The new automated update feature in Joomla 5.4 and 6.x
The difference between automatic, automated and autonomous updates
Some thoughts to consider if you allow Joomla to take control of software updates
Let‘s talk about your website, in particular your Joomla website and especially a website that is built with J! 5.4 or J! 6.0. There is a new feature in Joomla 5.4/6.x called automated updates.Automatic core updates in Joomla, Joomla Community Magazine, 20-Oct-2025 What does this mean for you and is this a feature you require—or is it desirable—in order to ensure your website is kept up-to-date with the latest version of Joomla? That is the question we will be discussing in this article.
The next time you visit your Joomla website, look at the display of icons on the right side of the home dashboard. The display on your website may look a bit different to what you see in the image on the right (click it to enlarge it). If your website has “Automated updates are enabled” this article is particularly relevant to you. If you see “Automated updates are not enabled” then this article will show you how to enable the feature; however, not all websites can make use of the automated updating feature. For example, if your website is not on the internet—a PC-hosted webserver, for example—you cannot enable automated updates.
Anyway, whatever you see on your home dashboard, it looks benign, doesn’t it? If people have not read about automated core updates in Joomla they may not be aware of the implications for them. While it is not complicated—to enable or disable automated updates—there is more to the story as many commentators have written. For example:
We have no plans to use [automated updates] with our own websites at this time.Automated Core Joomla Updates (Automated Updates), JOOMLERS.UK User Guides, 14-Mar-2026
