Update your WordPress version, plugins, and themes
Definitions
Running updates on your WordPress version, plugins, and themes means activating their latest versions on your WordPress website.
Before you start
✅ You can activate automatic updates for your website or run updates manually at set times.
⚠️ Automatic updates are convenient and recommended for sites with few plugins, while manual updates may be needed for more complex, plugin-heavy websites.
ℹ️ When running manual updates, stagger them and complete them one at a time to avoid crashes or errors.
🚨 If your website breaks post-updates, simply run a data restore to make it operational again.
Step by step
Automatic updates
You can activate automatic updates for your WordPress version, plugins, and themes. Automatic updates are convenient, however, keep these pros and cons in mind.
Automatic updates PROS:
✅ Security: Automatic updates apply security patches as soon as they’re released, reducing the risk of WordPress software vulnerabilities being exploited on your website.
✅ Convenience: You don’t require manual monitoring and updating, saving time you time and effort.
Automatic updates CONS:
❌ Compatibility: An update may cause conflicts with existing plugins or themes.
❌ Errors: If an update introduces a bug or conflict, it could cause unexpected errors on your website.
To activate automatic updates, use the steps below.
1. Log in to your hosting control panel
2. Click on the WordPress Manager button
3. Find your WordPress installation and click the down arrow V
4. Look for Auto Upgrade WordPress Core and from the dropdown, select Upgrade the latest version available (Major as well as Minor)
5. Look for Auto Upgrade WordPress Plugins and select Enabled
6. Look for Auto Upgrade WordPress Themes and select Enabled
7. Your WordPress version, plugins, and themes will now all automatically update for you
Manual updates
You can run manual updates for your WordPress version, plugins, and themes. Manual updates can be effective, however, keep these pros and cons in mind.
Manual updates PROS:
✅ Control: Manual updating allows you to test updates and fix any errors that popup.
✅ Timing: You can choose the best time to update, potentially reducing impacts on visitors and operations.
Manual updates CONS:
❌ Delays: Manual updates depend on you or your website developer, which can lead to delays in applying security patches and feature upgrades.
❌ Time: It requires more effort and time from you or your website developer to manage and implement updates.
To run manual updates, use the steps below for each component.
WordPress version
1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard
2. Click on Dashboard > Updates
3. If a WordPress version update is available, you will see An updated version of WordPress is available. Under there, click the Update to version button.
4. After running the update, wait a few moments. Then, load and do a check on your website.
WordPress plugins
1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard
2. Click on Plugins
3. When a plugin is available for an update, you will a ‘There is a new version available’ message
4. You can view the details of changes by clicking the View version details link
5. To update the plugin, click the update now link to run the plugin update
🚨Note: If multiple plugins need updating, update each one separately and wait a bit between each update.
6. After running the update, wait a few moments. Then, load and do a check on your website.
WordPress themes
1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard
2. Hover over Appearance
3. Click on Themes
4. When your theme has an update available, you will see a New version available message
5. Click the Update now link to run the theme update
6. After running the update, wait a few moments. Then, load and do a check on your website.