How to Update WordPress: Four Simple Methods Explained

Once your WordPress site is live, regular maintenance keeps everything running smoothly. That includes knowing how to update WordPress properly.

Ignoring those update notifications in your dashboard can lead to security holes, broken features, or even a completely down site. Therefore, prevention beats trying to fix a mess later.

The good news? Updating WordPress is straightforward. Additionally, you have several options to choose from.

Why You Should Update WordPress Regularly

Every WordPress update brings improvements that make your site better. New features, bug fixes, and security patches all arrive through updates.

When you skip updates, your site becomes outdated. Consequently, it runs slower and feels less reliable to visitors. Lower traffic naturally follows.

However, there are more specific reasons to stay current:

Security is the biggest one. Older WordPress versions have known vulnerabilities. Hackers actively look for outdated sites to exploit. Security updates close those gaps and protect your data.

Updates also improve site speed. Your site becomes more responsive across different browsers and devices. As a result, visitors stick around longer and come back more often.

Compatibility matters too. The latest WordPress version works with current plugins and themes. You can add new functionality without worrying about conflicts.

Finally, new releases include quality-of-life improvements. You get better tools and options for growing your site.

Essential Steps Before You Update WordPress

Preparation prevents problems. Updates touch your site files and database, so a few precautions make sense.

First, read the update notice carefully. Check the WordPress changelog to see what changed. Some updates add features, while others focus on security.

Look at what other users are saying about the new version. Sometimes updates have bugs that get fixed quickly. Security updates should always happen immediately, though.

Create a backup before anything else. If something goes wrong during the update, you can restore your site. Make sure you know how your backup system works.

Clear your cache next. Caching plugins sometimes interfere with updates. Turn off caching temporarily to avoid conflicts.

Check your PHP version too. If the update needs a newer PHP version than you have, you will need to update PHP first.

Finally, deactivate plugins before major updates. Some plugins clash with new WordPress versions. This simple step prevents your site from becoming inaccessible.

Method 1: Update WordPress Through Your Dashboard

The dashboard method is the easiest way to update WordPress. Most site owners use this approach because it takes just a few clicks.

Log into your WordPress admin area. If an update is available, you will see a notification at the top of the dashboard.

Click the “Please update now” link. This takes you to the Updates page. Press the “Update Now” button to start the installation.

For minor updates, you will see a success message. Then you can update themes and plugins to match.

Major updates show a welcome screen instead. This screen explains what changed in the new version.

After the core update finishes, update your themes and plugins. This ensures everything works together properly.

Using Hostinger’s Built-In Tools

Hostinger users can also update through hPanel. Navigate to the WordPress section and look for available updates. The download option appears right there, making the process even simpler.

Method 2: Manual Update Via FTP

Sometimes the dashboard update does not work. In those cases, you can update WordPress manually using an FTP client.

This method involves replacing old WordPress files with new ones. You will overwrite the core directories, specifically wp-includes and wp-admin.

Be careful here. Replacing the wrong files can break your site. Follow these steps exactly:

First, download the latest WordPress version from the official site. Unzip the file on your computer. Delete the wp-config-sample.php file and the wp-content folder from the unzipped files. You do not want to overwrite those on your server.

Open FileZilla or your preferred FTP client. Connect to your site. On the right side, find the wp-includes and wp-admin directories in your site root. Right-click and delete both.

Now look at the left side showing your computer files. Select the new wp-includes and wp-admin folders. Upload them to your server.

Upload the remaining WordPress files next. When prompted about existing files, choose to overwrite them. Select “Always use this action” and “Apply to current queue only.”

After the upload completes, visit yoursite.com/wp-admin/upgrade.php. This runs the database update and confirms everything worked.

Method 3: Update WordPress Using WP-CLI

The command line offers another option if you have SSH access. WP-CLI makes updates fast and efficient for people comfortable with terminal commands.

First, connect to your server via SSH. Navigate to your WordPress root directory with this command:

cd public_html

Check for available updates by running:

wp core check-update

If updates are available, you will see a table showing version numbers and download links. Otherwise, you will see a message confirming you are already current.

To install the update, run:

wp core update

Wait for the process to finish. Your WordPress installation will update automatically.

Updating Everything Else via WP-CLI

You should also update your database, themes, and plugins. Run these commands in order:

wp core update-db

wp theme update --all

wp plugin update --all

Run the commands again to verify everything updated correctly. This confirms your site is fully current.

Method 4: Enable Automatic WordPress Updates

WordPress automatically handles minor updates by default. These include security patches and small maintenance releases.

However, you can expand automatic updates to cover major releases, themes, and plugins too. This reduces maintenance work significantly.

Hostinger provides a built-in automatic update system in hPanel. Navigate to WordPress, then Security from your dashboard.

Scroll down to the WordPress auto-updates section. You have two options: Native auto-updates and Smart auto-updates.

Native auto-updates respect the settings you choose in WordPress itself. You can customize whether you want no updates, minor updates only, or all updates for core WordPress. Theme and plugin preferences stay in your WordPress dashboard.

Smart auto-updates give you more control through hPanel. For WordPress core, themes, and plugins separately, choose between no updates, security updates only, or all updates.

Click Save after making your selections. The Update log section below shows all automatic updates that have happened. You can view details or restore a previous version if needed.

Using Plugins for Automatic Updates

Alternatively, plugins like Easy Updates Manager handle automation. These tools let you enable or disable updates with one click. You can also hide certain updates if you use custom-developed themes or plugins.

Code-Based Automatic Updates

You can also enable automatic updates by editing code. Log into hPanel and open File Manager. Navigate to public_html and find wp-config.php.

Click Edit in the top menu. Add this line to the file:

define('WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE', true);

Save the file. WordPress will now handle core updates automatically.

Updating WordPress Themes and Plugins

Updating the core is just the first step. Your themes and plugins need updates too.

Outdated plugins and themes cause compatibility issues. They can also introduce security vulnerabilities. Regular updates keep everything working together smoothly.

Go to Dashboard, then hover over Updates. This shows all available theme and plugin updates.

You can select individual items or use “Select all” to update everything at once. However, updating everything simultaneously uses more server resources. Your site might slow down temporarily.

Update plugins and themes separately. Start with your caching plugin to prevent complications.

Updating Through Hostinger hPanel

Hostinger users can update themes and plugins through hPanel. Go to WordPress, then Security in your dashboard.

Scroll down to the Installed themes and Installed plugins sections. Items needing updates show an “Update available” label.

Click Update next to individual items, or select multiple items and click “Update selected” for bulk updates.

After updating, preview your site to confirm everything works correctly.

Important Notes About Theme Updates

Standard theme updates overwrite your customizations. To preserve your changes, use a child theme instead of editing the parent theme directly. This protects your work during updates.

Sometimes you will not see update notifications in your dashboard. Plugin developers often send update information via email. Check your inbox after updating WordPress.

If an update breaks your site, you might consider replacing the problematic plugin or theme. However, never roll back to an older version. Old versions have security holes that put your entire site at risk.

Keeping Your WordPress Site Current

Regular updates are fundamental to WordPress site ownership. They improve security, fix bugs, and add useful features.

A well-maintained site attracts more visitors and converts better. The small time investment in updates pays off significantly.

You learned four different ways to update WordPress today. The dashboard method works for most people. FTP updates help when the dashboard fails. WP-CLI offers speed for technical users. Automatic updates reduce ongoing maintenance.

Choose the method that fits your comfort level and situation. The important thing is staying current.

Remember to back up first, clear your cache, and deactivate plugins before major updates. These simple precautions prevent most problems.

After updating WordPress core, always update your themes and plugins too. Complete updates keep everything compatible and secure.

Your WordPress site depends on you to maintain it. With these four methods, you have the tools to keep it running smoothly.

Original Source: www.hostinger.com