Convert a Joomla 4 template to Joomla 5

[bcnx]

Hi,

surprisingly very little Google info about it. The template developer is not willing to adapt the Joomla 4 version to J5.
Is this something one can do one self?

Cheers,

BC

[pe7er]

You could compare the template overrides in the /html/ folder of the Joomla 4 template with the Joomla 5 core files.

[bcnx]

I'm not following, I did not create overrides, nor did the developer I think. Are we misunderstanding? I'm referring to an external developer crating a Joomla 4 template that currently cannot be used in Joomla 5.

[pe7er]

I'm not following, I did not create overrides, nor did the developer I think. Are we misunderstanding? I'm referring to an external developer crating a Joomla 4 template that currently cannot be used in Joomla 5.

From experience: if a 3rd party template does not work on a Joomla version, it's usually because of template overrides in that 3rd party template.

If your 3rd party template does not have template overrides, what does not work?
Can't you install it or do you have other issues with it?

[bcnx]

it's been a while since I tried, but IIRC the update procedure pointed out the template is not compatible and did not want to continue.

cheers,
BC

[Mr. Wimpy]

Did the update not continue or did you not want to continue?

If you want to test your template on Joomla 5, install a copy of your website on your computer

- Install a local server on your computer: i.e. WAMP or MAMP
- Create a backup of your site with Akeeba Backup
- Use Akeeba Kickstart to install the backup on your computer
- Run the update on your local copy

This way you can test your website/template without risking your live website.

As far as I know J4 templates should work on J5.
Wasn't that the intension...?

Of course this may change when J6 comes along...

[bcnx]

I will try again. I usually test by cloning my VPS, a lot faster than creating a local copy.

[bcnx]

OK, trying the upgrade now. It appears to be about 3 plugins that came with the template. That would make the upgrade a bit more tricky. I will first try to do the upgrade by ignoring the warnings and take it from there.

[AMurray]

Note that some times information about the plugins is not available in terms of compatibility. Doesn't mean it *won't* work. I would reach out to the template developer asking are these plugins compatible (they might be third-party extensions that make the template do some function or other.).

[bcnx]

I've reached out to them and they flatly said they would not update the plugins. In the meantime I just went ahead and performed the upgrade. Everything seems to work. I'm not sure what the method is of detecting plugin compatibility but these worked fine. Not sure about Joomla 6 though ...

[Mr. Wimpy]

Well... plugin compatibility check is done through the Joomla Pre-Update Check, else you need to ask the developer or you test it yourself.

If the plugin works (now) and the developer said they stopped support, start looking into alternatives.

Joomla 6 is planned for mid-October 2025...