---
title: Preparing to upgrade PingFederate
description: Prepare to upgrade PingFederate by completing a number of tasks.
component: pingfederate
version: 12.3
page_id: pingfederate:upgrading_pingfederate:pf_prepare_upgrade_pf
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingfederate/13.1/upgrading_pingfederate/pf_prepare_upgrade_pf.html
llms_txt: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingfederate/llms.txt
docs_for_agents: https://developer.pingidentity.com/build-with-ai/docs-for-agents.md
revdate: July 27, 2026
superseded_by: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingfederate/13.1/upgrading_pingfederate/pf_prepare_upgrade_pf.html
section_ids:
  steps: Steps
---

# Preparing to upgrade PingFederate

Prepare to upgrade PingFederate by completing a number of tasks.

## Steps

* Review the PingFederate release notes for enhancements, upgrade considerations, deprecated features, and other known issues and limitations.

* Review the post-upgrade tasks.

* Review potential changes in system and port requirements.

* Obtain a new license key if needed.

* Update the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) *(tooltip: \<div class="paragraph">
  \<p>A software layer that provides the class libraries and resources needed for a Java program to run.\</p>
  \</div>)* on your PingFederate servers if needed. Refer to [Installing Java](../installing_and_uninstalling_pingfederate/pf_install_java.html) for supported Java versions.

  |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
  | - | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
  |   | Updating your Java version results in an error when PingFederate is already installed and running as a service on Windows. To work around this issue, uninstall and reinstall the PingFederate Windows service by running the `UninstallPingFederateService.bat` and `InstallPingFederateService.bat` files located in `<pf_install>/pingfederate/sbin/wrapper`. |

  When you upgrade the JRE, modify the previously defined paths for the system *\<JAVA_HOME>* and *\<PATH>* environment variables.

* Complete any unfinished connections (Drafts) in the administrative console if you want to include them in the migration.