Skip to content

What is the Divi 5 Migrator System?

The Divi 5 Migrator System scans your Divi 4 website for compatibility with Divi 5 and provides a guided upgrade path. It converts supported modules to Divi 5 format while wrapping unsupported modules for backward compatibility.

Overview

When you first install Divi 5 on an existing Divi 4 site, the Migrator System automatically appears. It performs a comprehensive audit of your content and provides clear recommendations before migration.

The Migrator System: - Scans all pages, theme templates, WooCommerce products, Divi Library items, and widgets - Identifies which modules are supported in Divi 5 and which require compatibility mode - Generates a detailed compatibility report - Allows you to migrate with a single click or explore Divi 5 first - Lets you rollback to Divi 4 at any time

This system ensures you understand the compatibility status before committing to Divi 5.

How the Migration Process Works

What Gets Converted

When you click "Migrate This Site to Divi 5", the system:

  1. Converts supported Divi 4 modules — Transforms them into native Divi 5 format
  2. Example: A Divi 4 Text module with red background and white text becomes a Divi 5 Text block with equivalent styling
  3. All content, custom CSS, and responsive settings are preserved

  4. Wraps unsupported modules — Keeps them functional using Divi 4 framework

  5. Third-party modules not yet updated for Divi 5 remain wrapped
  6. Pages containing unsupported modules will load the Divi 4 framework
  7. Performance is affected only on pages with unsupported content

  8. Preserves all content — Database-level conversion ensures no content loss

  9. The conversion happens automatically in the database
  10. You don't need to manually rebuild pages

Performance Impact

  • Pages with only Divi 5 modules — Enjoy full Divi 5 performance improvements
  • Pages with unsupported modules — Divi 4 framework loads, reducing speed for those pages
  • Site-wide speed — Generally improved, with per-page variability based on module support

Conversion Example

Divi 4 Text module: [et_pb_text background_color="#E02B20" text_color="white"]Content[/et_pb_text]

Becomes Divi 5 block format at the database level (not visible in editor, but functionally equivalent).

Running the Migrator System

On a Fresh Divi 5 Installation (Existing Divi 4 Site)

When you first install Divi 5:

  1. A notification appears in WordPress admin
  2. Click "Migrate This Site to Divi 5" or explore the report first
  3. The Migrator scans for:
  4. Pages with unsupported modules
  5. Theme Builder templates using incompatible features
  6. WooCommerce products with third-party modules
  7. Divi Library items requiring compatibility
  8. Widgets with unsupported content

  9. Review the compatibility report (9 sections total)

  10. Click "Migrate This Site to Divi 5" to proceed
  11. Confirm the migration — this is irreversible until you use "Restore Divi 4 Content"

On a Site with Only Divi 5-Compatible Content

If your Divi 4 site uses only modules and features supported by Divi 5:

  1. The Migrator detects full compatibility
  2. Click "Upgrade This Site to Divi 5" (instead of "Migrate")
  3. All Divi 5 features activate immediately
  4. No compatibility mode needed
  5. Full performance improvements apply site-wide

Compatibility Report Sections

The Migrator generates a report covering:

  1. Pages — List of pages with compatibility status
  2. Theme Builder Templates — Templates using deprecated Divi 4 features
  3. WooCommerce Products — Product pages with third-party modules
  4. Divi Library — Saved sections and rows requiring compatibility
  5. Widgets — Widget areas containing unsupported modules
  6. Deprecated Features — Divi 4-only features (Quick Access, Full Site Editing, etc.)
  7. Third-Party Modules — Modules needing publisher updates
  8. Feature Status — Overview of feature support in current Divi 5 version
  9. Recommendations — Actionable next steps

Important Considerations

Before Migrating

Backup First

We strongly recommend backing up your site and testing migration in a staging environment before upgrading live.

Timing Recommendations: - Best for new sites — Use Divi 5 on new WordPress sites without hesitation - For existing sites — Test in staging, ensure third-party modules are compatible, then migrate to live - If unsure — Use Divi 4 until third-party modules you rely on have Divi 5 updates available

Current Limitations

  • Divi 5 is still in active development
  • Some Divi 4 features are not yet available (Quick Access, Full Site Editing, Draggable Spacing)
  • Third-party module compatibility varies — check individual marketplace products
  • Pages with unsupported modules experience slower load times

Rollback Option

If you need to revert to Divi 4 after migration:

  1. Go to the Migrator System (appears in admin if Divi 5 is active)
  2. Click "Restore Divi 4 Content"
  3. Your Divi 4 content is restored from backup
  4. You can then deactivate Divi 5 and reactivate Divi 4

For detailed rollback instructions, see How to Rollback to Divi 4.

Technical Details

Module Conversion Format

Divi 4 modules use shortcode format:

[et_pb_module_name attribute="value"]Content[/et_pb_module_name]

Divi 5 modules use block format (WordPress-native):

<!-- wp:divi/module-name {"attribute":"value"} -->
Content
<!-- /wp:divi/module-name -->

The Migrator converts all compatible modules to Divi 5's block format during migration, maintaining all settings and styling.

Unsupported Module Handling

Unsupported modules are wrapped in Divi 5's compatibility layer: - They remain functional on the frontend - The Divi 4 framework loads only for pages containing them - They can be edited in the Visual Builder with backward compatibility active - As publishers update modules for Divi 5, these pages will automatically benefit from improved performance

Troubleshooting

Q: My migration failed — what do I do? A: Check your hosting provider's error logs. Common issues include memory limits or timeout settings. Increase WP_MEMORY_LIMIT and WP_MEMORY_LIMIT in wp-config.php.

Q: Some of my modules aren't converting — why? A: Modules from third-party authors need to be updated for Divi 5 support. Contact the plugin author or check the Divi Marketplace for updates.

Q: Can I migrate a portion of my site and leave the rest in Divi 4? A: No — migration is site-wide. However, pages with only Divi 5 modules will have full performance improvements, while pages with unsupported modules will load Divi 4 framework.

Q: How long does migration take? A: Depends on site size. Most sites complete in 1-5 minutes. Large sites with thousands of pages may take longer.

Version Notes

Divi 5 Only

This page documents the Divi 5 Migrator System. For pre-migration planning, see How to Safely Migrate from Divi 4 to Divi 5.