Laravel 11: What They Don't Tell You About Migration

🎯 The Migration Plan

Laravel 11 was released, and the upgrade guide looked straightforward. "Minimal breaking changes," they said. "Easy migration," they promised.

I should have known better.

Estimated time: 4-6 hours
Actual time: 12 hours
Unexpected issues: Too many to count

💥 Hidden Breaking Changes

1. Middleware Changes

The middleware system changed more than the docs suggested:

// Laravel 10
Route::middleware(['auth', 'throttle:60,1'])->group(function () {
    // routes
});

// Laravel 11 - This broke!
// Had to use new syntax:
Route::middleware(['auth', 'throttle:60,1'])->group(function () {
    // routes
});
// Actually, this still works, but the internal implementation changed

The real issue: Custom middleware that relied on internal Laravel behavior broke silently.

2. Service Provider Changes

Service providers work differently now:

// Laravel 10
class AppServiceProvider extends ServiceProvider
{
    public function boot()
    {
        // This worked
    }
}

// Laravel 11 - Some boot() logic needs to move
// to register() or use new methods

3. Database Migration Changes

Migration timestamps changed format, which broke some of my custom migration scripts.

⚠️ What Nobody Warns You About

1. Third-Party Package Compatibility

Many packages hadn't updated yet. I had to:

• Wait for updates (3 packages)
• Find alternatives (2 packages)
• Fork and fix (1 package)

2. Testing Changes

PHPUnit and testing setup changed. My test suite broke in unexpected ways:

// Tests that worked in Laravel 10
$this->actingAs($user)->get('/api/data');
// Laravel 11: Different behavior, had to update assertions

3. Configuration Changes

Many config files were removed or consolidated. Finding where settings moved took time:

• Session config → moved to framework config
• Cache config → simplified
• Queue config → changed structure

📊 Migration Timeline

✅ What Actually Went Well

• Performance: App is noticeably faster
• New features: Some nice additions (once I figured them out)
• Code quality: Forced me to clean up some technical debt
• Future-proofing: Now on supported version

💡 Migration Tips

1. Read the full changelog: Not just the upgrade guide
2. Test in staging first: Don't upgrade production directly
3. Check package compatibility: Before starting migration
4. Update tests early: They'll catch issues
5. Budget extra time: It always takes longer than expected

🎯 Should You Migrate?

Yes, if:

• You need new features
• You want better performance
• You have time for migration
• Your packages are compatible

Wait, if:

• You're on a tight deadline
• Critical packages aren't updated
• Your app is working fine
• You can't afford downtime

💡 Key Takeaways

• Laravel 11 migration is more complex than advertised
• Hidden breaking changes will bite you
• Third-party packages are the biggest risk
• Budget 2x the estimated time
• Test thoroughly in staging first

The migration was worth it, but it wasn't as smooth as the docs suggested. Plan accordingly, and you'll be fine.