If your website was built using Divi, something significant has just happened. On 26 February 2026, Elegant Themes officially released Divi 5, the most substantial update to the Divi page builder in over a decade.This is not a routine update. Divi 5 is a complete rewrite of the builder, designed to fix performance bottlenecks, modernise the codebase, and enable faster development. Unlike previous updates, it is a brand-new foundation, optimised for speed, stability, and scalability. If your website runs on Divi 4, the question is no longer whether you should migrate. It is when, and how to do it safely.
At Notting Hill Biz, we have been tracking Divi 5 since its development was announced in 2022. We are already migrating client sites. Here is what you need to know.
What Is Divi 5, and Why Does It Matter?
Divi has been one of the most widely used WordPress page builders since it launched. For many small and medium-sized businesses, it is the foundation of their entire website.
Divi 5 is a major update that shifts from short-code-based rendering to a modern React-based architecture, aligning more closely with WordPress’s block editor. This means Divi 5 is not just an update, but a reimagining of the platform’s core, making it more compatible with the direction WordPress is heading. In essence, Divi 5 replaces the older shortcode-based system of Divi 4 with a modern, React-based framework, aligning it with the latest WordPress standards and ensuring better long-term compatibility and performance.
Divi 5 marks a pivotal evolution in web design. The development team has boldly reimagined the platform from the ground up, prioritising performance and shedding years of technical debt. This fresh start has resulted in a leaner, faster, and more efficient page builder.
The reason matters is straightforward. The original Divi codebase had accumulated years of complexity, making it slower and harder to maintain. Divi 5 strips that back and starts fresh, which means better performance, a cleaner interface, and a more reliable platform for the years ahead.
What has actually changed?
The key improvements in Divi 5 that are relevant to business owners are:
- A significantly faster builder. Community members and third-party developers who tested the product during its beta consistently noted dramatic speed improvements. For website owners, this faster builder performance means less time waiting and more time creating.
- Enhanced WordPress Compatibility. Divi 5 now saves content in a block-based format, unlocking new possibilities for Gutenberg interoperability. Instead of working against the grain of WordPress, Divi 5 aligns with it, which is crucial for anyone concerned about the long-term health and stability of their website.
- A cleaner, more modern interface. The interface is clearer, more streamlined and more in line with current standards, with finer responsive management, allowing users to click on the desired screen size without navigating through multiple menus.
- A new Canvas Editor. The Canvases Editor provides a detached workspace for building, organising, and managing off-canvas content, such as menus, popups, and staged layout variations.
- A built-in migration tool. Divi 5 includes a dedicated Migrator that converts Divi 4 layouts into the new format. This is what makes the upgrade achievable for existing sites, without having to rebuild from scratch.
Should You Upgrade Your Divi Website to Divi 5?
For most business owners with Divi websites, upgrading is usually the right call. But it only makes sense when the move is planned properly.
Divi 5 is stable for most website types. If your site is a standard brochure-style website with pages, contact forms, and basic service information, migrating an existing site is generally straightforward when done correctly.
If your website is more complex, for example, if it uses WooCommerce, custom post types, third-party Divi plugins, a child theme with custom code, or advanced Theme Builder templates, then migration requires more careful preparation. It can still be done. Divi 5 is stable for production, but a smooth upgrade still depends on plugin compatibility and proper testing.
The one thing you should not do is update Divi directly on your live website without testing first.
What Does the Migration Process Actually Look Like?
This is where experience matters. A Divi 5 migration is not a case of clicking update and hoping for the best; the upgrade process needs proper handling from the outset. It is closer to a rebuild-level upgrade, and it needs to be treated accordingly, so it is wise to plan before starting.
At Notting Hill Biz, here is the process we follow for every Divi 5 migration.
Migration Steps
Step 1. Full backup before anything else
Before touching anything, we take a complete backup of the website. This includes the WordPress database, all theme files, the child theme, plugins, media uploads, and configuration files. This is the safety net for everything that follows.
Step 2. Create a staging copy
. We never test Divi 5 on a live website. We create a staging copy, a private duplicate blocked from search engines and separate from the live version, and this acts as a staging environment for safe testing before anything touches the production site. All migration work happens here first. We use the same approach on our own sites and in client work.
Step 3. Update everything on Divi 4 first
Before installing Divi 5, ensure the staging site is fully up to date on Divi 4. WordPress core, plugins, the child theme, and the PHP version are all checked and updated. This gives us a clean starting point and reduces the risk of compatibility issues during migration.
Step 4. Audit the site’s Divi setup
. Every site is different. We check what the site actually uses: custom CSS, third-party Divi plugins, WooCommerce modules, Theme Builder templates, custom shortcodes, and any inline code. This tells us what the migration needs to handle and where to pay close attention.
Step 5. Install Divi 5 and run the compatibility scan
Once Divi 5 is installed on the staging site, we run the built-in Divi 5 Compatibility Check before converting anything. This scan identifies which elements can be fully converted to native Divi 5 and which may need additional attention, including items that may remain as legacy modules or legacy third-party modules. It does not change anything on the site. It is purely diagnostic. The compatibility report shows which unsupported modules remain wrapped in the Divi 4 framework behind the scenes rather than being fully converted.
Step 6. Resolve any flagged compatibility issues
. If the compatibility scan flags unsupported modules, third-party modules or templates, we address them before running the migration. Unsupported modules can often still run in compatibility mode, but that affects page performance. In most cases, this means updating the relevant plugin to its Divi 5-compatible version or replacing modules with native Divi modules to ensure a smoother migration and clearer performance benefits.
Step 7. Run the Divi 5 Migrator
. The Divi 5 Migrator is a tool required for migration that converts Divi 4 content to the new format. Once the compatibility check looks clean, we run the Divi 5 Migrator. This migration system is built to preserve existing content while converting supported Divi 4 layouts into the new Divi 5 format. Put simply, we open the tool and click migrate once the checks are complete. Divi 5 also retains a rollback option for Divi 4 content, which means we can roll back if needed.
Step 8. Test everything thoroughly
We test the migrated site on desktop, tablet, and mobile, and adjust any responsive settings carried over from Divi 4 as needed. We check every page type: the homepage, service pages, contact forms, navigation menus, sticky headers, galleries, WooCommerce pages where applicable, and any custom templates. This also gives your team time to get used to the new interface, the updated builder interface, and any workflow changes. We compare the staging version side by side with the live Divi 4 site to catch any differences before going live.
Step 9. Performance checks
After migration, we clear all caches, check Core Web Vitals, and run performance tests. Divi 5 is faster by design, but post-migration optimisation ensures the site performs as well as it should, with the strongest performance gains and broader improvements usually seen when pages rely on native Divi 5 elements rather than compatibility-mode items. This is also how sites start to access all the new features and other new features tied to the rebuilt system.
Step 10. Push to live
Only once everything in staging has been confirmed to work correctly do we push the migration to the live site, starting from the WordPress Dashboard after staging checks are complete. We first put the live site into maintenance mode, take a final backup, push the staging copy, clear caches, and test key pages again. A site is successfully migrated only when those live checks pass.
What Happens to Your Existing Divi 4 Layouts?
This is one of the questions we hear most often. The short answer is that Divi 5 is designed to convert your existing layouts, not replace them.
The Divi 5 Migrator converts supported Divi 4 content into the new format. For elements that cannot be fully converted, Divi 5 uses the backward compatibility mode, also called the Backward Compatibility System, which supports legacy Divi 4 content and allows unsupported modules to continue functioning. This means they continue to display correctly, even if they are not natively in the new system. Unsupported modules continue to render in compatibility mode, which can affect page performance because they are not fully native.
In practice, the visual appearance of most pages should remain consistent after migration. The difference lies in how the site runs and is maintained behind the scenes, where the speed and stability improvements are felt.
For several weeks following the migration, we retained the full Divi 4 backup. As with any major update, particularly those involving bulk conversions, it’s crucial to test on a staging site and back up your website beforehand. If unexpected issues arise after going live, this backup ensures older elements remain functional, allowing you to transition at your own pace.
What About Third-Party Divi Plugins?
Many Divi websites use third-party plugins to extend the builder’s capabilities, such as:
- Divi Supreme
- Divi Engine
- Divi Flash
- Divi Pixel
- Divi Toolbox
Whether these work fully in Divi 5 depends on whether their developers have released a compatible version.
Third-party developers are expected to have updated their plugins and child themes by the time of the final Divi 5 release. Most established plugin developers had updates available at or around launch. However, this needs to be verified for each site before migration begins. The compatibility scan flags any issues, and we check the current version of each plugin before proceeding. We also verify third-party plugin compatibility by checking for Divi 5 compatibility tags on plugin product pages. This matters across the wider Divi ecosystem, not just for one plugin vendor.
If a third-party plugin does not yet have a Divi 5-compatible version, we discuss the options before migrating. In some cases, a native Divi 5 module covers the same functionality. In others, it may be worth waiting briefly for the developer to release an update.
Is Now the Right Time to Migrate?
Divi 5 launched in February 2026 and has received regular updates since its official release. The platform is stable for production and ready for many existing projects, as well as some new sites.
For straightforward business websites, now is a sensible time to plan the migration, and moving a site to Divi 5 is usually straightforward. For more complex sites, the process is equally achievable with the right preparation.
What we would caution against is leaving the migration indefinitely. Divi 4 will continue to receive security updates for the foreseeable future, but platform development is moving to Divi 5. The longer a site stays on Divi 4, the greater the distance between its architecture and where WordPress and Divi are heading. In some edge cases, staying on Divi 4 may still be the right call, but only temporarily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I migrate my Divi 4 website to Divi 5 on my own?
Technically, yes, if you are comfortable working in WordPress and staging environments. Before you start, you will also need to log in to your Elegant Themes account to obtain the latest build. For any business website that generates enquiries or revenue, we would recommend it be handled professionally. The preparation, testing, and backup process is where things can go wrong if not done properly.
Will my website look different after migrating to Divi 5?
The visual appearance of your pages should remain consistent. The Divi 5 Migrator is designed to convert your layouts, not change them. You do not automatically get all the new features after migration unless parts of the site are rebuilt with native Divi 5 tools. Testing is essential, particularly for mobile layouts and pages with custom or complex elements.
How long does a Divi 5 migration take?
It depends on the site. A straightforward brochure website might take a day or two, including testing. A more complex site with WooCommerce, custom post types, or third-party Divi plugins will take longer. Some sites may keep legacy elements for a while, allowing businesses to move at their own pace. We always give a realistic estimate before starting.
What if something breaks after migration?
That is exactly why we always work on staging first and keep a full backup of the Divi 4 site. If something does not work as expected, we resolve it before it affects the live website. If something surfaces after go-live, the rollback option is an emergency safeguard, not a substitute for proper staging and backups.
Ready to Migrate Your Divi Website to Divi 5?
Divi 5 is a genuine step forward for WordPress websites built on Divi. Better performance, a cleaner editor, and a more stable long-term foundation are benefits every Divi website owner will see over time, all of which come from the complete rebuild behind the update.
If your website runs on Divi 4 and you want to understand what migration would mean for your specific site, contact Notting Hill Biz. We will review your setup, explain what is involved, and give you an honest view of what the process will look like for you. We will also explain when it makes sense to move ahead and use features such as nested rows and new modules once the site is ready.
No obligation. No pressure. Just a straightforward conversation with a team that has been looking after WordPress websites since 1998.
Contact us to discuss your Divi 5 migration.
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About the Author
Fari Peyman is the Managing Director and founder of Notting Hill Biz, established in 1998. With nearly three decades of business and online technology experience, he leads a team specialising in creating websites that are easy to manage and deliver real results for small and medium-sized businesses. A seasoned business consultant and networker, Fari thrives on helping companies grow through innovative web design and organic SEO.
When he’s not working with clients, Fari enjoys martial arts and photography. Connect with him on LinkedIn to explore how your business can benefit from expert web design and SEO.