Upgrade Joomla 4 to Joomla 6 — Skip to the Latest Version
Joomla 4 reached end of life in October 2025. Joomla 6 launched the same month, marking a clear generational shift. If you want your website on the latest version of Joomla — with the newest features, the most modern codebase, and the strongest long-term outlook — this is your migration path.
Upgrading from Joomla 4 directly to Joomla 6 is a two-step process that passes through Joomla 5.4 as an intermediate stage. We manage both steps as a single project, delivering your website on Joomla 6 without the need to run Joomla 5 in production.
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Why Skip Joomla 5 and Go Directly to Joomla 6
Every reason to leave Joomla 4 is covered in detail on our Joomla 4 to 5 upgrade page — end of security support, extension developers moving on, and regulatory compliance concerns all apply equally here.
The question specific to this page is: why target Joomla 6 instead of Joomla 5?
Joomla 6 Is the Active Development Target
Joomla 5 is the Long Term Support release — stable, proven, and well-supported. But Joomla 6 is where the Joomla Project's primary development effort is now focused. New features, performance improvements, and architectural refinements appear in Joomla 6 first. If your organisation values being on the most current platform and wants the longest possible runway before the next major migration becomes necessary, Joomla 6 is the logical choice.
Automatic Core Updates
Joomla 6 supports automatic minor version updates — security patches and bug fixes can be applied without manual intervention. This is available in Joomla 5.4 as well, but Joomla 6 is where this feature matures and becomes the standard operational model. For organisations that want their website security managed with minimal overhead, this is a significant benefit.
Modernised Framework
Joomla 6 runs on Framework 4, which includes significant improvements over the framework powering Joomla 5. These improvements primarily benefit the extension ecosystem — developers can build faster, more secure, more capable extensions. As the Joomla 6 extension ecosystem matures, websites running on Joomla 6 will benefit from these improvements first.
Longer Time Before Next Major Upgrade
By upgrading to the latest major version now, you maximise the time before the next major migration becomes necessary. Joomla 6 will be the current supported series for several years. Upgrading to Joomla 5 means you will need to plan another upgrade to Joomla 6 (or its successor) sooner.
The Compatibility Plugin Eases the Transition
Joomla 6 includes a Compatibility Plugin that allows extensions built for Joomla 4 and 5 to function on Joomla 6 even before they receive native Joomla 6 updates. This bridge feature significantly reduces the risk of extension incompatibility during the transition period.
The Upgrade Path: Joomla 4 → 5.4 → 6
Joomla 4 cannot upgrade directly to Joomla 6. The upgrade follows a two-step path through Joomla 5.4, which serves as the bridge release.
Step 1: Joomla 4 → Joomla 5.4
The first step upgrades your Joomla 4 installation to Joomla 5.4, the LTS release. Because Joomla 4 and 5 share the same architecture, this is a standard upgrade performed through the Joomla Update component. Extensions compatible with Joomla 4 generally work with Joomla 5 — those that require updates are handled during this stage.
Step 2: Joomla 5.4 → Joomla 6
Once on Joomla 5.4, the upgrade to Joomla 6 is performed through the same update mechanism. The Compatibility Plugin activates automatically to ensure extensions that have not yet been updated for native Joomla 6 continue to function. We then test every extension and optimise the configuration for Joomla 6.
Both steps are performed on a staging environment. Your live Joomla 4 site continues operating normally until the final switchover.
What Changes Between Joomla 4 and Joomla 6
The changes from Joomla 4 to Joomla 6 encompass everything introduced in Joomla 5 plus the Joomla 6 additions.
Features Gained from Joomla 5
- Task scheduler for automated recurring tasks
- Guided tours for backend user onboarding
- Child templates for safe template customisation
- Mail templates for customisable system emails
- Improved custom fields and content management
- Enhanced media manager with better file handling
- Performance optimisations in database queries and asset loading
Features Added in Joomla 6
- Framework 4 — modernised developer framework for better extensions
- Automatic core updates — security patches applied without manual intervention
- Compatibility Plugin — backward compatibility for Joomla 4/5 extensions
- Improved accessibility — continued enhancements to screen reader support, keyboard navigation, and ARIA implementation
- Performance improvements — further optimisations building on Joomla 5's gains
- Modernised security architecture — improved core security features
What Is Removed
Joomla 6 removes deprecated APIs and legacy compatibility layers that were still present in Joomla 5. Extensions that relied on deprecated features from Joomla 4 will need to be updated — the Compatibility Plugin covers many but not all of these cases. Our audit identifies exactly which extensions are affected.
Server Requirements
Joomla 6 requires PHP 8.1+ (8.2 or 8.3 recommended) and MySQL 8.0.13+ or MariaDB 10.4+. If your Joomla 4 hosting already supports these versions, no server changes are needed. If not, we coordinate the server upgrade as part of the project.
Extension Compatibility
The extension landscape for Joomla 6 is maturing rapidly. Most major extension providers have released Joomla 6 compatible versions or confirmed compatibility through the Compatibility Plugin.
Confirmed Joomla 6 support: Akeeba Backup and Admin Tools, HikaShop, AcyMailing, RSForm Pro, Kunena, Phoca Gallery, DOCman, JCE Editor, Membership Pro, and most major commercial extensions from established developers.
Working via Compatibility Plugin: Many smaller extensions function correctly under the Compatibility Plugin without requiring native Joomla 6 updates. The plugin adds some performance overhead, but it provides reliable backward compatibility.
Potential issues: Extensions that were built for Joomla 4 but not maintained since then may not work even with the Compatibility Plugin. Abandoned extensions need to be replaced with actively maintained alternatives.
Our free audit checks every extension on your Joomla 4 installation against both native Joomla 6 support and Compatibility Plugin compatibility, giving you a clear picture before any work begins.
When to Choose Joomla 5 Instead
Joomla 5 remains the better choice in certain situations:
- Your website depends on extensions that have confirmed Joomla 5 support but have not yet addressed Joomla 6 compatibility
- Your organisation prioritises maximum proven stability over having the latest features
- You prefer to avoid running the Compatibility Plugin and want native support for all extensions
- You plan to upgrade again to Joomla 6 later, once the extension ecosystem has fully matured
We do not push one version over another. During the free audit, we assess your specific installation and recommend the target version that best suits your situation. If the audit shows that Joomla 5 is the safer choice for your extension configuration, we will tell you. Read about our Joomla 4 to 5 upgrade service →
Our Process
- Free site audit — comprehensive review of your Joomla 4 installation with extension compatibility report and version recommendation (Joomla 5 or 6)
- Fixed-price quotation — clear scope, timeline, and cost before work begins
- Staging environment — complete copy of your site for all upgrade work
- Pre-upgrade preparation — update all extensions, clean the installation, verify server requirements
- Two-stage upgrade — Joomla 4 → 5.4 → 6, each stage verified before proceeding
- Extension updates and testing — every extension updated, tested, and configured for Joomla 6
- Template verification — your template tested and adjusted for Joomla 6 compatibility
- Comprehensive testing — functional, cross-browser, mobile, performance, and SEO verification
- Your review and approval — access to staging site for your own testing
- Live deployment — scheduled switchover with zero downtime
- 30-day post-upgrade support — monitoring, adjustments, and issue resolution included
Timeline and Pricing
Joomla 4 to 6 upgrades typically take one to two weeks. The two-step upgrade process adds some time compared to a Joomla 4 to 5 upgrade, primarily for additional testing and Compatibility Plugin configuration.
Projects start from €800 for standard installations. Complex sites are quoted individually based on the audit. All quotations are fixed-price — no hourly billing, no surprises.
After the Upgrade
Joomla 6 with automatic core updates provides the most self-maintaining Joomla experience available. However, automatic updates cover only core minor versions — extension updates, security monitoring, backups, and performance management still require structured attention.
Our maintenance plans provide ongoing care for your Joomla 6 installation. Our managed hosting provides European server infrastructure optimised specifically for Joomla 6.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I upgrade from Joomla 4 directly to Joomla 6?
Not in a single step. The upgrade passes through Joomla 5.4 as an intermediate stage. We handle both steps as a single project — your website goes from Joomla 4 to Joomla 6 without running Joomla 5 in production.
Will the Compatibility Plugin slow down my website?
The Compatibility Plugin does add some performance overhead because it loads additional compatibility layers. The impact is generally small but measurable. As extensions release native Joomla 6 versions, the plugin can be disabled for improved performance. We optimise site performance as part of the upgrade and monitor it during the post-upgrade support period.
What if I want to move to Joomla 6 later, not now?
That is a perfectly valid approach. Upgrade to Joomla 5 now to get off the unsupported Joomla 4 immediately, then plan the Joomla 5 to 6 upgrade at your own pace. The upgrade from 5.4 to 6 is a standard process that can be done whenever you are ready. Start with our Joomla 4 to 5 upgrade →
Will my Joomla 4 template work on Joomla 6?
Most Joomla 4 templates work on Joomla 5 and many work on Joomla 6 as well, since all three versions use Bootstrap 5. Some adjustments may be needed for deprecated features. Commercial templates from active developers typically receive Joomla 6 compatibility updates. We verify your specific template during the audit.
Start Your Upgrade to Joomla 6
Our free audit examines your Joomla 4 installation, tests extension compatibility for both Joomla 5 and Joomla 6, and delivers a clear recommendation with a fixed-price quotation. You will know exactly what is involved before making any commitment.