How to Safely Update WordPress

Many website owners feel a sense of apprehension when it comes to updating their WordPress websites. This concern, often shared by beginners, stems from worries that an update could potentially introduce problems or disrupt their site's functionality.

However, through extensive experience with WordPress, it becomes clear that maintaining updated website software is absolutely crucial for ensuring robust security and optimal performance. Running the most current version of WordPress provides your site with the latest features, critical security patches, and significant improvements.

Conversely, operating an outdated version leaves your site vulnerable to security threats and prevents it from benefiting from enhancements in speed and overall functionality. Regular updates are not just about new features; they are a fundamental aspect of digital hygiene for your online presence.

This comprehensive guide is designed to walk you through the process of safely updating WordPress, empowering you to manage this essential task with confidence and without the apprehension of causing issues. You will discover how to professionally update your WordPress site, ensuring it remains both secure and fully operational.

Updating your WordPress website is a routine maintenance task that should be performed regularly. We have also included an easy-to-follow infographic that you can use as a quick reference guide.

Simply click on the image below to view the full infographic, or continue reading for detailed text instructions.

Why Should You Always Update WordPress?

Extensive security research consistently reveals that a significant proportion of compromised WordPress websites are running outdated core software, plugins, or themes. This highlights a critical vulnerability that can often be easily prevented.

WordPress is a dynamic platform, continuously maintained by a global community of developers. These dedicated individuals work tirelessly to identify and resolve bugs, introduce innovative features, and proactively address security vulnerabilities. All these improvements are then packaged and released in new WordPress versions.

For minor releases, WordPress often updates itself automatically, simplifying the maintenance process. However, for major version upgrades, manual initiation of the update process is typically required, unless you are utilizing a specialized managed WordPress hosting service that handles these updates for you.

Regular updates are essential to ensure your website benefits from the most recent security patches, access to the newest features and functionalities, and optimized speed and performance. Staying current is not just about having the latest tools; it's about protecting your digital assets and providing an optimal user experience.

Now, let's delve into the practical steps for safely updating WordPress to its latest version.

Things to Do Before Updating WordPress

The single most critical step to undertake before initiating any WordPress upgrade is to create a complete and comprehensive backup of your entire website. This precautionary measure serves as your safety net, allowing for a full restoration should any unforeseen issues arise during the update process.

Even if you currently use an automated backup solution, it is highly recommended to perform a fresh, manual backup immediately before an update. This new backup should then be securely stored in a remote location, such as on your local computer or a cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox, ensuring it's accessible even if your server has problems.

A complete WordPress backup encompasses all essential components of your website:

• Your WordPress database, which contains all your posts, pages, comments, and settings.
• All uploaded images, videos, and other media files.
• Your installed WordPress plugins and themes.
• Critical WordPress configuration files, such as wp-config.php.
• The core WordPress files that power the system.

This meticulous backup procedure is indispensable. It provides the ability to restore your WordPress site from the backup, effectively reversing any potential problems encountered during the update. With your complete backup safely stored, you are ready to proceed with the update process.

Updating WordPress to the Latest Version

There are two primary methods for upgrading your WordPress site to its latest version: an automated approach and a manual one. Both methods are straightforward, and we will guide you through each to ensure a smooth update.

Method 1: Updating WordPress Using the Built-in System (1-Click)

This method is highly recommended for most users due to its simplicity and efficiency. It leverages WordPress's integrated update mechanism.

To begin, log in to your WordPress website's administration area. Navigate to the Dashboard, and then select the Updates page.

On this page, you will typically see a prominent notice indicating that a new version of WordPress is available. To initiate the upgrade, simply click on the button labeled ‘Update to version X.X.X’ (where X.X.X represents the new version number).

WordPress will then automatically begin downloading and installing the latest software files. During this process, you will observe the update progress displayed on your screen. It is important to note that your site will temporarily enter a "maintenance mode." While in maintenance mode, your website will generally remain visible to visitors, but administrative functions, such as installing plugins or themes, will be paused until the update is complete.

Once the update process has concluded, you will be automatically redirected to the WordPress welcome screen. Depending on the specific release, this page might present an overview of what’s new in WordPress, highlighting key features and improvements you might want to explore. At this point, your WordPress installation has been successfully upgraded.

Method 2: Manually Update WordPress Using FTP

This manual method, which involves using an FTP client to upload files, is a reliable alternative if the automatic update process encounters issues or fails. It provides direct control over the file transfer.

First, you will need to download the latest version of WordPress. Visit the official WordPress download page and click the ‘Download’ button. Your browser will download a zip file containing the WordPress core files. Once the download is complete, extract the contents of this zip file to a convenient location on your computer. Inside the extracted folder, you will find a directory typically named wordpress, which contains all the necessary files for the update.

Next, open your preferred FTP client and establish a connection to your website's server. In the local files pane of your FTP client, navigate to the wordpress folder you just extracted. Concurrently, in the remote files pane, browse to your website’s root folder. This folder is commonly named public_html, htdocs, or may be named after your website’s domain. Within this root directory, you will see your existing WordPress files and folders.

Select all the files and folders located inside the wordpress directory on your computer and then right-click and choose the ‘Upload’ option. Your FTP client will begin transferring these new WordPress files to your website. As your website already contains older versions of these files with identical names, the FTP client will prompt you on how to handle the conflict. It is crucial to select ‘Overwrite’ and, for efficiency, check the option ‘Always use this action’. This action ensures that all existing WordPress core files on your server are replaced with the newer versions you are uploading.

Upon completion of the file upload, the final step involves visiting your WordPress dashboard in your web browser. This action is important because, occasionally, a new WordPress version might require an update to your WordPress database to ensure compatibility. If such a database update is necessary, you will be presented with a page indicating that a database update is required. Simply click the ‘Update WordPress Database’ button to finalize this process.

With these steps completed, your WordPress website will have been successfully updated.

Things to Do After Updating WordPress

After successfully updating WordPress on your website, it is imperative to perform a thorough check to ensure all functionalities are operating as expected. Begin by visiting your website in a new browser window (or clear your browser cache) and navigate through various pages and posts to confirm that the front-end display is correct and consistent.

Additionally, log back into your WordPress administration area and review key settings, ensure plugins are active, and verify that your themes are functioning without issues. Pay close attention to any areas of your site that rely on specific plugins or custom code.

Should you encounter any compatibility issues or unexpected behavior, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take. Common problems often have straightforward solutions. If the specific issue you are facing isn't immediately identifiable, a systematic troubleshooting approach, such as temporarily deactivating plugins or switching to a default theme, can help pinpoint the cause and facilitate a resolution.