How to migrate from Joomla to WordPress are two of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world. Although Joomla provides flexibility and a solid framework for advanced sites, most users preferWordPress as it is more user-friendly, flexible, and scalable. It can be intimidating to migrate from Joomla to WordPress, but with careful planning and a good toolset, this process can be efficient and smooth. The current 2025 guide takes you through each step of the migration process in a thorough and step-by-step manner.
1. Why Migrate from Joomla to WordPress?
Several site owners switch from Joomla to WordPress for a number of compelling reasons:
- Ease of use: WordPress has an intuitive dashboard and vast plugin andtheme repository.
- Community support: WordPress has the largest global community of developers and users.
- Scalability: WordPress accommodates everything from blogs to large enterprise sites.
- SEO capabilities: WordPress has superior SEO plugins and tools.
- Regular updates and security enhancements.
2. Prepare How to Migrate from Joomla to WordPress
The secret to a successful migration is preparation:
- Backup your Joomla site using applications like Akeeba Backup.
- Log the site architecture, URL architecture, and custom elements.
- Choose your new WordPress host and install a fresh WordPress installation.
- Create a staging environment to test.
3. Choose the Correct Migration Process
You can migrate your Joomla site manually or utilize automated plugins:
- Manual migration: Most appropriate for tiny sites. Export content manually and rebuild pages in WordPress.
- Automated migration: Plugins like FG Joomla to WordPress facilitate easy transfer of content, category, image, and metadata.
- Test both methods on your staging site to determine ease and accuracy.
4. Install WordPress and Set Up Basics
- Download and install the latest version of WordPress.
- Set up basic settings: site title, tagline, permalinks, and timezone.
- Install required plugins such as Yoast SEO, Wordfence Security, and a caching plugin.
- Select a WordPress theme suitable for your brand or replicate your Joomla structure.
5. Install and Configure FG Joomla to WordPress Plugin
- Go to Plugins > Add New and look for FG Joomla to WordPress.
- Activate the plugin.
- Enter your Joomla database credentials (database name, username, password, host).
- Select the Joomla root directory.
- Click Start/Resume Import to transfer content.
- The plugin allows you to import:
- Joomla posts and pages
- Categories and sections
- Images and media files
- Users and authors
- Meta descriptions and keywords
6. Manual Migration of Complex Elements
Some advanced Joomla elements don’t automatically copy:
- Modules and components: Rebuild similar functionality usingWordPress plugins.
- Menus and navigation: Manually rebuild your Joomla menu structure under Appearance > Menus.
- Custom extensions: Discover WordPress equivalents or hire a developer to create custom plugins.
7. Set Up SEO and Redirects
To protect SEO rankings:
- Install the Redirection plugin to move old Joomla URLs to the new WordPress ones.
- Submit a new sitemap to Google Search Console.
- Update internal links on posts and pages to the new URL structure.
- Optimize meta titles, descriptions, and schema markup with Yoast SEO or Rank Math.
8. Test Your New WordPress Site
Thoroughly audit your migrated site:
- Test all links, menus, and forms.
- Verify images, videos, and downloadable content.
- Check responsiveness on mobile devices and tablets.
- Conduct performance tests using Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix.
9. Go Live with WordPress
Once you’re satisfied with your staging site:
- Update your DNS records to point to the new WordPress host.
- Enable HTTPS using an SSL certificate.
- Monitor for 404 errors or broken links using SEO tools.
10. Post-Migration Maintenance
Ongoing tasks include:
- Regular backups using plugins like UpdraftPlus.
- Keeping WordPress core, plugins, and themes updated.
- Monitoring site performance and security.
- Integrating with the WordPress community to ensure ongoing improvement.
11. Additional E-commerce Factors on Joomla Websites
Should your Joomla website have e-commerce functionality, specialcare needs to be taken when migrating product information, customer records, and order history. Most popular WordPress plugin for e-commerce is WooCommerce and is feature rich. Careful testing needs to be done to ensure that price, variations, and shipping rules are accurate upon migration.
You may need to import VirtueMart or other store information intoWooCommerce. Expert assistance with complex store imports might be necessary.
12. Migrating Joomla User Permissions and Roles
Joomla’s permission system is more advanced than WordPress’s by default. During migration, assign Joomla roles to WordPress user roles (administrator, editor, author, contributor, subscriber).
Verify all user accounts post-migration to ensure correct access levelsand remove inactive or duplicate users to enhance security.
13. Saving Media and Downloadable Files
Manually transfer any large downloadable files, PDFs, or media contentthat will not transfer via plugin. Re-create galleries using WordPress gallery blocks or media plugins.
Update all file URLs correctly and set correct file permissions to prevent broken downloads.
14. Transferring Joomla Multilingual Websites
If your Joomla site supports multilingual, replicate the same in WordPress using plugins like WPML or Polylang.
Manually specify languages for all posts, pages, and categories, and test language switchers and SEO settings for each translation.
15. Custom Post Types and Taxonomies
WordPress custom post types can be mapped to Joomla components. Use plugins like Custom Post Type UI or code your custom post types by hand.
Custom taxonomies must be declared wherever required to emulateJoomla’s deep hierarchies of content. Update permalinks and ensure search compatibility.
16. Tracking Analytics and Performance After Migration
Once live, re-index your site with Google Search Console, Google Analytics, and other performance monitoring tools.
Track traffic, bounce rates, and engagement metrics to ensure that your site’s migration did not negatively impact user experience or search ranking. Correct any unexpected performance problems promptly.
Conclusion
It will take patience and careful planning to switch from Joomla to WordPress, but the payoff is worth it. A modern, scalable, SEO-optimized website with the option of having access to infinite customization and plugin power awaits. Using this step-by-step tutorial and thoroughly testing, you can successfully make the transition that increases your website’s functionality and user experience.
Keep in mind that a successful migration is a long-term investment in your online presence. Hello WordPress community!
