How udate the _id of one MongoDB Document ?

Question

I want update an _id MongoDB of one document. I know it's not a really good pratice. But with some technical reason, I need update it. But If I try to update it I have :

> db.clients.update({'_id':ObjectId("4cc45467c55f4d2d2a000002")}, {'$set':{'_id':ObjectId("4c8a331bda76c559ef000004")}});
Mod on _id not allowed

And the update is not made. How I can really update it ?

Answer 1

You cannot update it. You'll have to save the document using a new _id, and then remove the old document.

// store the document in a variable
doc = db.clients.findOne({_id: ObjectId("4cc45467c55f4d2d2a000002")})

// set a new _id on the document
doc._id = ObjectId("4c8a331bda76c559ef000004")

// insert the document, using the new _id
db.clients.insert(doc)

// remove the document with the old _id
db.clients.remove({_id: ObjectId("4cc45467c55f4d2d2a000002")})