How to Move Joomla From a Subfolder in simple steps
Joomla is a content management system used to set up websites that use databases to store content. A Joomla site can be installed in a subfolder of a site’s server. Later you can move Joomla from the subfolder to your site’s root directory. An FTP tool such as Filezilla or your web host’s control panel file manager option and a text editor can be used for this purpose. Alternatively, you can move Joomla from a subfolder to a new host. The best way to accomplish this is to use the Akeeba backup Joomla component and Akeeba kickstart.
Instructions
Move Joomla from a Subfolder to the Root Directory
1
Select all the files in your Joomla website subdirectory and copy them to the root directory using an FTP tool or your web host’s control panel file manager option.
2
Open the configuration.php file on the root directory with a text editor.
3
Look for the variable var $log_path = ‘/home/username/public_html/(joomla subfolder name)/logs’; and change it to var $log_path = ‘/home/username/public_html/logs’;. The text in parentheses represents the name of the subfolder where your Joomla website was located before you moved it to the root folder. In the code the name will appear without parentheses.
4
Look for the variable var $live_site = ‘http://www.yoursite.com/(joomla subfolder name); and change it to var $live_site = ‘http://www.yoursite.com/;. Note that “yoursite.com” represents the domain name of your site.
5
Look for the variable var $ftp_root = ‘public_html/(joomla subfolder name); and change it to var $ftp_root = ‘public_html;
6
Log in to the administrator backend. Go to “Tools/Clean Cache” and delete all the cache files.
Move Joomla from a Subfolder to a New Host
7
Download Akeeba backup component and Akeeba kickstart. (See Resource section.)
8
Click on “Extensions/Install/Uninstall” on the administrator area and click on the “Choose File” button and select “Akeeba backup component.” Then click the “Upload File & Install” button.
9
Select “Components/Akeeba Backup” on the administrator area of your website. Click on “Backup Now” to go to the “Akeeba Backup Now” page. Click on the “Backup Now!” button on the lower left of the page. This process will create a compressed folder with your Joomla site files and database.
10
Use an FTP tool or your web host’s control panel file manager option to download the backup file created by Akeeba Backup to your computer. It will be located in the folder (joomla subfolder name)/administrator/components/com_akeeba/backup.
11
Create a new database for the Joomla site on the new host using the control panel’s database tool.
12
Use an FTP tool or your web host’s control panel file manager option to upload the backup file to the new host.
13
Unzip the Akeeba kickstart file and use an FTP tool or your web host’s control panel file manager option to upload the file called kickstart.php to the new host.
14
Type the URL of your new host site in your browser, then type “kickstart.php.” It should look like this: http://www.mywebsite.com/kickstart.php. Follow the instructions on your screen to extract your Joomla site files and install your Joomla site.
15
Delete the folder labeled “installation” from your Joomla site. This folder should be in the directory where you installed your Joomla site in the new host.
