Migration Blueprint: From Moodle 1.9 to 5.0.2+

Migrating from Moodle 1.9 to the latest Moodle 5.0.2+ is more than a version bump — it’s a strategic digital transformation. This guide is tailored for IT administrators, LMS consultants, and academic institutions looking to modernize their learning platforms while preserving data integrity and enhancing performance.

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⚠️ Can You Jump Directly from Moodle 1.9 to 5.0.2+?

Short answer: No.
Long answer: Moodle migrations must be done incrementally.

Why Step-by-Step Migration Is Mandatory

Keywords: Moodle upgrade path, LMS version compatibility, incremental migration strategy

Moodle’s core architecture has undergone major changes since 1.9. Direct migration to 5.0.2+ is not supported due to:

• Major database schema changes
• Deprecation of core modules (e.g., Chat, Survey)
• Authentication system overhaul
• Plugin and theme incompatibility

Recommended Upgrade Path

To ensure a smooth transition, follow this sequential upgrade ladder:

1. Moodle 1.9 → Moodle 2.2
2. Moodle 2.2 → Moodle 2.7
3. Moodle 2.7 → Moodle 3.5 (LTS)
4. Moodle 3.5 → Moodle 3.9 (LTS)
5. Moodle 3.9 → Moodle 4.0
6. Moodle 4.0 → Moodle 5.0.2+

Each step should include:

• Full database and file backups
• Plugin compatibility checks
• Theme refactoring
• Staging environment testing

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🔧 Migration Blueprint: From Moodle 1.9 to 5.0.2+

📍 Phase 1: Pre-Migration Audit & Infrastructure Readiness

Keywords: LMS audit checklist, Moodle server requirements, legacy LMS migration

• Conduct a comprehensive LMS audit
• Validate server compatibility (PHP 8.2+, MySQL 8.4+, PostgreSQL 14+)
• Implement versioned backups (e.g., mysqldump, pg_dump)
• Review security posture (SSL, MFA, deprecated auth methods)

🧩 Phase 2: Data Extraction & Transformation

Keywords: Moodle database migration, LMS data mapping, SCORM content migration

• Export course data using Moodle backup tools or SQL
• Convert SCORM, quizzes, and gradebooks to 5.x-compatible formats
• Clean up metadata and remove deprecated modules

🛠️ Phase 3: Environment Setup & Staging Deployment

Keywords: Moodle Docker setup, LMS staging environment, Moodle theme migration

• Deploy a staging instance using Docker or LAMP stack
• Install Moodle 5.0.2+ (weekly build)
• Rebuild themes using Boost or Classic
• Verify plugin compatibility via Moodle Plugin Directory

🚦 Phase 4: Migration Execution & QA Testing

Keywords: LMS QA checklist, Moodle migration script, automated testing for LMS

• Run CLI upgrade scripts (admin/cli/upgrade.php)
• Perform regression testing on courses, roles, and gradebooks
• Conduct accessibility audits (WCAG 2.1 compliance)

📈 Phase 5: Go-Live & Post-Migration Optimization

Keywords: LMS performance tuning, Moodle caching, CDN for Moodle

• Enable Redis/Memcached for caching
• Integrate CDN (Cloudflare, AWS CloudFront)
• Monitor performance with New Relic or Datadog
• Train faculty and students with updated onboarding materials