Migrating from TinyMCE 5 to TinyMCE 8
Overview
TinyMCE has evolved significantly from version 5 to version 8.0, introducing architectural improvements, modern UI enhancements, stricter security defaults, and updated plugin structures. This comprehensive guide outlines the critical breaking changes, recommended migration action steps, and top-level configuration adjustments required to upgrade from TinyMCE v5 to v8.0.
This guide provides a complete migration path from TinyMCE 5 to TinyMCE 8, covering all changes across versions 6, 7, and 8 in a single comprehensive document.
Key Changes
UI Themes and Skins
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Minor Adjustments: Oxide-based skins from v5 remain mostly compatible but may require small CSS adjustments for v8.0.
-
Impact: Test custom skins visually, as minor DOM changes can affect layout and styling.
-
Browser Support: Internet Explorer 11 is no longer supported in v8.0 (dropped in v6), requiring modern browsers.
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Split Button Changes: TinyMCE 8 introduces structural changes to split buttons that may affect custom skins.
tinymce.init({
selector: "textarea",
skin: "oxide-dark",
content_css: "dark",
});
Plugin Ecosystem
The TinyMCE plugin ecosystem underwent a significant overhaul starting in version 6.0, with many plugins either removed, integrated into the core, or made premium-only. The following summarizes these changes.
-
Removed Plugins (no longer available as of TinyMCE 6.0):
-
bbcode,fullpage,legacyoutput: Deprecated in 5.9.0. Removed in 6.0. -
imagetools: Removed in 6.0. Replaced by the premium Enhanced Image Editing feature, available via theeditimageplugin introduced in TinyMCE 6.0. -
textcolor: Removed in 6.0. Use the premium Color Picker functionality instead.
-
-
Integrated into TinyMCE core:
-
paste,hr,table,noneditable,nonbreaking,print,colorpickerandcontextmenu: These plugins were absorbed into TinyMCE core and no longer require separate installation. See Copy and Paste, Table, Non-editable Content, and Context Menu for more information. -
contextmenu: Deprecated in version 5.0 following the integration of context menu functionality into TinyMCE core editor. Removed in version 6.0. For more information, see contextmenu documentation. -
tabfocus: Removed in 6.0. Keyboard navigation via Tab is now handled by the browser and TinyMCE core.
-
-
Now Premium Only:
-
mediaembed,tableofcontents: These features are available through premium plugins. See Media Embed and Table of Contents for more information. -
spellchecker: Deprecated in 5.9.0. Removed in 6.0.-
Use
browser_spellcheck: trueor the premium Spell Checker plugin.
-
-
advtemplate: Replaces thetemplateplugin for advanced templating use cases. -
template: Removed in 7.0. Replaced by the premium Templates plugin. -
toc: Renamed totableofcontentsand now premium.
-
Plugin Migration Examples
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contextmenu(removed in v6):-
Use browser-native context menus or custom logic.
-
Consider using
editor.ui.registry.addContextMenufor custom right-click actions. See Context menus for more information.
-
-
bbcode(removed in v6):-
Implement custom parsing or server-side processing if BBCode support is required.
-
-
fullpage(removed in v6):-
Use custom templates or server-side logic to handle full HTML documents.
-
-
template(removed in v7):-
Use the premium advtemplate plugin or implement custom modal dialogs.
-
-
textcolor(removed in v6):-
Use the
forecolorandbackcolortoolbar buttons for text color functionality.
-
-
imagetools: (removed in v6):-
Use the premium Enhanced Image Editing or Image Optimizer Powered by Uploadcare plugin for image editing capabilities.
-
Toolbar and Menu name changes
If you used the following toolbar buttons or menu options, they have changed names across major TinyMCE versions. Please refer to the release notes for each version for complete migration details.
TinyMCE 5 โ TinyMCE 6:
-
formatselectโblocks(toolbar item) -
blockformatsโblocks(menu item) -
styleselectโstyles(toolbar item) -
formatsโstyles(menu item) -
fontselectโfontfamily(toolbar item) -
fontformatsโfontfamily(menu item) -
fontsizeselectโfontsize(toolbar item) -
fontsizesโfontsize(menu item) -
imagetoolsโeditimage(plugin and related toolbar items) -
tocโtableofcontents(plugin, menu item, and toolbar item) -
tocupdateโtableofcontentsupdate(toolbar item)
TinyMCE 6 โ TinyMCE 7:
-
InsertOrderedListandInsertUnorderedListcommands were removed from TinyMCE core and are now provided by the Lists plugin. -
Default text pattern triggers were updated to activate on
Spaceinstead ofEnter. Atriggerproperty was added to configure block-level text pattern behavior.
TinyMCE 7 โ TinyMCE 8:
-
Several API methods have been deprecated or removed (see the API Changes section below for details)
-
License key system has been updated with new format requirements
-
DOMPurify sanitization has been strengthened
Refer to the latest release notes at latest release notes for further details.
| Always refer to the latest plugin documentation at plugins for up-to-date availability and migration guidance. |
tinymce.init({
selector: "textarea",
toolbar: "undo redo | forecolor backcolor | bold italic | alignleft aligncenter alignright alignjustify",
plugins: ["lists link image table code"] // Note: xref:lists.adoc[Lists], xref:link.adoc[Link], xref:image.adoc[Image], xref:table.adoc[Table], and xref:code.adoc[Code] plugins
});
Content Structure
-
Removed:
forced_root_block: false.-
Requirement: All editor content must be enclosed in block elements (e.g.,
<p>). See forced_root_block for more information.
-
tinymce.init({
selector: "textarea",
forced_root_block: "p"
});
Configuration Changes
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Removed in TinyMCE 6.0: Legacy mobile theme was removed, but mobile-specific configuration is still supported through the
mobileoption. -
UI API Updates:
-
Update custom plugins to use
editor.ui.registry.*. -
Replace deprecated methods like
editor.addButton,editor.addMenuItem, andeditor.windowManager.open.
-
-
Promise-Based Methods:
-
media_url_resolvernow requires aPromisereturn for asynchronous handling.
-
-
Removed Options:
-
force_hex_colorhas been removed. Use standard CSS color declarations.
-
Text Pattern Changes (v7)
TinyMCE 7.0 updated the default behavior of text_patterns to apply formats when the user presses the Space key instead of Enter.
Impact:
-
Markdown-style formatting now triggers on Space key press
-
Previous Enter key behavior can be restored by configuring
trigger: 'enter' -
This affects all text patterns including headings, lists, blockquotes, and horizontal rules
// Default TinyMCE 7+ behavior (Space key trigger)
tinymce.init({
selector: "textarea",
text_patterns: [
{ start: '#', format: 'h1', trigger: 'space' },
{ start: '##', format: 'h2', trigger: 'space' },
{ start: '1.', cmd: 'InsertOrderedList', trigger: 'space' },
{ start: '*', cmd: 'InsertUnorderedList', trigger: 'space' },
{ start: '>', cmd: 'mceBlockQuote', trigger: 'space' }
]
});
// Restore previous behavior (Enter key trigger)
tinymce.init({
selector: "textarea",
text_patterns: [
{ start: '#', format: 'h1', trigger: 'enter' },
{ start: '##', format: 'h2', trigger: 'enter' },
{ start: '1.', cmd: 'InsertOrderedList', trigger: 'enter' },
{ start: '*', cmd: 'InsertUnorderedList', trigger: 'enter' },
{ start: '>', cmd: 'mceBlockQuote', trigger: 'enter' }
]
});
Migration checklist:
-
Test existing text pattern behavior with Space key triggering
-
Update configurations if Enter key triggering is required
-
Review user experience with new Space key triggering
-
Update user documentation about text pattern behavior
The remove_trailing_brs setting was removed from the DomParser API in TinyMCE 7.0, after being deprecated in TinyMCE 6.5. For more information on DomParser, see DomParser API.
Autocompleter Configuration Changes (v7)
The ch configuration property for autocompleters has been removed. Use the trigger property instead.
// Old TinyMCE 6 configuration
editor.ui.registry.addAutocompleter('myautocompleter', {
ch: '@',
minChars: 0,
fetch: function(pattern) {
return [
{ value: 'john@example.com', text: 'John Doe' },
{ value: 'jane@example.com', text: 'Jane Smith' }
];
}
});
// New TinyMCE 7+ configuration
editor.ui.registry.addAutocompleter('myautocompleter', {
trigger: '@',
minChars: 0,
fetch: function(pattern) {
return [
{ value: 'john@example.com', text: 'John Doe' },
{ value: 'jane@example.com', text: 'Jane Smith' }
];
}
});
Migration checklist:
-
Replace
ch: '<string>'withtrigger: '<string>'in autocompleter configurations -
Test autocompleter functionality
-
Update any custom autocompleter implementations
table_responsive_width replaced by table_sizing_mode (v7)
The table_responsive_width option has been replaced by table_sizing_mode in TinyMCE 7.0.
// Old TinyMCE 6 configuration
tinymce.init({
selector: "textarea",
table_responsive_width: true
});
// New TinyMCE 7+ configuration
tinymce.init({
selector: "textarea",
table_sizing_mode: "responsive"
});
Migration checklist:
-
Replace
table_responsive_widthwithtable_sizing_modein your configuration -
Update the option value to match the new API
-
Test table responsive behavior
-
Default Changes in TinyMCE 7.0:
-
sandbox iframes: Now defaults totrue(adds sandbox attribute to iframes) -
convert_unsafe_embeds: Now defaults totrue(converts object/embed elements to safer alternatives) -
highlight_on_focus: Now defaults totrue(adds focus outline to editors)
-
-
New Options in TinyMCE 7.0:
-
license_key: Must be set togplor a valid license key -
sandbox_iframes_exclusions: List of URL hosts to exclude from iframe sandboxing
-
-
New Options in TinyMCE 8.0:
-
Enhanced license key system with new format requirements
-
Stricter DOMPurify sanitization with
SAFE_FOR_XMLenabled by default -
New
crossoriginconfiguration option for cross-origin resource loading
-
tinymce.init({
selector: "textarea",
toolbar: "undo redo | blocks | bold italic | alignleft aligncenter alignright alignjustify | outdent indent | removeformat",
toolbar_mode: "floating",
license_key: "T8LK:...", // New format required in TinyMCE 8.0
// Security options now enabled by default in TinyMCE 7.0
sandbox_iframes: true,
convert_unsafe_embeds: true,
// Optional: exclude specific domains from iframe sandboxing
sandbox_iframes_exclusions: ["youtube.com", "vimeo.com"],
// Accessibility improvement, now enabled by default
highlight_on_focus: true,
// New in TinyMCE 8.0: Cross-origin resource loading
crossorigin: (url, resourceType) => 'anonymous'
});
| For up-to-date plugin availability and configuration references, see plugins. |
|
Refer to version-specific release notes for changes in toolbar button names and command availability across versions 5, 6, 7, and 8. For example: TinyMCE 5 โ TinyMCE 6:
TinyMCE 6 โ TinyMCE 7:
TinyMCE 7 โ TinyMCE 8:
|
Licensing Changes (GPL v2+ and Commercial)
-
Legacy License: TinyMCE 5 was licensed under LGPL 2.1.
-
New License: TinyMCE 8.0 is licensed under GPL v2+ or a commercial license.
-
Impact: The License key option is required as part of your editor configuration if self-hosting TinyMCE. This requirement does not apply if you are loading TinyMCE from the cloud.
|
License Key System Update in TinyMCE 8 TinyMCE 8 introduces a new license key system that requires immediate attention:
For complete details, see License Key System Update in the 7โ8 migration guide. |
License Migration checklist:
-
Contact support for new TinyMCE 8.0 license key or use GPL for the open source version
-
Install license key manager addon for commercial licenses
-
Update configuration with new license key format
-
Test editor functionality with new license
-
Verify all premium features are working
tinymce.init({
selector: "textarea",
license_key: "T8LK:your-license-key" // New format required
});
API Changes
Several API methods have been deprecated or removed across versions 6-8. Key changes include:
-
Deprecated in TinyMCE 8:
-
editor.selection.setContentโ Useeditor.insertContentinstead -
editor.fire()โ Useeditor.dispatch()instead -
editor.documentBaseUrlโ Useeditor.editorManager.documentBaseURI.getURI()instead
-
skipFocus and skip_focus Consolidation (v8)
The skipFocus and skip_focus options for the ToggleToolbarDrawer command have been consolidated into a single, more consistent argument in TinyMCE 8.0. For more information, see Available Commands.
Impact:
-
Reduces API complexity
-
Clarifies intended behavior
-
Requires updating command calls
// Old approach (deprecated in TinyMCE 8)
editor.execCommand('ToggleToolbarDrawer', false, { skipFocus: true });
// New approach (recommended)
editor.execCommand('ToggleToolbarDrawer', false, null, { skip_focus: true });
Migration checklist:
-
Locate all instances of
ToggleToolbarDrawercommand usage -
Replace
skipFocuswithskip_focusin command options -
Update any custom plugins using this command
-
Test toolbar drawer behavior after changes
-
Removed Methods:
-
editor.addButton,editor.addMenuItem,editor.windowManager.open(replaced byeditor.ui.registry.*API)
-
For complete API migration details, see Core API Changes in the 7โ8 migration guide.
Plugin Changes
Template Plugin Removal
The template plugin was removed in TinyMCE 7.0. If you were using this plugin, you need to migrate to the premium Templates plugin.
Migration Steps:
-
Remove
templatefrom your plugins list -
Add
templatesto your plugins list -
Update your configuration to use the new Templates plugin API
-
Ensure you have a valid commercial license for the Templates plugin
Migration checklist:
-
Remove
templateplugin from configuration if used -
Evaluate need for premium Templates plugin (advtemplate)
-
Remove all template-related configuration options
-
Update any custom template implementations
-
Test template functionality if migrating to premium plugin
// Old TinyMCE 5/6/7 configuration
tinymce.init({
selector: "textarea",
plugins: "template",
templates: [
{title: 'Test template 1', content: 'Test 1'},
{title: 'Test template 2', content: 'Test 2'}
]
});
// New TinyMCE 8 configuration
tinymce.init({
selector: "textarea",
plugins: "templates",
templates: [
{title: 'Test template 1', content: 'Test 1'},
{title: 'Test template 2', content: 'Test 2'}
]
});
Media URL Resolver Changes (v7)
The media_url_resolver option now requires a Promise-based implementation instead of synchronous callbacks.
// Old TinyMCE 5/6 implementation
tinymce.init({
selector: "textarea",
media_url_resolver: function (data, resolve) {
resolve({
html: '<iframe src="' + data.url + '" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>'
});
}
});
// New TinyMCE 7+ implementation
tinymce.init({
selector: "textarea",
media_url_resolver: function (data) {
return new Promise(function (resolve) {
resolve({
html: '<iframe src="' + data.url + '" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>'
});
});
}
});
Migration checklist:
-
Update
media_url_resolverimplementations to return Promises instead of using callbacks -
Remove
resolveandrejectcallback parameters from resolver functions -
Test media embedding functionality with updated resolver
-
Update any custom media URL resolver implementations
UI and UX Changes
Table Height Changes (v7)
TinyMCE 7.0 changed how table heights are handled. Tables now use min-height instead of height for better responsive behavior.
Impact:
-
Existing table height configurations may need adjustment
-
Custom CSS targeting table heights should be reviewed
-
Responsive table behavior may change
Split Button Changes (v8)
TinyMCE 8.0 introduces structural changes to split buttons that may affect custom skins and CSS.
Changes: * Split button DOM structure has been updated * CSS selectors for split buttons may need adjustment * Custom skins should be tested for split button compatibility
Migration checklist:
-
Confirm whether your project uses a custom skin.
-
Rebuild your custom skin using the TinyMCE 8.0 codebase. See Creating a Skin for instructions.
-
Update your split button usage to align with the new structure, including support for the
chevronTooltipoption. Refer to Split Toolbar Buttons for updated configuration details. -
Test the rendering and interaction of split buttons in your editor to verify expected behavior.
Security Changes
DOMPurify Update
TinyMCE 8.0 updates the DOMPurify dependency to version 3.2.6 and enables the SAFE_FOR_XML flag by default. This is a breaking change: content that previously passed sanitization in TinyMCE 7 may now be stripped or altered during the sanitization process.
Impact:
-
Stricter content sanitization
-
Some previously allowed content may be stripped
-
XML-specific sanitization rules are now applied
Migration checklist:
-
Review existing content for HTML comments containing tags
-
Test content sanitization behavior with DOMPurify 3.2.6
-
Update content workflows if comments are being stripped unexpectedly
-
Consider enabling
allow_html_in_commentsif needed (with security awareness) -
Test Internet Explorer conditional comments if used
-
Verify attributes with HTML-like values are handled correctly
// Content that may be affected by stricter sanitization
const content = '<div><script>alert("test")</script></div>';
// Test sanitization behavior
const sanitized = editor.dom.sanitize(content);
console.log('Sanitized content:', sanitized);
Cross-Origin Resource Loading
Migration Steps:
-
Test existing content for sanitization changes
-
Review custom sanitization configurations
-
Update any content that relies on previous sanitization behavior
Cross-Origin Resource Loading
TinyMCE 8.0 introduces stricter controls for cross-origin resource loading.
New Configuration:
-
crossoriginattribute support for external resources -
Enhanced security for loading external content
-
Better control over resource loading policies
Migration checklist:
-
Verify script tag attributes for Cloud deployments.
-
Configure
crossoriginfunction if using cross-origin resources. -
Test resource loading in your deployment environment.
-
Review
content_cssconfiguration if using cross-origin stylesheets.
Service Changes
Java Swing Integration Deprecation
Java Swing integration has been deprecated in TinyMCE 8.0 and will reach end-of-life as of December 31, 2025.
Impact:
-
Java Swing-based integrations need migration planning
-
Alternative integration methods should be considered
-
Legacy Java integrations may stop working
Migration checklist:
-
Evaluate alternative integration options
-
Plan migration timeline to complete before December 31, 2025
Medical English Dictionary Discontinuation
The "Medical English (UK)" dictionary has been discontinued.
Impact:
-
Applications using this dictionary need to switch to alternatives
-
Spell checking configurations may need updates
-
Language pack references should be updated
Migration checklist:
-
Remove "Medical English (UK)" from spellchecker configurations
-
Remove any custom dictionary integrations related to Medical English
-
Test spellchecker functionality with remaining dictionaries
-
Configure alternative medical dictionary if required
Service Version Decoupling
TinyMCE services are now decoupled from the editor version, allowing for independent updates.
Benefits: * Services can be updated independently * Better security and performance updates * Reduced dependency on editor version updates
Migration Steps:
-
Review service integration configurations
-
Update service endpoints if needed
-
Test service functionality with TinyMCE 8
WAR File to Container Migration
TinyMCE services are transitioning from Java WAR files to containerized services.
Impact:
-
Deployment methods need to be updated
-
Service configurations may change
-
Infrastructure requirements may be different
Migration checklist:
-
Inventory current WAR file deployments
-
Review containerization requirements for your environment
-
Plan transition timeline to containerized services
-
Set up container infrastructure (Docker/Kubernetes)
-
Deploy and test containerized services
-
Update service connection configurations
-
Contact Tiny Support if legacy WAR files are still needed
Migration Tips
-
Backup and Prepare: Ensure comprehensive backups before upgrading.
-
Update Core Initialization:
-
Update
themeandskinsettings to reflect the new oxide theme and skin. In TinyMCE 5, the Silver theme with Oxide skin was already standard, but verify your configuration matches TinyMCE 8 requirements. -
Update
forced_root_block: falseoptions toforced_root_block: "p". -
Consolidate toolbars.
-
Review new v8.0 defaults for security settings.
-
Update license key to new format if self-hosting.
-
-
Plugin Migration:
-
Remove deprecated plugins from your configuration.
-
Update renamed plugins (e.g.,
spellcheckerโtinymcespellchecker). -
Verify premium plugins for compatibility.
-
Install License Key Manager addon if using commercial license.
-
-
Custom Code Updates:
-
Rewrite custom plugins using the
editor.ui.registry.*API. -
Replace v5 API methods like
editor.addButton,editor.addMenuItem,editor.windowManager.open. -
Update media embed handling (
media_url_resolverAPI changes). -
Replace deprecated API methods (
editor.insertContentreplaceseditor.selection.setContent,editor.dispatch()replaceseditor.fire(), etc.).
-
-
CSS Updates:
-
Update custom styles to align with the new Oxide standard. While many
.mce-*classes have been replaced with.tox-*classes, some.mce-*prefixes remain in use. Review your CSS to ensure compatibility. -
Update split button CSS if using custom skins (TinyMCE 8 change).
-
-
Testing and Deployment:
-
Thoroughly test your updated configuration before production deployment.
-
Validate media, iframe, and content security settings.
-
Test license key functionality and premium features.
-
Verify DOMPurify sanitization behavior with your content.
-
Additional Resources
-
Paid users can contact our Technical Support team for help.
Helpful Links
To make your upgrade smooth, check the following version-specific migration guides:
These include deeper configuration notes, plugin replacements, and examples.
Next Steps
Ensure you follow the migration steps carefully to avoid common issues like missing plugins, broken UI, and unexpected formatting changes. Consider running your updated editor in a staging environment for a complete verification before final deployment.
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Migration Checklist Before deploying to production, verify:
|