Updating WordPress safely: how to avoid problems
Regularly updating wordpress is one of the most important tasks for any website owner. By taking wordpress updates seriously, you protect your site against security risks and benefit from the latest features and improvements.
Updates are the lifeline of a secure and well-functioning WordPress website. They bring security patches against newly discovered vulnerabilities, bug fixes for better stability, and new features that make your site better. But updates can also cause problems: conflicts between plugins, incompatibility with your theme, or even a completely blank page where your site used to be. In this article I explain how to safely perform WordPress updates and what to do when things go wrong.
Why updating isn't optional
Some website owners put off updates for fear of problems. This is understandable but dangerous. Every day you run outdated software, you're at risk. Hackers know exactly which vulnerabilities exist in old versions and actively scan the internet for sites that haven't been patched yet.
Within hours of a security update being published, automated attacks begin against websites that haven't installed it yet. The changelog of a security update is effectively a manual for hackers. Not updating isn't a conservative choice, it's a risky choice with potentially catastrophic consequences.
The good news is that with the right preparation and approach, updates rarely cause problems. And if problems do occur, you can fix them or roll them back. Let's start by understanding the different types of updates.
What are the different types of WordPress updates?
WordPress core updates
WordPress itself has two types of updates. Minor releases such as 6.4.1 to 6.4.2 contain security patches and bug fixes. These are thoroughly tested and rarely cause problems. WordPress installs these automatically by default, and that's a good setting to keep.
Major releases such as 6.4 to 6.5 bring new features and sometimes significant changes. These can cause incompatibility with older themes or plugins. It's wise to wait a bit until your theme and key plugins have confirmed compatibility, but don't wait too long.
Plugin updates
Plugins are updated independently by their developers at varying frequencies. Some plugins get weekly updates, others monthly or even less often. Plugin updates can include: security fixes you need to install quickly, new features you may or may not want, and bug fixes for problems you might not even have noticed.
A plugin update's changelog tells you what's changing. Read it to decide how urgent the update is and whether you need to take precautions.
Theme updates
Themes are updated less frequently than plugins, but updates are still important for compatibility with new WordPress versions and for security. Extra attention is needed if you've made customizations to your theme. Direct changes to the parent theme get overwritten by updates. Always use a child theme for customizations so they're preserved.
How do you prepare?
Always create a backup first
This is the golden rule that secures everything. Before each update session, create a complete backup of both your files and your database. If something goes wrong, you can be back to a working state within minutes. Use your backup plugin to run a "backup now" and wait until it's finished. Preferably also download a copy to your local computer.
Yes, this takes extra time. But the first time an update breaks your site and you restore it effortlessly, you'll be incredibly glad you had the discipline to back up.
Read the changelog and release notes
Before installing an update, check what's changing. Click "View details" on a plugin update in your dashboard to read the changelog. For WordPress core updates you can find release notes on wordpress.org. Are there breaking changes announced? New system requirements? Known compatibility issues?
Check compatibility for major updates
For big WordPress updates, check that your theme and critical plugins are compatible. Reliable developers communicate this on their website, in support forums, or via a "tested up to" notice. If an essential plugin isn't yet compatible with the newest WordPress, wait to update until this is resolved.
Choose the right moment
Don't update right before an important presentation, product launch, or busy period. Choose a quiet moment when you have time to fix any problems. Friday afternoon at 5pm is not a good time for major updates. Tuesday morning when you're at your computer anyway is.
Performing updates: the safe approach
Update via the WordPress dashboard
The standard method for most situations. Log in to your dashboard and go to Dashboard > Updates. You'll see all available updates neatly listed together. Select what you want to update and click the update button. Wait patiently until the process is complete. Don't close your browser or navigate away during the update process.
Update one at a time instead of all at once
It's tempting to click "Update all" and be done with it. But if something goes wrong then, you won't know which update caused the problem. It's better to start with WordPress core if it has an update. Then your theme. Then plugins one at a time, starting with the most important.
After each update, briefly check that your site still works. Does the homepage load? Does the admin work? If everything's fine, move on to the next one. If there's a problem, you know exactly which update is responsible.
The right order
Update in this order for the best results: first WordPress core, then your theme, then plugins. The reason is that plugins and themes often depend on WordPress functions. A plugin updated for the latest WordPress may not work correctly with an older WordPress version.
Test updates on staging first
For critical websites, the safest approach is to test updates on a staging environment first, a copy of your live site where you can safely experiment. Many managed WordPress hosts offer staging with one click. Run all updates on staging, test thoroughly, and only then push to live. This eliminates nearly all risk but takes more time.
After updating: check that everything works
An update that installs successfully isn't automatically an update that causes no problems. Check the following after every update session.
Frontend check
Visit your website like a regular visitor. Does the homepage load correctly and fully? Do the menus and navigation work? Are there visual issues or shifting elements? Do images load correctly? Test on both desktop and mobile.
Backend check
Does the WordPress admin work normally? Can you edit and save posts? Do your plugin settings pages function? Are there error messages or warnings in the dashboard?
Test functionality
Test critical functions of your site. Do contact forms work and do messages arrive? Does the search function work? If you have a webshop: does checkout work? Test what matters for your specific site.
Check for errors
Open the browser console (F12 in most browsers) and check the Console tab for JavaScript errors. Look at your error logs in your hosting control panel for PHP errors. Some problems aren't immediately visible but are present in the logs.
Fixing problems after updates
Despite all precautions, something can still go wrong. Here are the most common problems and their solutions.
White screen of death
Your site shows only a blank white screen with no error message. This is usually a fatal PHP error. Enable WordPress debug mode by setting WP_DEBUG to true in wp-config.php. Reload the page to see the error message. It usually points to the problematic plugin. Deactivate that plugin via FTP by renaming its folder.
Site stuck in maintenance mode
WordPress shows "Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance" and it doesn't go away. During updates, WordPress creates a .maintenance file that's normally removed automatically. If the update crashes, this file remains. Delete the .maintenance file in your WordPress root via FTP.
Plugin conflict after an update
A specific feature stops working after a plugin update. Deactivate the updated plugin via FTP by renaming its folder to something like plugin-name-disabled. Check whether the site works then. Look for alternative plugins or wait for a fix from the developer. Report the problem in the plugin's support forum.
Theme layout broken after an update
Your site looks strange after a theme update. First step: clear all caches. Your browser cache, your caching plugin, and any CDN cache. Many layout problems disappear after clearing the cache. If that doesn't help, check whether your child theme customizations are still compatible with the new theme version.
Rolling back to a backup
If you can't fix the problem, restore your backup. This is why you always create a backup before updating. With UpdraftPlus you can restore via the dashboard. If you can't access the dashboard, restore manually via FTP and phpMyAdmin.
How do you set up automatic updates wisely?
WordPress offers options for automatic updates that save you manual work. Minor WordPress core updates are automatic by default and this is a good setting. You can also let major core updates install automatically, but only if you regularly test your backups.
For plugins, you can enable automatic updates per plugin via the plugin overview. This is convenient for trusted plugins from reliable developers. Be more cautious with plugins that can break your site, such as page builders or WooCommerce. You can also automate theme updates, but only if you haven't made direct changes to the parent theme.
Automatic updates require a reliable backup system. If an automatic update breaks your site at 3am, you want to be able to restore easily without panic.
When shouldn't you update?
In rare cases it's wise to wait a bit with an update. If a plugin update gets a lot of negative reviews reporting problems, wait a few days for a fix. If a major WordPress release just came out, wait until your essential plugins have confirmed compatibility. If you're in the middle of a critical project, wait until you have time for any troubleshooting.
But never wait too long. Don't put off updates for weeks. Security updates in particular need to be installed within days, not months. The risk of not updating is almost always greater than the risk of updating with good preparation.
With a backup on hand, the right order, and a critical eye for what you install, you can perform WordPress updates with confidence. The few extra minutes of preparation potentially save you hours of troubleshooting and protect your site against the constant threat of security vulnerabilities in outdated software.
Updating WordPress: types of updates and risks
Updating wordpress covers several types of updates, each with its own risk profile.
| Update type | Frequency | Risk | Action required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor updates (5.x.y) | Monthly | Low | Automatic or manual |
| Major updates (x.0) | Annually | Medium | Manual after testing |
| Plugin updates | Weekly | Medium | Manual recommended |
| Theme updates | Monthly | Low-Medium | Manual recommended |
Best practices for updating wordpress
- Always create a backup before you start updating wordpress
- Test updates on a staging environment first if your WordPress hosting supports this
- Start updating wordpress with plugins, then the theme, then WordPress core
- Check that all functionality still works after updating wordpress
- Use a VPS for more control over your update process
- Make sure your SSL certificate stays valid after updates
- Enable automatic updates for minor releases on your web hosting
Consistently updating wordpress is the best protection against hackers and vulnerabilities. Choose a provider that makes updating wordpress easy, such as our WooCommerce hosting packages.
How do you prepare?
A successful updating wordpress process always starts with solid preparation. The most important step is creating a complete backup of both your files and your database. Use a reliable WordPress backup plugin for this or create a manual backup via your hosting panel. Store the backup in a remote location so you can always go back if something goes wrong.
Before the update, check whether all your plugins and themes are compatible with the new WordPress version. Visit the plugin pages on wordpress.org and check whether the developers have confirmed compatibility. Pay particular attention to essential plugins such as your page builder, SEO plugin, and security plugin. If a critical plugin isn't yet compatible, wait to update until this is resolved.
Preferably use a staging environment to test the update first. A staging environment is an exact copy of your live website where you can safely experiment. Test the update thoroughly: check all pages, forms, checkout processes, and other critical functionality. Only once everything works as expected on staging do you run the update on your live website.
Updating WordPress core, plugins, and themes separately
When updating wordpress, it's wise to update core, plugins, and themes separately and in a specific order. Always start with the plugins: update them one at a time and check after each update that your website still functions correctly. By updating plugins individually, you can immediately identify which plugin is causing any problem.
After the plugins, update the active theme. If you have a child theme, update the parent theme first and then the child theme. After the theme update, carefully check your website's appearance on both desktop and mobile. Watch for layout deviations, missing styles, and functionality changes introduced by the theme update.
Finally, run the WordPress core update. WordPress shows a clear update notice in the dashboard when a new version is available. Click the update button and wait patiently until the process is complete. Don't refresh the page too quickly afterward, since an interrupted update can render your website unusable. After the core update, check all functionality again and resolve any compatibility issues. Also check out our WordPress management guide for extensive maintenance tips.
Configuring and managing automatic updates
WordPress offers the ability to run updates automatically, which considerably simplifies the updating wordpress process. By default, minor updates (security patches) are installed automatically, but major updates require manual action. You can adjust this behavior via wp-config.php or with an update management plugin.
For websites where availability is critical, such as webshops, it's wise to enable automatic updates selectively. Always enable automatic security updates, but keep major core updates and plugin updates manual. This way you benefit from immediate security patches without the risk that an automatic update breaks your website at an inconvenient moment.
Set up email notifications for available updates so you're always informed. Most WordPress management plugins send weekly summaries of available updates. Schedule a fixed moment in your week to review and run updates, for example every Tuesday. By turning the update process into a routine, you prevent your website from falling weeks or months behind on security patches. An up-to-date WordPress installation is the first and most important line of defense against hackers and malware.
Safely updating wordpress is a skill every website manager needs to master. With a systematic approach of backing up, checking compatibility, testing on staging, and rolling out in phases, you minimize the risk of problems. Turn the update process into a weekly routine and document which versions of WordPress, theme, and plugins you're running. This documentation is valuable when troubleshooting problems and helps you always have a current picture of your website's state.
