How to Find Your Magento Version: 6 Verified Methods for Admin, CLI & File System

The Magento platform, a powerful and complex e-commerce system, powers a vast number of online stores worldwide. Whether you are a store owner, a developer taking over a project, or a system administrator responsible for maintenance, one of the most fundamental pieces of information you need is the exact version of Magento your store is running. This information is critical for a multitude of reasons, including ensuring compatibility with extensions, applying the correct security patches, planning upgrades, and troubleshooting issues. Unlike a simple software application that displays its version in an “About” menu, Magento stores this data in several locations within its file system and database. This guide will serve as your comprehensive resource for every verified method to determine your Magento version accurately, catering to various levels of access and technical expertise.

Understanding your Magento version is not a trivial task; it is a foundational step for store health and security. Magento releases regular updates that address security vulnerabilities, introduce new features, and enhance performance. Running an outdated version can expose your store to significant risks, including data breaches, payment fraud, and compliance failures. Furthermore, third-party modules and themes are often developed for specific Magento versions, and installing incompatible software can break your site. By the end of this guide, you will be equipped to identify your Magento version whether you have full admin access, only file system access via FTP/SFTP, or just the store’s frontend URL. We will cover methods from the simplest, like checking the admin footer, to more technical approaches involving command-line tools and database queries.

Before diving into the methods, it’s helpful to understand Magento’s versioning scheme. Historically, Magento has existed in two main editions: Magento Open Source (formerly Community Edition) and Magento Commerce (formerly Enterprise Edition). Since Adobe’s acquisition, the naming has evolved, but the core distinction remains. Versions are typically denoted as a series of numbers (e.g., 2.4.6, 2.4.5-p2, 1.9.4.0). The number after the “p” indicates a security or patch release. Knowing the full version string, including the patch level, is essential for applying updates correctly. This guide will help you find that precise string.

Method 1: Checking the Magento Version from the Admin Panel (Easiest Method)

If you have administrative access to your Magento store’s backend, this is the quickest and most straightforward way to find the version. The version is typically displayed in the footer of the admin interface. To access this, log in to your Magento admin dashboard. The URL is usually your store’s domain followed by `/admin` or a custom admin path set during installation. Once logged in, simply scroll all the way down to the bottom of any page within the admin panel. Look at the lower-right or lower-left corner of the page. You should see a line of text that reads something like “Magento ver. 2.4.6” or “Magento Open Source 2.4.5-p1”. This is your base Magento version. While this method is easy, it may not always show the detailed patch level. For a more granular view, you can navigate to the System Configuration.

Within the Admin Panel, you can also find more detailed version information under the System Configuration menu. Follow these steps for a more comprehensive check:

• Navigate to System: From the main admin sidebar, click on System.
• Open Web Setup Wizard: In the System menu, select Tools and then choose Web Setup Wizard. This area is used for upgrades and installations and prominently displays your current Magento version and edition.
• Check via System Report: Another reliable location is under System > Tools > System Report. This page provides a full overview of your Magento installation, including the exact version, installed modules, and their versions, which is invaluable for detailed audits.

If the version is not visible in the footer (some themes or customizations may remove it), or if you need to verify the information from another source, the following methods will serve as reliable alternatives.

Method 2: Using the Command Line Interface (CLI) via SSH

For developers and system administrators with SSH (Secure Shell) access to the server where Magento is hosted, the command line is the most powerful and definitive method. It provides instant, unambiguous version data. Connect to your server via an SSH client using your credentials. Once logged in, navigate to your Magento installation root directory. This is typically a folder like `/var/www/html/`, `/home/username/public_html/`, or a specific project directory. Use the `cd` command to change to that directory. Once in the root folder, you can run the built-in Magento command to display the version.

Execute the following command: php bin/magento –version. This command will return a single line of output, for example: Magento CLI 2.4.6. This confirms you are running Magento 2.4.6. For Magento 1.x installations, the command structure is different, and you may need to check the `app/Mage.php` file directly, which we will cover in the file system method. The CLI method is not only fast but also scriptable, making it ideal for monitoring multiple stores. Furthermore, you can use the command php bin/magento –help to see all available commands, many of which are essential for maintenance tasks like cache management and module status checks.

Method 3: Checking the Composer.json File

Modern Magento 2 installations use Composer, a dependency management tool for PHP. The project’s `composer.json` file contains metadata about the project, including the specific version of the `magento/product-community-edition` or `magento/product-enterprise-edition` package that is installed. This file is located in the root directory of your Magento installation. You can view it via a file manager in your hosting control panel, through an FTP/SFTP client, or via the command line. To check via command line, navigate to your Magento root and type: cat composer.json | grep magento/product. This will filter the file to show the relevant line.

The output will look similar to this: “magento/product-community-edition”: “2.4.6”,. The version number specified here is the target version installed via Composer. It’s important to note that this reflects the version defined in the file, which should match the installed version. However, if manual core file changes have been made without using Composer, there could be a discrepancy. Therefore, while highly reliable, it’s good practice to corroborate this with another method, especially the CLI command, which reads the actual installed codebase.

Method 4: Inspecting the Magento File System Directly

If you lack admin or SSH access but have file system access (via FTP, SFTP, or your hosting provider’s File Manager), you can find version information within specific files. This is a foolproof method that leaves no room for ambiguity. For Magento 2 stores, the key file is located at `/vendor/magento/magento2-base/composer.json`. Open this file and look for the `”version”` field. You will see a line like “version”: “2.4.6”. This file is part of the core Magento base package and accurately reflects the installed version.

For older Magento 1.x stores, the process is different. The primary file to check is `/app/Mage.php`. Open this file in a text editor. Near the top, you will find a line that defines the version constant. Search for a line that reads: define(‘Mage’, ‘1.9.4.0’); or similar. The version number within the quotes is your Magento 1 version. This method is particularly useful for legacy stores that are no longer actively maintained but still require auditing for security or migration planning.

Method 5: Querying the Magento Database

Every Magento installation stores its version information within the database. This method is useful as a last resort or for automated scripts that need to poll the version remotely. You will need access to your database, typically through phpMyAdmin (provided by most hosts) or a command-line MySQL client. The version is stored in the `core_config_data` table. Run the following SQL query:

SELECT * FROM core_config_data WHERE path LIKE ‘%version%’;

Alternatively, a more precise query is: SELECT * FROM core_config_data WHERE path = ‘system/version/release’;

This should return a row with the `value` column containing your Magento version string (e.g., `2.4.6`). For Magento 1, a similar query applies. Be extremely cautious when accessing your database directly. Always ensure you have a recent backup before running any queries, especially UPDATE or DELETE statements. This method confirms what Magento believes its version to be based on its installed schema, making it a highly authoritative source.

Method 6: Checking the Frontend Page Source (Indirect Method)

In some cases, you might only have access to the public-facing frontend of a Magento store. While not always reliable, as it can be hidden by theme customizations, the Magento version is sometimes inserted into the HTML source code of the page. To check, visit the store’s homepage or any other page. Right-click anywhere on the page and select “View Page Source” (or similar, depending on your browser). Once the source code window opens, press `Ctrl+F` (or `Cmd+F` on Mac) to search within the code. Type “Magento” into the search box and scan through the results.

You might find a meta tag or a comment in the HTML “ section that looks like: <meta name=”generator” content=”Magento 2.4.6″> or a comment like `` that hints at the version. Some themes or security extensions deliberately remove this information to obscure the version from potential attackers, so the absence of a version in the source does not confirm its removal; it simply means this method is inconclusive and you should try another.

Pro Tips for Version Management and Troubleshooting

Simply knowing your version is the first step. Effective management of that version is what keeps your store secure and functional. Here are expert tips to elevate your version management strategy.

• Automate Version Checks: For agencies or developers managing multiple client stores, create a simple script that uses SSH or a secure API to run the `php bin/magento –version` command periodically. Log the results to a dashboard to get an overview of which stores are up-to-date and which require immediate attention for security patches.
• Understand Patch Levels: Magento security patches (e.g., 2.4.5-p1, 2.4.5-p2) are critical. The `p` number is not just a minor revision; it often contains fixes for severe vulnerabilities. Always check for the full version string, not just the major.minor.release numbers. Use the `System Report` in the admin or the CLI command to see this detail.
• Correlate with Security Advisories: Subscribe to official Magento security announcements. When a new advisory is released (e.g., APSB22-12 for Adobe Commerce), immediately use the methods in this guide to check if your version is affected. The advisory will list vulnerable versions, enabling you to take swift action.
• Pre-Upgrade Audits: Before initiating any upgrade, perform a comprehensive audit. Use the `System Report` to document all installed third-party extensions and their versions. Contact the extension developers to confirm compatibility with your target Magento version to avoid post-upgrade conflicts.
• Version Control Integration: If your development workflow uses Git, ensure your `composer.json` and `composer.lock` files are committed. The `composer.lock` file pins the exact versions of all dependencies, making your installation reproducible and allowing you to easily see what is deployed in any environment (development, staging, production).
• Beware of “Hidden” Customizations: In heavily customized stores, core files might have been overridden or modified. In such cases, the version reported by the system may not fully reflect the state of the codebase. A file integrity check against a clean version of your reported release can identify unauthorized changes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

This section addresses common concerns and specific scenarios users encounter when trying to identify or manage their Magento version.

Q1: I checked the admin footer, but it only says “Magento” with no version number. What should I do?
A1: This is often due to a custom admin theme or a security hardening extension that removes the version from the footer for obfuscation. Don’t worry; this is a common practice. Proceed to Method 2 (CLI) or Method 4 (File System) for a definitive answer. The System Report under Tools is also unlikely to be hidden and will provide the version.

Q2: The CLI command returns “Command ‘php’ not found.” How do I fix this?
A2: This error indicates that the PHP executable is not in your system’s PATH, or PHP is not installed. First, try using the full path to PHP. You can find it by running `which php` on Linux/Mac or `where php` on Windows. It might be something like `/usr/bin/php` or `/opt/cpanel/ea-php74/root/usr/bin/php`. Then run the command as: `/usr/bin/php bin/magento –version`. If PHP is not installed, you will need to install it via your hosting control panel or server package manager.

Q3: I have an old store and I’m not sure if it’s Magento 1 or Magento 2. How can I tell quickly?
A3: The folder structure is the quickest telltale sign. Log in via FTP or File Manager. If you see a folder named `vendor` in the root, it is almost certainly Magento 2. Magento 1 does not use Composer by default and will not have this `vendor` folder. Instead, Magento 1 has an `app/code/core` folder structure. The presence of a `pub` directory (not `pub`) is also a strong indicator of Magento 2.

Q4: Why is knowing the exact patch version (like p1, p2) so important?
A4: Security. Major releases (2.4.5, 2.4.6) include new features and bug fixes. Patch releases (2.4.5-p1, 2.4.5-p2) are primarily for security vulnerabilities. Running 2.4.5 without the -p2 patch means your store is vulnerable to all security issues fixed in p1 and p2. Attackers actively scan for unpatched stores, making this a critical piece of information for your store’s safety.

Q5: I found different version numbers using different methods. Which one is correct?
A5: This indicates a discrepancy that needs investigation. The most authoritative source is the codebase itself. Trust the version reported by the CLI command `php bin/magento –version` or the value in `vendor/magento/magento2-base/composer.json` first. If the database (`core_config_data`) shows an older version, it may mean an upgrade script failed to update the database metadata. If the admin shows a different version, a cache issue is likely. Clear all caches (`php bin/magento cache:flush`) and recheck.

Q6: Can I hide my Magento version for security reasons?
A6: Yes, and it is a recommended security practice. You can remove the version from the admin footer via theme configuration or a small code modification. You should also ensure it is not displayed in the HTML source. However, remember that security through obscurity is not a substitute for keeping your store patched. The primary goal is to apply all security updates promptly; hiding the version is a secondary measure to slow down automated scanners.

Conclusion

Accurately determining your Magento version is a non-negotiable first step in responsible store ownership, development, and administration. As we have explored, multiple reliable pathways lead to this information, each suited to different levels of access and technical comfort. The simplest glance at the admin footer can often suffice, while the command-line interface offers the most definitive and scriptable result for professionals. Inspecting core files like `composer.json` or `Mage.php` provides a transparent view into the installed codebase, and querying the database serves as an authoritative backup method.

Beyond mere identification, understanding your version’s place in the Magento ecosystem—its edition, release, and patch level—is paramount for security, stability, and strategic planning. Regularly scheduled version checks should be integrated into your maintenance routine, coupled with vigilance for security advisories from Adobe. By mastering these techniques and adhering to the pro tips outlined, you transform a simple diagnostic task into a cornerstone of your store’s operational integrity. Whether you are planning a major upgrade, installing a new extension, or simply conducting a security audit, you now possess the comprehensive knowledge to answer the essential question: “What version of Magento am I running?” with confidence and precision.