How to Update WordPress Plugins and Themes

Overview

WordPress plugins and themes add functionality and design features to your website, but they also need to be kept up to date.

Updates can include:

• Security fixes

• Bug fixes

• Compatibility improvements

• Performance improvements

• New features

• Support for newer WordPress or PHP versions

Keeping plugins and themes updated is an important part of maintaining a secure and reliable WordPress website.

Before Updating

Before making significant updates, make sure you have a current backup of your website.

A WordPress backup should generally include both:

• Your WordPress files

• Your WordPress database

This gives you a way to recover if an update causes an unexpected problem.

For a business-critical website, consider making a backup before applying a large group of updates rather than updating everything without a recovery plan.

Updating Plugins From WordPress

The simplest way to update plugins is usually through the WordPress administration dashboard.

1. Log in to WordPress.

2. Go to Dashboard → Updates.

3. Review the available plugin updates.

4. Select the plugins you want to update.

5. Start the update.

6. Wait for each update to complete.

7. Visit your website afterward and verify that everything still works.

You can also manage individual plugins through:

Plugins → Installed Plugins

Plugins with available updates will normally indicate that a newer version is available.

Updating Themes From WordPress

Themes can be updated through the WordPress dashboard.

Go to:

Dashboard → Updates

or:

Appearance → Themes

Review the available theme updates and install them as appropriate.

After updating an active theme, visit your website and check the pages most important to your visitors.

Be Careful With Active Themes

Updating an active theme changes the files currently responsible for much of your website's appearance and functionality.

Before updating an active theme:

• Make sure you have a backup.

• Check the theme's update information.

• Review whether you have customized the theme.

• Make sure any required child theme is still being used.

Child Themes and Customizations

If you've modified theme files directly, a theme update may overwrite those modifications.

For example, if you manually edited:

functions.php

or another theme file, those changes may be lost when the theme is replaced with a newer version.

For websites requiring custom theme modifications, a properly configured child theme is often a better approach.

If you're unsure whether your theme has been customized, don't update it blindly.

Make a backup first and review how the website was originally configured.

Updating Multiple Plugins

WordPress can allow you to update several plugins at once.

This can save time, but it also makes troubleshooting more difficult if something breaks.

For a small personal website, updating several compatible plugins at once may be perfectly reasonable.

For an important business website, you may prefer to update them individually or in small groups.

This makes it easier to identify which update caused a problem.

Check Plugin Compatibility

Before installing or updating a plugin, review the information provided by its developer.

Look for information such as:

• Supported WordPress versions

• PHP requirements

• Recent update history

• Compatibility notices

• Known issues

An abandoned or poorly maintained plugin can become a security and compatibility risk.

Remove Plugins You Don't Need

Keeping an unused plugin installed isn't usually beneficial.

If you no longer need a plugin:

1. Make sure you don't need its functionality.

2. Deactivate it.

3. Delete it if appropriate.

4. Verify that your website still works.

Don't keep dozens of unused plugins installed simply because you might use them someday.

The same principle applies to unused themes.

Deactivate vs Delete

These two actions are different.

Deactivate disables a plugin but generally leaves its files installed.

Delete removes the plugin files.

If you're troubleshooting a plugin problem, you may want to deactivate it first.

If you've permanently decided that you no longer need it, deleting it may be appropriate.

Some plugins also leave configuration or database information behind after deletion, so don't assume that deleting a plugin automatically removes every trace of it.

Automatic Plugin Updates

WordPress supports automatic updates for plugins in many installations.

Automatic updates can reduce the amount of maintenance required, particularly for security releases.

However, automatic updates don't eliminate the need for:

• Backups

• Testing

• Monitoring

• Removing abandoned plugins

• Checking for compatibility problems

A website should still be reviewed periodically even if automatic updates are enabled.

Plugin and Theme Updates Through Softaculous

If your WordPress installation is managed through Softaculous, additional WordPress management options may be available there.

The exact features depend on your installation and the version of Softaculous provided with your hosting account.

If you have multiple WordPress installations, make sure you're managing the correct domain before making changes.

After Updating a Plugin or Theme

Always test your website after significant updates.

At minimum, check:

• Homepage

• Navigation

• Contact forms

• Login

• Important pages

• Menus

• Search

• Online store functionality, if applicable

• Membership functionality, if applicable

• Any feature provided by the plugin you updated

For a theme update, pay particular attention to the appearance and layout of the website.

Clear Caches if Necessary

If you've updated a plugin or theme but don't see the expected changes, caching may be involved.

Check for caching at the:

• WordPress plugin level

• Hosting/server level

• Browser level

• CDN level

Clear the appropriate cache and refresh the website.

Avoid making repeated changes simply because an old cached version is still being displayed.

If a Plugin Update Breaks Your Website

Don't panic.

First, determine whether the problem started immediately after the update.

If you can still access WordPress:

1. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins.

2. Identify the recently updated plugin.

3. Deactivate it if appropriate.

4. Check the website again.

5. Review any error messages.

6. Check whether the plugin has a newer release addressing the problem.

7. Contact the plugin developer if the issue is specific to the plugin.

If the website is inaccessible, additional troubleshooting may be required.

If a Theme Update Breaks Your Website

If the problem began immediately after a theme update, the theme may be responsible.

Possible causes include:

• Theme incompatibility

• Customizations being overwritten

• Plugin/theme conflicts

• PHP compatibility issues

• WordPress compatibility issues

If you have a backup from before the update, restoration may be an option.

Avoid making additional major changes until you've determined what caused the problem.

Plugin Conflicts

Sometimes two otherwise functional plugins don't work correctly together.

A conflict may cause:

• Broken pages

• Missing functionality

• Error messages

• Slow performance

• Unexpected behavior

• A blank or partially rendered page

If you suspect a plugin conflict, identify what changed immediately before the problem began.

If necessary, plugins can be tested individually to determine which one is responsible.

Keep PHP in Mind

WordPress plugins and themes rely on PHP.

If a plugin or theme requires a newer PHP version than your hosting account is using, it may not work correctly.

You can review PHP settings through:

cPanel → Software → MultiPHP Manager

If you need to change the PHP version, verify compatibility with your WordPress installation, plugins, and theme first.

Do not change PHP versions simply to resolve a plugin error without checking compatibility.

Security and Plugin Updates

Plugins and themes can contain security vulnerabilities.

An outdated plugin isn't necessarily compromised, but known vulnerabilities can make outdated software an attractive target.

When maintaining WordPress:

• Install updates from trusted sources.

• Remove plugins you don't need.

• Avoid abandoned software.

• Pay attention to security advisories.

• Keep WordPress itself updated.

• Keep your PHP environment reasonably current.

Be Careful With Unofficial Plugins and Themes

Avoid installing pirated, modified, or "nulled" versions of commercial WordPress plugins and themes.

These files may contain malicious code, backdoors, or other unwanted modifications.

Use legitimate sources and obtain software directly from the developer or a reputable marketplace.

Common Problems

"The Plugin Won't Update"

Possible causes include:

• Insufficient storage

• File permission problems

• Connection problems

• Plugin licensing issues

• Compatibility problems

• WordPress configuration issues

Record the exact error before troubleshooting further.

"The Website Broke After a Plugin Update"

Determine which plugin was updated immediately before the problem started.

If possible, deactivate the affected plugin and test the website again.

If the issue disappears, contact the plugin developer or review the plugin's compatibility information.

"My Theme Changes Disappeared"

If you edited the theme's files directly, an update may have overwritten those changes.

This is one reason custom modifications should generally be handled through a child theme or another appropriate customization method.

"Everything Looks the Same After Updating"

Clear applicable WordPress, hosting, CDN, and browser caches.

If the website still appears unchanged, verify that the update actually completed.

"I Have Too Many Plugins"

Review your installed plugins and remove ones you no longer need.

Having fewer well-maintained plugins can make a WordPress website easier to maintain and troubleshoot.

Best Practices

When managing WordPress plugins and themes:

• Keep them updated.

• Maintain current backups.

• Test important websites after updates.

• Remove unused plugins and themes.

• Use legitimate software sources.

• Review compatibility before major updates.

• Avoid changing several unrelated things at once.

• Keep track of significant changes.

• Don't ignore security-related updates.

• Keep WordPress core updated as well.

A Simple Maintenance Routine

For a typical WordPress website, periodically:

1. Check Dashboard → Updates.

2. Review available WordPress updates.

3. Review plugin updates.

4. Review theme updates.

5. Confirm you have a recent backup.

6. Apply updates.

7. Visit the website.

8. Test important functionality.

9. Investigate anything that changed unexpectedly.

You don't need to spend hours maintaining a simple website, but you should avoid letting it go months without checking for updates.

Need Help?

Have Freedom Hosting can help with hosting-related problems, but individual WordPress plugins and themes are developed and supported by their respective developers.

If a plugin or theme is causing a problem, provide as much information as possible, including:

• Your domain

• The affected plugin or theme

• What changed

• The exact error message

• Whether the WordPress dashboard is accessible

• Whether the problem affects the entire website or only a specific feature

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