Complete Guide to Updating WordPress Manually and Automatically

Updating WordPress is the single most critical task for maintaining a secure and high-performing WordPress website. Whether you manage a small blog or a large e-commerce platform, ensuring your site runs the latest version of WordPress is non-negotiable.

An outdated version of WordPress is a security vulnerability waiting to be exploited, making your entire WordPress site vulnerable to attacks.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of the update process. We will cover the necessity of regular maintenance, provide a detailed pre-update checklist, and explain how to update WordPress manually using multiple methods.

We will also show you how to enable automatic updates for maximum convenience. Follow these steps to update WordPress safely and keep your site running smoothly.

Understanding the Importance of WordPress Updates

Regular WordPress updates are not optional; they are essential to maintaining a healthy WordPress installation. Each new WordPress version brings a trifecta of benefits: security, performance, and new features.

Security Patches and Bug Fixes

The primary reason to update is security. Developers continually identify and patch vulnerabilities. When a new WordPress release or minor update is available, it almost always contains vital security patches.

If you are running an outdated version, you are leaving your site vulnerable to security risks. Hackers actively target security flaws in older versions of WordPress.

Keeping your WordPress core and all WordPress plugins updated closes these security gaps and prevents your site from being compromised. These updates also include crucial bug fixes that resolve issues encountered in the previous version.

Enhanced Performance and Stability

Every new WordPress version also aims to improve site performance. Updates often include code optimizations, faster database queries, and enhanced compatibility with the latest version of PHP.

These improvements can result in faster loading times, a more seamless user experience, and a more stable platform overall. Neglecting an update process can lead to compatibility issues between your WordPress core, installed plugins, and themes, which can cause your site to crash or malfunction.

New Features and Functionality

While security and performance are critical, major updates, known as WordPress major updates, also introduce exciting new features. These can include enhancements to the block editor, new site health tools, and improvements to the administrative interface.

Utilizing the latest version of WordPress ensures you can take advantage of these new capabilities to improve your content management and site functionality.

Furthermore, theme and plugin developers always build their products to work with the latest version of WordPress.

Pre-Update Checklist for a Safe WordPress Update

Before you start the WordPress update process, whether you manually update or use automatic updates, take precautions. Skipping these steps is the number one cause of irreversible site damage. Following this checklist is essential to update WordPress safely.

Perform a Complete Backup

This is the most critical step. Before touching a single file, you must create a complete backup of your entire WordPress site. This backup must include the following:

• WordPress database: This holds all your posts, pages, comments, settings, and user data.

• WordPress files: This includes your WordPress core files, themes, and the entire wp-content folder.

You can create a backup using a dedicated backup plugin, through your hosting provider’s control panel (often referred to as the hosting dashboard), or by manually backing up the files via an FTP client.

Having a recent backup means you can restore your WordPress installation instantly if anything goes wrong during the update process.

Verify Hosting and PHP Version Compatibility

Check the official WordPress site for the system requirements of the new WordPress version. Ensure that your web host meets these requirements, especially regarding the PHP version that WordPress recommends.

Running an update on an incompatible PHP version can cause your site to break immediately. Contact your hosting provider or check your hosting dashboard to confirm compatibility.

Deactivate All WordPress Plugins

Temporarily deactivating all active plugins minimizes the risk of conflicts during the WordPress core update. Compatibility issues between an installed plugin and a new version of WordPress are a common cause of errors.

• Navigate to the Admin Dashboard → Plugins.
• Select all installed plugins.
• Choose the “Deactivate” bulk action.

You will reactivate plugins after the update is complete and verified.

Create a Maintenance File (Optional but Recommended)

For major updates, you might want to place your WordPress site into a simple maintenance mode.

Although WordPress typically displays a brief maintenance message during updates, creating a separate maintenance page or using a plugin ensures a consistent user experience.

This prevents visitors from seeing a broken or partially updated site.

Clear Caching Layers

Clear all caching, including browser cache, plugin cache, and server-side cache provided by your hosting provider.

A cached, older version of a file can interfere with the new, updated files, leading to display or functionality errors after the update.

How to Update WordPress Manually

While automatic updates are convenient, there are times when an advanced user or a site administrator must manually update WordPress.

You may need to use manual updates if the one-click update fails, if you manage a staging site, or if you prefer total control over the file replacement. There are three primary methods for manually updating WordPress.

Update WordPress from the Dashboard

This is the most straightforward method and should be your first option for a manual update.

• Log in to the WP admin: Access your admin dashboard by navigating to yourwebsite.com/wp-admin.

• Check for New Version: A notification will typically appear at the top of the screen or under the Dashboard → Updates menu when a new version is available.

• Start the Update: Click the “Please Update Now” link. On the Updates screen, click the “Update to [New Version Number]” button.

• Wait for Success: WordPress will automatically download the latest version of WordPress and replace the necessary files. A success message will appear, and your site will be running the new WordPress version.

This method utilizes the built-in WordPress updater to manage all file replacements for the WordPress core.

Update WordPress via FTP or File Manager

This method is more complex and involves directly manipulating the WordPress files. This is how you manually update when the dashboard update fails or is inaccessible.

• Download the Zip File: Go to the official WordPress website and download the latest version of the WordPress zip file.

• Extract the Files: Unzip the file on your local computer. This will create a WordPress folder.

• Delete Old Core Files: Connect to your site’s root directory using an FTP client (like FileZilla) or your hosting’s file manager.
  • Delete the wp-includes and wp-admin directories. These contain the old core files.
  • Crucially, do not delete the wp-content folder. This folder contains your themes, plugins, and media uploads.
  • Also, do not delete loose files (like wp-config.php, .htaccess) in the root directory.

• Upload New Files: Upload the new wp-includes and wp-admin folders from the extracted zip file to your site’s root directory.

• Merge wp-content: Navigate to the new wp-content folder on your computer. Upload the contents of this new WP content folder to your existing WP content folder on the server, ensuring you merge (overwrite) the new files with the existing files, but do not delete your existing content.

• Upload Loose Files: Upload the remaining new loose files from the extracted zip file’s root directory (e.g., index.php, wp-config-sample.php) to your site’s root directory, overwriting the previous version of these files. Be extremely careful not to overwrite your existing wp-config.php file, as this contains your WordPress database credentials.

• Run Database Update: Once all files are uploaded, log in to your WP admin. WordPress will likely detect the new file structure and prompt you to update the WordPress database. Click the button to complete the final step of the update process.

Read More: WordPress Security via .htaccess File

Update WordPress Using WP-CLI

For advanced users and developers, WP-CLI (WordPress Command-Line Interface) offers the fastest and most efficient way to run a WordPress core update. This method requires SSH access to your server.

• Access SSH: Use an SSH client to log in to your server as your FTP user.

• Navigate to Root: Change directory to your WordPress installation’s root directory.

• Update Command: Execute the following command:

Bash
wp core update

• Database Update: If the new version of WordPress requires a database update, follow up with this command:

Bash
wp core update-db

This is the most direct way to get the latest version and is often preferred for automating maintenance tasks. The WP CLI handles the downloading and file replacement with precision.

Explore Further: How to Fix Incorrect File Permissions Error in WordPress

Verify and Test After Manual Update

After you manually update WordPress, you must perform critical verification steps.

• Check Version: Go to the admin dashboard and confirm that the latest version of WordPress is displayed.

• Reactivate Plugins: Navigate to the Plugins screen and reactivate each plugin individually. Check your site after each activation to ensure no conflicts occur. If an issue appears, that plugin is incompatible with the new WordPress version.

• Site Functionality Test: Check key areas of your WordPress website:
  • Main pages and navigation.
  • Contact forms and e-commerce checkout.
  • The blog section and image displays (media uploads).
  • The admin dashboard should ensure all settings are accessible.
  • Loose files, such as the .htaccess file, are often left alone during updates but are worth a quick check.

If everything looks good, you have completed your manual updates and avoided an outdated version.

How to Enable Automatic WordPress Updates

Automatic updates are a convenience feature designed to keep your WordPress core up to date with minimal effort, especially for minor releases and security patches. While they reduce the management overhead, they also take some control away from the administrator.

Enable Core Updates via Dashboard or wp-config.php

By default, WordPress automatically installs WordPress minor updates (e.g., 6.4.1 to 6.4.2). It does not automatically install WordPress major updates (e.g., 6.3 to 6.4).

Enabling Major Updates via wp-config.php

To force both major updates and minor updates to run automatically, you need to add a line to your wp-config.php file, which resides in your root directory.

Open the wp-config.php file and add the following line before the /* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */ line:

php
define( 'WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE', true );

Setting this constant to true will automatically update your WordPress core to the latest version whenever a new one is released.

Disabling All Automatic Core Updates

Conversely, if you prefer only to use manual updates and disable all core automatic updates, use this line:

php
define( 'WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE', false );

This is generally not recommended as it leaves you vulnerable to newly discovered security issues until you run a manual update.

Turn On Automatic Plugin and Theme Updates

Unlike core updates, automatic updates for WordPress plugins and themes are typically disabled by default or must be enabled individually.

• Via Admin Dashboard: In the Admin Dashboard, navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. You will see a column for “Automatic Updates” next to each plugin. Click “Enable auto-updates” for each plugin you want to maintain automatically. Repeat this process for themes under Appearance → Themes.

• Via Advanced Settings (Code): For granular control, advanced users can manage this with filters in a custom plugin or the theme’s functions.php file, targeting specific installed plugins or themes.

Enabling these greatly helps your WordPress website stay on the latest version of its components.

Control Which WordPress Updates Run Automatically

WordPress offers specific constants for greater control over the update process. These are defined in your WP config file:

Understanding these advanced settings ensures you control exactly when and how your WordPress site receives a new WP content folder or new wp-admin directories.

Pros and Cons of Automatic WordPress Updates

The best practice is to enable automatic updates for WordPress minor updates and security releases, while keeping central core, plugin, and theme updates as manual updates after testing them in a staging environment.

Updating WordPress Core, Plugins, and Themes

The three pillars of a WordPress installation are the core, the plugins, and the themes. All three require regular attention to maintain the latest version of WordPress.

WordPress Core Updates (Major and Minor)

• Minor Updates (e.g., 6.4.1 to 6.4.2): These are crucial bug fixes and security releases. They are generally low-risk and are automatically applied by default. They often only involve updating a few loose files and those in the wp-includes directory.

• Major Updates (e.g., 6.3 to 6.4): These introduce new features, significant changes to the WordPress core, and a new WP content folder structure, and are higher risk. Always follow the pre-update checklist, run a complete backup, and test it on a staging WordPress site first. The files involved are typically the entire wp-admin directories and the wp-includes directories.

WordPress Plugins Updates

WordPress plugins are the most frequent source of updates. Developers continually release new versions to address bugs, introduce new functionality, and ensure compatibility with the latest WordPress version.

• Update Location: Updates are managed in the admin dashboard under Plugins → Installed Plugins. A notification will appear next to the plugin name when a new version is available.

• Process: Click “Update now.” WordPress will download the zip file and replace the existing files in the plugins folder.

• Caution: Always check the changelog. If a plugin has a history of problematic releases, consider waiting a day or two before applying the update. Updating an installed plugin that is not compatible with your current version of WordPress can make your WordPress site vulnerable or cause it to break entirely.

WordPress Themes Updates

Theme updates are less frequent than plugin updates, but are equally important. They often provide updates for new features, better performance, and compatibility with the latest WordPress version.

• Update Location: Updates are managed under Appearance → Themes in the admin dashboard.

• Child Themes: If you use a child theme, updating the parent theme is usually safe. If you directly modified the parent theme, the update will overwrite your changes. This is why using a child theme is a non-negotiable best practice. The updated files are replaced within the wp-content directory.

Troubleshooting WordPress Update Issues

Even when you update WordPress safely and follow all the steps, things can occasionally go wrong. The key to successful troubleshooting is having a recent complete backup.

The White Screen of Death (WSOD)

This is the most common and scary issue. Your browser shows a completely blank white screen.

• Solution: Since you performed a complete backup,restore your previous version of the site. If you can still access the admin dashboard, deactivate all active plugins and switch to a default theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four). If the site returns, the issue is likely due to a conflict with a plugin or theme. Reactivate them one by one until the error returns.

Error Establishing a Database Connection

This error indicates that your site cannot communicate with your WordPress database.

• Solution: This is rarely caused by a simple update unless you manually edited the wp-config.php file and accidentally changed the database credentials. Check your WP config file to ensure the database name, username, and password are correct. If you are using a tool like WP-CLI, ensure that the database update command is executed correctly.

Stuck in Maintenance Mode

During an update, WordPress creates a temporary file named .maintenance in the root directory. If the update process is interrupted, this file might not be deleted.

• Solution: Connect to your root directory via ftp or the file manager. Look for a hidden file named .maintenance. Delete this file. Your WordPress installation should exit maintenance mode immediately.

Broken Layout or Functionality

The site loads, but the styling is off, or specific functions (like the contact form) no longer work.

• Solution: Clear caching layers (browser, plugin, server-side). If the problem persists, this is almost always a conflict between the new WordPress version and a specific installed plugin or theme. Ensure you reactivate plugins and themes slowly. The issue usually lies with a plugin that has not yet been updated for the new WordPress content folder structure or new features in the core.

Conclusion: Keep WordPress Updated for Security and Performance

Maintaining a secure and prosperous WordPress website requires regular updates to ensure its security and stability. Whether you choose to use a manual update method with an FTP client or file manager, or enable automatic updates in your wp-config file, running the latest WordPress version is your best defence against threats.

Regular updates apply security patches, add new features, and fix bugs to improve site speed and performance.

Always follow the golden rule: back up your site before updating. This guide will help you update WordPress confidently, keeping your website fast, stable, and secure.

Staying proactive with WordPress updates protects your site from vulnerabilities and ensures long-term reliability.

FAQs About Updating WordPress Manually or Automatically