Joomla 6.0 is here
What do you gain from upgrading?
In an era where digital platforms must constantly adapt to new demands, legislation, and user behavior, it’s crucial that your website stands on a solid, modern foundation. Whether you run a member portal, webshop, or informational site, your CMS platform is the backbone of the digital experience — for both visitors and those working behind the scenes.
That’s why it’s worth paying attention now: Joomla 6.0 “Kuimarisha” has just been released (October 14, 2025), marking the most significant improvement to the system in years.
While earlier updates focused on stability and security, Joomla 6 represents a true technological leap forward — faster, more secure, easier to manage — with a clear focus on making the work of editors and developers more efficient.
At the same time, Joomla 5.4 is being launched as a “bridge version,” making the upgrade process smoother. The combination of automatic core updates, new editor tools, improved performance, and enhanced accessibility means that Joomla isn’t just keeping up — it’s taking a major step into the future.
The key highlights of Joomla 6.0
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01
Automatic, secure core updates
Joomla 6 can now automatically update the Joomla core using TUF-secured, verified packages. This reduces maintenance and minimizes the risk of security vulnerabilities being exploited by hackers.
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02
Cassiopeia child template with more styling options
The frontend gets a fresh touch: a new child template with greater control over colors, typography, and layout — no coding required. Great news for those using a barebones Joomla setup.
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03
Advanced versioning, now for custom fields too
Versioning now includes custom fields, allowing editors to roll back changes without losing data — a big win for large content-based sites like food blogs or product catalogs.
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04
New custom field types: Notes & Numbers
Two new field types improve editorial work: add notes directly in the editing view to keep track of your fields, or handle numbers and currencies with proper formatting — ideal for product catalogs.
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05
Backward compatibility 6 plugin
A new plugin ensures a seamless transition from 5.4 to 6.0 by maintaining backward compatibility. It makes it easier to move from Joomla 5.x to 6.x and gives developers more time to update their extensions for Joomla 6 and PHP 8.3.
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06
Smoother backend experience
Another solid improvement to the Joomla backend: CSS transitions and a modernized Atum theme make for a faster, more intuitive interface.
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07
Technical improvements
TinyMCE 8.0.1 — Joomla’s standard editor — is now more accessible, and cached language files mean faster loading and better stability.
What does this mean for your business?
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Less maintenance, more security
Automatic core updates in Joomla 6 mean you can focus on content and strategy instead of technical upkeep.
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Faster, more user-friendly editing
TinyMCE 8, improved versioning, and notes fields make collaboration on content easier.
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Better performance and SEO
Caching, cleaner code, and improved semantics enhance both visibility and user experience.
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Future-proofing
Joomla 6 requires PHP 8.3+ and is built for the next generation of web standards.
How to plan your upgrade
If you’re already running Joomla 5, upgrading to Joomla 6 is a relatively simple process.
The key step is to first upgrade to Joomla 5.4 or newer and enable the Backward Compatibility 6 plugin if you use extensions that aren’t yet fully compatible with Joomla 6 but still work fine in version 5.
If you’re still on Joomla 4 or older, now’s the perfect time to modernize. You’ll skip an entire generation and ensure a future-proof setup.
This is especially important because all versions before Joomla 5 no longer receive security updates — Joomla 4 reached its official End of Life (EOL) on October 14, 2025.
If you’re doing it yourself — follow these steps
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01
Review your current site
List all extensions, templates, and customizations. Make sure they’re compatible with the next Joomla version.
(Both versions 4 and 5 have a built-in compatibility checker in the upgrade tool.)
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Back up your entire website — both files and database — and verify that restoration works.
Consider cloning your site to a staging environment (locally or on your server) so you can test safely.
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03
Upgrade to Joomla 5.4 first
When ready, upgrade to Joomla 5.4 and enable the Backward Compatibility 6 plugin for full backward support.
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Once everything works correctly in version 5.4, upgrade to Joomla 6.0 and enable automatic core updates to keep your site secure and up to date with minimal effort.
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05
Test thoroughly in the staging environment
Check all functionality: login, forms, navigation, SEO tags, and extensions.
Fix any errors or warnings before going live.
With a structured approach and some preparation, you can ensure your upgrade to Joomla 6 is both safe and seamless.
Need help?
If you’d like extra assurance — or want us to review your current setup and advise on the best upgrade strategy — get in touch.
We’ll help you plan, test, and implement Joomla 6 so you get a fast, secure, and future-proof website from day one.
Joomla 6 is here
— and Joomla 4 is officially retired
The new version brings improved speed, automation, and usability, making it one of the most refined Joomla releases in years.
But remember: upgrading too early or without preparation can cause compatibility issues.
The key is to plan, test, and upgrade strategically.
When you’re ready to take the leap, W360 is here to help you ensure your upgrade is secure, smooth, and optimized for the future.
