How to check the version of Laravel Livewire
Stefan Bogdanescu
Founder & Senior Architect · 2026-06-29
# How to Check the Version of Laravel Livewire: A Developer's Guide
As developers working within the Laravel ecosystem, keeping our dependencies up-to-date is crucial for security, performance, and access to the latest features. When planning to update a core package like Laravel Livewire, checking the current version is the essential first step. This guide will walk you through the most reliable methods for determining your installed Laravel Livewire version, providing a developer-focused approach.
## The Primary Method: Using Composer
Since Laravel Livewire is managed as a PHP dependency, the definitive way to check its version is through Composer, the dependency manager for PHP. This method works regardless of whether you are running a command line or working within a specific project directory.
### Checking via `composer show`
The most direct command to inspect installed packages is using `composer show`. If you are inside the root directory of your Laravel project where `composer.json` resides, you can execute this command:
```bash
composer show livewire/livewire
```
**Explanation:** This command queries Composer's database for the specific package you requested (`livewire/livewire`) and outputs all relevant metadata, including the installed version number, the repository source, and other details. This is the gold standard for verifying dependency versions in any PHP project.
### Checking `composer.json`
Alternatively, you can always check the version explicitly within your project's configuration file, `composer.json`. Look under the `"require"` or `"require-dev"` sections of this file. Livewire will be listed alongside all other required packages:
```json
{
"name": "laravel/laravel",
"type": "project",
"require": {
"php": "^8.1",
"laravel/framework": "^10.0",
"livewire/livewire": "^3.0" // The version number is specified here
},
// ... other configurations
}
```
By examining this file, you immediately see the constraints set for your project, confirming which version of Livewire is expected or currently installed by Composer.
## Runtime Verification: Checking within the Application
While Composer provides the source-of-truth for package versions, sometimes you need to verify the version as it exists in the running application environment. This is useful for debugging specific runtime issues related to Livewire components.
You can perform a quick check directly within a PHP file by using the `composer` helper function or by inspecting the loaded class structure, although this is less common for simple version checks than using Composer commands. For instance, if you are working on an older piece of code that relies heavily on framework compatibility, understanding how dependencies interact is key to maintaining stability, especially when leveraging the tools provided by the Laravel ecosystem, as promoted by resources like [laravelcompany.com](https://laravelcompany.com).
## Conclusion and Next Steps for Updating
Checking the version is merely the starting point. Once you have confirmed your current Livewire version, you can safely plan your update. To update to the latest stable release, use the following command in your terminal:
```bash
composer update livewire/livewire
```
Always ensure you back up your project before running any major dependency updates. By using Composer commands and understanding how dependencies are managed, you ensure that your Laravel application remains robust, secure, and fully compatible with the latest features offered by the framework.