Joomla Updates

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

What kind of Joomla updates are there?

To understand Joomla updates, it is important that you know what updates exist within Joomla. The version numbering of Joomla consists of 3 numbers (for example: 3.9.10). Therefore, the various updates are 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. In these releases you will not discover any new functions (features) 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 the current features of Joomla. For example Joomla 3.7 has the ability of custom fields built in. And Joomla 3.9 added privacy settings. The minor update are also backwards compatible.

Joomla Major Updates

A major update or main version update is the first number changed (eg 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 notices

When a new Joomla version is released you will receive a Joomla update notification in your email. You can also see in the administrator area that a new version is available.

How to perform a Joomla update?

Click the "Update now" button or go through 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 another 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.