Why do we need to keep our WordPress website up to date? The most important reason is for WordPress security patches. When the platform suffers from vulnerabilities, bugs, or hacks, it must be updated so that no one can break into the website. Another factor is the addition of new functionalities, features, website speed, and the incorporation of nearly every new platform and plugin.
Most WordPress users are concerned that allowing updates would cause their website to crash, particularly if the integrations used are also outdated. A failed update will cause your theme to become unstable and, eventually, crash your website.
Here are few pointers on how to safely update your WordPress website:
1. Backup Everything
Backing up your website’s files and database is essential. You can do it manually by navigating to File Manager in your hosting CPanel. Compress the files before downloading them. To export the database, go to PHPMyAdmin and then export the database.
Your host or CPanel will also likely include a backup option. If it doesn’t, WordPress plugins such as UpdraftPlus, VaultPress, BlogVault are the most popular choices for creating a WordPress backup.
2. Update Your Plugins and Themes
Plugins and themes must also be updated. To avoid conflicts, you must first read the documentation to see if the specific plugin or theme is compatible with the most recent WordPress update.
A. Updating Plugins
B. Updating Theme
3. Turn Caching Off
This is just an option. If you have a caching plugin installed on your website, you must disable it before performing the update because it causes some conflicts with the update.
You Can Now Update Your Website
Your WordPress core can now be updated. You can find the Update Now button in the WordPress dashboard and click it. Simply wait a few moments to ensure that the update is successful. If the update is complete, wait a few minutes for your website to warm up.
Check to see if something is wrong, and then re-enable caching. Also, don’t forget to backup your site’s updated state.