OctoPrint core updates are usually uneventful. Problems typically come from third-party plugins that don’t support the new OctoPrint or Python version yet.
1. Make a backup with the bundled plugin
OctoPrint ships a Backup & Restore plugin. It creates a zip of your settings, plugin list and data (optionally excluding uploads and timelapses), which you can restore on a fresh install. Download it to your computer, not just keep it on the Pi.
2. Update through Software Update
The Software Update plugin handles OctoPrint and plugin updates and lets you choose a release channel. Stay on Stable unless you deliberately want release candidates for testing.
Update only when the printer is idle. Updating restarts the server and would interrupt a print streaming from OctoPrint.
3. Check plugins before and after
- Before: look at the release notes for compatibility notes, and check that critical plugins are still maintained.
- After: open Settings → Plugin Manager and look for plugins marked disabled or incompatible.
- Keep the plugin list short. Every plugin is something that can break on update.
4. Keep the OS current too
OctoPi is a Raspberry Pi OS image underneath. Older images eventually stop getting OS updates, which can block newer OctoPrint versions. Plan an occasional fresh image and restore from the backup instead of patching a very old install forever.
Checklist
- Backup zip downloaded off the Pi
- Stable channel
- Printer idle
- Plugin Manager checked after updating