Joomla 3 to Joomla 4 upgrade service
We move your Joomla 3 site to Joomla 4 on a copy, keep your content, users and menus, and fix what the upgrade breaks. If you want, we carry on to Joomla 5 and Joomla 6 in the same project, so your site ends on a supported version.
Who this service is for
Joomla 3 lost official support on 17 August 2023, and the paid extended security support ended on 17 February 2025. A Joomla 3 site gets no more security fixes.
- Sites still on any Joomla 3.x version
- Sites whose template or extensions have no Joomla 4 version
- Owners who tried the update and got errors, a blank page or a broken layout
- Agencies with client sites to move, who want the work done and tested for them
Joomla 4 is a stop on the way, not the end
Joomla 4 reached its own end of life in October 2025; 4.4.14 is its last release. The supported path is Joomla 3.10 to 4.4, then 4.4 to 5.4, then 5.4 to Joomla 6, and every step has its own checks. We plan the whole route at the start, so you can choose to stop at Joomla 4 or go all the way to Joomla 6. For sites already on Joomla 4, see the Joomla 4 to Joomla 6 update service.
How the upgrade works
All work happens on a copy of your site. Your live site keeps running until you approve the result.
- Review. We check the Joomla, PHP and database versions, the template and every extension, and tell you what can move, what needs a new version and what has to be replaced.
- Backup and copy. We take a full backup and set up a copy of the site on a subdomain or on our server.
- Joomla 3.10 and the Pre-Update Check. We update the copy to the last Joomla 3.10 release and run the Pre-Update Check, which shows whether the server and each extension are ready for Joomla 4.
- Server. Joomla 4 needs PHP 7.2.5 or newer and MySQL 5.6 or newer (or PostgreSQL 11). If you plan to continue to Joomla 6, we check that your host can run PHP 8.3.
- Extensions and template. We update, replace or remove extensions that are not ready, always agreed with you first. A Joomla 3 template needs a Joomla 4 version or a replacement.
- Upgrade and fix. We run the upgrade on the copy with debugging on, fix database and PHP errors, and repeat until it runs cleanly.
- Test. We go through pages, menus, forms, logins, search and any shop or booking features, on desktop and phone.
- Your review and go-live. You check the copy. When you approve it, we move it to your live site and check it again.
What is included
Site review and plan
A written list of what moves, what changes and what we recommend, before any work starts.
Full backup
A complete backup of files and database before we touch anything.
Work on a copy
The upgrade runs on a copy, so visitors never see a half-finished site.
Extension and template checks
Every extension checked for Joomla 4; updates or replacements agreed with you.
Core upgrade and fixes
The Joomla upgrade itself, with database and PHP errors fixed along the way.
Testing and go-live
Testing on desktop and phone, then the switch to your live site.
What you get
- Your site on Joomla 4.4, or on Joomla 5 or 6 if you choose the full route
- Your articles, categories, menus, users and media kept
- A list of the extensions we updated, replaced or removed
- The backup we took before the work
Your template
A Joomla 3 template rarely survives the upgrade as it is. If your site uses one of our templates, we can set up its current version instead: our Joomla templates are rebuilt for Joomla 5 and Joomla 6 on the Helix Ultimate framework. For another template, we check whether its developer has a newer version or suggest a replacement.
Timing and price
How long the upgrade takes depends on the size of the site and on how many extensions need a new version or a replacement. We give you the timing together with the price, after the review.
There is no fixed price on this page because every site is different. Contact us for a detailed price based on your site.
Ask for a detailed price
Every site is different, so we do not list a fixed price. Send your site address, the Joomla version it runs and anything you know about its extensions. We review the site and reply with the steps, the timing and a detailed price for your site. You can also use the contact page.
Questions and answers
Can you upgrade my site straight from Joomla 3 to Joomla 6?
Not in one jump. The supported path goes through Joomla 3.10, 4.4 and 5.4 before Joomla 6. We can run all the steps in one project on the copy, so your live site switches only once.
Will I lose content in the upgrade?
No. Articles, categories, menus, users and media move with the site. Content that belongs to an extension with no Joomla 4 version needs a replacement; the review tells you before we start what that means for your site.
Is my site offline while you work?
No. We work on a copy. The live site only changes at the end, when you have approved the result.
How much does the upgrade cost?
It depends on the site, so we price it after the review. Use the form on this page or the contact page, and we send you a detailed price for your site.
Do I need new hosting?
Only if your host cannot run the PHP and database versions the new Joomla needs. We check this in the review and tell you what to ask your host.
What do you need from me?
An administrator login for Joomla, and access to your hosting (control panel or FTP) and database. Use temporary passwords and change them when we are finished.
Get your Joomla 3 site onto a supported version
Send us your site address. We review it and reply with the steps, the timing and a detailed price.