Update WordPress¶

Use this page when updating WordPress core, plugins, or themes. Create a backup first, review the riskier components, and use WP-CLI from SSH when the update needs a precise command-line workflow.

Before You Update¶

1. Create a backup.
2. Confirm the site works before you start.
3. Review whether the site has high-risk features such as WooCommerce, memberships, bookings, forms, or custom code.
4. If the update is large, test on a staging copy first.

Update From WordPress Admin¶

1. Sign in to WordPress as an administrator.
2. Open Dashboard > Updates.
3. Update WordPress core if an update is available.
4. Update plugins and themes.
5. Test the public site and admin dashboard.

During some updates, visitors may briefly see a maintenance message. That is normal as long as it clears after the update finishes.

Update Plugins And Themes Safely¶

For routine updates, updating several small plugins together is usually fine. For important plugins, update one at a time and test afterward.

Pay extra attention to:

• WooCommerce and payment plugins.
• Form, booking, and membership plugins.
• Page builders.
• Security and caching plugins.
• Custom or privately maintained themes.

Review plugin and theme management

Automatic Updates¶

Automatic updates can be useful for low-risk plugins and themes. They are less ideal when the site has ecommerce, membership, custom code, or plugins that need manual testing.

To enable automatic updates from WordPress:

1. Open Plugins or Appearance > Themes.
2. Find the item you want WordPress to update automatically.
3. Click Enable auto-updates.
4. Keep backups in place and review the site periodically.

Update From SSH With WP-CLI¶

Run update checks from the WordPress document root:

wp core check-update
wp plugin list --update=available
wp theme list --update=available

Apply updates one component at a time on important sites:

wp core update
wp plugin update plugin-slug
wp theme update theme-slug

Review wp-toolkit and WP-CLI update options

If An Update Fails¶

1. Do not repeatedly retry the same update without changing anything.
2. Check whether you can still access WordPress admin.
3. Restore from backup if the public site is down.
4. Disable the recently updated plugin or theme if that appears to be the cause.
5. Contact Fused if you need help restoring access or reviewing the account.

Related Guides¶