WordPress is known as one of the most popular platforms for individuals and businesses. It’s an ideal place to make money in the 4.0 era.
Like applications and software, WordPress should be updated regularly to improve performance and security.
In this article, you will learn more about the benefits of the latest WordPress version and how to update your WordPress securely.
Why you should update your WordPress to the latest version
All applications and software need to be updated frequently to provide customers with an optimal experience. WordPress is no exception.
So why does using the latest version of WordPress impact the user experience?
Security guarantee
Improving security is the top priority for all WordPress site owners. Your WordPress, including the core, themes and plugins, should be updated on an ongoing basis. Otherwise, your website can be easily exploited by hackers via published bugs and limitations.
Since WordPress is open source, anyone can access and study the source code, including hackers. The older the version you are using, the more vulnerabilities it has. In the worst case scenario, you could become a victim of content theft.
New function updates
WordPress is regularly updated with new features and improvements that help to optimize your websites.
For example, WordPress 4.8 has media widgets consisting of text, audio, image and video, while WordPress 4.9 introduces a new gallery widget that allows you to create a native WordPress gallery.
Faster website loading speed
The speed of your website helps to keep potential customers on your site for longer. Visitors tend to leave your website immediately if they experience a slow loading speed or an interruption during their session.
Outdated WordPress versions usually run slowly or don’t work properly. This causes you to lose customers and decreases your brand’s credibility. Meanwhile, an updated version brings performance improvements and increased speed. Your website will remain fast and responsive.
Bug fixes
Although WordPress versions are always rigorously tested before release, sometimes a bug can fall through the cracks.
One example: In the 3.8.2 update, the “Quick Draft” tool on the dashboard screen was broken. Version 3.8.3 was released to fix this problem.
Best practices for WordPress updates
Updating WordPress safely requires a few steps. Of course, you should always back up your site before updates (though many people don’t).
Then, update in sequence: core first, then plugins, then themes, and test functionality between each step. It’s a good idea to schedule updates during low-traffic periods to minimize disruption.
After updating, it’s important to thoroughly test all site features and monitor performance for a few days. While minor updates can be automated, handle major version updates manually.
To keep your website as secure as possible, remove unused plugins/themes, use strong passwords, and consider security plugins or managed WordPress hosting services that handle updates professionally.
How to update your version of WordPress
It is not always advisable to update the new WordPress version immediately on your live site, as conflicts or errors may occur.
However, it is highly recommended to update your WordPress after you have fully tested the latest version on your staging site. Don’t forget to back up your site before moving on to the next step.
There are three methods to update WordPress to the latest version: manual update, automatic updates or using a plugin.
Manual update of WordPress
On your WordPress website, go to Dashboard > Updates and check the new WordPress version at the top of the page.
Click on Please update now to initiate the website update. The Updates page will appear, where you should select the Update Now button.
Automatic updates
WordPress offers you the option of activating the automatic update function for themes, plugins and versions. Once you have set the automatic update mode, WordPress will send you notifications when the update process has taken place.
By default, your website will be updated automatically from WordPress 3.7 onwards.
If you are tech-savvy, you can add a custom code to your wp-config.php file to enable or disable automatic updates of your WordPress website.
Turn off automatic updates for WordPress core:
define( ‘WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE’, false );Turn off all automatic updates, including themes and plugins:
define( ‘AUTOMATIC_UPDATER_DISABLED’, true );Use plugins
There are several WordPress plugins that help you manage automatic updates, such as Advanced Automatic Updates or WP Updates Settings.
In this article, we’ll show you how to use the Advanced Automatic Updates plugin for WordPress updates.
Step 1: Install and activate the Advanced Automatic Updates plugin on your website.
You can then configure the plugin settings in the Settings tab.
Step 2: Activate or deactivate automatic updates
All you have to do is select or deselect the update options you want to enable or disable. Then save your settings and that’s it.
Step 3: Receive notifications about automatic WordPress updates
Most WordPress plugins for automatic updates allow you to select the notification. In this case, you can receive email notifications to fix updates in a timely manner.
Keep your WordPress up to date
Keeping your WordPress website up to date is important. If you want to have a chance of ranking high in Google’s search engine, your website needs to be fast and efficient . Not only can you attract more potential customers, but you can also increase your sales.
In this article, we have presented three methods for WordPress updates: manual updates, automatic updates and the use of plugins. What’s your favorite solution? Let us know in the comments section below.
