ZIP Distribution
Starting from the 2025.1 release, YouTrack is no longer distributed as a ZIP installation package. Server installations and upgrades are only supported through Docker. With containerized deployments becoming the IT industry standard for providing secure and isolated environments, we strive to adhere to industry best practices by exclusively prioritizing containerized solutions.
Another reason is that shipping only Docker images allows us to deliver new features faster. For instance, we were unable to include image recognition support for the ZIP distribution, but it was relatively straightforward to implement with Docker. The same is true for several other features we have planned for the future.
If you had previously installed an earlier version of YouTrack using the ZIP distribution, use our Docker Container distribution to upgrade the application.
Use the following procedure to update your installation:
First, create a backup of your existing installation. This will be used as the data source for upgrading the application using the Docker Container distribution package.
To learn how to create a backup of your YouTrack database, see Back Up the Database.
Upgrade your installation using our Docker Container distribution. When performing the upgrade, be sure to use the backup copy of your ZIP installation as the upgrade source.
For detailed instructions, see Upgrade an Existing Installation from a Database Backup using a Docker Image.