Introduction

Keeping WordPress updated is one of the most important tasks in maintaining a secure and reliable website.

WordPress updates often include:

• Security fixes
• Bug fixes
• Performance improvements
• New features
• Compatibility updates

Regular updates help keep your website secure, stable and functioning correctly.

This guide explains how to safely update WordPress, plugins and themes.

Why Are Updates Important?

WordPress is continuously improved by its developers.

Updates help protect your website against:

• Security vulnerabilities
• Malware attacks
• Compatibility issues
• Software bugs

Running outdated versions of WordPress may increase the risk of website problems and security issues.

Before You Update

Before performing any updates, it is strongly recommended that you create a backup of your website.

This allows you to restore your website if anything unexpected occurs during the update process.

If your hosting account includes WordPress Manager, please see:

How to Back Up WordPress Using WordPress Manager in DirectAdmin

Step 1 – Log Into WordPress

Open your browser and visit:  https://yourdomain.co.za/wp-admin

(Replace yourdomain.co.za with your own domain name.)

Enter your WordPress username and password.

Click: Log In

Step 2 – Check for Available Updates

From the WordPress Dashboard:

Click: Dashboard

Then: Updates

WordPress will display any available updates for:

• WordPress Core
• Plugins
• Themes

Updating WordPress Core

If a WordPress update is available:

Click: Update to Version X.X

(The version number will vary.)

WordPress will automatically download and install the update.

Wait for the process to complete.

Do not close your browser while the update is in progress.

Updating Plugins

Plugins should be updated regularly to maintain security and compatibility.

To update plugins:

Click: Plugins

Then: Installed Plugins

Select the plugins you wish to update.

Choose: Update or Bulk Actions → Update

Click: Apply

Allow the updates to complete.

Updating Themes

Themes should also be kept up to date.

To update themes:

Click: Appearance

Then: Themes

If an update is available, WordPress will display an update notification.

Click: Update Now

Allow the update to complete.

Step 3 – Test Your Website

After completing updates:

Visit your website and check:

• Home page
• Contact forms
• Menus
• Images
• Login pages
• Any important functionality

This helps ensure everything is working correctly.

Common Update Issues

Website Displays an Error

Occasionally a plugin or theme may not be compatible with a newer version of WordPress.

If problems occur:

• Restore a backup if available.
• Disable recently updated plugins.
• Contact your website developer.

White Screen After Updating

A white screen is usually caused by:

• Plugin conflicts
• Theme issues
• PHP compatibility problems

Review your website error logs or contact your developer for assistance.

Plugin Update Fails

Verify:

• Your hosting account has sufficient resources.
• File permissions are correct.
• The plugin is compatible with your version of WordPress.

Automatic Updates

WordPress can automatically install some updates.

However, it is still recommended that you:

• Monitor updates regularly.
• Create backups.
• Test your website after major updates.

How Often Should I Update WordPress?

For most websites:

• Check for updates at least once per week.
• Apply security updates as soon as possible.
• Keep plugins and themes updated regularly.

Frequent updates help reduce security risks.

Security Recommendations

To keep your WordPress website secure:

• Keep WordPress updated.
• Keep plugins updated.
• Keep themes updated.
• Remove unused plugins.
• Remove unused themes.
• Create regular backups.
• Use strong passwords.