Ah, the great migration to the Divi 5 theme!
It’s THE topic that’s stirring up the entire community, and for good reason. This major architectural overhaul is a promise of speed and modernity. But like any revolution, it presents challenges for those who venture into it without proper preparation.
To save you some sleepless nights, I’ve analyzed feedback and opinions from the ecosystem’s sharpest experts. Here are, based on technical discussions and initial tests, the main pitfalls to avoid.
The Fundamental Context: the Big Change
Before diving into the pitfalls, it’s essential to understand the “why” behind this revolution. As Victor Duse from Divi-Community.fr explains so well, Divi 5 is abandoning its historical shortcode-based architecture in favor of a modern data structure, likely inspired by WordPress’s block editor (Gutenberg) and utilizing technologies like React.
Divi 4 (et versions antérieures) : Votre page est une immense suite de "et_pb_section", "et_pb_row“, "et_pb_column", "et_pb_text“. C’est lourd et peu performant.
Divi 5 : Votre page est enregistrée comme une structure de données propre (JSON), et le rendu en front-end est généré dynamiquement. C’est plus rapide, plus propre, plus stable.
This change is the source of almost all potential pitfalls. Now, let’s get serious.
The 5 Crucial Pitfalls to Avoid During Migration
Here’s my summary of the key considerations raised by experts like Pee-Aye Creative and Josh Hall.
Pitfall #1: Believing in Perfect and Instant Backward Compatibility
This is the sneakiest pitfall. The idea that you can just click “Update” and your complex, customized Divi 4 site will work identically is wishful thinking.
The “why” according to experts: The transition from shortcodes to a new data structure means Divi 5 will need to convert your old pages. While Elegant Themes will undoubtedly provide a conversion tool, Pee-Aye Creative points out that the complexity of real-world sites (with custom code, third-party plugins, etc.) will make this conversion imperfect in many cases. Design elements, spacing, or functionalities could “break”.
My Expert Solution:
- NEVER update a live site directly.
- Create a staging environment (a copy of your site) for all your tests.
- Consider the migration not as an “update,” but as a “partial rebuild” project. Allocate time to manually check and correct each important page.
Pitfall #2: Ignoring the Impact on the Third-Party Plugin Ecosystem
Your site probably uses fantastic plugins like Divi Supreme, Divi Machine, or Divi Essential. These plugins were designed to interact with Divi 4’s shortcode-based architecture.
Le “pourquoi” selon Pee-Aye Creative : Les développeurs de ces plugins devront réécrire une grande partie de leur code pour être compatibles avec Divi 5. Un module qui injectait un shortcode ou modifiait le comportement d’un module Divi 4 ne fonctionnera tout simplement plus avec Divi 5 tant qu’il n’aura pas été mis à jour.
My Expert Solution:
- Take Inventory: List all Divi-related plugins you use.
- Check Compatibility: Before migrating, check each plugin developer’s website to find out their roadmap regarding Divi 5 compatibility.
- Plan for Alternatives: If a critical plugin isn’t ready, you’ll either need to delay your migration or find an alternative solution.
Note: do not confuse the update of the theme with that of the Builder, and if you have any doubts, check out the article that explains the difference between the Divi theme and the Divi Builder.
Pitfall #3: Forgetting your Custom Code (CSS, JS, PHP)
Have you spent hours refining your site with custom CSS to adjust spacing, or with JavaScript for a unique animation? Be prepared for this code to no longer work.
The Technical “Why”: Divi 5 will not generate the same final HTML code as Divi 4. CSS classes (.et_pb_section, .et_pb_button, etc.) and element structure (nested divs) will change radically. Your CSS selectors and scripts targeting these elements will no longer find their target.
My Expert Solution:
- Audit Your Code: Gather all your custom code (in theme options, your child theme, in code modules).
- Préparez-vous à réécrire : Une fois sur votre site de staging migré vers Divi 5, utilisez l’inspecteur de votre navigateur pour découvrir les nouvelles classes CSS et la nouvelle structure HTML, puis adaptez votre code en conséquence. C’est une excellente occasion de le nettoyer et de l’optimiser !
- Discover Flexbox: It’s a true technical revolution, and you’ll learn more by reading the article “Understanding Flexbox in Divi 5… and Adopting It!”
Pitfall #4: Underestimating the New Way of Working
Divi 5 isn’t just faster; it’s a new building experience. The workflow will change.
The “Why” According to Josh Hall: Josh Hall always emphasizes efficiency and process. Thinking you can use Divi 5 exactly like Divi 4 is a pitfall that will waste your time. New features, such as true responsive editing or more advanced interactions, will require an adjustment period.
My Expert Solution:
- Get trained: As soon as Divi 5 is available, dedicate time to watching official and community tutorials to understand the new logic.
- Experiment: Use a “sandbox” test site to build pages from scratch with Divi 5. Don’t just convert old pages; master the new tool.
Pitfall #5: Neglecting Client Communication
If you manage sites for clients, this point, often emphasized by Josh Hall in his business training, is crucial.
The “Why” of the Pitfall: The client only sees the result. If you announce a “simple update” and the site breaks or you have to bill 10 extra hours to fix everything, trust is broken.
My Expert Solution:
- Be Proactive: Explain to your clients upfront what Divi 5 is. Present it as a major upgrade (like upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11), not a simple security update.
- Justify the Investment: Highlight the benefits for them: a faster site (better SEO), more stable, and easier to maintain in the future.
- Provide a Quote: Estimate the time needed for the migration (testing, corrections, partial rebuild) and present it as a standalone project.
My Recommended Action Plan in Summary
| Step | Action | Expert Opinion |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Preparation | DO NOT UPDATE IN PRODUCTION. Create a staging environment. | Josh Hall: “Your live site is sacred. Never test on it.” |
| 2. Audit | List all third-party Divi plugins and all custom code (CSS/JS). | Pee-Aye Creative: “Know what you’re working with before you break it.” |
| 3. Communication | Inform the client about the nature of the upgrade and the need for a migration project. | Josh Hall: “Clarity upfront prevents headaches later.” |
| 4. Migration Test | On the staging site, initiate the update to Divi 5 and use the conversion tool. | Victor Duse: “Understanding the new architecture is key to diagnosing problems.” |
| 5. Correction & Reconstruction | Go through each key page. Correct the design, adapt the CSS/JS code, and manually rebuild sections that are too broken. | All experts agree: This is the longest but most crucial step. |
| 6. Deployment | Once the staging site is perfect, plan the deployment to the live site (after a final backup). | – |
In Conclusion
Approach the migration to Divi 5 not with fear, but with respect and preparation. It’s a fantastic opportunity to clean up, optimize, and propel your sites towards the future of web performance.
If you haven’t tested the DIVI builder yet, take 5 minutes to read “Why Choose the Divi Theme for WordPress in 2025?” and if you’re still wondering whether to migrate now or wait a little longer, we invite you to consult our article that will help you with when to migrate to Divi 5.
Ultimately, it’s like moving to a more modern house: it requires preparation, some boxes will break along the way, but the result is well worth the effort. Preparation is the key to success.
And if all goes well, you’ll even have some good stories to tell over coffee!
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