BMAD-METHOD/docs/how-to/upgrade-to-v6.md

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How to Upgrade to v6 Migrate from BMad v4 to v6

Use the BMad installer to upgrade from v4 to v6, which includes automatic detection of legacy installations and migration assistance.

When to Use This

  • You have BMad v4 installed (.bmad-method folder)
  • You want to migrate to the new v6 architecture
  • You have existing planning artifacts to preserve

:::note[Prerequisites]

  • Node.js 20+
  • Existing BMad v4 installation :::

Steps

1. Run the Installer

Follow the Installer Instructions.

2. Handle Legacy Installation

When v4 is detected, you can:

  • Allow the installer to back up and remove .bmad-method
  • Exit and handle cleanup manually

If you named your bmad method folder something else - you will need to manual remove the folder yourself.

3. Clean Up IDE Commands

Manually remove legacy v4 IDE commands - for example if you have claude, look for any nested folders that start with bmad and remove them:

  • .claude/commands/BMad/agents
  • .claude/commands/BMad/tasks

4. Migrate Planning Artifacts

If you have planning documents (Brief/PRD/UX/Architecture):

Move them to _bmad-output/planning-artifacts/ with descriptive names:

  • Include PRD in filename for PRD documents
  • Include brief, architecture, or ux-design accordingly
  • Sharded documents can be in named subfolders

If you're mid-planning: Consider restarting with v6 workflows. Use your existing documents as inputs—the new progressive discovery workflows with web search and IDE plan mode produce better results.

5. Migrate In-Progress Development

If you have stories created or implemented:

  1. Complete the v6 installation
  2. Place epics.md or epics/epic*.md in _bmad-output/planning-artifacts/
  3. Run the Scrum Master's sprint-planning workflow
  4. Tell the SM which epics/stories are already complete

What You Get

v6 unified structure:

your-project/
└── _bmad/               # Single installation folder
    ├── _config/         # Your customizations
    │   └── agents/      # Agent customization files
    ├── core/            # Universal core framework
    ├── bmm/             # BMad Method module
    ├── bmb/             # BMad Builder
    └── cis/             # Creative Intelligence Suite
├── _bmad-output/        # Output folder (was doc folder in v4)

Module Migration

v4 Module v6 Status
.bmad-2d-phaser-game-dev Integrated into BMGD Module
.bmad-2d-unity-game-dev Integrated into BMGD Module
.bmad-godot-game-dev Integrated into BMGD Module
.bmad-infrastructure-devops Deprecated — new DevOps agent coming soon
.bmad-creative-writing Not adapted — new v6 module coming soon

Key Changes

Concept v4 v6
Core _bmad-core was actually BMad Method _bmad/core/ is universal framework
Method _bmad-method _bmad/bmm/
Config Modified files directly config.yaml per module
Documents Sharded or unsharded required setup Fully flexible, auto-scanned