Why joomla leftovers cause trouble in wordpress
When you move a site from Joomla to WordPress, content comes with expectations built into Joomla’s structure , different url patterns, extension-specific data, template positions and user permissions. If those expectations aren’t translated into WordPress equivalents, visitors and search engines hit broken links, missing images, lost metadata and features that don’t work. Addressing those issues is mostly about mapping Joomla concepts to WordPress concepts, keeping SEO signals intact, and replacing Joomla-only functionality with WordPress plugins or custom code. The rest of this article walks through the most common problems and practical fixes so your migrated site behaves like a native WordPress site.
Broken urls and lost SEO value
One of the most frequent and urgent problems is broken links and lost search rankings caused by different permalink systems. Joomla often used querystring-based URLs or SEF patterns that won’t match WordPress permalinks. The safest approach is to create a complete URL mapping: export a list of old Joomla URLs and map them to the new WordPress slugs, then implement 301 redirects. For small sites you can use the Redirection plugin to add redirects manually; for larger sites create a CSV and import with a redirect manager or add rules in .htaccess. If some Joomla links used query strings (index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=123), use query-string-aware rewrite rules or map them individually because automatic pattern matching can be risky.
Example .htaccess pattern (use with caution)
For query-string redirects you can match the numbers, then point to the new permalink. This is an example pattern , adapt it to your server and test on staging before switching live:
# Example redirect for Joomla query string IDs to new WordPress path
RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^option=com_content&view=article&id=123 [NC]
RewriteRule ^index.php$ /new-article-slug? [R=301,L]
Images not showing or linking to Joomla paths
Images often live in /images or component folders on the Joomla installation and may not get imported into the WordPress media library, leaving broken src attributes. Fix this by re-importing media into WordPress so images are managed by the media library: plugins like “FG Joomla to WordPress” can automatically fetch images during migration. If images are already copied to your wp-content/uploads folder, use a search-and-replace tool (Search Regex or Better Search Replace) to update image URLs to the new path. For many articles, automatic import plus a pass with a search-and-replace for legacy paths is the quickest route.
Missing meta titles, descriptions and canonical tags
SEO metadata is usually stored per-article in Joomla and must be carried over. Check that the migration tool pulls titles, meta descriptions and meta robots values into WordPress fields; if your tool doesn’t, export the metadata from Joomla and import them into WordPress custom fields or a dedicated SEO plugin like Yoast or Rank Math. After migrating, generate a fresh XML sitemap and submit it to google search console. Use 301 redirects to preserve link equity from the old URLs to the new ones.
Modules, components and extensions don’t have direct equivalents
Joomla’s modules and components (contact forms, user directories, sliders, K2, VirtueMart) often have different feature sets than WordPress plugins. Decide whether to replace the Joomla extension with a WordPress plugin (for example, VirtueMart → woocommerce, K2 → Posts with custom fields, JoomFish/Falang multilingual → WPML or Polylang), or recreate the functionality with custom post types and plugins. For ecommerce, use a dedicated migration tool like Cart2Cart or database export/import tailored to move products, prices, categories and customers. When a direct plugin exists, test the content mapping on a staging site so you can verify that product images, variations and stock levels migrated correctly.
User accounts and password compatibility
Joomla and WordPress use different hashing algorithms for passwords. Many migration plugins will import users but not preserve usable passwords, which forces password resets. If you need to preserve passwords, either use a migration tool that supports Joomla password hashes or implement a compatibility plugin that allows Joomla hashes temporarily while users log in and reset their passwords. Always notify users in advance if password resets are required and enforce secure practices when emailing reset links. For sites with complex ACL (access control levels), map roles conservatively to WordPress roles or use a role-capability plugin to fine-tune permissions.
Menus and navigation structure
Joomla menu systems often include module-assigned content and Itemid-based behavior. When content is moved to WordPress, menu items should be rebuilt within Appearance → Menus. Recreate parent/child relationships and ensure permalinks match your redirects. If you used Joomla modules tied to menu items (for example, different modules showing on different pages), replicate that behavior with widget visibility plugins or conditional logic in your theme templates. Testing each menu path is important because Joomla’s Itemid-driven module display can mean menus behaved differently per page.
Template, css and JavaScript differences
Joomla templates are structured differently from wordpress themes, so you should treat design migration as a rebuild rather than a direct copy. Identify the visual elements and CSS rules you want to keep, then implement them in a WordPress child theme with properly enqueued styles and scripts. Avoid simply embedding Joomla template files into WordPress , that creates fragile code. Use WordPress template hierarchy, gutenberg blocks or a page builder for layout control, and register widget areas to mimic Joomla module positions when needed.
Multilingual sites and content associations
Joomla handles multilingual sites differently than WordPress. If your Joomla site used core language associations or extensions like FaLang, make a plan for moving content into WPML, Polylang or a native multisite approach. migrate each language as its own post/page and preserve language codes in your URLs, or let a multilingual plugin handle it. After migration, confirm that language switchers work, hreflang tags are correct, and each translated page has proper canonical tags. Automated multilingual migrations can miss associations, so expect manual checks for the most important pages.
Custom fields, article structure and K2/CCK content
If Joomla used K2, Seblod or custom fields, you’ll need to recreate those data structures in WordPress using custom post types and custom fields (Advanced Custom Fields, Pods or native block-based fields). Export the K2 items and map fields to ACF keys or meta fields. For complex content you may write a migration script or use a CSV import plugin that supports field mapping. Keep URL mappings, featured images and taxonomy assignments in the import to avoid losing browsing context.
Performance and caching differences
Caching and optimization that worked in Joomla won’t automatically transfer. Install a WordPress caching and optimization plugin (wp rocket, W3 Total Cache, or equivalent) and configure object cache and database caching as needed. Optimize images with an image optimization plugin and check your php version, server settings, and opcache. If you used Joomla server-side caching or custom caching plugins, audit the server configuration and remove Joomla-specific cron jobs or caches after migration.
Database encoding, character sets and special characters
Sometimes special characters or accented letters get corrupted during export/import due to mismatched character sets. Ensure that your Joomla database export and your WordPress import use UTF-8 (utf8mb4 where possible). If you see scrambled characters after import, re-export with proper UTF-8 settings or run conversion scripts on the data before importing. Test with a subset first to catch encoding issues early.
Steps to minimize problems (checklist)
- Set up a staging environment and never migrate directly on production.
- Backup Joomla files and database before you start.
- Use a tested migration plugin (FG Joomla to WordPress, CMS2CMS, or a manual CSV approach) and validate a subset.
- Generate a URL mapping and implement 301 redirects early.
- Import and validate images, then run a sitewide search-and-replace for legacy paths if needed.
- Migrate important SEO metadata and submit a new sitemap to search engines.
- Recreate menus, map modules to widgets, and rebuild theme templates in a child theme.
- Test user logins, forms, ecommerce flows and multilingual switching on staging.
- Monitor logs and analytics after launch to catch 404s and ranking changes quickly.
When to get professional help
If the site is large, has complex ecommerce, thousands of URLs, or a lot of custom extensions, investing in a professional migration can save time and protect search rankings. A developer can write custom import scripts, create advanced redirect rules, preserve password hashes, and rebuild front-end templates to match the original design while leveraging WordPress best practices. For critical business sites, that cost is often small compared to the potential losses from broken pages and downtime.
Summary
Migrating from Joomla to WordPress can reveal a predictable set of issues: broken URLs, missing images, lost metadata, incompatible extensions, user authentication differences, and template mismatches. The remedy is planning: export and map old URLs, import media correctly, transfer SEO fields, replace Joomla extensions with WordPress equivalents, and rebuild the theme using WordPress patterns. Test on a staging site, implement 301 redirects, and monitor the live site for 404s and indexation issues. With careful mapping and testing you can preserve search equity and give users a stable, modern WordPress experience.
FAQs
How do I keep my Joomla SEO rankings after moving to WordPress?
Preserve SEO by creating a full URL mapping and implementing 301 redirects from every important old Joomla URL to the new WordPress pages, migrating meta titles and descriptions, submitting a new sitemap, and monitoring search console for errors and indexation changes.
Will user passwords work after migration?
Usually not by default, because Joomla and WordPress use different hashing. Some migration tools preserve hashes or provide compatibility methods, but the safe fallback is to import users and prompt them to reset passwords. For minimal disruption you can use a compatibility plugin or custom code that accepts Joomla hashes until users update their credentials.
Can I reuse my Joomla templates in WordPress?
Not directly. Joomla templates and WordPress themes use different templating systems and structures. You can copy visual styles and assets, but the layout should be rebuilt as a WordPress theme or child theme, with properly enqueued CSS/js and template files created for WordPress’s hierarchy.
What’s the best plugin to handle migration?
“FG Joomla to WordPress” is a popular option for content and media; CMS2CMS and Cart2Cart can help with larger or ecommerce migrations. The best choice depends on your extensions (K2, VirtueMart), site size, and how much manual mapping is required. Always test on staging before committing.
