How to Update WordPress Plugins Safely: Complete Guide

Updating WordPress plugins regularly is essential for the security, speed and stability of your website. But a bad update can break your website. In this guide you'll learn how to update plugins safely, how to set up auto-updates and what to do if an update fails.

Why updating plugins matters

Plugin updates contain:

• Security patches: close vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit
• Bug fixes: solve problems that can disrupt your website
• New features: add capabilities
• Compatibility: ensure support for new PHP and WordPress versions

Outdated plugins are the number 1 cause of hacked WordPress websites. Hacking attempts almost always target known vulnerabilities in outdated plugins.

The backup-first step-by-step plan

Follow this plan every time you update plugins to prevent problems.

1. Make a full backup

Before every update, make a backup of your website (files + database). Use UpdraftPlus or the backup feature in DirectAdmin. That way you can always go back to the working version.

2. Check the changelog

In the WordPress dashboard, click "View details" next to the plugin update. Read the changelog to know what is changing. Pay particular attention to:

• Breaking changes or major version numbers (e.g. 3.x → 4.0)
• Required PHP or WordPress version
• Known issues or incompatibilities

3. Update plugins one at a time

Never update all plugins at once. If you update them all at the same time and something goes wrong, you won't know which plugin caused it. Update them one at a time and check your website after each update.

4. Check your website after each update

After each update, refresh your website and check:

• Does the homepage load correctly?
• Do forms and interactive elements work?
• Are pages displayed correctly?
• Are there error messages in the browser console (F12)?

5. Test critical functionality

For online stores: test the checkout process. For websites with forms: test the contact form. For membership sites: test the login. Every type of website has its own critical functions that need testing after an update.

Setting up auto-updates

WordPress lets you update plugins automatically:

1. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins
2. Next to each plugin, click "Enable auto-updates

When to use auto-updates:

• For security plugins: updates are critical and need to be applied quickly
• For small utility plugins: the risk of breaking something is low
• If you don't manage your website daily

When to avoid auto-updates:

• For your page builder (Elementor, Divi): major updates can break layouts
• For WooCommerce: updates can affect the checkout process
• For complex plugins with a lot of configuration

Rolling back a failed update

If a plugin update breaks your website, you have several options:

Option 1: Restore a backup

The safest method. Restore your backup with UpdraftPlus or DirectAdmin. All changes are rolled back to the moment the backup was made.

Option 2: Reinstall the plugin via FTP

1. Download the previous version of the plugin from wordpress.org/plugins (click "Advanced View" → "Previous Versions")
2. Connect via FTP
3. Delete the plugin folder in /wp-content/plugins/
4. Upload the old version

Option 3: WP Rollback plugin

The WP Rollback plugin adds a "Rollback" button to every plugin, so you can easily go back to an earlier version. Install this plugin as a precaution.

Using a staging environment

The most professional approach is to use a staging environment (an exact copy of your live website where you can test updates):

1. Create a staging copy with WP Staging or through your hosting provider
2. Run all updates on the staging environment
3. Test whether everything works correctly
4. Apply the same updates to your live website

With Theory7 WordPress hosting you can easily set up a staging environment.

Frequently asked questions about updating WordPress plugins

How often should I update my WordPress plugins?

Check for updates at least weekly. Security updates should be applied immediately. You can run regular updates weekly or every two weeks. Set a fixed moment (e.g. every Monday) so you don't forget.

Can a plugin update break my website?

Yes, it can. Especially with major version updates, incompatibility with other plugins or your theme, or incompatibility with your PHP version. That is why the backup-first plan is so important. With a backup you can always go back to the working version.

What if I haven't updated a plugin in months?

Then update with extra care. Make a full backup first. Read the changelogs of all the versions you missed. Update the plugin to the latest version (not version by version) and test your website thoroughly. If the plugin is several major versions behind, consider updating it on a staging environment first.

Should I update inactive plugins too?

Yes, or better yet: delete them. Inactive plugins that are not updated are a security risk, because their vulnerable code is still on your server and can be exploited by hackers. If you don't use a plugin, remove it completely.