![\"Joomla!](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Joomla-1024x523.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>However, many criticize Joomla for its interface that is difficult to navigate, especially for beginners.<\/p>
On the other hand, WordPress is<\/a> the most popular CMS, powering over 40%<\/strong> of all websites<\/a>. This is not surprising, and we will explain why later. For comparison, Joomla’s market share is around 1.9%<\/strong><\/a> and has been gradually declining.<\/p> Below are some advantages WordPress has over Joomla<\/a>:<\/p> If the advantages above sound beneficial to you, consider moving your Joomla site to WordPress. The tutorial below will explain the migration process. <\/p> However, there is one more reason why people decide to switch to WordPress. If you are not satisfied with your Joomla website performance, before you move, make sure that this CMS doesn’t work well for you. <\/p> Consider changing your hosting plan or even a provider first. For example, there is web hosting for Joomla<\/a> sites that offers servers and resources optimized specifically for this content management system. As a result, your site will work faster.<\/p> Prepare the following three things for the migration from Joomla to WordPress:<\/p> Having set up a web hosting account and installed WordPress, let’s proceed with the migration.<\/p> Follow these five steps to move from Joomla to WordPress:<\/p> Since WordPress doesn’t support Joomla migration natively, a plugin is necessary to enable this feature.<\/p> FG Joomla to WordPress<\/a> is a popular freemium option for this. The free version supports Joomla 1.5<\/strong> up to 3.9<\/strong>, while the premium one is compatible with Joomla 1.0<\/strong>. Make sure to check your current Joomla version to ensure a successful migration.<\/p> To install the plugin, open the WordPress dashboard and go to the Plugins <\/strong>tab → Add New<\/strong>. Then type in FG Joomla to WordPress<\/strong> in the search bar on the right.<\/p> Click Install Now<\/strong>, then Activate <\/strong>it.<\/p> If the installation doesn’t work, check out our WordPress plugin installation<\/a> guide for alternative methods.<\/p> Keep the WordPress tab open while continuing with the next step.<\/p> Now, we’re going to locate the Joomla database parameters. Without them, the CMS won’t allow the FG Joomla to WordPress plugin to launch the import process.<\/p> To find the Joomla database details, log in to the Joomla dashboard and click System<\/strong> on the topmost menu. Select Global Configuration<\/strong>.<\/p> Navigate to the Server<\/strong> tab. On the right is a section called Database Settings<\/strong>, which is where the Joomla database details are. Take note of the Host<\/strong>, Database Username<\/strong>, Database Password<\/strong>, Database Name<\/strong>, and Database Tables Prefix<\/strong>.<\/p> Keep the Joomla tab open for now, or copy-paste the content of these fields to somewhere else.<\/p> Important!<\/strong> If your Joomla database is on a different web host than the WordPress site, you may need a remote MySQL database connection<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p> The next step is to return to the WordPress dashboard tab and start the migration process.<\/p> First, go to Tools <\/strong>→ Import<\/strong>. With the WordPress plugin activated, the Joomla (FG)<\/strong> option should now be available. Select Run Importer<\/strong>.<\/p> You’ll arrive at the Migration<\/strong> section, where you can configure how the plugin will handle the Joomla content it imports.<\/p> At the top, users can choose whether to remove their WordPress content before migrating their Joomla site. They can also return to this section later to restart the import from scratch and remove their newly-transferred content.<\/p> We recommend deleting any existing content, even if the website is new. You may not want to use the sample pages created during WordPress installation.<\/p> To initiate the removal, press the Empty WordPress content <\/strong>button. If the process is successful, the WordPress database <\/strong>section will look like below:<\/p> Now, scroll down to the Joomla website parameters <\/strong>section. Here, enter the URL of the existing Joomla website and choose one of the three methods for transferring the data – HTTP<\/strong>, FTP<\/strong>, or File system<\/strong>.<\/p> For this tutorial, we will use HTTP<\/strong> – the default option.<\/p> Important!<\/strong> If you want to use FTP<\/strong>, you will need the FTP parameters for the Joomla website. The File system<\/strong> offers a faster migration, but it’s only available if the WordPress and Joomla websites are on the same web host. For this method, make sure to find the Joomla base directory name.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p> Click Test the media connection <\/strong>to check for potential issues during the import process. If there are no problems, a success message will appear like below:<\/p> Move down to the Joomla database parameters<\/strong> section. This is where you’ll use the Host<\/strong>, Database Name<\/strong>, Database Username<\/strong>, Database Password<\/strong>, and Database Tables Prefix<\/strong> values from the previous step.<\/p> Paste the credentials from Joomla to the respective fields here, but leave the Port <\/strong>as it is.<\/p> Click Test the database connection <\/strong>to check if the parameters work. A message will appear saying Connection successful<\/strong>. If an error occurs, scroll down to the Log<\/strong> section to see what caused it.<\/p> The next section is called Behavior<\/strong>. Here, users choose the types of content and data to import to their new WordPress website. Below is a brief explanation of each setting:<\/p> Once everything looks good, click Save settings<\/strong>, then Start \/ Resume the import<\/strong>.<\/p> How long the Joomla to WordPress migration will take depends on the website’s size. Make sure to wait until the message IMPORT COMPLETED <\/strong>appears and the progress bar is at 100%<\/strong>.<\/p> From there, take a look at the imported pages, posts, and media files. Make sure all the Joomla content has successfully made its way to the new WordPress site.<\/p> At this stage, you may notice that the internal links within the pages or posts may not work. To fix this, return to Tools<\/strong> → Import<\/strong> and select Run Importer<\/strong> below Joomla (FG)<\/strong>.<\/p> Next, scroll down to the bottommost After the migration<\/strong> section and click the Modify internal links<\/strong> button. Once done, check the WordPress site pages or posts to see if the internal links now point to the correct URLs.<\/p> Now that the migration has finished, feel free to deactivate the FG Joomla to WordPress plugin.<\/p> The last step is to make the domain name of the previous Joomla site point to your new WordPress website.<\/p> Important!<\/strong> It’s possible to purchase a different domain for the new site, but we don’t recommend it. If the website has been around for a while and has some traffic, changing the domain name can lead to SEO and user experience issues.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p> Thankfully, pointing a domain name to a new website is easy. Our guide will show you two different methods of accomplishing this – changing the domain’s nameservers and modifying its A records.<\/p> Keep in mind that the changes may take up to 24 hours to take effect due to DNS propagation.<\/p> Other than that, you may also have to change the domain name on your WordPress site<\/a> in the General Settings<\/strong>.<\/p> Now that we have migrated the Joomla site to WordPress, we can start building the new website. We recommend starting with the following steps before doing anything else.<\/p> Picking the right permalink structure is one of the most essential steps of setting up a new WordPress website.<\/p> Permalinks are the permanent URLs that lead users and search engines to your web pages and posts. As their name suggests, they are meant to remain unchanged.<\/p> WordPress has six permalink structures to choose from, which you can see by going to Settings <\/strong>→ Permalinks<\/strong> from the dashboard.<\/p> By default, WordPress uses the Plain <\/strong>structure that includes the ID-based slug like example.com\/?p=123<\/strong>. While it helps differentiate one page from another, it doesn’t tell potential visitors what information to expect, making it less enticing.<\/p> For this reason, it’s best to use the Post name <\/strong>permalink structure. When creating a new page or post, WordPress will generate a URL slug based on its title. It’s also possible to modify each page’s slug<\/a> later on if it doesn’t sound right.<\/p> This structure is also the most SEO-friendly, as Google prefers short and simple URLs<\/a>.<\/p> However, if you own a news website, it may be best to use a date-based permalink structure to show the publication date. You can also create a custom format to display the page or post’s category.<\/p> After choosing a permalink structure, scroll down and click Save Changes<\/strong>.<\/p> Chances are some links will be broken after migrating from Joomla to WordPress and changing the permalink structure. To ensure visitors arrive at the right pages, it’s crucial to locate these links and fix the broken permalinks<\/a>.<\/p> To get started, we recommend using a WordPress plugin like Broken Link Checker<\/a>. This free plugin scans for dead links on the website and features a page for you to edit them on simultaneously.<\/p> Another method is to use an SEO audit tool like Google Search Console<\/a>, which can reveal which pages are experiencing 404 Page Not Found errors.<\/p> After locating the broken links, you may need to set up redirects to lead users to the new URLs. One way to do this is by using a WordPress plugin like Redirection<\/a>, which can manage 301 redirects and monitor the website for any 404 errors.<\/p> For Hostinger users, it’s possible to create redirects on hPanel. On the Hosting Account<\/strong> dashboard, go to the Domains<\/strong> section and select Redirects<\/strong>.<\/p> Here, insert the original URL path in the Redirect <\/strong>field and the new URL or IP address in Redirect to<\/strong>. Click Create<\/strong>. Wait a few minutes for the changes to take effect.<\/p> The official library<\/a> has thousands of free WordPress themes for various types of websites, from blogs and online stores, to portfolios.<\/p> If you need help finding the right design, check out the best free WordPress themes<\/a>. We’ve curated these selections based on their ratings, popularity, and standout features.<\/p> Alternatively, look for premium themes on marketplaces like Theme Forest<\/a> and Template Monster<\/a>. While they come with a price tag, they usually provide customer support through live chat, email, or phone and feature extensive documentation.<\/p> If you want a unique-looking website, consider hiring a developer to create a custom theme.<\/p> The next step is to install plugins to enhance your WordPress website. Here are some of our best plugin recommendations<\/a>:<\/p>![\"The](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/historical-trend.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n
![\"WordPress](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/WordPress-1024x503.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/Website-migration_in-text-banner-2-1024x300.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>Preparing to Migrate From Joomla to WordPress<\/h2>
\n
How to Migrate Your Joomla Site to WordPress in 5 Steps<\/h2>
1. Set Up the FG Joomla to WordPress Plugin<\/h3>
![\"FG](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/FG-Joomla-to-WordPress-1024x524.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>![\"Adding](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/plugins-add-new-1024x540.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>2. Find Joomla Database Parameters<\/h3>
![\"Heading](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/system-global-configuration.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>![\"Joomla](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Joomla-database-details-1024x440.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>3. Migrate the Joomla Content to Your WordPress Website<\/h3>
![\"Selecting](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/WordPress-run-importer-1024x515.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>![\"WordPress](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/migration-section.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>![\"WordPress](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/WordPress-database.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>![\"Joomla](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Joomla-web-site-parameters-1024x434.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>![\"Joomla](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Joomla-web-site-parameters-successful-1024x476.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>![\"Joomla](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Joomla-database-parameters-1024x716.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>![\"Error](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/log-error-1024x514.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n
![\"The](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/behavior.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>![\"Joomla](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/import-completed-1024x905.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>4. Modify Internal Links<\/h3>
![\"After](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/after-the-migration.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>5. Point the Domain to Your WordPress Site<\/h3>
<\/a><\/figure>What to Do After Migrating From Joomla to WordPress<\/h2>
Choose a Permalink Structure<\/h3>
![\"Permalink](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/permalink-settings-1024x497.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>Check for Broken Links<\/h3>
![\"Google](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Google-search-console-1024x461.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>Set Up Redirects<\/h3>
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/hpanel-domains-redirects-sidebar.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>![\"Create](\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/hpanel-domains-redirects-1024x465.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>Install a WordPress Theme<\/h3>
![\"The](\"\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/WordPress-themes-1024x816.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>Install WordPress Plugins<\/h3>
\n