Joomla 6 Server Requirements: PHP, Database and Web Server Versions

Joomla 6 raises the platform requirements compared with Joomla 5. Before installing or upgrading, check the PHP runtime, database engine, web server, PHP modules, and memory available to the actual website—not just the versions available somewhere on the server.

Joomla 6.x requirements

The Joomla 6.1 technical requirements published by the Joomla Project distinguish between Recommended, Supported, and in some cases an absolute Minimum. For a new production site, target the recommended version when practical and do not intentionally build around a version below the supported baseline.

A version listed as an absolute minimum but below Joomla's supported version can pass an enforced minimum check while still falling outside the support baseline. That distinction matters especially for MariaDB and PostgreSQL.

Required PHP modules

Joomla 6 requires the following PHP functionality:

• json
• simplexml
• dom
• zlib
• gd
• One appropriate database driver: mysqlnd, pdo_mysql, or pdo_pgsql

The Joomla Project also recommends mbstring for Joomla 6.

PHP memory

The Joomla Project recommends a PHP memory limit of at least 256 MB. That is not the same thing as disk space or the server's total RAM. It is the PHP memory_limit available to the web request running Joomla.

Extensions that process large images, archives, imports, backups, or updates may need more memory than a minimal Joomla request.

Apache, Nginx and IIS

Joomla does not require one specific web server. Joomla 6 supports Apache 2.4, Nginx 1.26 or later within the supported baseline, and Microsoft IIS 10.

For Apache, mod_rewrite is optional for Joomla itself but is commonly used when enabling SEO-friendly URL rewriting. On IIS, the URL Rewrite Module serves the comparable purpose for rewritten SEO URLs.

How to check your PHP version

If you have shell access, this command shows the command-line PHP version:

php -v

Be careful: the CLI version can differ from the PHP version used by the website. Confirm the site's assigned PHP version in the hosting control panel or through the web runtime before deciding the server is compatible.

How to check the database version

For MySQL or MariaDB, this read-only query reports the server version:

SELECT VERSION();

For PostgreSQL, use:

SHOW server_version;

Run version checks using an account that already has legitimate access to the database. No data changes are required to verify the version.

Check the PHP modules

With shell access, php -m lists modules for the CLI PHP environment:

php -m

Again, verify the web PHP environment separately if your host allows different PHP configurations per site. The Joomla installer also performs environment checks and will stop or warn when required capabilities are unavailable.

Do not check Joomla alone

A server can meet Joomla's core requirements while a template or extension does not support the same PHP or Joomla version. Before an upgrade to Joomla 6, check every critical extension and template for Joomla 6 and PHP compatibility as well.

What to do if the server is below the requirement

1. Do not force the Joomla install or upgrade by editing version checks.
2. Ask the host to provide a supported PHP/database environment or move the site to a compatible server.
3. Test the target environment with a backup or staging copy before changing production.
4. Recheck extensions after the PHP/database change, because compatibility failures can come from third-party code even when Joomla itself is supported.

Verify before you proceed

Record the PHP version used by the website, the database engine and version, the web server, the required PHP modules, and the effective PHP memory limit. Compare those values with the current Joomla 6 technical requirements immediately before installation or upgrade, because platform requirements can change over the life of a major Joomla release.

Need More Help with Joomla?

Still having trouble? Open a support ticket with QuantaCade Support and we'll be happy to help where we can.

Support priority is given to QuantaCade products, services, and customers. However, we're also happy to assist fellow Joomla users with general Joomla questions and troubleshooting when possible.

QuantaCade is an independent Joomla extension developer and is not official Joomla support. Some issues involving third-party extensions, hosting environments, server configurations, or other systems outside our development control may be beyond what we're able to resolve.

Open a Support Ticket