Keeping your WordPress website up to date is crucial for maintaining optimal performance, security, and compatibility. However, hitting the “Update” button without proper preparation can expose your site to risks ranging from broken functionality to complete downtime.
TL;DR: Updating WordPress is essential but should never be done blindly. Always perform a full backup, test updates on a staging site, and check plugin and theme compatibility before proceeding. These small yet critical steps can save you from major headaches and costly repairs. Take the time to prepare and update with confidence.
Why WordPress Updates Matter
WordPress updates typically include bug fixes, new features, and, most importantly, security patches. As the most widely used CMS on the internet, WordPress is a prime target for hackers. Staying current with updates helps protect your site from known vulnerabilities and ensures compatibility with the evolving ecosystem of plugins and themes.
Yet, many site owners hesitate to update due to the fear of breaking the site. This concern isn’t unfounded—conflicts between the core, themes, and plugins can lead to severe issues. But with the right precautions, you can update with minimal risk.
Step 1: Backup Everything
Before you update anything, back up everything. This is the most critical step and cannot be stressed enough. A complete backup ensures that you can restore your website to its previous state if something goes wrong during the update process. Your backup should include:
- Database: Contains all your content, user data, and settings.
- Theme and Plugins: Includes all customizations and functional components.
- Media Files: All images, videos, and documents uploaded to your site.
- Core Files: Essential for restoring the WordPress framework itself.
You can use plugins like UpdraftPlus, BackWPup, or BlogVault to automate this process. Many managed WordPress hosts also include automatic daily backups which you can restore with a few clicks.
Step 2: Use a Staging Environment
Testing updates in a staging environment allows you to simulate the update process without affecting the live version of your site. This precaution is especially important for websites with custom themes or specialized plugins.
In staging, check for the following:
- No missing content or media
- Plugin functionality remains intact
- Theme styling and design elements display correctly
- Forms, shopping carts, and user flows work properly
If you identify issues, you can troubleshoot them safely without disrupting your visitors or endangering your live site.
Step 3: Review Plugin and Theme Compatibility
Before updating the WordPress core, review your installed plugins and themes for compatibility. Developers usually release updates to maintain compatibility with the newest WordPress versions. Failing to check this can result in crashes or unexpected behavior.
To assess compatibility:
- Visit the plugin’s page in the WordPress repository and look for confirmation it’s compatible with the latest version.
- Review the theme developer’s changelog and support forum.
- Temporarily disable any outdated or unmaintained plugins.
If your theme or plugins haven’t been updated in a while, consider alternatives that are actively maintained to avoid potential conflicts.
Step 4: Read the Changelog
The WordPress development team publishes a changelog for each new release. This document outlines what changes—or fixes—are being introduced. You can find changelogs on the official WordPress News site or within the dashboard prompt that notifies you of the update.
Understanding what’s included helps you:
- Know whether the update addresses security vulnerabilities
- See if new features might impact your existing setup
- Prepare for potential changes in user experience or the admin dashboard
Being informed is half the battle when it comes to safely managing changes to your site.
Step 5: Deactivate Caching and Security Plugins Temporarily
Caching systems like W3 Total Cache and security tools like Wordfence may interfere with updates. These plugins may block file changes or display cached versions of your site, making it hard to verify that updates applied successfully.
Best practice: Deactivate these temporarily before updating, and reactivate them afterward.
Additionally, clear all forms of cache—browser cache, CDN cache (like Cloudflare), and WordPress-specific cache—to avoid loading outdated files post-update.
Step 6: Update in the Correct Order
When you’re ready to update, follow the correct order to minimize compatibility issues and reduce risks:
- Update Plugins First – This prepares their framework to work with the new WordPress core.
- Then Update the Theme – Ensures any theme-level changes needed to adapt to plugin updates are covered.
- Finally, Update the WordPress Core – With everything else prepped, there’s less chance of breakages.
Never update multiple components at the same time. This makes isolating problems difficult if something goes wrong.
Step 7: Test Thoroughly After Updating
After completing the updates:
- Clear all site caches.
- Browse your site across different devices and browsers.
- Test key functionality (contact forms, checkout pages, membership logins, etc.).
- Review performance metrics (loading speed, responsiveness).
It’s easy to assume everything went well if the homepage looks fine, but don’t forget to test deeper functionality that your users rely on daily.
Step 8: Monitor for Post-Update Issues
Issues sometimes appear hours or even days after an update. Respond quickly to user feedback and website monitoring alerts by enabling tracking through tools like Google Analytics or UptimeRobot. Enable email notifications within your monitoring tool to stay immediately informed of any downtime or critical errors.
Also, review your error logs in cPanel or from within plugins like WP Debugging. You may catch hidden bugs that need fixing, even if they don’t impact the front end immediately.
When to Delay Updates
There are legitimate reasons to delay a WordPress update, particularly with major releases. Example situations include:
- A custom-built theme or plugin needs time to ensure compatibility.
- There are reported issues or bugs from other users in the support forums.
- You’re in the middle of a high-traffic campaign and can’t risk down time.
In such cases, monitor the situation closely, and apply the update once stable versions are confirmed by trusted sources.
Final Words
Updating WordPress shouldn’t be a rushed or impulsive action. It’s a necessary chore that, when done carelessly, can jeopardize your entire digital presence. But with backups, testing, and a methodical approach, updates can be completed safely—bringing in improved functionality and better security.
Summary of Best Practices:
- Always make a full backup before updating.
- Test updates in a staging environment first.
- Check plugin and theme compatibility.
- Follow the update order: Plugins → Theme → Core.
- Test thoroughly after the update and monitor for issues.
Take these steps seriously, and you’ll not only maintain your WordPress site without disruption—you’ll strengthen it for the future.
