So I just did a clean install of Joomla 5 on a new server (PHP 8.2, MySQL 8), and I’m already running into a bunch of weird issues right out of the gate.
A few things I’ve noticed:
Installer said everything was fine, but after login, I got a blank admin dashboard until I cleared cache manually
Language override screen just loads forever
Media manager randomly breaks when uploading PNGs
Some extensions throw errors even though they claim to be J5-ready
I mean, maybe I missed something basic during setup, but this feels kinda rough for a fresh install.
Anyone else dealing with these kinds of things on new Joomla 5 sites? Could it be hosting config stuff, or just bugs that still need ironing out?
What to look for or what you usually fix right after installing?
Fresh Joomla 5 Install – What’s With All These Setup Errors?
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avajohnson4
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Yeah, I remember when I first spun up a Joomla 5 site like a couple months back… felt pretty smooth at first, but then random weirdness started creeping in. Kinda like what you're describing.
The blank admin thing after login? Had the *exact* same deal. Looked fine during install, then boom, white screen. I had to nuke the cache folder manually before it even loaded right. No idea why that’s still a thing on a fresh install.
As for the language overrides hanging forever, yep, same. I think it’s tied to some weird Ajax calls getting blocked or timing out. I could be wrong, but maybe it’s something with server config? I had mod\_security messing stuff up quietly in the background once.
The media manager acting up with PNGs is new to me though. Is it just PNGs or other image types too? Maybe a mime-type thing or even image processing lib missing (like GD or ImageMagick not being fully enabled)?
About those “J5-ready” extensions, yeah... marketing speak sometimes. I’ve seen a few that *say* they're compatible, but clearly weren’t tested properly. If you're using stuff like older template frameworks or system plugins, they can silently break things even if the frontend seems okay. I usually disable everything non-core after install, then add stuff back in one by one just to be safe.
Honestly, Joomla 5's still smoothing out some edges. Most of the core is solid IMO, but the ecosystem around it still catching up.
Kinda off-topic, but another thing I always check post-install: session settings in Global Config. I’ve had weird logout issues or backend lag just from session handler being set weirdly on certain hosts.
Could be a mix of Joomla quirks and server setup tbh. Have you tried switching PHP from 8.2 to 8.1 just to see? Some extensions are still iffy with 8.2 even if they "support" it.
Curious, what host are you using? Shared, VPS, something custom? I wonder if some of this is env-specific or more widespread
The blank admin thing after login? Had the *exact* same deal. Looked fine during install, then boom, white screen. I had to nuke the cache folder manually before it even loaded right. No idea why that’s still a thing on a fresh install.
As for the language overrides hanging forever, yep, same. I think it’s tied to some weird Ajax calls getting blocked or timing out. I could be wrong, but maybe it’s something with server config? I had mod\_security messing stuff up quietly in the background once.
The media manager acting up with PNGs is new to me though. Is it just PNGs or other image types too? Maybe a mime-type thing or even image processing lib missing (like GD or ImageMagick not being fully enabled)?
About those “J5-ready” extensions, yeah... marketing speak sometimes. I’ve seen a few that *say* they're compatible, but clearly weren’t tested properly. If you're using stuff like older template frameworks or system plugins, they can silently break things even if the frontend seems okay. I usually disable everything non-core after install, then add stuff back in one by one just to be safe.
Honestly, Joomla 5's still smoothing out some edges. Most of the core is solid IMO, but the ecosystem around it still catching up.
Kinda off-topic, but another thing I always check post-install: session settings in Global Config. I’ve had weird logout issues or backend lag just from session handler being set weirdly on certain hosts.
Could be a mix of Joomla quirks and server setup tbh. Have you tried switching PHP from 8.2 to 8.1 just to see? Some extensions are still iffy with 8.2 even if they "support" it.
Curious, what host are you using? Shared, VPS, something custom? I wonder if some of this is env-specific or more widespread
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avajohnson4
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Thanks, yeah this actually helps a lot.
I didn’t even think about mod\_security, but now that you mention it, I *have* seen it quietly wreck stuff in the past, especially on shared hosting. Gonna check if that's active. Also, the idea of disabling all non-core stuff and re-enabling one by one... I'm definately gonna try that. I just kinda assumed "J5-ready" meant safe, but clearly not.
About PHP, I’m on 8.2 right now, but maybe I’ll roll back to 8.1 and see if things stabilize a bit. Haven’t touched the session settings yet either, so that’s going on my list.
The media issue is mostly with PNGs, yeah. JPGs upload fine. Could be a missing image lib like you said—I'll check if GD or ImageMagick is fully loaded.
I’m running this on a small VPS. It's nothing fancy, but it should be solid. Still wouldn't be shocked if there's some sneaky config thing messing stuff up.
Really appreciate the tips. Kinda reassuring to hear others have been through the same stuff. Anyone else had similar issues or found other workarounds that helped?
I didn’t even think about mod\_security, but now that you mention it, I *have* seen it quietly wreck stuff in the past, especially on shared hosting. Gonna check if that's active. Also, the idea of disabling all non-core stuff and re-enabling one by one... I'm definately gonna try that. I just kinda assumed "J5-ready" meant safe, but clearly not.
About PHP, I’m on 8.2 right now, but maybe I’ll roll back to 8.1 and see if things stabilize a bit. Haven’t touched the session settings yet either, so that’s going on my list.
The media issue is mostly with PNGs, yeah. JPGs upload fine. Could be a missing image lib like you said—I'll check if GD or ImageMagick is fully loaded.
I’m running this on a small VPS. It's nothing fancy, but it should be solid. Still wouldn't be shocked if there's some sneaky config thing messing stuff up.
Really appreciate the tips. Kinda reassuring to hear others have been through the same stuff. Anyone else had similar issues or found other workarounds that helped?
Hey there, just wanted to jump in because I’ve actually seen a lot of what you're describing, and I totally get how annoying it feels. Fresh install, everything looks good, then... weird stuff starts popping up. You're definitely not the only one running into this.
That blank dashboard after login? Yep, been there. I had to manually clear both Joomla’s cache and my browser’s before things would show up properly. Kinda silly for a clean setup, honestly.
With the language override page loading forever, I’d check the browser console just to see if any JavaScript errors are showing up. Sometimes it’s something small like a blocked script or a missing file, especially if the server config is a bit tight. Also, if there’s a security module like mod_security running, that might be silently blocking things in the background.
Media manager failing with PNGs... that sounds familiar too. I remember someone else had that happen when their server didn’t have full image support configured. Like, GD or ImageMagick was there but missing PNG support, or there was a memory limit issue. Worth checking with your host or your own PHP info if you manage the server yourself.
And yeah, extensions claiming they’re Joomla 5 ready... some of them are kind of jumping the gun. I’ve found a few that technically install but then break certain views or throw errors in the backend. I usually install things one by one, test after each one, just to keep things clean. It’s a bit slower, but it saves a lot of headaches.
Good call on trying a different PHP version too. Joomla 5 works with PHP 8.2, but some extensions clearly don’t yet, even if they say they do. If stuff feels too unstable, testing on 8.1 might give you better results for now.
Honestly, it could be a mix of Joomla still ironing things out and little server config quirks. If you’re on a VPS, that’s a plus since you’ve got some control, but it also means more stuff to double-check early on.
Happy to help if you get stuck with anything specific. I know it can feel rough in the beginning, but once it’s settled, Joomla 5 can be really solid.
That blank dashboard after login? Yep, been there. I had to manually clear both Joomla’s cache and my browser’s before things would show up properly. Kinda silly for a clean setup, honestly.
With the language override page loading forever, I’d check the browser console just to see if any JavaScript errors are showing up. Sometimes it’s something small like a blocked script or a missing file, especially if the server config is a bit tight. Also, if there’s a security module like mod_security running, that might be silently blocking things in the background.
Media manager failing with PNGs... that sounds familiar too. I remember someone else had that happen when their server didn’t have full image support configured. Like, GD or ImageMagick was there but missing PNG support, or there was a memory limit issue. Worth checking with your host or your own PHP info if you manage the server yourself.
And yeah, extensions claiming they’re Joomla 5 ready... some of them are kind of jumping the gun. I’ve found a few that technically install but then break certain views or throw errors in the backend. I usually install things one by one, test after each one, just to keep things clean. It’s a bit slower, but it saves a lot of headaches.
Good call on trying a different PHP version too. Joomla 5 works with PHP 8.2, but some extensions clearly don’t yet, even if they say they do. If stuff feels too unstable, testing on 8.1 might give you better results for now.
Honestly, it could be a mix of Joomla still ironing things out and little server config quirks. If you’re on a VPS, that’s a plus since you’ve got some control, but it also means more stuff to double-check early on.
Happy to help if you get stuck with anything specific. I know it can feel rough in the beginning, but once it’s settled, Joomla 5 can be really solid.
Yeah, I remember running into that kinda stuff too and thinking, “wait, this is a fresh install, why is it already acting up?” So yeah, totally get where you’re coming from.
mod_security messing with stuff? Yep, been there. It doesn’t throw errors half the time, just quietly breaks backend forms or blocks things like language override saving. Took me way too long to figure that out once. Def worth checking if it's on and maybe trying with it off just to see.
And those "J5-ready" claims... lol, yeah. I fell for that too. I mean, you'd think they actually tested things, but sometimes it’s just a version tag update. Going extension by extension is slow but honestly the only thing that’s worked for me when things start randomly failing.
PHP 8.2 is nice on paper, but I've seen some weird behavior too. Like, extensions install fine, but something feels janky. I always end up going back to 8.1 when in doubt, just to rule it out. Could be totally fine, but yeah, doesn’t hurt to try.
The PNG thing is interesting. JPGs working but PNGs not? That kinda screams “GD or ImageMagick is missing a piece” to me. Some servers just don’t compile full support unless you specifically install it. Could be that simple.
And yeah, even with a VPS, weird stuff can sneak in. I’ve had mime-type misconfigurations, or like super low upload size limits that mess with media stuff.
Anyway, glad it helped even a little. Makes a difference knowing other folks are bumping into the same junk. Anyone else had to do some weird workaround for early Joomla 5 installs?
mod_security messing with stuff? Yep, been there. It doesn’t throw errors half the time, just quietly breaks backend forms or blocks things like language override saving. Took me way too long to figure that out once. Def worth checking if it's on and maybe trying with it off just to see.
And those "J5-ready" claims... lol, yeah. I fell for that too. I mean, you'd think they actually tested things, but sometimes it’s just a version tag update. Going extension by extension is slow but honestly the only thing that’s worked for me when things start randomly failing.
PHP 8.2 is nice on paper, but I've seen some weird behavior too. Like, extensions install fine, but something feels janky. I always end up going back to 8.1 when in doubt, just to rule it out. Could be totally fine, but yeah, doesn’t hurt to try.
The PNG thing is interesting. JPGs working but PNGs not? That kinda screams “GD or ImageMagick is missing a piece” to me. Some servers just don’t compile full support unless you specifically install it. Could be that simple.
And yeah, even with a VPS, weird stuff can sneak in. I’ve had mime-type misconfigurations, or like super low upload size limits that mess with media stuff.
Anyway, glad it helped even a little. Makes a difference knowing other folks are bumping into the same junk. Anyone else had to do some weird workaround for early Joomla 5 installs?
Ugh, that sounds frustrating. Sometimes the clean install isn't as "clean" as we'd hope, right? Definitely feels like some bugs might be lurking around with new releases. The blank admin thing after login is a weird one. Clearing cache seemed to help, so maybe there's something up with cache settings or server caching interfering?avajohnson4 wrote: So I just did a clean install of Joomla 5 on a new server (PHP 8.2, MySQL 8), and I’m already running into a bunch of weird issues right out of the gate.
A few things I’ve noticed:
Installer said everything was fine, but after login, I got a blank admin dashboard until I cleared cache manually
Language override screen just loads forever
Media manager randomly breaks when uploading PNGs
Some extensions throw errors even though they claim to be J5-ready
I mean, maybe I missed something basic during setup, but this feels kinda rough for a fresh install.
Anyone else dealing with these kinds of things on new Joomla 5 sites? Could it be hosting config stuff, or just bugs that still need ironing out?
What to look for or what you usually fix right after installing?
For language overrides and media manager, could be related to server config. Maybe PHP limits or something affecting file handling? Sometimes raising memory limits or max execution time can help.
Extensions throwing errors even when they’re supposed to be ready could be compatibility issues. Not all devs get everything perfectly aligned with new versions right away.
Hosting configs can definitely throw a wrench in things. Double-check PHP settings, make sure all necessary extensions are enabled, that kinda stuff. If it’s a self-managed server, sometimes permissions or ownerships get in the way.
Noticed @Donna saying similar things with the language screen before, but idk if she found a solid fix. Maybe check Joomla forums or GitHub issues too. Could be others reporting similar stuff. Keep poking around, and don't forget to hit up the Joomla community!
Sounds like a bit of a rough start. Installing a new version can be tricky sometimes. Blank admin screens often scream caching issues or maybe even some PHP settings on the server that need tweaking. Clearing cache manually seemed to help, so maybe check if OPcache is doing anything weird?avajohnson4 wrote: So I just did a clean install of Joomla 5 on a new server (PHP 8.2, MySQL 8), and I’m already running into a bunch of weird issues right out of the gate.
A few things I’ve noticed:
Installer said everything was fine, but after login, I got a blank admin dashboard until I cleared cache manually
Language override screen just loads forever
Media manager randomly breaks when uploading PNGs
Some extensions throw errors even though they claim to be J5-ready
I mean, maybe I missed something basic during setup, but this feels kinda rough for a fresh install.
Anyone else dealing with these kinds of things on new Joomla 5 sites? Could it be hosting config stuff, or just bugs that still need ironing out?
What to look for or what you usually fix right after installing?
For the language override screen and media manager issues, I've seen those happen if there's stuff going on with permissions or if something's wonky with browser cache—sometimes just trying another browser does the trick.
Extensions being a pain even when they say they're ready... yeah, happen to me before too. Always best to double-check their docs or forums for any sneaky issues others have found. Also, make sure all your PHP extensions are correct; hosts sometimes miss something small.
Could definitely be hosting-related too. Maybe worth asking them about the environment or double-checking the PHP error logs. Bugs are always possible with new releases, but usually, someone else has tripped over them in forums by now.
I'd poke around there, and keep an eye on Joomla’s official update notes—they sometimes slip fixes in there. Hope you get it sorted out soon!
