How to Safely Update WordPress and Its Components

When it comes to maintaining your WordPress website, staying updated is crucial. Regular updates not only help protect your site but also ensure you have access to the latest features and improvements. However, a hasty update process can lead to unforeseen issues. Therefore, it's essential to follow a strategic order to ensure your site remains stable and secure.

Strategic Update Order

Updating can be a complex process, especially if you have multiple plugins, themes, and the core version of WordPress itself. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you safely update your WordPress installation:

1. Update Plugins

Start with your plugins. This includes security plugins and any other plugins that enhance functionality. Security plugins are particularly important as they often have updates that address vulnerabilities. Make sure your security plugins are up to date first to protect your site from potential threats.

When updating plugins, follow this advice:

Check for updates: Use your plugin’s update system to check for available updates. Update one at a time: Update each plugin one by one to ensure that they do not conflict with each other. Test each plugin: After updating a plugin, test the functionality to ensure it works as expected. This helps prevent any side effects that might disrupt your site.

2. Update Themes

Once your plugins are up to date, move on to updating your themes. Theme updates often bring enhancements that play better with the latest version of WordPress. These updates can offer sleeker designs, improved performance, and better compatibility.

When updating themes:

Carefully review updates: Check the theme’s release notes to understand the changes and any potential issues. Update one at a time: Update themes one by one, and test each one after the update.

3. Update Core WordPress Software

Finally, update your core WordPress software. Core updates include new features, security patches, and bug fixes. However, they might require certain prerequisites to be met, such as specific versions of plugins or themes. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure that your plugins and themes are up to date before performing a core update.

When updating the core:

Backup your site: Before starting the update, make a full backup of your site using a plugin like All In One WordPress Migration. Test thoroughly: After the update, thoroughly test your site to ensure everything is working as expected.

Additional Tips for a Smooth Update Process

Here are some additional tips to ensure a seamless update process:

Regular Backups: Always keep regular backups of your site. This ensures you can quickly revert to a previous working state if something goes wrong. Consult Documentation: Read through the release notes provided by plugin and theme developers. This can help you understand potential changes and required actions. Stay Informed: Keep an eye on WordPress and plugin/theme forums for any critical updates or known issues.

By following these guidelines, you can confidently update your WordPress site without introducing instability or security risks. Remember, the key to a successful update is patience and a methodical approach.

At Web Development Inc., we manage dozens of WordPress sites and utilize a similar process to keep our clients' sites up to date and secure. Following this thoughtful order—plugins, themes, and core—helps minimize the chances of something going awry, ensuring a smooth update process every time.