Keeping WordPress updated helps improve security, performance, compatibility, and website stability.

This guide explains how to safely update WordPress core, themes, and plugins without breaking your website.

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Why Update WordPress? #

Updating WordPress provides:

✅ Security patches
✅ New features
✅ Better website speed
✅ Improved plugin compatibility
✅ Bug fixes
✅ Better performance and stability

Running outdated versions can increase security risks and compatibility issues.

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Before You Start (Important) #

Before updating:

✔ Create a full backup
✔ Check available disk space
✔ Verify plugin compatibility
✔ Save website credentials
✔ Update during low traffic hours

Recommended backup locations:

• Full Account Backup
• Website Files
• Database Backup

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Method 1 — Update WordPress from Dashboard (Recommended) #

This is the easiest method.

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Step 1 — Login to WordPress Admin #

Open:

https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin

Enter:

• Username
• Password

Click Login

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Step 2 — Open Updates Section #

Navigate to:

Dashboard → Updates

You will see available updates.

Examples:

• WordPress Core
• Plugins
• Themes

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Step 3 — Check Current Version #

Review:

Current Version
Latest Version

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Step 4 — Update WordPress Core #

If available:

Click:

Update Now

Wait until process completes.

Do not:

• Close browser
• Refresh page repeatedly

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Step 5 — Confirm Update Success #

After completion verify:

Open:

Dashboard → Updates

Expected message:

WordPress is up to date

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Method 2 — Update Plugins #

Plugins should also remain updated.

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Step 1 #

Navigate:

Dashboard → Plugins

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Step 2 #

Select plugins with updates.

Click:

Update Plugins

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Best Practice #

Update:

• Small groups of plugins
• Not all at once

After each update:

• Test homepage
• Test admin panel

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Method 3 — Update Themes #

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Step 1 #

Navigate:

Dashboard → Appearance → Themes

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Step 2 #

Choose theme.

Click:

Update

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Important #

If using custom edits:

Create:

Child Theme

Otherwise changes may disappear.

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Method 4 — Update Using Softaculous #

If WordPress was installed using Softaculous.

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Step 1 #

Login to cPanel.

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Step 2 #

Open:

Software → Softaculous Apps Installer

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Step 3 #

Select:

Installations

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Step 4 #

Open your WordPress installation.

Click:

Upgrade

Wait for completion.

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After Updating (Very Important) #

Test website:

✅ Homepage
✅ Contact forms
✅ Login area
✅ Checkout pages
✅ Mobile version
✅ Emails

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Common Problems After Update #

White Screen #

Cause:

• Plugin conflict

Fix:

Open:

public_html/wp-content/

Rename:

plugins → plugins_disabled

Reload website.

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Website Broken After Update #

Try:

• Restore backup
• Rollback plugin
• Switch to default theme

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Admin Not Loading #

Check:

• PHP version
• Error logs
• Plugin conflicts

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Update Failed #

Possible causes:

• Low disk space
• File permission issue
• Timeout

Check:

cPanel → Metrics → Errors

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Recommended Update Order #

Always follow:

Backup
↓
Update WordPress Core
↓
Update Themes
↓
Update Plugins
↓
Test Website

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Update Frequency #

Recommended schedule:

• WordPress Core → Monthly
• Plugins → Weekly
• Themes → Monthly

Security updates:

• Install immediately

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Best Practices #

✔ Always create backup first
✔ Update in staging when possible
✔ Remove inactive plugins
✔ Keep PHP updated
✔ Avoid unsupported themes

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Need Help? #

If your website breaks after updating:

Prepare:

• Domain name
• Error screenshot
• Update time
• Recent plugin/theme changes

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Category: WordPress
Article: Update WordPress
Estimated Time: 10–20 Minutes
Last Updated: May 2026