How to Disable Joomla 6 Update Notification Emails

Quick Answer

To stop Joomla 6 update notification emails, go to System → Manage → Plugins, search for "Update Notification", open System – Joomla! Update Notification, and set its status to Disabled. This only stops the email reminder — Joomla will still show an update badge in the Control Panel, and the separate System – Joomla! Update plugin that actually checks for and applies updates keeps working.

What you'll need	Details
Joomla version	Joomla 6.x (same steps apply to Joomla 4.x and 5.x)
Access level	Super User
Estimated time	2–3 minutes
Tools required	None — just your Joomla administrator login

If you manage one or several Joomla 6 sites, you've probably received an email every time a new core version becomes available. The message comes from a small system plugin, not from the Joomla project itself, and it's easy to turn off in under a minute — you just need to disable the correct plugin. Below is the exact path, plus what to watch out for so you don't accidentally disable the wrong thing.

Joomla 6 administrator Control Panel dashboard overview

Step 1: Log In as a Super User

Open your Joomla administrator area (usually yoursite.com/administrator) and log in with an account that has Super User access. Regular Administrator or Manager accounts cannot edit system plugins.

Step 2: Go to System → Manage → Plugins

From the left-hand menu, click System, then under the Manage panel click Plugins. This opens the full Plugin Manager list for your site.

Joomla 6 System menu showing the Plugins link under Manage

Step 3: Search for "Update Notification"

In the Plugin Manager search box, type update notification and press Enter. This filters the (often very long) plugin list down to the one or two entries that matter.

⚠️ Don't confuse these two plugins

Your search may return both System – Joomla! Update Notification (sends the email) and System – Joomla! Update (checks for and applies core updates). Only disable the first one. Leaving System – Joomla! Update enabled matters even more now, since Joomla 6 supports optional automatic core updates that rely on the update-checking system.

Step 4: Open "System – Joomla! Update Notification"

Click the plugin's name to open its configuration screen. Here you'll see a few options: Status (Enabled/Disabled), Super User Emails, and Email Language.

Step 5: Disable It — or Restrict Who Receives It

You have two options here, depending on how much noise you want to cut:

✅ Turn it off completely

Set Status to Disabled
No Super User will receive the email anymore
Best if you check the Control Panel manually or manage many sites

⚠️ Keep it, but limit recipients

Leave Status set to Enabled
Enter one or more addresses in Super User Emails, separated by commas
Only those addresses get notified instead of every Super User

Joomla Update Notification plugin settings showing Status and Super User Emails fields

Step 6: Save and Close

Click Save & Close in the top-left toolbar. The change takes effect immediately — no cache clearing or server restart needed.

💡 What still happens after you disable it

You'll stop getting emails, but Joomla still checks for updates in the background and still shows an update icon in the Control Panel and top toolbar when logged in. Disabling the notification plugin only removes the email — it doesn't stop Joomla from knowing an update exists.

How to Turn Update Notification Emails Back On

If you change your mind later, repeat Steps 2–4, set Status back to Enabled, and save. Emails resume the next time an update is detected.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Does disabling the notification plugin stop Joomla from checking for updates?

No. Update checking is handled by the separate System – Joomla! Update plugin, which keeps running. Disabling the notification plugin only stops the email; you can still see available updates in the Control Panel.

Is it safe to turn off Joomla update notification emails?

Yes, it's a supported setting and doesn't affect your site's security patching directly. Just make sure someone still checks the Control Panel periodically, since you'll lose the email reminder to update.

Can I send Joomla update emails to only one admin instead of everyone?

Yes. Instead of disabling the plugin, leave it enabled and enter specific addresses in the Super User Emails field. Leaving that field blank sends the email to every Super User.

Will this also stop extension (theme/plugin) update emails?

No. Core Joomla update notifications and third-party extension update notifications are separate mechanisms. [CẦN BẠN XÁC NHẬN: tên chính xác của plugin/khu vực quản lý extension update notification trong Joomla 6 nếu bạn muốn hướng dẫn thêm phần này]

How does this relate to Joomla 6's automatic core updates feature?

Joomla 6 (and 5.4) added an optional automatic core update feature that installs minor releases without manual action. It's a separate setting from this notification plugin, so turning off emails doesn't turn automatic updates on or off. [CẦN BẠN XÁC NHẬN: bạn có muốn thêm link sang bài hướng dẫn riêng về Automatic Core Updates không?]

Will I lose the update icon in my admin dashboard too?

No. Disabling System – Joomla! Update Notification only removes the email. The update badge/icon in the Control Panel and admin toolbar is controlled separately and will still appear when a new version is available.

🧯 Common Mistakes to Avoid

Disabling the wrong plugin. "System – Joomla! Update Notification" (email) and "System – Joomla! Update" (core updater) have almost identical names — read carefully before clicking Disabled.
Disabling for everyone when you only wanted less noise. Use the Super User Emails field to narrow recipients instead of switching Status off entirely.
Forgetting to check for updates manually afterward. Once emails are off, put a recurring reminder on your own calendar to check the Control Panel.
Assuming this affects security. Turning off the reminder doesn't turn off updates themselves — don't let it become an excuse to delay applying security releases.

✅ Last verified on Joomla 6.1.x — August 2026

How to Disable Joomla 6 Update Notification Emails: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)