---
title: "Prisma 6 to 7 Upgrade"
slug: "prisma-v6-to-v7-upgrade"
category: "backend"
tags: ["backend", "prisma", "upgrade", "migration", "orm", "driver-adapters"]
status: "stable"
last_updated: 2026-05-29
summary: "Upgrade to Prisma 7: swap to the prisma-client generator, set an output path, install a driver adapter, fix imports, and replace removed $use middleware."
related:
  [
    "[[backend/prisma]]",
    "[[backend/prisma-client]]",
    "[[backend/prisma-schema]]",
    "[[backend/prisma-driver-adapters]]",
    "[[backend/prisma-client-extensions]]",
    "[[backend/prisma-raw-queries]]",
  ]
---

## Overview

Prisma 7 (released 2025-11-19) makes the Rust-free `prisma-client` generator the default, requires a driver adapter to connect, and removes the `$use` middleware API. Upgrading from Prisma 5 or 6 is mechanical but touches the schema, the client construction, and every import that pulled from `@prisma/client`. Do the steps in order; the generator swap must happen before regeneration. For the concepts behind each step, see [[backend/prisma-driver-adapters]] and [[backend/prisma-client-extensions]].

## Swap the generator and add a required output path

Change the `generator` block in `schema.prisma` from `prisma-client-js` to `prisma-client`, and add an `output` inside your source tree.

```prisma
generator client {
  provider = "prisma-client"
  output   = "../src/generated/prisma"
}
```

- `prisma-client-js` is the legacy generator. `prisma-client` is the Rust-free default.
- `output` is required now and must live in your source tree, not `node_modules`. Pick a stable path like `src/generated/prisma`. See [[backend/prisma-schema]].
- Remove `driverAdapters` from `previewFeatures`; adapters are GA in Prisma 7.

## Gitignore the generated directory and keep postinstall

The generated client moved out of `node_modules`, so the ignore target moves with it.

```gitignore
# .gitignore
/src/generated/prisma
```

- Add the new `output` directory to `.gitignore`. Do not commit generated code.
- Keep `prisma generate` wired into `postinstall` so CI and fresh installs emit a current client. See [[backend/prisma-client]].
- Run `npx prisma generate` after the generator swap before you build.

## Install a driver adapter and pass it to the client

`new PrismaClient()` without an adapter throws in Prisma 7. Install the adapter for your engine and pass it in.

```bash
npm install @prisma/adapter-pg pg   # Postgres
```

```ts
import { PrismaClient } from "../src/generated/prisma/client"
import { PrismaPg } from "@prisma/adapter-pg"

const adapter = new PrismaPg({ connectionString: process.env.DATABASE_URL })
export const prisma = new PrismaClient({ adapter })
```

- Choose the adapter that matches your database. See [[backend/prisma-driver-adapters]].
- The adapter owns the connection string; drop any `datasources` URL override that duplicated it.

## Fix every import path

Imports of `PrismaClient` and the `Prisma` namespace move from `@prisma/client` to the generator's `output` path.

```ts
// Before
import { PrismaClient, Prisma } from "@prisma/client"

// After
import { PrismaClient, Prisma } from "./generated/prisma/client"
```

- Update raw-query helpers too: `Prisma.sql`, `Prisma.join`, and `Prisma.raw` are unchanged in behavior but import from the new path. See [[backend/prisma-raw-queries]].
- A project-wide find-and-replace of the import specifier handles most of this.

## Replace removed `$use` middleware with `$extends`

`$use` was deprecated in v4.16.0 and removed in v6.14.0. Any remaining `prisma.$use(...)` call must become a client extension.

```ts
// Before: removed middleware
// prisma.$use(async (params, next) => { ... })

// After: query-component extension
const prisma = base.$extends({
  query: {
    post: {
      findMany({ args, query }) {
        args.where = { ...args.where, deletedAt: null }
        return query(args)
      },
    },
  },
})
```

- Port each middleware to a `query` component scoped to the model and operation it touched. See [[backend/prisma-client-extensions]].
- After all five steps, run your test suite. Most breakages are import paths or a forgotten adapter.

## Related

- [[backend/prisma]]
- [[backend/prisma-client]]
- [[backend/prisma-schema]]
- [[backend/prisma-driver-adapters]]
- [[backend/prisma-client-extensions]]
- [[backend/prisma-raw-queries]]