Table of contents

Why migrate from Joomla to WordPress?Preparation: What to do before migrating from JoomlaMigration process: Use a plugin to migrate Joomla content to WordPressPost-migration cleanup and setupOptimize and launch your new WordPress siteWhat can’t be migrated automatically?Pros and cons of migrating manuallyTroubleshooting common Joomla to WordPress migration issuesNext stepsAdditional resources

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How to migrate Joomla to WordPress

Running a Joomla site but feeling limited by the interface, plugins, or design flexibility? You’re not alone. Many site owners eventually move to WordPress for its user-friendly dashboard, wider plugin ecosystem, and modern development options.

The good news is you don’t need to rebuild your entire site from scratch. You can migrate your Joomla content directly into WordPress with the right tools and steps.

Let’s walk through how to migrate Joomla to WordPress cleanly, efficiently, and with minimal downtime.

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Why migrate from Joomla to WordPress?

While Joomla is a powerful CMS, WordPress tends to win when it comes to ease of use, scalability, and community support.

WordPress offers more themes and plugins for customization
The block editor makes content editing easier for non-technical users
SEO tools like Yoast and Rank Math are more robust and beginner-friendly
Managing updates and backups is simpler on WordPress
There’s a larger support community for troubleshooting and guidance

If you’re ready to grow your site without constantly hiring a developer, WordPress is the natural upgrade from Joomla.

Preparation: What to do before migrating from Joomla

Before you start moving content, take time to prepare your site and hosting environment. That way, you avoid surprises mid-migration.

1. Back up your Joomla site

Even if you’re not planning on using Joomla after the move, make a complete backup. Use a plugin like Akeeba Backup or your host’s control panel to back up both files and the MySQL database.

2. Take inventory of your Joomla site

Document what’s currently on your Joomla site:

Articles and pages
Menu structure
Categories and tags
Extensions and modules
Media and image folders

This list helps you verify that nothing gets lost in the transition.

3. Choose your WordPress hosting and install WordPress

If you’re not already on a WordPress-friendly host, now’s the time to switch. A managed hosting provider offers better performance and WordPress-specific support. Install WordPress on a subdomain, subfolder, or staging site so you can build without interrupting your live site.

Migration process: Use a plugin to migrate Joomla content to WordPress

Most users will get the best results using a plugin to move articles, categories, and images.

4. Install FG Joomla to WordPress plugin

Install and activate FG Joomla to WordPress, which handles:

Posts and pages
Categories and tags
Images and media (optional)
Joomla menus (premium version only)

The free version works for basic content. The premium version helps if you’re migrating custom post types or more complex data.

5. Gather Joomla database credentials

You’ll need this to connect your Joomla database to WordPress:

Hostname (usually localhost)
Database name
Username
Password
Table prefix (e.g., jos_)

Find these in your Joomla configuration.php file or through your hosting panel’s phpMyAdmin section.

6. Configure and run the FG Joomla to WordPress import

In WordPress, go to Tools > Import > Joomla (FG).

Enter your Joomla database details
Choose whether to import media
Decide if you want to remove previously imported content
Start the import and wait until the process finishes

Watch for any error messages or timeouts. If needed, increase your PHP limits in wp-config.php or contact your host for support.

Post-migration cleanup and setup

Once the import is complete, your content is in WordPress—but it won’t look exactly like your Joomla site. Here’s how to polish things up.

7. Choose and install a WordPress theme

Pick a theme that fits your brand and content structure. If your Joomla site had a magazine-style layout, look for similar WordPress themes in the WordPress repository or from premium vendors like Astra, Kadence, or GeneratePress.

8. Rebuild menus and navigation

Joomla menu structures don’t always transfer cleanly. In WordPress, go to Appearance > Menus to rebuild them manually. Use the menu editor to organize links to pages, posts, categories, or custom URLs.

9. Check permalinks and redirects

WordPress uses different URL structures than Joomla.

Go to Settings > Permalinks and choose “Post name” or a structure that matches your old URLs.
Use the Redirection plugin to map old Joomla URLs to new ones.
For more control, edit your .htaccess file to create 301 redirects.

10. Rebuild forms, modules, and widgets

Joomla forms, sidebars, and custom modules don’t carry over. Rebuild them using:

WPForms or Gravity Forms for contact and inquiry forms
Elementor or Gutenberg blocks for layout sections
WordPress Widgets under Appearance > Widgets for footer or sidebar content

11. Re-import or reupload missing media

If images didn’t import, use the FG plugin’s media import feature again or upload them manually. You can also use an FTP client to move images from Joomla’s /images folder into your WordPress /wp-content/uploads/.

Optimize and launch your new WordPress site

You’re almost ready to go live—just make sure everything works smoothly and efficiently.

Install essential plugins

To match Joomla’s functionality, install key plugins:

SEO: Yoast SEO or Rank Math
Caching: WP Rocket (paid) or LiteSpeed Cache
Backups: UpdraftPlus
Security: Wordfence

Test everything

Click through every page, menu item, and form. Test on mobile and desktop, and run your site through tools like:

Google PageSpeed Insights
GTmetrix
Screaming Frog for broken links

Set up Google Search Console and Analytics

Make sure your new WordPress site gets indexed properly:

Submit your sitemap from Yoast > SEO > General > Features
Verify domain ownership in Google Search Console
Add Google Analytics for traffic tracking

What can’t be migrated automatically?

No plugin can handle every scenario. You may need to recreate:

Custom Joomla extensions or components
Advanced user roles and permissions
Templates and module styling
Comments and forum content (unless migrated manually)
Multilingual configurations (e.g., with Joomla’s native language manager)

Expect some hands-on work to fully match your old site’s design and functionality.

Pros and cons of migrating manually

If your Joomla site is small or highly customized, a manual migration might be better.

Pros:

You can rethink and streamline your content structure
No leftover Joomla-specific formatting or data

Cons:

Slower process
Higher chance of human error or missing content

A hybrid approach works too—use the FG plugin for content and handle styling manually.

Troubleshooting common Joomla to WordPress migration issues

Missing media: Run the media import again or manually upload via FTP
Timeouts: Increase PHP limits (max_execution_time, memory_limit) in your hosting control panel
Import errors: Try the premium version of the FG plugin or check database permissions
Broken links: Use a plugin to fix hardcoded internal links

Next steps for migrating Joomla to WordPress

Migrating from Joomla to WordPress gives you more flexibility, better tools, and a smoother content management experience. Whether you’re a solo site owner or running a team-managed site, WordPress offers the long-term scalability Joomla lacks.

Start with a plugin-based migration using FG Joomla to WordPress. Then fine-tune your new site with themes, plugins, and a rebuilt navigation structure that matches your goals.

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