Upgrade & Rollback on Windows (MSI)

Upgrade safely with backups and a rollback plan. Use GUI or silent msiexec, verify services and logs, and revert quickly if needed.

Before you start

  • Read the release notes for breaking changes.
  • Notify users about maintenance and schedule a short downtime.
  • Ensure you have admin rights on the machine.

Backup (recommended)

  • Grafana data directory (dashboards, db, plugins, etc.).
  • Configuration files (ini/custom.ini).
Copy-Item -Recurse -Path "C:\\Program Files\\GrafanaLabs\\grafana" -Destination "C:\\Backup\\grafana_$(Get-Date -Format yyyyMMdd)"

Stop service

Stop-Service grafana

Upgrade via GUI

  1. Download the new MSI from the Download MSI page.
  2. Run the MSI and follow the prompts.
  3. Start the service and verify access at http://localhost:3000.

Silent upgrade (msiexec)

msiexec /i "C:\\path\\to\\grafana-latest-x64.msi" /qn /norestart /L*v "%TEMP%\\grafana_upgrade.log"
Use /qn for quiet mode, /L*v for a verbose log, and /norestart to prevent auto‑reboot.

Start service & validate

Start-Service grafana
  • Open the UI and confirm dashboards and plugins are available.
  • Review logs for errors and warnings (Event Viewer, Grafana logs).

Rollback (if needed)

  1. Stop the service.
  2. Uninstall the new version in Apps & Features or with msiexec.
msiexec /x {GRAFANA-PRODUCT-CODE-GUID} /qn /norestart
  1. Install the previous MSI.
  2. Restore the backup if necessary.
  3. Start the service and verify functionality.
Note: Product code GUID varies by version. You can find it in the MSI properties or via registry/WMI query.

Troubleshooting

  • Service fails to start: check Event Viewer and Grafana logs; ensure plugins are compatible; revert changes if needed.
  • Port already in use: free port 3000 or change Grafana port and update firewall rules. See Windows Firewall.
  • DB or schema errors: review release notes for migrations; restore backup and retry with a compatible version.
  • Silent install issues: review the MSI log at %TEMP%/grafana_upgrade.log for detailed errors.
More fixes: Common Errors • Install as Service