What You Need to Know About Updating Your WordPress Site

Are you feeling bored with your website’s outdated look? Do you want to make sure your site remains secure and functional? Look no further than the world’s most widely used content management system – WordPress! In this article, we’ll be walking you through the update process, step-by-step.

Backing Up Your Site

First things first, it’s crucial to back up your site before updating. This is because updates can lead to errors or unexpected issues, and a backup is a quick solution to restore your site to its previous state. You can backup your site manually or through plugins such as UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy.

Updating the WordPress Core

The WordPress platform comprises two main components: the WordPress core and the plugins and themes you’ve installed. Before updating anything else, update your WordPress core to the latest version. Navigate to the Updates section on your WordPress dashboard and click on “Update Now” if an update is available. Don’t close the update window; otherwise, it can cause the update process to fail.

Updating Plugins and Themes

Once you’ve updated your WordPress core, proceed to update your plugins and themes. An essential step as outdated plugins and themes can make your site vulnerable to security issues. Go to the Updates section on the left-hand side of your WordPress dashboard to see if there’s an update available for any of your plugins or themes. It’s highly recommended to update your plugins and themes one by one to identify issues that might arise and ensure compatibility with the latest version of WordPress.

Testing Your Site After Updating

Testing your site after updating is crucial. Navigate around your website and interact with it to check that all features work correctly, such as contact forms, shopping carts, and other crucial features. Don’t forget to check your website’s appearance to ensure that it remains uniform and professional.

Final Thoughts

Updating your website is a necessary part of maintaining a healthy and functioning website. Always start with updating the WordPress core, then proceed to update your plugins and themes one at a time. Remember to back up your site before updating, and if you’re not confident about updating, hire a professional web developer to guide you.