Joomla! 5.3.1 is released by The Joomla! Project

Joomla! 5.3.0 introduces a new "files" folder to the Media Manager.

The new "files" folder makes it possible to organize non-image files (for example, PDFs) separately from images.

In the Media screen of new Joomla! 5.3.0 installations, a new root folder named "files" is visible alongside "images", but not in updated existing Joomla! installations.

If you have updated an existing Joomla! installation to Joomla! 5.3.0 then you will need to make some changes in your website's Dashboard to be able to organise non-image files using the new "files" folder.

Step 1: in Media Options, set the Path to Files Folder option to "files".

Step 2: in the FileSystem - Local Plugin screen, use the plus (+) button to add "files" to the list of allowed directories (by default, only "images" is listed).

Read more: Official Joomla! Documentation.

The Compatibility Plugin is enabled by default in the Joomla! 5 CMS.

Purpose: to enable Third Party Extensions which are not yet compatible with the Joomla! 5 CMS to continue to function after you update your website.

Its use will however adversely impact your website's performance in browsers.

Your website's page load times will be slower.

For this reason you may wish to avoid using extensions which require use of the Compatibility Plugin.

If all your website's Third Party Extensions are compatible with Joomla! 5 then you may disable the plugin.

The Joomla! Project has published a useful guide at the following link.

Read More: Issues to consider before you disable the Compatibility Plugin.

The Joomla! Project recommend you try updating a backup of your live website before attempting to update your live website to Joomla! 5.

First check the PHP and MySQL used by your website's server are compatible with running Joomla! 5.

Read more: Technical Requirements for hosting a Joomla! CMS website.

Read more: Joomla_4.4 to Joomla! 5 Planning and Upgrade Step by Step.

Joomla! 5 requires a more recent version of MySQL than was the case with Joomla! 4; the following link explains why.

Embracing Change: Why Joomla 5’s Requirement for MySQL 8 is a Leap Forward.

Joomla! 4.x templates should work with Joomla! 5.

Joomla! Project Security and Bug Fix support for Joomla! 3.10 ended on 17 August 2023.

The Joomla! Project offered an Extended Long Term Support (ELTS) programme on a subscription basis to users of Joomla! 3.10 who were not able to immediately switch to Joomla! 4.x or later.

The ELTS ended on 17 February 2025.