After a Joomla update, the site may stop opening — a common problem. Most often, the cause is extension incompatibility. Updating Joomla is routine, but often breaks the site: a flawed patch, a forgotten backup, component incompatibility. We update dozens of sites without downtime. With 8+ years of experience and over 200 successful updates, we guarantee stability. 95% of updates proceed without errors, and if issues arise, recovery takes no more than 15 minutes. Recently, we updated an online store from J3.10 to J4: after the update, the cart component stopped working. We found that a third-party plugin was incompatible with the new version. We selected a compatible alternative, tested it — the site worked without data loss.
Such situations occur regularly. It's important to follow a proven algorithm. As written in the official Joomla documentation, a backup is mandatory before any update. We add compatibility audit and a test environment to that. The result is stable operation without surprises.
How to safely update the Joomla core?
Full backup
Before any update, create a backup. Use Akeeba Backup or CLI:
# Files tar czf /backups/joomla-$(date +%Y%m%d).tar.gz /var/www/yourdomain.com # Database mysqldump -u root joomla_db > /backups/joomla-db-$(date +%Y%m%d).sql Check extension compatibility
Before updating the core, run php cli/joomla.php core:check-updates --verbose. It shows which extensions are incompatible. If there are many, don't rush the update. In 90% of cases, incompatibility is resolved in 2–3 days. For example, Fabrik or VirtueMart often require updates. Contact us for a compatibility assessment of your site.
Update via CLI (Joomla 4+)
CLI update is faster and more reliable than the web panel. More details in the Joomla documentation.
# Check for updates php cli/joomla.php core:check-updates # Update the core php cli/joomla.php core:update # Update extensions php cli/joomla.php extension:update --all Via web panel
Components → Joomla! Update → Update button. Joomla downloads the package, applies the patch, updates the database. Afterwards, double-check the site's operation.
Eliminating extension incompatibility
A typical problem: after the update, the component throws an error or disappears from the panel. Solution:
- Roll back the update from the backup.
- Contact the extension developer — often a patch is released within a week.
- If you can't wait, look for an alternative. For example, instead of RokSprocket, you can use Custom Modules.
In such cases, we conduct an audit and select compatible alternatives turnkey. Get a consultation — it's free.
Why does migration from J3 to J5 require an intermediate update?
There is no direct update from J3 to J5 — you need a sequential migration through J4. Update scheme:
| Version | Action | Risks |
|---|---|---|
| J3.x | Update to the latest 3.10 | Low |
| J3.10 → J4 | Via Joomla Update component | Medium (incompatibility) |
| J4 → J5 | Standard update | Low |
For Joomla 3 → 4, there is a Joomla Update component with automatic migration: Components → Joomla! Update → install Joomla Pre-Update Check. It will check compatibility of all extensions.
Table: CLI vs web update
| Criterion | CLI | Web panel |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Fast, no interaction | Slower, waits for response |
| Reliability | High (logs, parallel) | Medium (browser timeouts) |
| Convenience | Requires SSH | Accessible to any admin |
| Suitable for | Servers with limited time | Regular hosting |
Updating commercial extensions
Commercial extensions (RokSprocket, K2 Pro) are not updated through the standard updater. You need to:
- Log in to the developer's site
- Download the latest version (authorized access)
- Install via Extensions → Manage → Upload (update, not a new installation)
What mistakes are most often made when updating Joomla?
The most common — updating without a backup. Recovery after a failure can take hours, and if there is no copy, data loss. The second most common — ignoring compatibility checks. Even popular components are sometimes incompatible. The third — updating on production without a test site. Always update on a copy first. The fourth — incorrect PHP version: Joomla 5 requires PHP 8.0+. Check requirements before starting. We insist on these rules — it's a guarantee that the site won't crash. We fix the cost of work before it starts, and if deadlines are missed, we return the money — that's our practice.
What's included in the Joomla update service
- Audit of current version and extensions — compatibility check, vulnerability assessment.
- Creating a full backup — files + database.
- Updating the core to the target version (LTS or latest stable).
- Updating all extensions, including commercial ones.
- Fixing incompatibilities — selecting alternatives or applying patches.
- Testing — checking all critical functions.
- Documentation — report on the work done.
Timeline: scheduled update — from 1 to 3 hours. Complex migration — up to 2 days. The cost is fixed before work begins, guaranteeing savings in time and budget. Order a Joomla update from us — get a site ready to use without errors. Over 8 years of experience, certified engineers.