This guide walks you through installing the Secure Privacy plugin on Joomla — a flexible, open-source CMS used to power millions of websites worldwide. Whether you are new to Secure Privacy or adding a new domain to an existing account, this step-by-step tutorial will help you configure the Joomla cookie consent plugin for full GDPR, CCPA, and ePrivacy compliance.
Who Is This Guide For?
Website administrators managing a Joomla site
Web developers implementing cookie consent and privacy compliance
Marketers managing user consent, cookie banners, and tracking settings
Step 1 – Get Your Secure Privacy Script Code
After activating your Secure Privacy account, you will be prompted to choose an installation method.
Select Joomla.
Copy the script code displayed on screen and save it somewhere accessible.
Keep this tab open and open a new tab to proceed with the Joomla plugin installation.
Step 2 – Install the Secure Privacy Joomla Plugin
Download the Secure Privacy Joomla Plugin (.zip).
Log in to your Joomla administrator panel (typically at
www.yourjoomlawebsite.com/administrator) and navigate to System.Under Install, click Extensions. An upload area will appear.
Click Browse for file and upload the downloaded
.zipplugin file.On a successful upload, Joomla will display: Installation of the plugin was successful. Click Manage Extensions.
Search for Secure Privacy and click the icon in the Status column to enable the extension. A confirmation message will appear.
Go back to System and click Plugins under Manage.
Use the search box to find Secure Privacy.
Click the plugin name to open its configuration. Paste the script code you copied from Secure Privacy into the Installation Script field.
Note: If you are adding a new domain from the Secure Privacy Dashboard, copy the script from the Installation screen of that domain.Save your changes. Joomla will confirm with a Plugin saved. message.
Adding a new domain? If you are following this guide while adding a new domain from the Secure Privacy dashboard, return to the Secure Privacy screen after saving and click Test Installation to verify the setup for that domain.
Step 3 – Verify the Installation in Secure Privacy
Switch back to the Secure Privacy onboarding tab.
Click Test Installation to verify the Joomla plugin is correctly connected.
A toast notification at the bottom-left of the screen will confirm a successful Joomla cookie consent plugin installation.
Common Issues & Fixes
Plugin does not appear after installation
Make sure the .zip file uploaded without errors and that Joomla displayed the installation success message. Try re-uploading if needed.
Unable to enable the plugin
Check your user permissions in Joomla and confirm you have full administrator access before attempting to enable extensions.
Installation script is not working
Verify that the exact script code from Secure Privacy was pasted without any modifications or extra spaces, then save the plugin configuration again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Joomla support GDPR cookie consent out of the box?
Joomla does not include a built-in GDPR cookie consent solution. The Secure Privacy plugin adds a fully configurable cookie banner and consent management layer to your Joomla site.
Is the Secure Privacy Joomla plugin free?
Secure Privacy offers a free trial. After the trial period, a paid subscription is required to continue using cookie consent and privacy compliance features on your Joomla site.
Can I use this plugin on multiple Joomla domains?
Yes. Each domain requires its own script code generated from the Secure Privacy dashboard. Repeat the installation steps for each additional domain.
Where do I find my Secure Privacy script code?
Your unique script code is shown on the Installation screen inside the Secure Privacy dashboard, either during initial onboarding or when adding a new domain.