ui/docs/content/1.getting-started/2.migration.md

---
title: Migration
description: 'A comprehensive guide to migrate your application from Nuxt UI v2 to Nuxt UI v3.'
---

Nuxt UI v3.0 is a new major version rebuilt from the ground up, introducing a modern architecture with significant performance improvements and an enhanced developer experience. This major release includes several breaking changes alongside powerful new features and capabilities:

- **Tailwind CSS v4**: Migration from JavaScript to CSS-based configuration
- **Reka UI**: Replacing Headless UI as the underlying component library
- **Tailwind Variants**: New styling API for component variants

This guide provides step by step instructions to migrate your application from v2 to v3.

## Migrate your project

::steps

### Update Tailwind CSS

Tailwind CSS v4 introduces significant changes to its configuration approach. The official Tailwind upgrade tool will help automate most of the migration process.

::note{to="https://tailwindcss.com/docs/upgrade-guide#changes-from-v3" target="_blank"}
For a detailed walkthrough of all changes, refer to the official **Tailwind CSS v4 upgrade guide**.
::

1. Create a `main.css` file and import it in your `nuxt.config.ts` file:

::code-group

```css [app/assets/css/main.css]
@import "tailwindcss";
```

```ts [nuxt.config.ts]
export default defineNuxtConfig({
  css: ['~/assets/css/main.css']
})
```

::

2. Run the Tailwind CSS upgrade tool:

```bash
npx @tailwindcss/upgrade
```

### Update Nuxt UI

3. Install the latest version of the package:

::module-only
#ui
:::div

::::code-group{sync="pm"}

```bash [pnpm]
pnpm add @nuxt/ui
```

```bash [yarn]
yarn add @nuxt/ui
```

```bash [npm]
npm install @nuxt/ui
```

```bash [bun]
bun add @nuxt/ui
```

::::

:::

#ui-pro
:::div

::::code-group{sync="pm"}

```bash [pnpm]
pnpm add @nuxt/ui-pro
```

```bash [yarn]
yarn add @nuxt/ui-pro
```

```bash [npm]
npm install @nuxt/ui-pro
```

```bash [bun]
bun add @nuxt/ui-pro
```

::::

:::

::

4. Import it in your CSS:

::module-only
#ui
:::div

```css [app/assets/css/main.css]{2}
@import "tailwindcss";
@import "@nuxt/ui";
```

:::

#ui-pro
:::div

```css [app/assets/css/main.css]{2}
@import "tailwindcss";
@import "@nuxt/ui-pro";
```

:::
::

::module-only
#ui

:::div
5. Wrap your app with the [App](/components/app) component:
:::

#ui-pro
:::div
5. Add the `@nuxt/ui-pro` module in your `nuxt.config.ts` file as it's no longer a layer:

```diff [nuxt.config.ts]
export default defineNuxtConfig({
-  extends: ['@nuxt/ui-pro'],
-  modules: ['@nuxt/ui']
+  modules: ['@nuxt/ui-pro']
})
```

6. Wrap your app with the [App](/components/app) component:
:::

::

```vue [app.vue] {2,4}
<template>
  <UApp>
    <NuxtPage />
  </UApp>
</template>
```

::

## Changes from v2

Now that you have updated your project, you can start migrating your code. Here's a comprehensive list of all the breaking changes in Nuxt UI v3.

### Updated design system

In Nuxt UI v2, we had a mix between a design system with `primary`, `gray`, `error` aliases and all the colors from Tailwind CSS. We've replaced it with a proper [design system](/getting-started/theme#design-system) with 7 color aliases:

| Color | Default | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `primary`{color="primary"} | `green` | Main brand color, used as the default color for components. |
| `secondary`{color="secondary"} | `blue` | Secondary color to complement the primary color. |
| `success`{color="success"} | `green` | Used for success states. |
| `info`{color="info"} | `blue` | Used for informational states. |
| `warning`{color="warning"} | `yellow` | Used for warning states. |
| `error`{color="error"} | `red` | Used for form error validation states. |
| `neutral` | `slate` | Neutral color for backgrounds, text, etc. |

This change introduces several breaking changes that you need to be aware of:

- The `gray` color has been renamed to `neutral`

```diff
<template>
- <p class="text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400" />
+ <p class="text-neutral-500 dark:text-neutral-400" />
</template>
```

::note
You can also use the new [design tokens](/getting-started/theme#neutral-palette) to handle light and dark mode:

```diff
<template>
- <p class="text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400" />
+ <p class="text-muted" />

- <p class="text-gray-900 dark:text-white" />
+ <p class="text-highlighted" />
</template>
```
::

- The `gray`, `black` and `white` in the `color` props have been removed in favor of `neutral`:

```diff
- <UButton color="black" />
+ <UButton color="neutral" />

- <UButton color="gray" />
+ <UButton color="neutral" variant="subtle" />

- <UButton color="white" />
+ <UButton color="neutral" variant="outline" />
```

- You can no longer use Tailwind CSS colors in the `color` props, use the new aliases instead:

```diff
- <UButton color="red" />
+ <UButton color="error" />
```

::note{to="/getting-started/theme#colors"}
Learn how to extend the design system to add new color aliases.
::

- The color configuration in `app.config.ts` has been moved into a `colors` object:

```diff
export default defineAppConfig({
  ui: {
-   primary: 'green',
-   gray: 'cool'
+   colors: {
+     primary: 'green',
+     neutral: 'slate'
+   }
  }
})
```

### Updated theming system

Nuxt UI components are now styled using the [Tailwind Variants API](/getting-started/theme#components-theme), which makes all the overrides you made using the `app.config.ts` and the `ui` prop obsolete.

- Update your [`app.config.ts`](/getting-started/theme#config) to override components with their new theme:

```diff
export default defineAppConfig({
   ui: {
     button: {
-       font: 'font-bold',
-       default: {
-         size: 'md',
-         color: 'primary'
-       }
+       slots: {
+         base: 'font-medium'
+       },
+       defaultVariants: {
+         size: 'md',
+         color: 'primary'
+       }
     }
   }
})
```

- Update your [`ui` props](/getting-started/theme#props) to override each component's slots using their new theme:

```diff
<template>
- <UButton :ui="{ font: 'font-bold' }" />
+ <UButton :ui="{ base: 'font-bold' }" />
</template>
```

::tip{to="/components/button#theme"}
We can't detail all the changes here but you can check each component's theme in the **Theme** section.
::

### Renamed components

We've renamed some Nuxt UI components to align with the Reka UI naming convention:

| v2 | v3 |
| --- | --- |
| `Divider` | [`Separator`](/components/separator) |
| `Dropdown` | [`DropdownMenu`](/components/dropdown-menu) |
| `FormGroup` | [`FormField`](/components/form-field) |
| `Range` | [`Slider`](/components/slider) |
| `Toggle` | [`Switch`](/components/switch) |
| `Notification` | [`Toast`](/components/toast) |
| `VerticalNavigation` | [`NavigationMenu`](/components/navigation-menu) with `orientation="vertical"` |
| `HorizontalNavigation` | [`NavigationMenu`](/components/navigation-menu) with `orientation="horizontal"` |

::module-only
#ui-pro
:::div
Here are the Nuxt UI Pro components that have been renamed or removed:

| v1 | v3 |
| --- | --- |
| `BlogList` | [`BlogPosts`](/components/blog-posts) |
| `ColorModeToggle` | [`ColorModeSwitch`](/components/color-mode-switch) |
| `DashboardCard` | Removed (use [`PageCard`](/components/page-card) instead) |
| `DashboardLayout` | [`DashboardGroup`](/components/dashboard-group) |
| `DashboardModal` | Removed (use [`Modal`](/components/modal) instead) |
| `DashboardNavbarToggle` | [`DashboardSidebarToggle`](/components/dashboard-sidebar-toggle) |
| `DashboardPage` | Removed |
| `DashboardPanelContent` | Removed (use `#body` slot instead) |
| `DashboardPanelHandle` | [`DashboardResizeHandle`](/components/dashboard-resize-handle) |
| `DashboardSection` | Removed (use [`PageCard`](/components/page-card) instead) |
| `DashboardSidebarLinks` | Removed (use [`NavigationMenu`](/components/navigation-menu) instead) |
| `DashboardSlideover` | Removed (use [`Slideover`](/components/slideover) instead) |
| `FooterLinks` | Removed (use [`NavigationMenu`](/components/navigation-menu) instead) |
| `HeaderLinks` | Removed (use [`NavigationMenu`](/components/navigation-menu) instead) |
| `LandingCard` | Removed (use [`PageCard`](/components/page-card) instead) |
| `LandingCTA` | [`PageCTA`](/components/page-cta) |
| `LandingFAQ` | Removed (use [`PageAccordion`](/components/page-accordion) instead) |
| `LandingGrid` | Removed (use [`PageGrid`](/components/page-grid) instead) |
| `LandingHero` | Removed (use [`PageHero`](/components/page-hero) instead) |
| `LandingLogos` | [`PageLogos`](/components/page-logos) |
| `LandingSection` | [`PageSection`](/components/page-section) |
| `LandingTestimonial` | Removed (use [`PageCard`](/components/page-card#as-a-testimonial) instead) |
| `NavigationAccordion` | [`ContentNavigation`](/components/content-navigation) |
| `NavigationLinks` | [`ContentNavigation`](/components/content-navigation) |
| `NavigationTree` | [`ContentNavigation`](/components/content-navigation) |
| `PageError` | [`Error`](/components/error) |
| `PricingCard` | [`PricingPlan`](/components/pricing-plan) |
| `PricingGrid` | [`PricingPlans`](/components/pricing-plans) |
| `PricingSwitch` | Removed (use [`Switch`](/components/switch) or [`Tabs`](/components/tabs) instead) |

:::

::

### Changed components

In addition to the renamed components, there are lots of changes to the components API. Let's detail the most important ones:

- The `links` and `options` props have been renamed to `items` for consistency:

```diff
<template>
- <USelect :options="countries" />
+ <USelect :items="countries" />

- <UHorizontalNavigation :links="links" />
+ <UNavigationMenu :items="links" />
</template>
```

::note
This change affects the following components: `Breadcrumb`, `HorizontalNavigation`, `InputMenu`, `RadioGroup`, `Select`, `SelectMenu`, `VerticalNavigation`.
::

- The `click` field in different components has been removed in favor of the native Vue `onClick` event:

```diff
<script setup lang="ts">
const items = [{
  label: 'Edit',
-  click: () => {
+  onClick: () => {
    console.log('Edit')
  }
}]
</script>
```

::note
This change affects the `Toast` component as well as all component that have `items` links like `NavigationMenu`, `DropdownMenu`, `CommandPalette`, etc.
::

- The global `Modals`, `Slideovers` and `Notifications` components have been removed in favor the [App](/components/app) component:

```diff [app.vue]
<template>
+  <UApp>
+    <NuxtPage />
+  </UApp>
-  <UModals />
-  <USlideovers />
-  <UNotifications />
</template>
```

- The `v-model:open` directive and `default-open` prop are now used to control visibility:

```diff
<template>
- <UModal v-model="open" />
+ <UModal v-model:open="open" />
</template>
```

::note
This change affects the following components: `ContextMenu`, `Modal` and `Slideover` and enables controlling visibility for `InputMenu`, `Select`, `SelectMenu` and `Tooltip`.
::

- The default slot is now used for the trigger and the content goes inside the `#content` slot (you don't need to use a `v-model:open` directive with this method):

```diff
<script setup lang="ts">
- const open = ref(false)
</script>

<template>
- <UButton label="Open" @click="open = true" />

- <UModal v-model="open">
+ <UModal>
+   <UButton label="Open" />

+   <template #content>
      <div class="p-4">
        <Placeholder class="h-48" />
      </div>
+   </template>
  </UModal>
</template>
```

::note
This change affects the following components: `Modal`, `Popover`, `Slideover`, `Tooltip`.
::

- A `#header`, `#body` and `#footer` slots have been added inside the `#content` slot like the `Card` component:

```diff
<template>
- <UModal>
+ <UModal title="Title" description="Description">
-   <div class="p-4">
+   <template #body>
      <Placeholder class="h-48" />
+   </template>
-   </div>
  </UModal>
</template>
```

::note
This change affects the following components: `Modal`, `Slideover`.
::

### Changed composables

- The `useToast()` composable `timeout` prop has been renamed to `duration`:

```diff
<script setup lang="ts">
const toast = useToast()

- toast.add({ title: 'Invitation sent', timeout: 0 })
+ toast.add({ title: 'Invitation sent', duration: 0 })
</script>
```

- The `useModal` and `useSlideover` composables have been removed in favor of a more generic `useOverlay` composable:

Some important differences:
- The `useOverlay` composable is now used to create overlay instances
- Overlays that are opened, can be awaited for their result
- Overlays can no longer be close using `modal.close()` or `slideover.close()`, rather, they close automatically: either when a `close` event is fired explicitly from the opened component OR when the overlay closes itself (clicking on backdrop, pressing the ESC key, etc)
- To capture the return value in the parent component you must explictly emit a `close` event with the desired value


```diff
<script setup lang="ts">
import { ModalExampleComponent } from '#components'

- const modal = useModal()
+ const overlay = useOverlay()

- modal.open(ModalExampleComponent)
+ const modal = overlay.create(ModalExampleComponent)
</script>
```

Props are now passed through a props attribute:

```diff
<script setup lang="ts">
import { ModalExampleComponent } from '#components'

- const modal = useModal()
+ const overlay = useOverlay()

const count = ref(0)

- modal.open(ModalExampleComponent, {
-   count: count.value
- })
+ const modal = overlay.create(ModalExampleComponent, {
+   props: {
+     count: count.value
+   }
+ })
</script>
```

Closing a modal is now done through the `close` event. The `modal.open` method now returns an instance that can be used to await for the result of the modal whenever the modal is closed:

```diff
<script setup lang="ts">
import { ModalExampleComponent } from '#components'

- const modal = useModal()
+ const overlay = useOverlay()

+ const modal = overlay.create(ModalExampleComponent)

- function openModal() {
-   modal.open(ModalExampleComponent, {
-     onSuccess() {
-       toast.add({ title: 'Success!' })
-     }
-   })
- }
+ async function openModal() {
+   const instance = modal.open(ModalExampleComponent, {
+     count: count.value
+   })
+
+   const result = await instance.result
+
+   if (result) {
+     toast.add({ title: 'Success!' })
+   }
+ }
</script>
```

---

::warning
This page is a work in progress, we'll improve it regularly.
::