples to help you through it.

Is This the New Normal?

Nope. The Umbraco V13-to-V17 jump is a milestone release, not the new standard. Two massive shifts happened here: moving to .NET Core (V8 to V9) and the Bellissima rewrite (V14+). There's nothing like that on the roadmap right now.

Future LTS upgrades will still bring improvements and changes, but they won't be full platform rewrites. This was the big one.

Ready to Upgrade?

Umbraco V17 isn't just about new features – it's about getting you on a stable, modern foundation that'll last. Whether you're building new sites or planning migrations, this is the version to target.

At Usome, we specialize in Umbraco projects at unbelievable prices. Need help upgrading to V17 or starting a new project? We've got you covered with our experienced team in Nepal and competitive rates that don't sacrifice quality.