Joomla 4! The biggest hit of Joomla and a major version of the open-source and free content management system (CMS). There are some significant updates in Joomla 4 as compared to Joomla 3. With the development in features and use of advanced technology, Joomla 4 promises better performance, high security, and reliable security.
In this blog, we will give you a step-by-step guide on how to migrate Joomla 3 to Joomla 4.
Enjoy the guide😀
Why Migrate Joomla 3 to Joomla 4?
There have been numerous versions of Joomla since its launch in 2005. Joomla 3 was introduced for the first time in 2013 and Joomla 4 was released in 2021. Joomla 4.1 was released in February 2022 and Joomla 4.2 will come out in August 2022. So, if you want to access all the advanced features of Joomla, it's high time you do Joomla 3 to 4 migration.
Some of the improvements in Joomla 4 are:
- The bootstrap has been updated in Joomla 4 for better performance and user interface. Joomla 3 used bootstrap 2 whereas Joomla 4 uses bootstrap 4. Simultaneously, there has also been an upgrade from LESS to SASS in Joomla 4.
- Although Joomla 3 has two default front-end templates and Joomla 4 only has one default front-end template, it is much more developed and advanced. The Joomla 4 front-end template is called Cassiopeia.
- Joomla 4 has a much simpler installation process as compared to Joomla 3. Although Joomla 4 has the same 3 step installation process as Joomla 3 now users can look back on previous data and save it without stalling the installation process.
The following instruction is the basic step-by-step procedure to migrate your 3.10.x site to Joomla! 4.x
Step by Step Guide of Migrating from Joomla 3 to 4
If you have finally decided to do Jooma 3 to 4 migration, do not worry, we have got you. Below is the step-by-step guide you can follow to do a seamless migration.
Create a Backup for your Website
Before you begin the Joomla 3 to 4 migration process, the most important step is to create a back of your website. In case anything goes wrong during the migration process or you face an unwanted technical difficulty, you should be able to restore the backup site.
The backup website will have the entire database and documents of your original website. You would not want to lose even a single document during the migration process.
Now there are multiple ways you can create a backup for your website:
- A traditional way to create a backup of your website is by using the software. There is numerous free software available online but you must know which is the best choice for you and why. This method requires some technical knowledge and might be difficult for a beginner.
Usually, the software you are using would require you to enter your credential to access your website’s control panel. Once it has access you can start the backup process. The process might vary for each software. - A lot of web hosting plans come with a cPanel. If you do not want to use a software or plug-in, you can use cPanel to create manual backups. However, keep in mind it will be a lengthy process and each step would require precision.
- If you are using WordPress you can create a backup simply by using plug-ins. WordPress provides numerous plug-ins and extensions to create a backup of your site. You can also schedule the backup and the extension will take care of everything. Some of the reliable and efficient plug-ins are Total Upkeep, XCloner, Backup & Staging, etc.
- This step is the easiest and would require you to do nothing. Hire a third-party service and it will handle the backup process for you.
➡️ Lastly, after successfully creating the backup, set up a staging site. It is a clone of your live website and will allow you to check whether the backup has been done properly or not. It will allow the opportunity to catch errors, fix them, and then move ahead with the migration process.