How to Update WordPress

Overview

Keeping WordPress up to date is an important part of maintaining a secure, reliable website.

WordPress regularly releases updates that can include:

• Security fixes

• Bug fixes

• Performance improvements

• New features

• Compatibility improvements

Have Freedom Hosting provides the hosting environment for your website, but keeping the WordPress software installed on your account up to date is generally part of managing your website.

This guide explains the safest ways to update WordPress and what to do if something goes wrong.

Before You Update

Before performing a major WordPress update, make sure you have a current backup of your website.

A WordPress website generally consists of:

WordPress Files
+
Database

Both are important.

A backup of only your website files may not be enough to fully restore a WordPress installation because posts, pages, settings, users, and other information are stored in the database.

Check Your Current WordPress Version

You can usually see your WordPress version from the WordPress administration dashboard.

Log in to:

https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin

The WordPress dashboard will notify you when updates are available.

You can also check the update screen through:

Dashboard → Updates

The exact appearance of the dashboard may vary depending on your WordPress version and installed plugins.

Updating WordPress From the Dashboard

For most websites, the easiest method is to update WordPress directly through the administration dashboard.

1. Log in to WordPress.

2. Open Dashboard → Updates.

3. Review the available updates.

4. Make sure you have a current backup.

5. Select the option to update WordPress.

6. Wait for the update to complete.

7. Allow WordPress to finish any database updates it needs to perform.

8. Review your website afterward.

Do not close the browser or interrupt the update while WordPress is performing the upgrade.

Automatic WordPress Updates

WordPress supports automatic updates for certain types of updates.

Automatic updates can be convenient because security and maintenance releases can be installed without requiring you to manually perform every update.

However, you should still maintain regular backups and periodically check that your website is functioning correctly.

Automatic updates are not a replacement for backups or website maintenance.

Updating WordPress Through Your Hosting Account

Depending on your hosting configuration, WordPress may also be manageable through tools provided by cPanel or an application-management system.

If WordPress was installed through Softaculous, you may have WordPress management and update options available there.

The exact options depend on your installation and the version of Softaculous available on your hosting account.

Before using a hosting-side update tool, make sure you understand which WordPress installation it is modifying.

This is especially important if your hosting account contains multiple WordPress websites.

Make Sure You're Updating the Correct Website

If you have multiple WordPress installations, verify the domain before updating.

For example:

example.com
blog.example.com
store.example.com

Each may contain a separate WordPress installation.

Updating one installation does not automatically update the others.

What Happens During an Update?

When WordPress updates, it replaces or modifies parts of the WordPress software.

It may also perform database updates.

Your website files and database should normally remain intact, but unexpected compatibility problems can occasionally occur.

This is why having a current backup before major changes is important.

WordPress Updates vs Plugin and Theme Updates

Updating WordPress itself is only one part of maintaining a WordPress website.

A typical WordPress installation contains:

WordPress Core
Plugins
Themes
Content
Database

Each of these components can affect the others.

For example, an outdated plugin may not work correctly with a newer WordPress release.

For this reason, you should also keep your plugins and themes maintained.

After Updating WordPress

Once the update completes, visit your website.

Check several important areas, such as:

• Homepage

• Navigation

• Contact forms

• Login

• Important pages

• Online store functionality, if applicable

• Member or customer areas

• Other features your visitors use

If possible, also log back into WordPress and verify that the dashboard is functioning normally.

Clear Caches if Necessary

If your website uses caching, you may need to clear the appropriate cache after an update.

Caching can exist at several levels, including:

• WordPress plugins

• Web servers

• Hosting systems

• Browsers

• Content delivery networks

If you've updated WordPress but you're still seeing an old version of a page, caching may be responsible.

Don't immediately assume the update failed.

If Your Website Shows a Maintenance Message

During an update, WordPress may temporarily place the website into maintenance mode.

Normally, this is brief.

If your website remains stuck showing a maintenance message after an interrupted update, additional troubleshooting may be necessary.

Do not repeatedly start updates if you're unsure what happened.

If the Update Fails

If a WordPress update doesn't complete successfully:

1. Don't immediately make multiple additional changes.

2. Check whether the WordPress dashboard is accessible.

3. Check whether the public website still works.

4. Review any error message displayed.

5. Check your available hosting storage.

6. Check whether a plugin or theme was recently changed.

7. Review your backup options.

8. Contact Have Freedom Hosting Support if the problem appears to involve the hosting environment.

If you have a recent backup, it may be possible to restore the website to its previous state.

Common WordPress Update Problems

"WordPress Says an Update Is Available but Won't Install"

Possible causes include:

• Insufficient hosting storage

• File permission problems

• Interrupted previous updates

• Plugin conflicts

• Theme conflicts

• Temporary connection problems

• Other WordPress configuration issues

Record the exact error message before contacting support.

"My Website Broke After a WordPress Update"

A WordPress update can expose compatibility problems with an older plugin or theme.

Check whether:

• A plugin has an available update.

• Your active theme has an available update.

• The problem began immediately after the WordPress update.

• The WordPress dashboard is still accessible.

Avoid randomly disabling or deleting plugins unless you understand the consequences.

"The Website Is Blank or Shows an Error"

A blank page or server error after an update can have several causes.

Possible causes include:

• Plugin incompatibility

• Theme incompatibility

• PHP compatibility issues

• File problems

• Resource limitations

• Configuration errors

Record the exact error and contact Have Freedom Hosting Support if you need assistance determining whether the problem is related to the hosting environment.

"My Website Looks the Same After Updating"

The update may have completed successfully but cached content may still be displayed.

Try:

1. Refreshing the page.

2. Checking from another browser or private window.

3. Clearing applicable WordPress or hosting caches.

4. Checking the WordPress version from the dashboard.

Check PHP Compatibility

WordPress runs using PHP, so the PHP version configured for your hosting account can affect compatibility.

If WordPress or a plugin reports that your PHP version is unsupported or outdated, review your PHP configuration through:

cPanel → Software → MultiPHP Manager

You may also have access to:

cPanel → Software → MultiPHP INI Editor

Do not change PHP versions blindly on a production website.

Before changing PHP versions, verify that your WordPress installation, plugins, and theme support the version you intend to use.

Keep Plugins and Themes Updated Too

Keeping WordPress core updated while leaving plugins and themes outdated can still leave your website vulnerable to problems.

Regularly review:

WordPress → Dashboard → Updates

and install available updates for:

• WordPress

• Plugins

• Themes

Always maintain backups before making significant changes.

Don't Ignore Security Updates

Security updates are particularly important.

If WordPress identifies an update as a security release, don't postpone it indefinitely.

An outdated website can contain vulnerabilities that attackers may attempt to exploit.

Keeping your software current is one of the simplest ways to reduce avoidable security problems.

Best Practices

When maintaining WordPress:

• Keep WordPress up to date.

• Keep plugins and themes up to date.

• Maintain current backups.

• Test important website functions after major updates.

• Keep PHP reasonably current and compatible.

• Remove plugins and themes you no longer need.

• Only install software from sources you trust.

• Don't make major changes without a backup.

• Keep track of significant changes to your website.

Before Major WordPress Updates

For a business-critical website, consider taking a little extra time before major updates.

A good preparation checklist is:

• Confirm you have a recent backup.

• Make sure you can access WordPress.

• Know how to access your hosting account and cPanel.

• Check for available plugin and theme updates.

• Confirm your PHP version is supported.

• Avoid making several unrelated changes at the same time.

This makes troubleshooting much easier if something goes wrong.

Need Help?

WordPress updates are normally straightforward, but compatibility problems can occasionally occur.

If your website stops working after an update, don't panic and don't immediately start changing unrelated settings.

Take note of what changed, save any error messages, and contact Have Freedom Hosting Support if you need help determining whether the problem is related to your hosting environment.

Never provide your WordPress, cPanel, Customer Portal, or email passwords in a support ticket.