How to Update WordPress: Four Simple Ways to Keep Your Site Secure

Once your WordPress site is live, keeping it updated is not optional. It is essential. Ignoring those update notifications in your dashboard puts your site at risk for compatibility problems, security vulnerabilities, and even complete breakdowns.

Fixing a broken site after the fact is a headache you do not need. The good news is that updating WordPress is straightforward, and you have several safe methods to choose from. We will walk you through four different ways to update WordPress, including manual options and automatic solutions that handle the heavy lifting for you.

Beyond the core WordPress update, we will also cover updating your themes, plugins, and database. This keeps your site secure and running smoothly.

Why You Need to Update WordPress Regularly

Every WordPress update brings improvements. You get new features, performance upgrades, and critical bug fixes. When you skip updates, your site becomes outdated and sluggish. Visitors notice, and they leave.

Lower traffic means fewer opportunities for your business. However, there are other compelling reasons to stay current with WordPress updates.

Better security. Older versions of WordPress are prime targets for hackers. Security updates patch vulnerabilities that could expose your customer data or give attackers control of your site.

Faster performance. New releases often include speed improvements. Your site loads faster across different browsers and devices, which keeps visitors engaged and coming back.

Plugin and theme compatibility. The latest WordPress version ensures your plugins and themes work correctly. You avoid conflicts and errors that break functionality on your site.

Access to new features. Updates give you tools and options you did not have before. These features help you scale your site and improve the user experience.

What to Do Before You Update WordPress

Updates affect your site files and database. Therefore, a little preparation goes a long way. Here is your pre-update checklist.

Read the update notice. Check the WordPress changelog to see what is included. Is it a security patch or new features? This helps you decide if you need to update immediately or can wait.

See what others are saying. Quick research can reveal if the latest version has bugs or issues. Security updates should be your top priority regardless.

Back up your site. This is non-negotiable. Backups protect you from permanent data loss if something goes wrong during the update. Make sure you can restore your site if needed.

Clear your cache. Caching plugins can interfere with the update process. Clear your cache and temporarily disable caching plugins before you start.

Deactivate plugins. Some plugins do not play well with new WordPress versions. Deactivate your plugins before updating to prevent compatibility issues that could take your site offline.

Check PHP compatibility. If your current PHP version is not compatible with the update, you need to update PHP first. Your hosting provider can help with this.

Method 1: Update WordPress Through Your Dashboard

This is the easiest way to update WordPress. If you see an update notification when you log into your WordPress admin dashboard, you are just a few clicks away from the latest version.

At the top of your dashboard, you will see a message about the new WordPress release. Click the “Please update now” link. This takes you to the Updates page.

On the Updates page, click the “Update Now” button. WordPress handles the rest. For minor updates, you will see a success message along with options to update your plugins and themes.

Major updates show a welcome screen with details about what changed. After the core update finishes, update your themes and plugins to ensure everything works together correctly.

Method 2: Update WordPress Manually via FTP

If the dashboard method does not work, you can update WordPress manually using FTP. This requires an FTP client like FileZilla or the File Manager in your hosting control panel.

You will be replacing the old core files with new ones. This sounds intimidating, but if you follow the steps carefully, your site will be fine.

First, download the latest WordPress version from WordPress.org and unzip the file. Inside the extracted folder, delete the wp-config-sample.php file and the wp-content folder. This prevents you from overwriting your custom content.

Next, log into your site using FileZilla or your FTP client. On the remote site panel (right side), find the wp-includes and wp-admin directories. Right-click and delete them.

On the local site panel (left side), select the new wp-includes and wp-admin folders from the download. Upload them to your server. Then upload the remaining WordPress files, overwriting the old ones.

When you see the “Target file already exists” message, select “Always use this action” and “Apply to current queue only.” Once the upload completes, visit yoursite.com/wp-admin/upgrade.php to verify the update succeeded.

Method 3: Update WordPress Using WP-CLI

If you have SSH access to your server, WP-CLI offers a fast command-line method to update WordPress. This approach is efficient and gives you precise control.

First, access your SSH account and navigate to your WordPress root directory. Use this command: cd public_html

Check if an update is available by running: wp core check-update

If an update exists, you will see version information. To start the update, run: wp core update

WordPress will update automatically. When it finishes, update your database, themes, and plugins with these commands:

wp core update-db
wp theme update --all
wp plugin update --all

Run the commands again to confirm everything updated correctly. This method is quick and reliable once you are comfortable with the command line.

Method 4: Enable Automatic WordPress Updates

WordPress automatically handles minor core updates by default. These are maintenance and security releases. You can also enable automatic updates for major releases, plugins, and themes.

If you host with Hostinger, you can manage automatic updates directly from hPanel. Navigate to WordPress, then Security. Scroll to the WordPress auto-updates section.

Choose whether you want native auto-updates or smart auto-updates. With native updates, WordPress manages everything based on your preferences. Smart auto-updates let you choose specific update types for core, themes, and plugins.

You can select no updates, minor updates only, or all updates for each category. After making your selections, click Save. Check the Update log section to see recent automatic updates and restore previous versions if needed.

Alternatively, install a plugin like Easy Updates Manager. This plugin gives you one-click control over automatic updates for your entire site.

You can also enable automatic core updates by editing your wp-config.php file. Add this line: define('WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE', true);

How to Update WordPress Themes and Plugins

After updating WordPress core, do not forget your themes and plugins. Outdated themes and plugins cause compatibility issues and security vulnerabilities. Regular updates keep everything synchronized and functional.

To update themes and plugins, go to Dashboard, then Updates. You will see all available updates for your installed plugins and themes.

You can select individual items or check “Select all” to update everything at once. However, updating everything simultaneously uses significant server resources. Consider updating in smaller batches if you have many plugins.

Update your caching plugin first to avoid complications. Then update the rest. Remember to update themes and plugins separately, even though the process is similar.

Hostinger users can also update themes and plugins through hPanel. Go to WordPress, then Security, and scroll to the Installed themes and Installed plugins sections. Click the Update button next to outdated items, or select multiple items and use the Update selected button.

After updating, check your live site to confirm everything works correctly. Sometimes plugin developers send update notifications via email, so check your inbox if dashboard notifications do not appear.

A Note About Theme Updates

Updating your WordPress theme overwrites customizations you made directly to theme files. To preserve your changes, use a child theme instead of editing the parent theme. This protects your work when updates roll out.

What This Means for Your Site

Keeping WordPress updated is not busy work. It is fundamental maintenance that protects your business. Security vulnerabilities in outdated WordPress installations are one of the most common ways sites get hacked.

An updated site performs better, works with modern plugins and themes, and gives you access to new features. Your visitors get a faster, more reliable experience. That translates to better engagement and more conversions.

Choose the update method that fits your comfort level. Dashboard updates work great for most site owners. FTP and WP-CLI are there if you need more control or the dashboard is not accessible. Automatic updates remove the burden entirely, especially when your hosting provider manages the details.

Set a reminder to check for updates weekly. Make backups before major updates. Deactivate plugins temporarily during the update process. These simple habits keep your site healthy and your business running smoothly.

Your Next Steps

You now know four reliable ways to update WordPress safely. Pick the method that works for your situation and make it part of your regular site maintenance routine.

Start by checking if updates are waiting for your site right now. Make a backup, clear your cache, and deactivate plugins. Then run the update using your preferred method. Update your themes and plugins after the core update finishes.

If you are a Hostinger customer, consider enabling automatic updates through hPanel. This takes the manual work off your plate while keeping your site current and secure. Check your update logs regularly to confirm everything is running smoothly.

WordPress updates protect your site and your business. Make them a priority, and your site will reward you with better performance, stronger security, and fewer headaches down the road.

Original Source: www.hostinger.com