Divi 4 to Divi 5 Migration: Everything You Need to Know

Hey, Divi 5 is already at its Public Alpha 2 stage. The Divi 5 Beta is also just around the corner.

We don’t want to be caught off guard. Here’s everything you need to know about Divi 5 Migration.

As a member of the community, you should definitely consider testing it out in your staging server or local environment.

Here’s your Divi 4 to Divi 5 migration guide.

What’s Divi 5?

Divi 5 is set to be a major upgrade in the Divi community. Like Divi 4, Divi 5 customizations will let you design and customize your website with ease and precision. Plus, it promises improved performance, scalability, stability, and the ability to add new features.

Take a look at Divi 5’s new features.

Best of Divi 5: New Features to Explore

Fast & Light Builder:

Divi 5 performance holds its core to the significant leap toward speed. Both Visual Efficient & Improved Performance By smoothing the journey to check out, you’ll reduce the chances of cart abandonment.

Efficient & Improved Performance:

Not only faster, you’ll get a leaner version of Divi in Divi 5 framework, resulting in a more efficient & faster response. Updated page size will improve the overall performance too.

Futuristic Tech:

Divi aims to offer a user-friendly framework that’s easy to maintain and scale. With Divi 5, shortcodes are removed, and a block-based approach is used to ensure compatibility with current and future WordPress versions.

Responsive Editing:

With Divi 5, you can edit your site intuitively just by switching view modes. You can apply hover, responsive mode or sticky editing just from one single place.

Brand-new Interaction Layers & Navigation Methods:

Navigate your design with the latest interaction layers, layers panel, one-click editing, and breadcrumbs. Making the page development process much more intuitive and easy to navigate.

Customizable Interface:

Divi 5 comes with a new builder interface that will let you create top-notch workspace by using dock & combine panels.

Divi 4 Backward Compatibility:

Migrate website to Divi 5 can be full of doubts & learning. Facing any divi 5 compatibility issues? Thankfully, Divi 5 comes with backwards compatible technology. You can easily roll over to your previously developed content, section & templates without hassle, anytime.

How to Migrate Your Website to Divi 5 From Divi 4: Divi Theme Migration Steps

Upgrading from Divi 4 to Divi 5- how complicated can this process be? Will the non-coder be able to follow it?

Well, Divi 4 to Divi 5 migration is as simple as it can be!

This seamless process won’t require any changes, redesigning, or alteration of your current site. All of your current sections of Divi 4 will be as they are even after the migration, allowing you to enjoy a smooth transition thanks to its backward compatibility.

Just one click is all it takes for the Divi theme update.

Follow These Steps to Migrate to Divi 5:

🔸 Download Divi 5 Public Alpha

🔸 Click this link to access the Download Divi 5 page.

🔸 Scroll down and hit the “Download Divi 5 Public Alpha” button.

🔸 Save the zip file to your computer.

🔸 Install Divi 5 Public Alpha

🔸 Log in to your WordPress site (DO NOT UPLOAD TO THE LIVE SITE).

🔸 Navigate to Appearance → Themes.

🔸 Click the “Add New Theme” button at the top..

🔸 Select “Upload Theme”.

🔸 Choose the .zip file you downloaded earlier.

🔸 Click on the “Install Now” button.

🔸 Finally, select the “Activate” option.

🔸 After installing Divi 5, you’ll see a new tab in the Divi menu labeled “Divi 5 Migrator.” This tool guides you through a checklist to ensure that your existing Divi 4 content is fully compatible with the new version.

🔸 To initiate the migration, click “Migrate This Site to Divi 5 Alpha.” Except for the legacy module

🔸 Upon clicking the migration button, a modal will prompt you to confirm your transition to Divi 5.

🔸 The entire process typically takes just a few seconds, though larger websites may require a minute or two.

🔸 Once the migration is complete, if you encounter any issues, you can easily revert your site back to Divi 4.

Divi 5 installation steps: Backward Mode

Divi is offering so many things in its upcoming Divi 5. But in the process, Divi 4 isn’t left out. It comes with some amazing Backward Compatibility.

While upgrade Divi 4 to Divi 5 Public Alpha migration lets the existing content continue to the latest framework, you can face issues regarding some features & third-party modules. During this Alpha phase, still some Divi 4 features, as well as third-party products, are not fully supported.

Nothing to worry about. All those features will be shown just like before. The only difference will be that users using those legacy modules won’t enjoy Divi 5’s performance enhancements.

Compatibility Mode on the Front End

In Unsupported Divi 4 modules, users will receive a notification on the WordPress Admin Bar (Top of the Screen).

Notification for Unsupported Divi 4 Module

Click the notification to review which modules of your site still are not fully compatible with Divi 5 Public Alpha

For you, our recommendation will be not to incompatible modules with Divi 5 yet. This will ensure you the best performance & speed as Divi 5 has guaranteed.

Compatibility Mode in the Builder

It’s also possible to edit legacy modules in the new Visual Builder using Divi 5’s backward compatibility interface. Divi 5 will interpret legacy shortcodes and generate a settings panel using the native field types currently available.

While creators are redeveloping their modules & Divi is improving the system & fixing problems, this Backward compatibility mode will just work as a temporary solution.

Divi 5 installation steps: Third-Party Divi Module Support

For productivity & design enhancement, many Divi users depend on third-party modules and plugins. Divi 5 is working on making the integration & transition process seamless.

But for now, all the third-party modules are supposed to be operating in compatibility mode in the Public Alpha phase. While the front-end performance can be reduced and some settings in the Visual Builder may be missing, the backward compatibility mode will work as a temporary solution.

Divi 5 will address the progress as soon as the full compatibility with third-party plugins is finalized

Revert Back to Divi 4: Possible, or Not?

After migrating to Divi 5 Public Alpha, if you encounter any issues or prefer the previous version, there’s no need to worry. You can easily revert to Divi 4 while keeping your website content intact.

Step 1: Rollback to Divi 4

Log in to your WordPress site.
Navigate to Divi → D5 Migrator
Click the Restore Divi 4 Content button. This will revert your site back to the Divi 4 framework.

Step 2: Reinstall Divi 4

Once the rollback is complete, you can reinstall Divi 4 by downloading the latest version and replacing the Divi 5 Public Alpha.

Log in to your Elegant Themes account.
Go to the My Downloads section.
Click the Download the Divi Theme button.

Next, log in to your WordPress Dashboard & follow the usual theme upload process. WordPress will prompt you to override the existing version with the latest one. Throughout this process, you’ll have guidance to assist you.

Divi 4 to Divi 5 Best Practices

So, you are finally migrating from Divi 4 to Divi 5. But beware! TEST Divi 5 PUBLIC ONLY LOCALLY OR ON A STAGING SITE.

Now, you are all set for the transition. Remember these suggestions to make it smoother, though.

🔸 Keep Website Backup: Create a full database backup Divi 4 before migrating

🔸 Check Plugins: Update all plugins and custom modules to their latest versions

🔸 Test Your Child Themes: Verify and update Child Themes with custom PHP for compatibility with Divi 5’s new API

When is Divi 5 Coming Out?

Divi 5.0 Public Alpha was released to the public in late September 2024. Elegant Themes plans to launch the next version soon. Take a look at the roadmap for better insight.

Divi 5 Roadmap

Phase 1: Developer Alpha
Developers access an incomplete version of the Divi 5.0 API to strategize modifications for existing extensions.

Phase 2: Developer Beta
Developers work with a nearly finalized Divi 5.0 API to update their extensions ahead of the official Divi 5 release date.

Phase 3: Public Alpha
The public alpha offers a streamlined Divi 5.0 for testing, but some features are missing. It’s great for new site creation, but not recommended for existing sites.

Phase 4: Public Beta
This phase integrates feedback from the alpha and features a near-final version of Divi 5.0, focusing on bug fixes.

Phase 5: Official Release
After addressing beta feedback, Divi 5.0 will be officially released as a standard update in the WordPress dashboard.

Divi 5 migration tips

It’s true! Divi 5 is going faster with advanced performance compared to Divi 4. There’ll be so many spectacular things for you to enjoy in this new framework. But yet, here are some Divi 5 migration checklist. Keep these tips in mind to make your Divi 4 to Divi 5 migration easier!

🔻 Minimize Module Types: Limit the variety of modules on a page to optimize loading times.

🔻 Use Global Presets: Apply presets to reduce custom CSS and maintain design consistency, streamlining adjustments.

🔻 Fully Migrate to Divi 5: Use the Divi 5 Migrator to replace unsupported Divi 4 content for optimal performance.

🔻 Limit Animations: Reduce animations, especially above the fold, to enhance load times and user experience.

🔻 Clickable Thumbnails for Videos: Opt for clickable thumbnails instead of embedded videos to improve page speed.

Enhance Divi 5 Performance: 5 Tips to Remember

Follow the below tips to keep your migration from Divi 4 to Divi 5 process smoother.

Reduce Google Fonts Usage: Google Fonts can slow down loading times due to external requests. Opt for native system fonts like Arial or Helvetica to enhance PageSpeed scores.

Remove Animations Above The Fold: Google evaluates how quickly your site becomes intractable. Animations in the above-the-fold area can create delays, negatively impacting user experience and performance metrics.

Compress Your Images: Large images can drastically affect loading times. Always compress images before adding them to your page to ensure optimal performance.

Avoid YouTube Videos: Embedding YouTube videos can add significant load due to external resources. While Divi 5 caches these embeds, consider removing them for better performance.

These strategies help eliminate delays caused by external resources, improving overall site efficiency.

Troubleshoot Divi 5 Migration: Report Divi 5 Alpha / Beta Bug

Experiencing issues during the Divi 5 Public Alpha testing phase is expected, and submitting these concerns aids the development team in enhancing the final version.

This article will walk you through the process of effectively reporting a bug, ensuring your feedback is concise and actionable. By doing so, you can help make Divi 5 more reliable and user-friendly.

Sign in to your Elegant Themes account.
Select the Pink Chat icon to initiate a support chat.
Click on the Report Divi 5 Alpha Bug button.

Divi 5 Migration FAQ

1. Is using Divi 5 Public Alpha safe on a live website?
It’s best for the user not to use Divi 5 Public Alpha currently on a live website. It is in an Alpha development phase & not fuDoes Divi 5 migration require money?
lly prepared to be used on a live site right now.

2. Will I be able to use all the Divi 4 features in Divi 5 Public Alpha?
Not right now. For example, third-party Divi modules still need to be included in Divi 5. They will be added very soon.

3. Where is the changelog for Divi 5?
You can view a list of all changes made to Divi 5 in the Divi changelog..

4. Will My Divi 4 Third-Party Divi modules & plugins work in Divi 5 Public Alpha?
Through Divi 5’s backward compatibility mode, you’ll be able to enjoy all the current features of your website. For those pages where legacy modules are used, you won’t enjoy Divi 5’s enhanced performance.How does backward

5. compatibility work in Divi 5 Public Alpha?
By using Divi 5’s backward compatibility mode, you can enjoy enhanced performance of Divi 5, keeping the existing website content intact. To learn more about backward compatibility.

6. Will Divi 5 work with modules from the Divi Marketplace?
Yes. But as it’s still in the development phase, you may require using Divi 5’s background compatibility mode.

7. Why am I getting an orange warning in the admin bar?
The orange warning refers to uses of legacy Divi 4 framework or unconverted Divi 4 module.

8. Can I roll back to Divi 4 even after using Divi 5 Public Alpha?
Of course, you can do that. To know more about reverting back to Divi 4. But keep in mind, don’t use Divi 5 Public Alpha on a live site.

9. Will Divi 5 Public Alpha create any disturbance on my website?
In this phase, Divi 5 Public Alpha may create some bug issues. But all that will be resolved soon.

10. If I detect any bugs or issues, what should be my next step?
For any kind of support on bug or migration issues, reach Divi without any hesitation.

11. When will the Divi 5 full version be released?
Divi 5 final release will require passing several stages, and that’s taking time. But it’ll be available as soon as possible.

12. Does Divi 5 migration require money?
Of course not. Any active subscriber of Elegant Themes will be able to use it free of charge.

To Wrap It Up,

Divi 5’s next phase announcement isn’t a far-fetched idea right now. It will be there & there’ll be a lot on your virtual goodie bag to explore. After all these discussions on migrating from Divi 4 to Divi 5, it’s clear that this transition brings exciting opportunities for improved performance and enhanced features.

Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting out, Divi 5 offers a user-friendly interface and advanced tools to elevate your web design experience.

Remember to test the Public Alpha in a safe environment, keeping your backups handy for peace of mind. Engage with the community, share your feedback, and explore the new capabilities Divi 5 has to offer. As we await the full release, stay tuned for updates, and happy designing!

P. S. Don’t forget to stay tuned with Divi Next to know more updates on Divi 5 development.