As a business owner, keeping your WordPress website updated is crucial for security and performance. However, the fear of breaking your website during an update is understandable.
Why Should You Always Update WordPress?
Statistics from leading WordPress security research highlight a concerning trend – outdated WordPress cores, plugins, or themes are major contributors to website hacks.
The developers who actively maintain WordPress do so on a regular basis by fixing bugs, adding new features, and improving security.
These updates are crucial for maintaining the latest security patches, features, and optimal speed and performance.
Things to Do Before Updating WordPress
Before diving into the update process, the most critical step is to create a comprehensive backup of your WordPress website.
Even if you have an automated backup plugin, a new backup is essential.
This backup should include your database, media uploads, plugins, themes, and core files – ensuring you can restore your website if anything goes wrong.
Once your backup is secured in a remote location, proceed to the next steps.
Updating WordPress to the Latest Version
There are two methods to upgrade your WordPress site: automatic (1-click) and manual (using FTP). We'll guide you through both methods.
Method 1: Updating WordPress Using the Built-in System (1-Click)
Log in to your WordPress admin area and navigate to Dashboard » Updates.
Click on the 'Update to version X.X.X' button to initiate the upgrade.
WordPress will fetch and install the latest version, putting your site into maintenance mode during the process.
After completion, you'll be redirected to the WordPress welcome screen.
Method 2: Manually Update WordPress Using FTP
Download the latest WordPress version from the WordPress download page.
Extract the downloaded zip file to find the 'wordpress' folder.
Connect to your website using an FTP client and upload the 'wordpress' folder to your website's root directory.
Overwrite existing files when prompted, ensuring the newer versions replace the old ones.
Go to your WordPress admin area to check for any required database updates. If needed, click 'Update WordPress Database.'
Things to Do After Updating WordPress
After successfully upgrading WordPress, ensure everything functions correctly.
Visit your website, review settings in the admin area, and address any issues. Consult our list of common WordPress errors and troubleshooting guides if needed.
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