How to Determine XML Backup Confluence Version

Platform Notice: Data Center Only - This article only applies to Atlassian products on the Data Center platform.

Note that this KB was created for the Data Center version of the product. Data Center KBs for non-Data-Center-specific features may also work for Server versions of the product, however they have not been tested. Support for Server* products ended on February 15th 2024. If you are running a Server product, you can visit the Atlassian Server end of support announcement to review your migration options.

*Except Fisheye and Crucible

Summary

In certain cases when there are a number of XML backups in the backups folder under your Confluence Home directory and you do not have any clue which XML backup is from the Confluence version that you are looking for. This informational guide is commonly used for Confluence migration purposes.

Solution

Determining the XML backup Confluence version

  1. Unzip Confluence XML backup.

  2. Search and open the exportDescriptor.properties file in an editor.

  3. The file contains information such as follows:

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 #Thu Jan 29 11:36:51 CET 2015 buildNumber=4517 ao.data.version.com.atlassian.mywork.mywork-confluence-host-plugin=2.2.7 ao.data.version.min.com.atlassian.confluence.plugins.confluence-space-ia=5.0 exportType=all createdByBuildNumber=5638 backupAttachments=false defaultUsersGroup=confluence-users ao.data.list=com.atlassian.confluence.plugins.confluence-space-ia, com.atlassian.mywork.mywork-confluence-host-plugin ao.data.version.min.com.atlassian.mywork.mywork-confluence-host-plugin=1.1.30 ao.data.version.com.atlassian.confluence.plugins.confluence-space-ia=8.3
  4. Get the createdByBuildNumber information.

  5. Compare the build number with Confluence Build Information documentation.

    For example, the createdByBuildNumber parameter is 5638. Hence, it describes the Confluence version 5.6.5.

Updated on April 8, 2025

Still need help?

The Atlassian Community is here for you.