Updating WordPress, Themes, and Plugins: A Step-by-Step Guide #
Keeping your WordPress site, themes, and plugins up-to-date is crucial for security, stability, and performance. This guide will walk you through the process.
Identifying Available Updates #
Updates are indicated in two locations:
1. Admin bar icon (spinning arrow with number of updates)
2. Dashboard > Updates
Updating Plugins #
To update plugins:
1. Click the update icon in the admin bar or navigate to Dashboard > Updates.
2. Select the plugins to update by checking the boxes or “Select All”.
3. Click “Update Plugins”.
4. Review update results.
Why Update Plugins? #
Regular plugin updates:
– Ensure smooth and stable performance
– Fix security vulnerabilities
– Prevent malware
Updating Themes #
To update themes:
1. Navigate to Dashboard > Updates.
2. Select the themes to update by checking the boxes or “Select All”.
3. Click “Update Themes”.
Precautions #
Before updating:
– Consider creating a backup of your website to prevent potential issues.
Verifying Updates #
After updating:
– Return to the WordPress updates page to confirm all components are up-to-date.
– The update icon in the admin bar should disappear.
Best Practices #
– Regularly update plugins and themes (at least weekly)
– Schedule updates during low-traffic periods (e.g., weekends)
By following these steps, you’ll keep your WordPress site secure, stable, and running smoothly.
Don’t want to deal with WordPress maintenance every week? #
You can have us handle maintenance for you! We perform routine maintenance every weekend for your website. Check out your options on our maintenance plans page.
