{"id":61207,"date":"2021-03-02T08:02:57","date_gmt":"2021-03-02T14:02:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/?p=61207"},"modified":"2025-11-12T06:18:57","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T12:18:57","slug":"how-to-migrate-a-joomla-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/how-to-migrate-a-joomla-website\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Migrate a Joomla Website"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Web applications are slightly more tedious to move than most static sites, mostly because of the presence of a database apart from the site files. Still, if you need to migrate a Joomla website, the process isn\u2019t as challenging as you may think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This guide offers <strong>simple guidelines<\/strong> on transferring a Joomla project in just a few easy steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"reasons\">Reasons to Migrate a Joomla Website<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Being a <strong>Content Management System (CMS)<\/strong>, Joomla needs more hosting resources than the average static website. Because of this, various aspects come into play that affect your Joomla site performance.<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>If you feel that your <strong>Joomla website is underperforming <\/strong>or you<strong> experience frequent service downtimes<\/strong>, it may be time to consider migrating to a new hosting provider. Yet while performance is a compelling reason to migrate, you should also want to consider a bunch of other aspects that might cause problems in the long run.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>These factors can include:<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li>Poor or unresponsive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/why-web-hosting-support-is-important\/\"><strong>web hosting support<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Increasing hosting fees at your current host<\/li>\r\n<li>The need for new features<\/li>\r\n<li>Frequent hack attacks<\/li>\r\n<li>Better deals with another provider<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-spacer\" style=\"height: 20px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u00a0<\/div>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"finding\">Finding the Right Joomla Provider<\/h2>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>To operate a Joomla-based site efficiently, you need to <strong>consider your choice of web host <\/strong>very carefully. While many companies offer a range of hosting plans, not all will be ideal for hosting Joomla projects.<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Some of the factors to take into account include:<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li>The reputation of the host<\/li>\r\n<li>Types of plans provided<\/li>\r\n<li>Support channels available<\/li>\r\n<li>Introductory and renewal prices<\/li>\r\n<li>Choice of control panel<\/li>\r\n<li>Backup solutions<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<p>One good sign of a suitable host is the presence of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/joomla-hosting.html\"><strong>dedicated <\/strong><strong>Joomla hosting plans<\/strong><\/a>. You may also want to keep an eye open to see if there is any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.joomla.org\/announcements\/general-news\/5831-scalahosting-becomes-a-platinum-global-sponsor-of-joomla.html\"><strong>official partnership<\/strong><\/a> between Joomla and the web host in question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A truly reliable Joomla provider will gladly migrate all your project data, regardless of its size or number of websites. This is just one of the benefits that make us a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/siteground-alternative.html\">viable alternative for providers like SiteGround<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-spacer\" style=\"height: 20px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u00a0<\/div>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<h2 id=\"how\">How to Migrate Joomla: The 5-Step Process<\/h2>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Migrating your Joomla site can be achieved by following \u0430 simple <strong>5-step process<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Copying Files with FTP<\/h3>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>File Transfer Protocol<\/strong> (FTP) is a reliable way of moving a large number of files. Most existing sites are compiled of a large number of files. We recommend copying them \u201cas is\u201d since resource limits may be exceeded by attempting to compress them into a zip file on your current host.<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>First, you will need to <strong>set up an FTP account <\/strong>on your existing web host. In most cases, this can be done from your web hosting control panel. Next, use an <strong>FTP client<\/strong> such as <strong>FileZilla or WinSCP <\/strong>to connect using that account&#8217;s server details.<\/p>\r\n<p>From that point, copy all your Joomla files to a new directory on your local machine.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Copying the Database with phpMyAdmin<\/h3>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Next, we will need to <strong>move the database<\/strong> from your existing host to the new one.<\/p>\r\n<p>The first step is to go into your control panel and open <strong>phpMyAdmin <\/strong>to create a backup of your current database.\u00a0Select the database of your Joomla site and click on the <strong>Export<\/strong> tab. Ensure the file format selected is <strong>SQL<\/strong>, and then click <strong>Go<\/strong>\u00a0to export your database.<\/p>\r\n<p>Save the file to your current device.<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Importing the Copy Into a New Database<\/h3>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>You now need to launch phpMyAdmin from the web hosting control panel on your new account.<\/p>\r\n<p>Create a <strong>blank database<\/strong>, then click on the <strong>Import<\/strong> tab from the top navigation bar. Hit the <strong>Choose File<\/strong> button and select the SQL file you downloaded earlier. The import will commence once you click <strong>Go<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Changing configuration.php<\/h3>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Before moving your Joomla files onto the new host, you will need to make some changes to the<strong> configuration.php file<\/strong>. This will let your Joomla installation know your new database details, such as <strong>database name<\/strong> and <strong>user credentials<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Open the configuration.php file with a <strong>plain text editor<\/strong> such as <a href=\"https:\/\/notepad-plus-plus.org\/downloads\/\">notepad++<\/a>, then locate and amend the areas marked \u201cXXXXX\u201d on the following lines:<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li><em>public $host = &#8216;XXXXX&#8217;;<\/em> This line should match your database host.<\/li>\r\n<li><em>public $user = &#8216;XXXXX;<\/em> This should be your database username.<\/li>\r\n<li><em>public $password = &#8216;XXXXX&#8217;;<\/em> This should be your database user password.<\/li>\r\n<li><em>public $db = &#8216;XXXXX&#8217;;<\/em> This is the name of your database.<\/li>\r\n<li><em>public $log_path = &#8216;\/XXXXX\/administrator\/logs&#8217;;<\/em> This is the path to your main Joomla files on the new server.<\/li>\r\n<li><em>public $tmp_path = &#8216;\/XXXXX\/tmp&#8217;;<\/em> This should be the path to the tmp directory for your Joomla files on the new server.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Copying the Files Using a Compressed Archive File Method<\/h3>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Typically it is much easier to move compressed files than a mass of smaller ones. We did not compress the files earlier during the download process to avoid taxing the server.<\/p>\r\n<p>This process will compress your files and upload them as a single archive instead.<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Use an application such as <strong>WinRAR <\/strong>or <strong>WinZip<\/strong> to compress the files on your local device. You can then upload that archive to your new host using the same FTP method utilized for downloading files earlier.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>You now have to <strong>unzip the files<\/strong> from your web hosting control panel. Log in to the account on your new host and launch the <strong>File Manager<\/strong>. Once there, select the zip file you uploaded and choose the <strong>Extract<\/strong>\u00a0option.<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>That&#8217;s it, your Joomla migration is complete. Just remember to check the site afterward to ensure that nothing was broken or disconnected during the process.<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-spacer\" style=\"height: 20px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u00a0<\/div>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"and\">ScalaHosting and Joomla Migrations<\/h2>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Although migrating a Joomla project is quite simple, it can be time-consuming to carry out the entire operation, especially if you have a bigger website. Aside from that, new users that haven&#8217;t transferred a website before might be naturally nervous.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>If you decide that you\u2019d like to migrate to ScalaHosting, things can be much easier. All you need to do is sign up for a new account with us and then <strong>submit a migration support request<\/strong> to the support team.<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n<div class=\"shortcode-cta-new-wrap row joomla\">\r\n    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"shortcode-logo\" src=\"\/blog\/images\/shortcode-bg-new-logo-joomla.svg\" alt=\"shortcode-logo\" title=\"shortcode-logo\"\/>\r\n    <div class=\"shortcode-cta-img col-10 col-sm-7 col-md-5\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"shortcode-bg\" src=\"\/blog\/images\/shortcode-bg-new-joomla.webp\" alt=\"shortcode-bg\" title=\"shortcode-bg\"\/>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"shortcode-cta-content col-12 col-md-7\">\r\n        <div class=\"content\">\r\n            <div class=\"heading\">Take your Joomla site to new Heights - Join the ScalaHosting Family<\/div>\r\n            <div class=\"list-wrap\">\r\n                <div class=\"list\">\r\n                    <div><b>Free, Effortless & No-Downtime Migration<\/b><\/div>\r\n                    <div><b>Anytime Unconditional Money-back Guarantee<\/b><\/div>\r\n                    <div><b>Constant, fast and competent Joomla Support<\/b><\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div class=\"btn-wrap row\">\r\n                <div class=\"col-auto\">\r\n                    <a class=\"button blue\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/joomla-hosting.html\">Start Now<\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"col-auto\">\r\n                    <button class=\"button blue_outer\" title=\"Contact Sales\" onclick=\"chatChangeVisibility(this, 'maximize', {}, 5);\">Chat with our Experts<\/button>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"conclusion\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>As you can see, migrating a Joomla website isn\u2019t as complex as you might think. Don\u2019t be discouraged if you aren\u2019t overly familiar with web hosting &#8211; everything is a learning process. Still, if you want to try a Joomla migration for yourself, make sure to back up your data beforehand to avoid any unexpected results.<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-spacer\" style=\"height: 20px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u00a0<\/div>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How do I export a Joomla database?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>You need to use <strong>phpMyAdmin<\/strong> to export your Joomla database. This tool is located within your <strong>web hosting control panel<\/strong>. Once you\u2019ve launched it, select the database you need and click on the export tab before hitting the<strong> Go<\/strong>\u00a0button.<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is Joomla better than WordPress?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Not necessarily. Although WordPress has a much larger user base than all other CMS solutions, Joomla still has its loyal following. A significant contributing factor to this is its ability to scale well and handle large traffic volumes easily.<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How do I backup my Joomla website?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\r\n<p>There are many tools you can use to back up a Joomla website. One of these is <strong>Akeeba Backup<\/strong> which allows you to<strong> create and restore Joomla sites<\/strong> in just a few clicks. To use it, you will need to download and install the Akeeba package.<\/p>\r\n<p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"mce-application\/ld+json\">\n    {\n      \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n      \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n      \"mainEntity\": [{\n        \"@type\": \"Question\",\n        \"name\": \"How do I export a Joomla database?\",\n        \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n          \"text\": \"You need to use phpMyAdmin to export your Joomla database. This tool is located within your web hosting control panel. Once you\u2019ve launched it, select the database you need and click on the export tab before hitting the \u201cGo\u201d button.\"\n        }\n      }, {\n        \"@type\": \"Question\",\n        \"name\": \"How do I backup my Joomla website?\",\n        \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n          \"text\": \"There are many tools you can use to back up a Joomla website. 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A significant contributing factor to this is its ability to scale well and handle large traffic volumes easily.\"\n        }\n      }]\n    }<\/script><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Web applications are slightly more tedious to move than most static sites, mostly because of the presence of a database &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":112,"featured_media":61209,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single-cluster-joomla.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"Moving a CMS website is quite easy but users with no previous experience might get confused. 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