We all know that WordPress is a popular content management system, which is free to use to help users set up blogs and websites with great ease. Like any other software, it is updated regularly to keep up with the increasing needs of users. The WordPress team is constantly updating the basic functions of WordPress, as well as regularly fixing bugs and offering security updates. To keep your WordPress site in tip-top shape, you'll need to make some changes to WordPress.

This article is a quick guide to updating WordPress. We will explain exactly why and what you should update on a regular basis.

Why do you need to update WordPress?

There are several reasons why you should update WordPress regularly:

1 - For its new featuresIf you want to include any new functionality provided in a revised version of WordPress, you will need to update it. For example, the new Twenty Seventeen default theme introduced by the 4.7 version of WordPress "Vaughan" focuses on businesses, and can add featured images and video headers.

Twenty seventeen wordpress presentation of the theme

If you like these new features offered by twenty seventeen and want to add to your WordPress, you will need to update.

2 - Improve compatibility with plugins: Often, it happens that many plugin authors check their work to see if the plugins remain compatible with the WordPress kernel after a major update. They update the plugins, whenever necessary. So that these plugins work without conflict on your site, it will be necessary to often make an update.

3 - bug fixes : Many small defects can become known after a major update. So, WordPress publishes minor updates to fix these bugs and you should make those changes as well.

4 - Improve performance: An update can also add features that tone the performance of WordPress. It can add features and features that enhance the overall performance of WordPress.

5 - Safety: With more than 25% of websites using WordPress, it is a target of regular attacks. The WordPress community team and its users are alert to security vulnerabilities and fix them promptly. To keep your Website in secure, you must be sure to perform these updates on your site as well.

What should you update?

Here's what you need to monitor and update,

  • WordPress Core - Major and Minor Update
  • Themes:
  • Plugins

At the same time, check for available updates of third-party themes and plugins as well (those you have manually installed).

How to Update WordPress - Overview

These simple steps will help you keep your WordPress installation up-to-date,

1 - Important precaution before WordPress update: Always save your site before making major changes. If it is often possible that you can update your installation without any problem, it can happen that in some cases, the update causes a huge compatibility problem with your plugins and this may prevent you from accessing your application. dashboard. By having a backup, you can go back to disable the plugins in question.

2 - Consult the "changelog" to understand what has changed: If you don't need a feature, you can choose not to update your WordPress.

3 - Test the updates in a test site : This way you will know if there is an incompatibility between your WordPress installation and the update you just installed. And from there, you can easily know how to fix these various issues.

wp staging

the plugin WP Staging  can create a staged version of your Website. It creates a duplicate of your Website live, including the entire database data, in a subfolder of your current WordPress installation. You can test your update here, before applying this to your active installation. An added benefit is that it can help you avoid downtime when updating. However, at present the plugin is not capable of applying changes in the active version of your blog.

4 - Install the updates you want to have : Keep in mind that when it comes to security updates, you don't have a lot of choice and will have to install it anyway.

5 - Examen: Review your website, especially the features that have been updated.

Learn more about updates

This isn't the first time we've been talking about updates. You can learn more by reading these tutorials:

How to Manage Your WordPress Blog Updates

Quick updates for themes

How to automate the update process

That's all for this tutorial, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask them.