Is Your OJS Version Outdated? How to Check and What to Look For

Many journals still run the OJS version that was installed years ago. Submissions come in and issues get published, so the version rarely gets a second look. This guide shows how to find your version in a minute, what its status means today, and the signs that your installation needs attention.

How to check your OJS version

1. Log in with a site administrator account.
2. Open Administration → System Information.
3. The current version is shown at the top, for example 3.3.0.20. Note the full number: the last part is the build.

No site administrator login? Ask whoever set up the journal, or send us your journal address: our free check includes the version. Then compare your build with the latest one on PKP’s download page.

What your version means (October 2026)

Your version	Status	Guide
3.5	PKP’s current long-term support release; latest build 3.5.0-5 (30 June 2026)	Keep it on the latest build
3.4	Still gets maintenance builds (latest 3.4.0-11, 18 September 2026), but not a long-term support release	OJS 3.4 to 3.5
3.3	Older long-term support release, supported until at least 1 January 2027; latest build 3.3.0-23 (18 September 2026)	OJS 3.3 to 3.5
3.2	No longer maintained	OJS 3.2 to 3.5
3.0, 3.1	No longer maintained	OJS 3.0 or 3.1 to 3.5
2.4 to 2.x	End of life	OJS 2 to OJS 3.5
2.3 or earlier	End of life	very old OJS (2.3 or earlier)

Signs your OJS needs attention

• Your build is behind. Check the full build number, not just “3.3” or “3.4”. 3.3 builds before 3.3.0-23 and 3.4 builds before 3.4.0-11 are missing published security fixes.
• Your version is no longer maintained. OJS 3.0 to 3.2 and OJS 2 get no fixes. Published flaws, such as CVE-2024-56525 (a journal editor creating a super-admin role), were fixed only in 3.3 and 3.4 builds.
• Your host warns about PHP. PKP lists PHP 7.3 to 8.2 for OJS 3.3, and PHP 8.2’s security support ends on 31 December 2026. PHP 7 lost its last security support on 28 November 2022. OJS 3.5 needs PHP 8.2 or later.
• A plugin or theme you need doesn’t list your version. Plugins and themes are released for specific OJS versions. If the one you need only lists newer versions, your installation is holding you back.
• Your editors work around OJS. DOIs tracked in a spreadsheet, accounts made by hand for every new reviewer, decision emails written outside the system. OJS 3.4 and 3.5 handle these inside OJS.
• Nobody is sure what was customised. Edits made directly to OJS files, or plugins nobody maintains any more, make every future upgrade bigger the longer they stay.

Emails that don’t arrive are usually a mail-setup problem rather than a version problem: SPF, DKIM and DMARC are set at your domain. See OJS email not sending.

What you’d gain with OJS 3.5

• Redesigned dashboard and workflow pages, with saved views of the submissions list, a summary panel, and review progress shown for each submission.
• DOIs built into OJS, with one page to manage them and see the deposit status of each item.
• Invitations: journal managers invite people to take a role, and they accept by email.
• ORCID integration built into OJS, and several affiliations per author, linked to the ROR registry of research organisations.
• Authors can suggest reviewers when they submit, if the journal turns this on.
• Long-term support: PKP designated OJS 3.5.0-5 (June 2026) a long-term support release, so OJS 3.5 is the version PKP commits to maintaining for longer.

The full list: new features in OJS 3.4 and 3.5.

Guides for each version

Each guide covers what your version gains in OJS 3.5 and why you should upgrade:

• OJS 3.4 to 3.5
• OJS 3.3 to 3.5
• OJS 3.2 to 3.5
• OJS 3.0 or 3.1 to 3.5
• OJS 2 to OJS 3.5
• very old OJS (2.3 or earlier)

If you’d like it done for you, our OJS upgrade service starts with a free check of your journal and gives you a clear price before any work begins.

Feature lists come from PKP’s release notes for OJS 3.4 and 3.5; security details from the public CVE records and PKP’s release notes; PHP dates from the PHP project. Checked in October 2026. New issues are found over time. This guide is independent and not endorsed by PKP.

Questions

Where do I find my OJS version?

Log in as site administrator and open Administration → System Information. The current version is shown at the top.

Is OJS 3.4 outdated?

It still gets maintenance builds (the latest is 3.4.0-11, September 2026), but it isn’t a long-term support release. OJS 3.5 is.

Is OJS 3.3 outdated?

It’s an older long-term support release, supported until at least 1 January 2027. Keep it on the latest build, 3.3.0-23, and plan the move to OJS 3.5.

How do I know if my build is up to date?

Compare the full number, such as 3.3.0-23, with the latest build for your version on PKP’s download page.