How to Update WordPress Version

Introduction to Updating WordPress

Updating WordPress is a crucial task for maintaining the security, performance, and compatibility of your website. Each new version of WordPress brings important bug fixes, security patches, and new features that help your site run smoothly and stay protected from threats. Whether you’re updating WordPress manually or using the automatic update feature, staying current ensures your site benefits from the latest improvements and remains compatible with plugins and themes. Understanding the update process and following best practices for updating WordPress safely will help you avoid common issues and keep your site running at its best.

Understanding WordPress Update Types

Major Updates

WordPress major updates introduce new features, interface improvements, or changes to the core structure. These releases typically occur one to two times per year and are often named after legendary jazz musicians.

However, they can sometimes create compatibility issues with themes or plugins — which is why it's critical to test major updates on a staging site first. Never push a major update live without first verifying that your site’s components are fully compatible.

Minor Updates

Minor WordPress updates focus on security patches, bug fixes, and small enhancements to existing functionality. These updates are designed to be low-risk and are often applied automatically by default.

Minor versions follow the format X.X.X (e.g., 6.5.1 → 6.5.2) and are released as needed between major versions. They do not introduce new features, which makes them less likely to break your site or conflict with plugins and themes.

Pre-Update Preparations

Checking Your Current Version

To determine whether an update is needed, first check your current WordPress version:

• Go to your WordPress dashboard and scroll to the bottom right.
• Alternatively, view the page source and search for “generator” to find the version tag.

Knowing your current version helps you stay on top of necessary updates and avoid outdated software vulnerabilities.

Backing Up Your WordPress Site

Before updating anything, create a full backup of your WordPress site. This includes:

• The WordPress database (posts, pages, users, settings)
• All media files, themes, and plugins

Tools like UpdraftPlus, BlogVault, or All-in-One WP Migration can help you create complete backups with one click. These tools usually offer scheduled backups, cloud storage integration (e.g. Google Drive, Dropbox), and easy restore points.

WordPress Security

WordPress security is essential for protecting your website from hackers and other online threats. One of the most effective ways to keep your WordPress site secure is to ensure it’s always up to date with the latest version, including all plugins and themes. Updates often include critical security patches that address vulnerabilities discovered in previous versions. Failing to update your site can leave it exposed to attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). In addition to regular updates, using strong passwords, limiting login attempts, and monitoring your site for suspicious activity are important steps to safeguard your site. By keeping your WordPress site, plugins, and themes up to date, you significantly reduce the risk of security breaches and keep your site protected.

Updating to the Latest WordPress Version

Using WordPress Release Updates

WordPress distinguishes between minor and major updates:

• Minor updates (e.g. 6.5.2 → 6.5.3) usually include security and bug fixes. These are installed automatically by default.
• Major updates (e.g. 6.5 → 6.6) must be initiated manually unless you configure your site to allow them automatically.

You can update your WordPress site directly from the dashboard under Dashboard → Updates or use the command-line tool WP-CLI.

Manual Update Methods

Updating WordPress Manually

If you prefer more control over the update process or if something breaks during an automatic update, you can update manually via:

• Dashboard One-Click: The easiest way — navigate to the Updates page and click “Update Now.”
• FTP Method: Download the latest WordPress version from wordpress.org, then use an FTP client such as FileZilla to enter your FTP credentials, navigate your server directories, and replace your core files (except wp-content) securely.
• WP-CLI: Run commands like wp core update to perform updates directly in the terminal — ideal for developers.

These manual methods are intended for advanced users who are comfortable with technical tasks such as using an FTP client or command-line tools.

Manual methods require more care but are invaluable when troubleshooting or dealing with non-standard setups.

Updating Plugins and Themes

The Importance of Compatibility

Your plugins and themes must stay in sync with WordPress core to prevent bugs and crashes. After updating WordPress:

• Check for plugin and theme updates in the dashboard.
• Update them one by one or use tools like WP-CLI (wp plugin update ‑‑all).
• Always check the plugin changelog for compatibility notes.

A staging environment can help you test updates before deploying to production. This ensures your design and functionality remain intact.

Best Practices for Updating WordPress

Update WordPress Safely

To avoid downtime and data loss:

• Backup before every update.
• Use a staging site to test major changes.
• Update themes and plugins regularly.
• Enable automatic minor updates to stay protected without constant manual effort.
• Use WP-CLI or the dashboard depending on your workflow.

The safest updates are the ones you prepare for.

Update Tools and Resources

There are several tools and resources available to help you update WordPress efficiently and safely. The WordPress dashboard offers a straightforward way to update WordPress core files, plugins, and themes with just a few clicks. For those who prefer more control, WP-CLI is a powerful command-line tool that allows you to manage updates across multiple WordPress sites, making manual updates faster and more reliable. FTP clients like FileZilla are useful for updating WordPress manually by uploading new core files directly to your server. Additionally, backup plugins such as UpdraftPlus can automate the backup and update process, ensuring your data is safe before any changes are made. Familiarizing yourself with these tools will make the update process smoother and help you update WordPress safely, whether you’re managing a single site or multiple installations.

Troubleshooting Common Update Issues

Resolving Update Errors

Sometimes updates fail or cause conflicts. Here’s how to resolve the most common problems:

• File permission errors: Ensure proper write access to the wp-content and wp-includes folders.
• Plugin/theme conflicts: Disable all plugins, activate the default theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-Four), then reactivate components one by one.
• Stuck in maintenance mode: If your site shows "Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance," delete the .maintenance file in your root directory.
• Database issues: Run wp db update.

Always keep a fresh backup on hand, and don’t hesitate to roll back if needed.

Post-Update Checklist

After updating WordPress, it’s important to follow a post-update checklist to ensure your site is functioning as expected. Start by checking that all plugins and themes are compatible with the new version of WordPress. Test key features and pages on your site to confirm everything is working correctly. If you deactivated plugins during the update, reactivate them one at a time to identify any compatibility issues. Clear your browser and site caches to prevent display problems caused by outdated files. Finally, monitor your site’s performance and security for a few days after the update to catch any unexpected issues early. Following this checklist after updating WordPress helps maintain the stability and performance of your site and ensures that new features and security improvements are working as intended.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When updating WordPress, there are several common mistakes that can lead to problems. Always make sure to preserve your existing wp-content folder when updating WordPress manually. Another frequent mistake is forgetting to update the WordPress database after a core update, which can cause errors or site malfunctions. Not backing up your site before updating is risky, as it leaves you without a recovery option if something goes wrong. Using outdated plugins and themes can create compatibility issues and security vulnerabilities after an update. Lastly, failing to test your site after updating WordPress can allow unnoticed issues to impact your visitors. By avoiding these pitfalls and following best practices, you can update WordPress safely and keep your site running smoothly.

Conclusion

Updating your WordPress site doesn’t have to be intimidating. By backing up your data, testing updates on a staging environment, and using tools or the dashboard wisely, you can keep your site secure and high-performing.

Don’t let an outdated version slow you down or put your site at risk. Follow these best practices to upgrade WordPress with confidence.