Updating a WordPress website is very crucial to its optimal performance & security. But the irony is that most websites that run on WordPress are never updated for months or even years. This could lead to several issues, such as:
- Security: If the WordPress core, plugins, or theme of your website is running on an outdated version, your site can have vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.
- Performance: The plugin developers and theme builders often upgrade their code so that their plugins/themes can perform well with the changing technologies. But if you don’t update them on your website, it can lead to poor performance.
- Compatibility: To ensure that all the plugins, WordPress Core, & theme of your website run in perfect harmony, make sure to update them regularly.
Now, most webmasters may wonder, “How often should I update my WordPress site?”. If you also have the same question in your mind, this is for you. In this blog post, we have shared how often you should update your website’s software, plugins, and themes.
When should you update your WordPress Core?
The WordPress Core should be updated whenever it shows a warning or notification on your desktop. When you log in to your WordPress backend, it takes you to the dashboard, where you can see on the top a notification that says something like “WordPress X.XX is available! Please update now.” Although it’s not crucial to update your WordPress version as soon as it starts showing, you should have this task in your follow-up to-do list for your website. In most cases (not all), updating the WordPress Core to its latest version shouldn’t disturb your website. But it’s advised to take a complete backup of your website before you do anything.
When should you update your website’s plugins?
Your WordPress website may be using a few or even a dozen plugins. You will likely keep getting notifications or warnings to update your plugins. Some plugins are crucial to update as soon as possible, while others can wait. Below are some of the critical plugins that you must update or add to your to-do list when you see a notification in your plugins page to update them.
Here are some examples of those crucial plugins to update on top priority.
- Security plugins (like Wordfence Security) – This plugin protects your site from hacks and malware. It’s vital to update it whenever a new release is available for the security plugins.
- E-Commerce plugins (such as WooCommerce) – If your business relies on e-commerce stores, then you must keep updating your WooCommerce plugin regularly. Not updating it may affect your sales.
- SEO Plugins (such as All-in-One SEO) – SEO is an integral part of any online business. The SEO plugins must be updated periodically.
- Page Builder Plugins (like Elementor) – Outdated versions may break site layouts or expose vulnerabilities. Therefore, you must update this plugin as soon as you can.
Before you update your WordPress plugins, make sure to consult a professional WordPress builder who can guide you on the same.
When should you update your website’s theme?
Updating a WordPress site’s theme is not a piece of cake. Although this can be done with just a few clicks, in most cases, updating a WordPress theme without taking the required precautions can disrupt the site’s design.
Fortunately, you don’t need to update it often. But you must schedule your theme’s update once every six months or once a year.
Again, hire an expert WordPress developer to update the theme of your website.
Advise before updating your WordPress website.
- Take a full backup
- Make sure you test after the update
- Make sure you have the support of your developer
Tip: Hire a professional developer so that you don’t have to keep checking the plugins or theme to update them. Instead, outsource your website to a website agency or a developer to manage it. If you are on a budget, hire a website developer in India to update & maintain your site regularly.
