Uploading Files with Joomla 5.3

Joomla’s media manager long kept everything in a single /images folder. If you’ve ever uploaded a terms-and-conditions PDF into a folder called “images”, you know how messy that looks. With Joomla 5.3 a dedicated /files folder was quietly introduced, making document uploads cleaner and easier to manage. We explain how to enable the new folder, organise your media more logically and migrate existing documents. Better organisation improves workflow and reduces confusion. We also cover organising subfolders.

  • For years we’ve told clients “just put your documents in the images folder and Joomla will sort it out”. It worked, but it never felt right. Now there’s a proper home for files – no hacks, no manual folder creation.

    What’s new in Joomla 5.3

    The big change is subtle: the FileSystem‑Local plugin now registers both /images and /files as upload destinations. On fresh installations the folder exists out of the box; on upgrades you can enable it in a couple of clicks. Having a separate folder for documents means your URLs make sense – no more /images/files/yourdocument.pdf – and it reduces clutter when browsing media.

    Why it matters

    • Clarity – documents live under a folder called files, images under images. That’s better for your own sanity and for anyone else working on the site.
    • No more DIY fixes – you no longer need to create custom folders or tinker with plugin settings just to separate PDFs from pictures.
    • Tidy URLs – links to your downloads won’t contain the word images. Search engines and users will see a sensible path.

    Enabling the files folder on an existing site

    If you installed Joomla 5.3 from scratch the files folder is already there. If you’ve upgraded from 4.x or 5.0–5.2 you need to flip a couple of switches:

    • In the Media component’s options, set the Path to Files Folder to files. This tells Joomla where to place non‑image uploads.
    • Go to System → Plugins and open FileSystem – Local. Add files to the list of allowed directories. images is already there by default.
    • Save your changes. A new /files directory will appear alongside /images in the media manager. You’re ready to go.

    A quick tour of the media manager

    You can access Joomla’s media manager from Content → Media, via the site panel on the dashboard, or through the modal when editing an article. Think of it as a simple file explorer for your site’s images and documents. A folder tree on the left shows your directory structure while thumbnails appear on the right. Above that sits a toolbar with buttons for upload, delete and other tasks.

    Good folder habits

    • Name folders sensibly. Stick to lowercase letters and hyphens instead of spaces. For example, use policies or customer-forms rather than Customer Forms.
    • Plan ahead. It’s worth sketching out how you’ll categorise documents before you start uploading. Mirroring your article categories keeps things orderly and saves a lot of rearranging later.
    • Be cautious with deletions. Deleting a folder removes everything inside it. Use the toolbar’s delete button carefully – there’s no recycle bin.

    Uploading, deleting and renaming files

    Once your folders are organised, handling documents is straightforward. Here’s how it works:

    • Upload – open the folder where you want the file to live, click Upload on the toolbar and pick a file from your computer. Joomla doesn’t let you move files between folders after upload, so choose the destination carefully.
    • Delete – select any file and hit the Delete button. The item disappears immediately. There’s no undo, so only remove files you’re sure you no longer need.
    • Rename – hover over a file and click the ellipsis icon to open its menu. Choose Rename, enter the new name (leave off the file extension) and save. Renaming is a handy way to clean up cryptic file names like document_final_final2.pdf.

    A few tips to keep things running smoothly: avoid uploading huge photos directly from your phone – resize them to around 800 pixels wide; if a file with the same name already exists you’ll need to delete or rename it first; and only allow file types you actually need via the Media options to reduce security risk.

    Joomla logo

    Need a hand tidying up your media library or upgrading to Joomla 5.3? Our team can review your site, organise your files and handle the technical upgrade so you don’t have to.

    Our agency’s view

    The addition of a dedicated files folder may not sound like a headline feature, but it reflects a maturing CMS that respects your workflow.

    In the years we’ve spent building Joomla sites and one of the biggest pain points for non‑developers has always been the media area. Mixing documents and images together causes confusion and messy URLs. This small update fixes that.

    Our advice: upgrade when you’re ready, enable the files folder and take a morning to organise your existing uploads 🙂. Create a clear folder structure, rename files you no longer recognise and delete anything redundant. Your future self – and anyone else maintaining the site – will thank you.

    Key takeaways

    • The files folder arrives in Joomla 5.3 and can be enabled on upgraded sites.
    • Separate documents from images to keep your media library tidy and your URLs logical.
    • Use the media manager’s upload, delete and rename tools to manage files; you can’t move items after uploading.
    • Plan a sensible folder structure, name folders and files clearly and avoid clutter.

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