Like any software, new versions of Joomla become available regularly.

What kind of Joomla updates are there?

To understand Joomla updates, it is important to know what kind of updates exist within Joomla. Joomla's version numbering consists of 3 numbers (for example: 3.9.10). Therefore, the different updates can be divided into 3 categories.

Important: Before performing an update, always make a backup first!

Joomla Patch Updates

With the patch update or maintenance update, the last number is changed (for example: 3.9.10 > 3.9.11). This update is used for bug fixes and security updates. Minor bugs and code improvements are implemented in this. You won't discover any new functions (features) in these releases and it will be backwards compatible. This means that everything you did in a previous version of Joomla 3 will continue to work that way. Patch updates appear regularly, currently every 6 weeks, on Tuesday afternoons.

Joomla Minor updates

With a minor update or subversion update, the middle number is updated. (For example: 3.6.5 > 3.7.0). This update indicates that new features or significant changes have been built into Joomla's current features. For example, Joomla 3.7 has the ability of custom fields built in. And Joomla 3.9 added privacy settings. Minor updates are also backwards compatible.

Joomla Major updates

With a major update or main version update, the first number is changed (e.g. 3.10.0 > 4.0.0). Much of the code will be rewritten, new features will be added and the update will no longer be backwards compatible with the previous version.

Joomla update messages

When a new Joomla version is released, you will receive a Joomla update notification in your e-mail. You will also see in the administrator area that a new version is available.

How do you perform a Joomla update?

Click the "Update now" button or go via System > Update > Joomla to the pre-update control screen.

Accept the warning (after checking the notification, of course) and click the update button.

You will then see a subsequent control screen.

Check that you have made a backup and click "Start update". Wait until you see the next screen and you are done with the update.