How to Check for Joomla Core Updates

Open the Joomla Update component

1. Sign in to the Joomla Administrator.
2. Go to System → Update → Joomla.
3. Wait for Joomla to load the update information.
4. Compare the installed version with the version Joomla reports as available.

If Joomla reports that the site is up to date, that means no newer applicable release was found for the currently configured update channel. It does not necessarily mean that no newer Joomla major version exists.

Use Check for Updates when the result may be stale

If a release has recently been published or you believe the displayed information is stale, use the Joomla Update component's Check for Updates action. Joomla then refreshes the core update information instead of relying only on previously stored data.

After the refresh, verify the version again. Do not confuse this with System → Update → Extensions, which refreshes update information for installed extensions rather than Joomla core.

Check the update channel if the version you expect is not offered

From System → Update → Joomla, open Options and review the Update Channel. Joomla's current help documentation describes Default as the normal channel for updates within the current major-version family and Joomla Next as the channel used when preparing to move to the next stable major version.

Do not switch a production site to testing or custom channels simply to force a version to appear. Use a channel appropriate to the upgrade path you have planned, and perform major upgrades on staging first.

Troubleshoot a missing core update

If Joomla still cannot find an update you expect, work through the update path instead of manually downloading core files as your first response.

• Run Check for Updates again.
• Go to System → Update → Update Sites and use Rebuild if update-site information may be damaged.
• Confirm the server can make outbound HTTPS connections and has working DNS/TLS support.
• Review the Joomla Update options and return them to the intended stable channel after any troubleshooting.
• Check PHP/server logs for network or certificate errors if the update service cannot be reached.

Joomla's update service is accessed over HTTPS, so a hosting firewall, proxy, DNS problem, or outdated TLS stack can prevent update detection even though the website itself still loads normally.

Treat an available update as the start of the update process, not permission to click immediately

When Joomla shows an available core update, review its target version and the Pre-Update Check before installing it. Create a restorable files-and-database backup, verify server requirements, and confirm important extension compatibility—especially for a major-version upgrade.

After an update is installed, return to the Joomla Update component and confirm the installed version. Also test the site and check System → Maintenance → Database for a core schema problem before considering the update complete.