It still should check for Users with sendEmail = 1 ("Receive System Emails" parameter). Please keep that.

@chmst thank you for the PR, I have setup the multiple User Groups and am stuck at the:

"Check if all and only users with valid email-address and permission to receive system emails get the email after autoUpdate."

how do I 'trigger' the autoUpdate? ( I tried the run the scheduled task Update Notification manually but that did nothing, so I am forgetting, missing or not grasping something ).

I tried the run the scheduled task Update Notification manually but that did nothing,

that wont as its not related to this PR - confusing I know but we now have two different systems that can send an email about updates - and with different settings

@chmst Hi Christiane, I inserted the code you gave me, unfortunately, I still don't get an emails triggered :/

Looking forward to test this when you have a minute to tweak the testing instructions (I know you're busy at the moment) :)

how do I 'trigger' the autoUpdate?

@exlemor You trigger Automated Updates in testing environment with:

• Download and install ''System - Alpha Update Server' from #45540, nothing to be configured -> your test instance is now using the Alpha Automated Updates server
• Check with 'Check for updates' in (manual) 'Joomla Update', e.g. ‎5.4.112 should be offered, do not update manual! and importand check there are no failed preconditions, e.g. database not in sync -> you have to fix this now
• Enable Automated Updates
• Wait up-to 24 hours, you should receive the emails and see the system updated

@chmst I have tested this PR with:

• Unregistered site from Automated Updates before new installation
• Cleaned database, new installation from Joomla_5.4.0-alpha4-dev+pr.45721-Development-Full_Package.zip on public joomla-test.heikol.de, with admin1 user, which is member of the 'Super User' group
• Installed Blog Sample Data
• Created group system-mail-users with members superuser1 and manager1 (without admin1 and editor1)
• Created users, each with own unqiue email address:
  • superuser1 with 'Super User' and 'system-mail-users' groups and Receive System Emails enabled
  • manager1 with 'Manager' and 'system-mail-users' group and Receive System Emails enabled
  • editor1 with 'Editor' group and Receive System Emails enabled
• Configured Automated Updates: removed 'Super Users' group and added 'system-mail-users' group
• Unregistered from automated update service
• Checked Mainenance > Database and fixed one problem by update database tables
• Installed Plugin 'System - Alpha Update Server' from https://github.com/user-attachments/files/20507546/plg_system_alphaupdate.zip
• Checked Joomla! 5.4.112 update is offered ... Note, this have to be checked twice, first time the answer is only:
  • Update not possible because the offered update is older than the currently installed version.
• ✅ 2025-08-03T16:26:52+00:00 UTC Update to 5.4.112, frontend site is working
  • administrator backend has error, caused by [5.4] Convert mod_latest to service provider (#45762), and can be ignored for the test of this PR:

    An error has occurred.
    0 Cannot instantiate abstract class Joomla\Module\Latest\Administrator\Helper\LatestHelper
    

• ❌ Users superuser1 and admin1 received an 'Joomla! updated successfully' email
  • Expected Users superuser1 and manager received the Automated Updates email and users admin and editor not

I am asking me, can we test this PR this way? Or do we need to create an update package from this PR and use it on alpha update server, since the update overwrites this PR and the emails may only be sent after the update?

I am asking me, can we test this PR this way? Or do we need to create an update package from this PR and use it on alpha update server, since the update overwrites this PR and the emails may only be sent after the update?

I think that is exactly the problem.

It is a problem and I did not test the AutoUpdater itself.
I thought, you all can test the AutoUpdate, it is just me who needs a trick ^^.

To check the email address I had a quick and dirty workaound for testing:

I added a piece of code into the com_joomlaupdate displayController to call the sendNotification Method

    public function display($cachable = false, $urlparams = false)
    {
        // Get the document object.
        $document = $this->app->getDocument();


        // Testonly sendNotification
        $notificationModel = \Joomla\CMS\Factory::getApplication()->bootComponent('com_joomlaupdate')
            ->getMVCFactory()->createModel('Notification', 'Administrator');
        $notificationModel->sendNotification('update', '5.3.0');
        //Testonly 

Now could play around with userGroups and users in the automated update screen.
When you click save or anything else, the controller calls the sendNotification Method..
Add a simple echo into the notificationModel Model - sendNotification method, you can see which users are the $emailReceiver list.

To make it quite clear: I did not test the AutoUpdate itself.

IIf this can be tested, the notification in the uppdateNotification Plugin can be made i the same way

It is possible to find all users with core.admin right, these are the super users.
There are two options for receivers:

1. All users of defined user goups. Only if there are no groups defined and if in defined usergroups are no active members, notify all super users.
2. All super users AND all users in defined user groups who have the option sendEmail "on"

I implement now the second option.

All super users AND all users in defined user groups get an email (if they are active and have sendEmail "on").
This is easier to explain and understand

Test instructions for testing only the sendNotification method, not the update!
Add this into any displayContoller.php, you can use com_content (and remove it after test).

`        // Testonly sendNotification
        $notificationModel = \Joomla\CMS\Factory::getApplication()->bootComponent('com_joomlaupdate')
            ->getMVCFactory()->createModel('Notification', 'Administrator');

        $notificationModel->sendNotification('update', '5.3.0');
        //Testonly`
        

@chmst The default value 8 for the field in the XML still needs to be removed.

@chmst I've allowed myself to copy a part of the instructions in your comment here #45721 (comment) to the testing instructions so testers find it. Please modify if necessary.

The Testing instructions lack the exact location where to insert the workaround.

The Testing instructions lack the exact location where to insert the workaround.

@dautrich Sorry, that was my mistake when helping with copying the information from a later comment into the testing instructions. I have forgotten some part. I've just updated the instructions. Can you check again? Is it clear enough now? Thanks in advance.

I have tested this item 🔴 unsuccessfully on 87dc805

• Any user who has the "Recieve System Emails" enabled, regardless if the users Group (Not a super user group) is selected or not in "Send Email to User Group" recieves an Email