How to find & install a Joomla extension

Once your Joomla site is up and running, the next step is often to install extensions to add features to your website. In this article we’ll help you find the right extension and install it on your Joomla website.

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    Choosing the right extension

    All available Joomla extensions are hosted in a central repository, called the  Joomla! Extensions Directory (or JED for short), which is a little bit like an app store for all things Joomla. 

    Within the JED you’ll find a list of all Joomla! extensions, both free or paid. Many extensions feature both a free and paid version, which differ in terms of the features available. Paid extensions are purchased online – either as a one-off payment, or by subscription.

    Once you’ve chosen an extension you’ll first download it to your local computer as a ZIP file, then upload and install this ZIP file within your Joomla site.

    Installing the extension on your site

    The process of installing a Joomla extension is pretty straightforward. There are a few different ways of doing so. Let’s start by opening the Install page within the Joomla backend, then we’ll take a look at the options available to us.

    • Log into your site’s backend
    • Click on Extensions -> Install
    Opening the Install page inside Joomla administrator.
    Opening the Install page

    Now that we’re on the Install page, let’s take a look at the various methods for installing extensions:

    Install from Web

    • Use the search field to search within the Joomla Extension Directory
    • Choose the extension and click on the green Install button
    • The installation is automatic and should take about 30-60 seconds

    Upload Package File

    • Download your extension from an external site – most often from the website of the developer
    • The file you download will be in ZIP format
    • Click on Browse for file and select your downloaded extension
    • The installation is automatic and should take about 30-60 seconds

    Install from Folder

    • Download your extension from an external site – most often from the website of the developer
    • Upload the extension to a folder on your web server (for help with that read our article about using an FTP client)
    • In the Install from folder field, enter the location of the uploaded extension
    • Click the Check and Install button
    • The installation is automatic and should take about 30-60 seconds

    Install from a URL

    • Paste the URL of your desired extension in the Install from URL field
    • Click the Check and Install button
    • The installation is automatic and should take about 30-60 seconds
    The Joomla Extension Directory inside Joomla administrator.
    The Joomla Extension Directory

    Extension installed … now what?

    Once you’ve successfully installed the extension, you should be able to find it easily within the Joomla backend. If you installed a component you should find a new link within the Components menu.

    If you’re not sure how to proceed, we recommend at this point that you take a look at the documentation provided by the developers of the extension for further information.

    Further Insights