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Support For Joomla 3 Is Ending: Migrate To Joomla 4

Matt Jackson 13 January, 2023

Update to Joomla 4! Built for speed, security and accessibility

Sadly support for Joomla 3 is coming to an end 17 August 2023. Enter Joomla 4! Joomla 3 has been around for over 16 years (which is like 80 dog or IT years!), and as a Joomla user, you may have heard that it’s reached the end of its life. RIP Joomla 3🙁☠️. You may have even logged into your website to find the following warning message: Support ends on 17 August 2023 for Joomla 3.10. Migrate to Joomla 4 as soon as possible.

The time has come to update to Joomla 4, which is a totally new version and a major update to the Joomla content management system (CMS). Joomla 4 includes a number of significant improvements and updates that make it even easier to use and more powerful than previous versions. Let’s go!

joomla 3 ends August 2023 update your website to joomla 4 web agency specialising in joomla 4 website migration

Here’s everything you need to know about upgrading to Joomla 4

Many of our Joomla clients have been asking us about migrating their Joomla 3 website to Joomla 4, so we’ve put together a list of FAQs and tips to guide you through the process of upgrading your site and migrating to Joomla 4.

Q: When will support for Joomla 3 end?

17 August 2023 is when all support for Joomla 3 will end. This means that after August 2023, there will be no further updates, including security updates or bug fixes, leaving Joomla 3 sites vulnerable to hackers, instability and performance issues.

The Joomla team has announced that all users will have to migrate to Joomla 4 before that time to continue being supported for malware and software fixes.

With the August cut-off just around the corner, it’s essential to start planning your upgrade to Joomla 4 today to make sure that your website is safe, secure and has all of the latest features.

Heck, this is also an excellent time to take a step back and review your website’s content and appearance. Perhaps it’s time for a refresh?

Q: What happens if I don’t update to Joomla 4?

If you don’t upgrade to Joomla 4, your website will continue to function; however, there are a number of dangers that you should be aware of:

  • Security risks: When Joomla 3 ends in August 2023, there will be no more updates to protect the site from hackers and malware and known security vulnerabilities will not be patched. There will also no longer be support or fixes for bugs caused by instability or extensions
  • Compatibility issues: Down the track, it’s likely that browsers such as Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Safari will no longer be compatible with Joomla 3, which may lead to your website not displaying properly
  • Declining performance: Legacy versions of CMS systems are known to have slower performance and speed than their newer counterparts
  • Lack of new features: Given that there will be no further updates, Joomla 3 users will not have the option to take advantage of the new and advanced features offered by Joomla 4

These are just a few of the reasons we’re recommending that you upgrade to Joomla 4 before the support period ends. There are many other benefits of updating, including improved speed, enhanced security and built-in SEO optimisation.

Q: Should I Upgrade to Joomla 4 or Migrate to a WordPress Website?

If you’ve been toying with the idea of migrating your website to WordPress, now might be the perfect moment. WordPress is the world’s most popular CMS, powering over 40% of all websites, and for many good reasons. It’s fast, light, powerful, and user-friendly, making it a great CMS for the non-technical folk amongst us.

In saying that, Joomla 4 is an excellent option if you’d like to stay with the Joomla family.

update your website to joomla 4 web agency specialising in joomla 4 website migration

Q: How do I migrate my website from Joomla 3 to Joomla 4?

Since Joomla 4 is an entirely new version, the process of updating a site from Joomla 3 can be a bit challenging, especially for non-technical users. There are quite a few steps that involve an in-depth understanding of how to install and configure software and knowledge of how to migrate a website from one environment to another.

Migrating to a new major version can be difficult primarily because your present template and extensions may not be compatible with the new Joomla version. The result is that once the migration process is complete and you have transferred all your content to the new version, you may need to change or update all templates and extensions before your website will actually start working again.

If this all seems a bit daunting, that’s where iSonic can come in. 😁 We’re Joomla 4 experts and have migrated many sites already, so we have a good understanding of how to smoothly and successfully complete the update.

If you are confident in your tech skills and want to tackle the job yourself, here’s a list of the steps that you’ll need to follow:

  1. Backup your site: This step is essential to ensure you have a roll-back point if things don’t go as planned during the update. As the scouts would say, “always be prepared…”
  2. Check system requirements: Joomla 4 requires a different PHP version to Joomla 3, so you’ll need to check that your hosting account meets the requirements
  3. Duplicate the site to development server: It’s important to duplicate the site to test that all features are working before launching the site to your live environment
  4. Download Joomla 4: Click here to download the latest version of Joomla 4 from the Joomla website
  5. Install Joomla 4: Follow the step-by-step instructions for installing Joomla 4 on your website
  6. Update templates and extensions: Legacy templates and extensions may not be compatible with Joomla 4 version
  7. Test all extensions: Before going live with your updated site, you’ll need to test all extensions thoroughly to ensure they are functioning as expected NB: some older extensions may not be compatible and will need to be replaced
  8. Go live with your new Joomla 4 site: Pat yourself on the back! You’ve smoothly and successfully upgraded your website to Joomla 4

How can iSonic help?

With the release of Joomla 4, we’re excited to provide support in the migration of Joomla 3 to Joomla 4. We know that many of our clients still use Joomla 3, and we want to make the transition as smooth as possible.

That is why we’ll continue to offer support and security updates for Joomla 3 until the end of life in August 2023.

At iSonic we’re proud to be Joomla experts and have been building Joomla websites and providing support for over 15 years. We offer a full suite of services around the Joomla CMS, including new website builds, site updates, security plans and hosting.

If you’d like to chat with us about our Joomla 4 migration service, give our friendly team a call on 1300 924 356 or fill in the Joomla 4 Migration Request form below, and we’ll get back to you with pricing and the next steps. We can also help with any content updates you’d like to make at the same time. 🚀

Joomla 4 Migration: Quote Request

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