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How to Update Joomla Safely (Back Up First)

Using WordPress instead? See How to Update WordPress Safely (Back Up First).

Updates fix security holes and bugs, so keeping Joomla current is one of the best things you can do for your site. Here's how to do it without surprises.

Big version jump? Moving between major versions (like Joomla 5 to 6) takes more planning than a regular update. See our post Upgrading to Joomla 6: What You Need to Know or get in touch.

1. Back up first

Take a full backup of your files and database, and make sure you know how to restore it. See Website Backups: What to Back Up, How Often, and How Restores Work.

If you can, run the update on a staging (test) copy first.

2. Check what needs updating

  1. Log in at yoursite.com/administrator.
  2. The Home Dashboard shows update notices.
  3. Go to System and look at the Update panel. It has links for Joomla (the core) and Extensions (everything you've installed on top of core).

3. Run the pre-update check

On the Joomla Update screen (System > Update > Joomla), Joomla checks:

  • Whether your server meets the requirements for the new version
  • Whether your installed extensions report being compatible

If anything is flagged, check with the extension's developer or your web team before you continue.

4. Update Joomla core

  1. On the Joomla Update screen, click Install the Update (or the update button shown).
  2. Wait for it to finish. Don't close the browser.

Joomla may ask you to confirm you have a backup before it starts.

5. Update extensions

  1. Go back to the Update panel and open the extension updates screen.
  2. Click Check for Updates.
  3. Tick the updates you want, then click Update.

Update a few at a time so it's easier to spot what caused a problem. Paid extensions may need a download key entered before they'll update.

6. Test your site

  • Clear the cache (System > Clear Cache) if your site uses caching.
  • Visit the home page and key pages.
  • Submit your forms.
  • Check anything that relies on extensions, like galleries, stores, or sliders.
  • Log in and out.

If something breaks

  • Note what you updated and what's broken.
  • Restore your backup if the site is down and you can't fix it quickly.
  • Open a ticket if you're a client. See How to Get Support From 3by400.

When to call us

  • A major version upgrade
  • The pre-update check flags extensions
  • Your site has custom code or template overrides
  • You don't have a recent backup

Prefer we handle it?

If you'd rather spend your time running your business, our boutique hosting, available to our clients, including sites moved over from another host, takes a proactive approach to security and monitoring, with nightly backups, 24/7 outage monitoring, and ongoing core CMS updates.

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