Upgrading Bitcoin Core to the Latest Version

I downloaded Bitcoin Core from some site but not sure if it was the right one. I'm running version 30.2.0 now and just saw 31.0 is out. My blockchain sync is almost halfway done and I really don't wanna lose that progress. Can I just install the new version over the old one?

Just close Bitcoin Core properly first, wait for it to finish everything, and then install the new version. After that, just restart it.

Yeah, you can upgrade without messing up your sync. It will pick up where you left off. Just make sure you point the installer to your Bitcoin folder where all your wallet stuff is, in case it’s not in the default place.

How did you even end up in an old release thread? It's like buried deep in the forum. Must've been Google acting up, right? But yeah, make sure to close anything running. Usually, upgrades don't cause issues, but check the release notes if you can find them.

I don’t usually rush to update to new versions unless there’s a major vulnerability that needs a quick fix. I’m fine chilling with 30.2 for now. Usually wait a few weeks before considering an upgrade. Just my approach.

On Linux, if you unpack the new version over the old one, it won't overwrite your bitcoin.conf. No need to double-check settings unless something's been deprecated.

I've done it on macOS too. I just upgraded from 29. Just a tip: I always move my big BTC stash to my Trezor before updating.

Honestly, I trust my backups so I don’t feel the need to move anything out before an upgrade. But yeah, keeping large amounts in a hot wallet is risky anyway. If something goes wrong, you can always recover with your seed phrase.

I’m still on v29.0 and kinda iffy about upgrading. Paranoia about Bitcoin keeps me cautious, but maybe it’s served me well over the years.