Upgrading to a New Joomla Version: Migration and Updates

Prepare your website for a smooth move to Joomla! 4 and Joomla! 5. This article walks you through the main steps of migrating from Joomla! 3 to a newer release. The procedure may vary depending on the complexity of your website, but you will get a solid foundation for a successful update.

Why move to the new version as soon as possible? The end of eLTS support

The Extended Long Term Support (eLTS) programme for Joomla! 3 ended this year, which is a significant change for everyone still using this version. eLTS provided extended security support after the release of Joomla! 4 and gave website operators time to move to newer versions with modern features and improvements.

Since 17 February 2025, Joomla! 3 has received no new security patches or updates. Websites running on this version are therefore exposed to new threats and may have compatibility problems with modern technologies and extensions. Moving to Joomla! 4 should therefore be your top priority.

The situation is even more serious for the older versions Joomla! 1.5 and 2.5, which have had no official support or security fixes at all for many years. Websites built on these versions should be moved to the current version of the system as soon as possible.

And another big step is on the horizon: Joomla! 6

According to the April issue of Joomla! Magazine, the next generation of this content management system is due for release as early as October 2025, with support planned until 2028. The developers promise a number of improvements, including a new Health Checker tool for checking the state of the website and recommending optimisations, easier management of SEO metadata, and integration of The Update Framework (TUF) for more secure updates.

Alpha versions of Joomla! 6 are already available for testing to ensure stability and functionality before the official launch. Along with modernised code and the removal of deprecated elements, this version will bring a more efficient and secure system that builds on the progress of Joomla! 4 and 5. If you are planning a migration, it is worth thinking straight away about a long-term strategy that includes the move to Joomla! 6.

Migration and update guide

Migrating from Joomla 3 to 4 is often called a "mini-migration", because the core update runs automatically with a single click in the "Joomla! Update" component in the administration. Difficulties can arise with third-party extensions, where a special procedure is sometimes required. Before you begin, check that your extensions are compatible and what the recommended way of moving from version 3.10 to 4.x is.

For more complex websites with a large number of extensions, it is a good idea to consult the move directly with their developers. This reduces the risk of problems and ensures that your website remains fully functional. Also remember to make a complete backup of the installation before you start the migration.

Migration procedure for Joomla! 4 and 5

Start by preparing a development environment. Always work with the latest version of Joomla! 3.10.x.

Joomla has a built-in system for checking updates. Go to Components -> Joomla! Update. Here you should see whether a new version is available or whether the system is up to date. If your system is up to date, you will see the message "You already have the latest Joomla version."

Next, it is essential to back up the whole website, either with the recommended tools or manually. Before migrating, check that your server meets the technical requirements of Joomla! 4.

Then create a new database and user and restore the backup of the 3.10.x website into it. You can run the test copy on a subdomain, in a subdirectory, on a local machine (such as XAMPP, WAMP, MAMP or LAMP) or on a temporary domain with a new hosting provider.

Checking every extension

Next, go through all installed extensions using the "Pre-Update Check" in the Joomla! Update component and also in Extensions → Manage.

For each extension, check whether it needs to be updated to a newer version or uninstalled. Do not move to Joomla! 4 yet, only check compatibility. Extensions without a compatibility tag must be checked directly with the developer. Update all the remaining extensions. If they have separate packages for 3.10 and 4.x, follow the developer's instructions.

Notes:

• Search (com_search): In version 4.x, com_search is decoupled. After migration, update it via com_installer. For full functionality, switching to "Smart Search" (com_finder) is recommended.
• Weblinks: The Weblinks extension was already decoupled in version 3.4, but if you still use it, it migrates with the content and is still available and maintained on the JED.
• "Legacy" routing: Legacy routing will no longer be available. After migration, everything automatically switches to "Modern routing". Once the migration is complete, it is essential to run a broken link check and fix any broken links.

Moving to Joomla! 4.x

In System → Global Configuration → Server, set "Error Reporting" to Maximum and save. Back up the website.

How to back up Joomla!

Backing up the files

The best way is to pack all the files into a single ZIP archive. This saves time compared with downloading each file separately. Some web hosts offer this feature. Alternatively, use an FTP client such as FileZilla.

Updating to Joomla! 4

1. In Components → Joomla Update, select the "Joomla Next" channel.
2. Run the update to Joomla 4. When it finishes, log in to the administration again.
3. Check System → Maintenance → Database and fix any errors.
4. Verify that the front end works.
5. Back up.
6. Install a new Joomla template and any extensions, test everything and back up regularly.
7. After successful testing, set "Error Reporting" back to Default.

Making the Joomla! 4 website live

1. Make a final backup of the 3.10 website and, if needed, store it in a subdirectory or on a subdomain.
2. Move or restore the Joomla 4.x website to the root directory (or adjust the DNS if you have migrated to new hosting).
3. Test everything and check .htaccess according to the Joomla 4 instructions.
4. Remove the old Joomla 3.10 installation if you do not plan to maintain it.
5. If data on the original website changed during the migration, transfer it manually or with a third-party extension.

Upgrading from Joomla 4 to Joomla 5

Moving from Joomla 4 to Joomla 5 is much simpler than migrating from Joomla 1.5 or 2.5 to Joomla 3, because it is a direct upgrade. Extensions and plugins designed for current versions of Joomla 4 that contain no deprecated code will also work in Joomla 5 thanks to the automatically enabled Backward Compatibility plugin, which ensures backward compatibility.

Before the upgrade itself, it is advisable to carry out a few checks. Your web hosting must meet the minimum technical requirements, namely PHP version 8.1 or higher, a MySQL database of at least 8.0.13, MariaDB 10.6 and PostgreSQL 12.0. If you are not sure, contact your hosting provider. It is also important to check all the Joomla extensions you use. Some of them may not be compatible with Joomla 5, so it is a good idea to check the extension developer's website and ideally try the update on a test version of the website, for example on a subdomain or locally.

Once everything is ready, the upgrade itself begins. First, again create a complete backup of the website including the database and verify that the backup works. Then update all extensions that already have a version compatible with Joomla 5, and temporarily uninstall those that are not compatible. The old search component com_search is no longer needed in Joomla 5; the Smart Search component is used instead for intelligent search. Before running the update, it is advisable to switch on Debug mode, which will help you uncover any problems.

The update itself runs through the administration, in the System → Update → Joomla section, where you again need to switch the update channel, as in the case of Joomla 3.

After confirming the backup, simply start the upgrade. You can see how the update proceeds in the video below the article. Once the update is complete, go through the website to check both the front end and the back end, set up the new Smart Search and configure the Schema plugin, which improves how the website appears in search results.

If you run into a problem during or after the update, Debug mode will help you identify the problematic extension. If the website does not load because of it, the extension can be disabled directly in the database and then uninstalled. As a last resort, you can always restore the backup and try the fixes on a test version of the website. With these steps, the upgrade can be carried out safely and with minimal risk of downtime.