How to Undo a Faulty WordPress Update: A Guide

Introduction

As a WordPress user, you may encounter updates that cause headaches. Whether it’s broken functionality, compatibility issues, or conflicts with your theme or plugins, these faulty updates can be frustrating and time-consuming. However, don’t fret just yet! In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps of how to undo a WordPress update to restore your site to its previous state.

1. Backup Your Site

The first step is to create a backup of your site. This backup will allow you to restore your site to its previous state in case something goes wrong during the undo process. You can make a backup of your site using a plugin like UpdraftPlus or manually through your hosting provider’s control panel.

2. Check For Compatibility Issues

Compatibility issues may be the main culprit for a problematic update. It’s crucial to identify any compatibility issues before undoing the update. Check if any of your theme or plugin developers have released updates to address compatibility issues with the latest version of WordPress. If there are no updates available, you may need to switch to a different theme or plugin.

3. Checkout Your Site’s Logs

WordPress logs can help you identify what went wrong with the update. You can access your site’s logs through your hosting provider’s control panel, or use a plugin like WP Log Viewer. Look for errors or warnings that occurred around the time of the update. If you find any errors that are related to the update, you may be able to fix them and avoid having to undo the update altogether.

4. Rollback WordPress to a Previous Version

If you’ve determined that the update is causing a significant problem on your site, the next step is to rollback WordPress to a previous version. There are several methods you can use to achieve this.

Method 1: Using a Plugin: Use the WP Downgrade plugin to easily rollback WordPress to a previous version. Install and activate the WP Downgrade plugin, enter the version number you want to downgrade to, and the plugin will automatically download and install the previous version of WordPress.

Method 2: Manual Rollback: Manually rollback WordPress by downloading the previous version of WordPress from the WordPress.org release archive. Delete the current WordPress files from your site and replace them with the files from the previous version.

Method 3: Use Your Hosting Provider’s Backup: Most hosting providers automatically create backups of your site before updates are installed. Roll back WordPress using one of these backups if you don’t have a backup of your own.

5. Test Your Site

After undoing the WordPress update, it’s essential to test your site thoroughly to ensure that everything is working correctly. Test all of your site’s functionality, including plugins and themes that had issues with the previous version of WordPress. If everything looks good, congratulations, you’re done!

Conclusion

Undoing a WordPress update can be a frustrating experience, but by following these steps, you can restore your site to its previous state quickly and easily. Remember always to backup your site before making any changes, identify compatibility issues, and carefully choose the method you use to rollback WordPress. By taking these precautions, you can avoid the risk of data loss and ensure your site is always running smoothly.