Upgrading from Angular 6 to 20 sounds overwhelming, but with the right approach (and smart use of Copilot), it can be completed smoothly within a few days and in some cases, even within hours, depending on the project’s complexity.
Here’s a practical way to tackle it 👇
🧠 Step 1: Plan Smart (Don’t Skip This)
Start with a clear migration plan. Instead of jumping straight into execution, use plan mode in Copilot to generate a structured roadmap.
Give a precise prompt like:
“Create a sprint-ready plan to migrate an Angular 6 project to Angular 20.”
Answer the follow-up questions carefully, this step is critical. Poor inputs here can lead to messy outcomes later.
⚙️ Step 2: Execute with Control (Not Blind Automation)
Once the plan is ready, switch to implementation mode and begin automation, but don’t rely on it blindly. The developer’s role is still crucial.
Key things to handle carefully:
- Update Angular CLI and core packages
- 2.Upgrade RxJS and migrate operator imports
- Align TypeScript with the supported version
- Update Angular Material (if applicable)
- Address deprecated APIs
- Fix blocking breaking changes required for build and runtime
- Run ng lint and fix new rules
- Ensure build and serve are working
- Commit and tag the version
- Push code and verify locally
- Update Node.js version
- Sync package.json dependencies
- Fix SCSS/CSS compatibility issues
- Update CI/CD pipeline configurations
🎧 Keep it steady. Small steps. Clean PRs. No chaos
After these steps, your project is stable and safe for further improvements.
✨ Step 3: Don’t Miss Modern Angular Enhancements
Migration isn’t just about upgrading—it’s about evolving your codebase.
Make sure to adopt:
- Standalone components
- New control flow syntax
- inject() function
- Lazy-loaded routes
- Updated @Input() / @Output() APIs
- Self-closing tags
- Class & style bindings (instead of NgClass / NgStyle)
- Router testing updates
- Moving from CommonModule to standalone imports
💡 Final Thought
Yes, tools like Copilot can accelerate the process, but the real impact comes from how well you guide them.
Migration is no longer just a technical task. It’s a strategic upgrade.