How to check your composer version

• How to Check Composer Version (Windows, macOS, and Linux)
• Check Composer Version Using the Command Line
• Checking Composer Version on Different Operating Systems
  • Check composer version in Windows
  • Check composer version in macOS
  • Check composer version in Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, etc.)
• Check the Latest Composer Version Available
• Update Composer to the Latest Version (Optional)
• TL;DR
• Summary

How to Check Composer Version (Windows, macOS, and Linux)

Composer is the most widely used dependency manager for PHP, and knowing which version you’re running is essential for compatibility, troubleshooting, and staying up to date with the latest features. This quick guide shows you how to check your Composer version across different operating systems and how to verify the latest available release.

Check Composer Version Using the Command Line

The simplest way to check your Composer version is by running the following command in your terminal or command prompt:

composer -V

or equivalently:

composer --version

Example output:

Composer version 2.7.7 2024-08-09 21:34:12

Both commands work the same way. The version number (2.7.7 in this example) and the release date will be shown in the output.

Checking Composer Version on Different Operating Systems

Composer is a cross-platform tool, so the command to check the version is identical everywhere. However, depending on your OS, the way you access your terminal differs slightly.

Check composer version in Windows

1. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.

2. Run:

   composer -V

   If you get an error like 'composer' is not recognized, you may need to add Composer to your system’s PATH or run it via the full path, for example:

   php C:\ProgramData\ComposerSetup\bin\composer.phar -V

Check composer version in macOS

1. Open Terminal (via Spotlight or Applications → Utilities → Terminal).

2. Run:

   composer --version

If Composer was installed globally using Homebrew or the official installer, the command should work immediately.

Check composer version in Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, etc.)

1. Open your terminal.

2. Run:

   composer -V

   If Composer isn’t installed globally, you might need to call it using php:

   php composer.phar -V

Check the Latest Composer Version Available

To compare your local version against the latest release, you can run:

composer self-update --dry-run

Example output:

You are already using the latest available Composer version 2.7.7 (stable channel).

If an update is available, the command will show the newer version number instead of the confirmation message.

Alternatively, you can manually check the latest version by visiting: 👉 https://getcomposer.org/download/

Update Composer to the Latest Version (Optional)

If you find that your Composer version is outdated, you can easily update it by running:

composer self-update

To update to a specific version:

composer self-update 2.7.7

If you’re on Windows and installed Composer via the setup wizard, simply re-run the Composer-Setup.exe file to upgrade.

TL;DR

Summary

To check your Composer version, simply run composer -V in your terminal, it works the same on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Use composer self-update --dry-run to see if you’re up to date, and composer self-update to upgrade when needed. Keeping Composer current ensures better performance, security, and access to the latest PHP ecosystem improvements.