How to Migrate From Joomla to WordPress in [year]

Migrating from Joomla to WordPress gives you access to a more intuitive CMS, better blogging tools, and a larger plugin ecosystem. This guide walks you through the complete Joomla to WordPress migration process in a few steps, covering everything from setting up your new WordPress environment to importing content and going live.

Whether you’re a developer handling client migrations or a site owner making the switch, you’ll have a fully functional WordPress site by the end.

What You Need Before Joomla to WordPress Migrating

Before starting your Joomla to WordPress migration journey, make sure you gather these essentials.

1. A WordPress Environment

If you are migrating from Joomla to WordPress, you need a place where your new WordPress site will live. You have a few common options:

Shared hosting: Best if budget is tight and traffic is low. It works, but you usually get fewer performance and staging features.

Managed WordPress hosting: Best if you want less server work. Many managed hosts include backups, security layers, caching, and sometimes staging.

Cloud-based WordPress development platforms: Best if you want to build, test, and validate the migration before touching your live domain. This is especially useful when you want a zero-setup environment, quick staging, and repeatable rollback points using snapshots.

InstaWP’s all-in-one WordPress cloud is the best option to consider here as you get managed cloud hosting along with a lot of dev-tools and agency-focused features.

Instead of purchasing hosting first, configuring WordPress, and then discovering migration issues on your production environment, you can:

• Create a fresh WordPress site instantly in the browser as staging or sandbox (no local setup).
• Install your Joomla to WordPress migration plugin and required dependencies.
• Run the full import, review content structure, menus, images, and URLs.
• Fix issues safely (permalink structure, media paths, missing fields, redirects, theme compatibility).
• Use snapshots to capture a “known good” state so you can roll back quickly if a plugin import breaks something.

Once everything looks correct, you can move the staged WordPress site to the native managed WordPress hosting of InstaWP by simply upgrading your site plan, based on the type of site you own.

This way you reduce risk during Joomla to WordPress . A Joomla to WordPress migration often needs a few import attempts and cleanup passes. Doing that on a disposable WordPress staging environment is faster, safer, and easier to troubleshoot than doing it directly on a live host.

2. A Joomla backup and admin access

Before any Joomla to WordPress migration, collect:

• A full Joomla backup (files + database).
• Joomla admin credentials (or at least database access).
• A list of critical content types you must migrate (articles, categories, menus, users, media).
• A note of extensions or custom fields that may not map cleanly to WordPress.

3. A Joomla to WordPress Migration Plugin

Most Joomla to WordPress migrations are handled through a plugin or service that can import Joomla content, users, and media into WordPress. Choose one that supports:

• Articles, categories, and tags mapping
• Menu and URL structure support (or at least predictable mapping)
• Media import and correct URL rewriting
• Users and author attribution (if needed)
• Support for multilingual content (if your Joomla site is multilingual)

4. A Staging Site

If you already have a WordPress hosting with staging , your Joomla to WordPress migration should always happen on staging first. If your hosting does not provide staging, you can create it yourself using InstaWP Connect.

You can use InstaWP Connect to create a staging site from an existing WordPress install. Joomla to WordPress migrations are messy. WordPress staging gives you a safety buffer so you can fix content formatting, handle broken images, validate redirects, and test plugins before customers see anything.

How to Migrate From Joomla to WordPress: Step-by-step Process

Migrating from Joomla to WordPress involves transferring your content, media files, and site structure to a completely different CMS architecture. The good news: you don’t need to manually copy and paste hundreds of articles or re-upload every image. The right tools automate most of the heavy lifting.

This Joomla to WordPresss migration process follows a safe, staged approach.

Step 1: Set Up Your WordPress Environment

Start by creating a fresh WordPress installation where you’ll migrate your Joomla content. As told you earlier, building WordPress is way easy and hassle-free with InstaWP as you can:

• Log into your dashboard and click “New Site.”
• Launch a fully configured WordPress site in seconds.
• Choose your preferred PHP version, WordPress version, managed hosting plan, then click “Create Site.”

Once WordPress is running, you need to install the FG Joomla to WordPress plugin. This will help you do the Joomla to WordPress migration seamlessly. You’ve two ways to do this:

1. Use Magic Login to access WP Dashboard without entering the credentails.

Go to Plugins > Add New, search for “FG Joomla to WordPress,” and click Install > Activate.

This plugin handles the heavy lifting of content migration, transferring your Joomla sections, categories, articles, media files, and tags into WordPress.

2. You can install this plugin directly from your InstaWP dashboard. All you need to do is:

Click on Install Plugins/Themes, enter the plugin slug, and click on Install Plugin. This will do the needful.

Step 2: Back Up Your Joomla Site

Never start a Joomla to WordPress migration without a complete backup. If something goes wrong during the transfer, you need the ability to restore your original site.

You can manually back-up a Joomla site, use phpMyAdmin for the backup, or use the recommende Akeeba Backup Extension. Here, we’re giving you a quick overview of taking backup of a Jmmla site using Akeeba Backup Extension.

1. Install the Akeeba Backup extension on your Joomla site from the Joomla Extensions Directory
2. Navigate to Components > Akeeba Backup in your Joomla admin
3. Run the Configuration Wizard to optimize backup settings for your server
4. Click “Backup Now” to create a complete site archive
5. Download the backup file and store it securely

Akeeba Backup creates a single archive containing your entire Joomla installation, including the database, files, and configurations. Keep this backup until you’ve verified the WordPress migration is complete and working correctly.

Step 3: Back Up Your WordPress Installation

Before importing any content, create a backup of your clean WordPress installation. This gives you a reset point if the import creates unexpected issues. If you’re using InstaWP, you can save your site as a snapshot at any point. This captures the complete site state, including the database and all files.

For other hosting, use a WordPress backup plugin or your host’s built-in backup feature.

Step 4: Clear Default WordPress Content

A fresh WordPress installation includes sample content like “Hello World” posts and sample pages. Remove this before importing your Joomla content to avoid confusion.

In the FG Joomla to WordPress plugin settings (Tools > Import > Joomla FG), scroll to the top of the page and click “Empty WordPress content.” This removes all posts, pages, media, and tags from your WordPress site.

Warning: This action permanently deletes all existing WordPress content. Only proceed if you’ve backed up your WordPress installation and you’re working with a fresh site.

Step 5: Configure Joomla Database Connection

The migration plugin needs direct access to your Joomla database to transfer content. You’ll enter these credentials in the FG Joomla to WordPress settings.

Find your Joomla database credentials:

1. Log into your Joomla admin panel
2. Go to System > Global Configuration > Server tab
3. Scroll to Database Settings
4. Note the following values: Host, Database Username, Database Name, Database Tables Prefix

The database password isn’t displayed in Joomla’s admin. If you don’t remember it, check your Joomla installation’s configuration.php file. Connect via FTP, open the file, and look for the $password variable.

Enter credentials in WordPress:

In the FG Joomla to WordPress settings, find the “Joomla web site parameters” section and enter below details.

Field	Description
URL of the live Joomla website	Your Joomla site’s full URL (e.g., https://yoursite.com)
Hostname	Usually “localhost” or your database server address
Database	Your Joomla database name
Username	Your database username
Password	Your database password
Table Prefix	Typically “jos_” or custom prefix

Click “Test the database connection” to verify everything works before proceeding.

Step 6: Import Your Joomla Content

With the database connection verified, configure your import settings in the “Behavior” section of the plugin.

Here, you need to choose the type of content you want to import from Joomla to WordPress. You’ve options such as:

• Archived posts: Check this to import archived Joomla articles
• Media: Import images and attachments from your Joomla media manager
• Meta keywords: Transfer SEO meta keywords as WordPress tags
• Featured images: Import the first image in each article as the featured image

Joomla articles have an “intro text” that appears in article listings. Choose how to handle this:

• Import as excerpt: Use intro text as WordPress excerpts
• Merge with content: Combine intro text with the main article body
• Import both ways: Create excerpts and include intro text in the content

Once configured, click “Start / Resume the import” at the bottom of the page. The plugin will transfer all content from your Joomla database to WordPress. This may take several minutes depending on your site’s size.

When complete, the plugin displays a summary of imported content, including the number of posts, pages, categories, and media files transferred.

Step 7: Fix Internal Links

After importing content, your internal links may still point to Joomla-style URLs. The migration plugin includes a tool to update these automatically.

In the FG Joomla to WordPress settings, click “Modify internal links.” The plugin scans all imported content and updates links to use WordPress permalink structures.

Run this step even if you haven’t noticed broken links. Joomla’s URL structure differs significantly from WordPress, and broken internal links hurt both user experience and SEO.

After running the link modifier, manually check a few key pages to verify links work correctly. Pay special attention to navigation menus, footer links, and any hardcoded URLs in your content.

Step 8: Install and Configure Your Theme

Your migrated content now exists in WordPress, but it’s using the default theme. Time to make it look like a proper website.

Choosing a theme:

Go to Appearance > Themes > Add New to browse free themes from the WordPress repository. You can filter by features, layout type, and subject matter.

Consider these factors when selecting a theme:

• Mobile responsiveness: Essential for modern websites
• Page builder compatibility: If you plan to use Elementor, Beaver Builder, or similar
• Performance: Lightweight themes load faster
• Active development: Check when the theme was last updated
• Reviews: Read user feedback for common issues

Must Read: 16 Fastest WordPress Themes for 2026: Free & Paid Included

After installing and activating your theme, customize it through Appearance > Customize. Most themes let you adjust colors, fonts, header layouts, and footer content without writing code.

Recreate your navigation:

Joomla menus don’t transfer to WordPress. Rebuild your site navigation by going to Appearance > Menus. Create a new menu, add your pages and categories, and assign it to your theme’s primary menu location.

Step 9: Configure Permalinks and Go Live

WordPress supports several URL structures. Go to Settings > Permalinks to configure yours.

Structure	Example	Best For
Plain	?p=123	Not recommended (poor SEO)
Day and name	/2024/01/15/post-title/	News sites
Post name	/post-title/	Most websites
Custom	/blog/%postname%/	Specific URL requirements

“Post name” is the most common choice. It creates clean, readable URLs that include your post titles and help with SEO.

Point your domain:

Once you’ve tested your WordPress site and confirmed everything works, you need to map your domain. InstaWP has made this process a lot simplier with a built in Map Domain feature.

Must Read: How to Map a Domain

Domain mapping allows you to use your own branded domain names instead of InstaWP-generated domains. Here is how you can do it.

Step 1: Navigate to your Sites page, find the site you want to map, click the three-dot menu (⋯), and select Map Domain.

Step 2: Click the Map Domain button on the page.

Step 3: In the modal window:

• Enter your custom domain name
• Choose domain type:
• Primary: Your main website address
• Alias: An additional domain that redirects to the primary domain
• Copy the provided CNAME records

Step 4: Go to your domain registrar (Cloudflare, Namecheap, etc.) and add the CNAME record:

• Type: CNAME
• Name: Your subdomain (e.g., www or @)
• Target: The hostname provided by InstaWP (e.g., your-site-name.instawp.xyz)

Step 5: Save the DNS record at your registrar.

Step 6: Return to InstaWP and click Map Domain in the modal window to complete the process.

Important Notes:

• Disable Cloudflare proxy during the mapping operation. Re-enable it after successful mapping if needed.
• SSL certificates are automatically generated for non-www versions
• For both www and non-www versions, add CNAME records for both

Create redirects:

To preserve SEO value and prevent 404 errors for bookmarked pages, set up 301 redirects from your old Joomla URLs to their WordPress equivalents. Plugins like Redirection or your host’s redirect tools can handle this.

That’s it. Joomla to WordPress migration is done!

Why Migrate From Joomla to WordPress?

Joomla powers millions of websites and offers solid multilingual support and built-in SEO features. However, WordPress dominates the CMS market with over 60% market share for good reasons. Here are the specific frustrations Joomla users face and how WordPress solves them.

The Dashboard Overwhelm Problem

Joomla’s admin panel is notorious for its complexity. The control panel presents dozens of icons, nested menus, and settings spread across multiple locations. Finding where to change a simple setting often requires clicking through System > Global Configuration > Site > then hunting through tabs.

WordPress solution: The WordPress dashboard uses a single left-hand sidebar with clearly labeled sections. Posts, Pages, Media, Appearance, Plugins, Settings. Everything lives where you’d expect it. New users can navigate WordPress within minutes, while Joomla often requires tutorials just to understand the admin structure.

The “Where Do I Write a Blog Post?” Confusion

Joomla doesn’t have a dedicated blog post type. Instead, you create “articles” and assign them to categories, then configure a menu item to display those articles in a blog layout. Want to show recent posts on your homepage? That requires creating a module, positioning it in a template location, and configuring display parameters.

WordPress solution: Click Posts > Add New. Write. Publish. Your theme handles the display automatically.

Categories and tags work intuitively. The distinction between Posts (time-based content) and Pages (static content) makes immediate sense to anyone who’s read a website before.

Extension Compatibility Nightmares

Joomla major version upgrades frequently break extensions. Moving from Joomla 3 to Joomla 4 left many site owners stranded because their critical extensions weren’t updated. Even minor updates can cause conflicts, and debugging requires checking multiple extension developers’ release schedules.

WordPress solution: WordPress maintains strong backward compatibility. Plugins built five years ago often still work. The plugin directory clearly shows compatibility with your WordPress version, last update date, and active installations. When conflicts occur, WordPress has a built-in recovery mode that lets you access your admin even when a plugin crashes your site.

The Theme Customization Barrier

Changing a Joomla template’s layout typically requires editing PHP files, understanding template overrides, and working with module positions. Even changing your site’s colors might require locating the right CSS file within a complex template structure.

WordPress solution: The Customizer provides live preview editing for colors, fonts, layouts, and menus without touching code. Block themes take this further with full site editing. Page builders like Elementor and Beaver Builder offer drag-and-drop design that works with most themes. Non-technical clients can make visual changes confidently.

Limited Plugin Options for Common Tasks

Need a contact form in Joomla? Your options are limited, and many require payment. Want to add an SEO plugin? The choices are few, and configuration is complex. Joomla’s extension directory contains roughly 6,000 extensions, many outdated or abandoned.

WordPress solution: The WordPress plugin directory offers over 60,000 free plugins. Contact Form 7 and WPForms handle forms. Yoast and RankMath dominate SEO with intuitive interfaces. WooCommerce powers 25%+ of all online stores. For nearly any functionality you need, multiple free, actively maintained options exist.

Client Handoff Difficulties

Training clients to use Joomla takes significant time. The terminology alone creates confusion: articles vs. categories vs. sections vs. menu items vs. modules. Clients frequently call asking how to do basic tasks, or worse, they break something while exploring the admin panel.

WordPress solution: Most clients have encountered WordPress before, even if just reading blogs. The interface uses familiar language. “Add a post” means what it sounds like. Clients become self-sufficient faster, reducing your support burden and improving their experience.

Media Management Frustrations

Joomla’s Media Manager feels dated. Organizing images into folders requires manual work, there’s no built-in image editing, and inserting media into articles involves multiple clicks and popup windows. Finding a previously uploaded image means scrolling through flat file lists.

WordPress solution: The WordPress Media Library includes drag-and-drop uploads, basic image editing (crop, rotate, resize), automatic thumbnail generation, and a searchable grid view. Inserting images into posts happens inline with a single click. Plugins like FileBird add folder organization if needed.

The Menu System Maze

Creating navigation in Joomla requires understanding the relationship between menu items, articles, categories, and modules. A single menu item has dozens of configuration options across multiple tabs. Dropdown menus require specific module positioning and template support.

WordPress solution: Go to Appearance > Menus. Drag pages, posts, categories, or custom links into your menu structure. Drag items under other items to create dropdowns. Assign the menu to a location. Done. The entire process takes under five minutes for a complete site navigation.

Common Migration Issues and Fixes

Images not displaying: The FG Joomla to WordPress plugin downloads media files during import. If images are missing, re-run the import with the “Force media import” option enabled.

Broken formatting: Some Joomla content uses HTML that WordPress doesn’t render correctly. Use the Classic Editor plugin or manually clean up affected posts.

Missing content: If specific articles didn’t transfer, check if they were in draft or archived status in Joomla. Adjust the import settings to include these statuses.

Slow import: Large sites with thousands of posts may time out during import. Increase your PHP memory limit and execution time, or import in batches.

Conclusion

Migrating from Joomla to WordPress doesn’t have to be complicated. With the FG Joomla to WordPress plugin and a proper staging environment, you can transfer your entire site while keeping the original live until you’re ready to switch.

The key steps are: set up WordPress, back up everything, configure the database connection, import your content, fix internal links, install a theme, and update your domain settings.

If you want to test your migration before going live, create a free WordPress sandbox on InstaWP. You can build and test your entire site in the cloud, then migrate to production hosting when ready.

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