Putting off plugin updates feels like a small thing, but it’s like leaving your front door wide open online. It’s a simple chore, but skipping it can expose your website to major security holes, slow it down, and break important features. Knowing how to properly update plugins on WordPress isn't just a technical task—it's a core part of being a responsible site owner.
The Real Risks of Outdated WordPress Plugins
It’s tempting to just ignore those update notifications. We've all been there. But the fallout can be pretty serious. An outdated plugin is one of the most common ways hackers get in, and it's a risk you can completely avoid.
Security Vulnerabilities and Hacker Threats
The biggest and most immediate danger is security. Hackers are always on the lookout for websites running old software. They have tools that scan for known vulnerabilities—the very ones that developers have already fixed in the latest updates. Finding one is like an open invitation for them to inject malware, swipe customer data, or even lock you out of your own site.
If you want to get a better sense of the threats out there, it's worth digging into some broader web application security best practices. It really drives home why staying on top of updates is so critical for protecting your work.
Performance Degradation and SEO Impact
It’s not just about security, either. Old code is often clunky and inefficient, which can make your website painfully slow. That slow load time is a killer for user experience—most people won't stick around. On top of that, search engines like Google penalize slow websites, so ignoring updates can directly hurt your SEO and make it harder for people to find you.
Compatibility Conflicts and Broken Features
WordPress itself is constantly evolving with core updates. Plugin developers push out their own updates to make sure their code plays nicely with the latest version of WordPress. If you let a plugin get too old, a routine WordPress update could suddenly cause a conflict and break things on your site.
I’ve seen this happen countless times. Here’s what it can look like:
- The infamous "White Screen of Death," where your site just disappears.
- Contact forms stop working, and you don't even realize you're missing leads.
- E-commerce checkouts fail, costing you sales and frustrating customers.
- Layouts and designs break, making your site look unprofessional and untrustworthy.
The WordPress plugin ecosystem is massive. There are over 70,000 plugins available, and every single one is a potential weak spot if you don't keep it maintained.
The official WordPress repository is a huge library of tools, as you can see.
That sheer number alone shows why keeping everything up-to-date is so important for a stable, secure website.
WordPress is a giant. As of 2025, it runs 43.7% of all websites on the internet, holding a 62.8% share of the CMS market. Its popularity makes it a huge target for attackers. Since over 533 million websites depend on it, keeping plugins updated is a must for keeping the web safe. For a deeper dive into managing these updates, check out our guide on updating WordPress plugins.
Your Essential Pre-Update Safety Routine
Before you instinctively click that "update now" link, just pause for a second. Having a simple, disciplined safety routine can be the difference between a smooth update and a full-blown site emergency. I've learned from experience that treating every plugin update with a bit of caution prevents hours of future headaches.
This routine isn't just for major, complex plugins; it’s for every single update, every single time. Consistency is what turns this from a panicked, reactive scramble into a proactive strategy for keeping your WordPress site healthy.
Secure Your Ultimate Undo Button
First, and most importantly, get a complete backup of your website. Seriously. Think of it as your ultimate get-out-of-jail-free card. If an update introduces a conflict that breaks your site, a recent backup lets you restore everything to its last working state in just a few minutes.
Many quality hosting providers offer one-click backup solutions right in their control panel. If not, a trusted backup plugin is a fantastic way to get automated, reliable protection. I've had good results with these popular tools:
- UpdraftPlus: A widely used and highly-rated plugin for really comprehensive backups.
- Duplicator: Excellent for creating a complete clone of your site, which is super useful for both backups and migrations.
- WP Foundry: Our own desktop app includes a simple backup feature for your database, plugins, and themes, letting you create safeguards before you make any big changes.
Without a backup, you're flying blind. It’s a non-negotiable first step in any responsible plan to update plugins on a WordPress site.
Investigate the Plugin Changelog
Next up, take a moment to find out what the update actually does. Every plugin in the WordPress repository has a "View version details" link right next to the update notification. Clicking this pops up the changelog—basically, the developer's notes on what they’ve changed.
This small step gives you crucial context. You’re scanning for keywords that tell you about the update's urgency and potential impact.
A changelog that mentions a "security fix," "vulnerability patch," or "critical update" should be treated with high priority. These updates address known security holes and you should apply them as soon as possible—right after you've secured your backup, of course.
For updates that only mention minor feature tweaks or small bug fixes, some experienced site owners prefer to wait a few days. This gives the developer time to catch and patch any initial bugs that might have slipped into the new release before you install it on your site.
Use a Staging Environment for Zero-Risk Testing
For mission-critical websites—like e-commerce stores or high-traffic blogs—the gold standard for safety is a staging environment. This is an exact, private copy of your live website where you can test changes without any risk to your public-facing site.
Think of it as a dress rehearsal. You can update plugins on the staging site first and thoroughly check for any problems:
- Run all the plugin updates in your isolated staging copy.
- Click through your site, testing all the key functions.
- Check your contact forms, your e-commerce checkout process, and any other custom features.
- Keep an eye out for any visual glitches or layout problems.
If everything works perfectly, you can then perform the same updates on your live site with confidence. And if something does break? It happens in a safe sandbox where it doesn't affect your visitors or your revenue. Many managed WordPress hosts now offer easy-to-use staging features, making this professional-grade tool accessible to just about everyone. Adopting this practice is the single best way to ensure every update is a success.
Three Proven Methods to Update WordPress Plugins
Alright, with your pre-update checks done, it's time to roll up our sleeves and get those plugins updated. There's no single "best" way to handle this in WordPress. Your ideal method really depends on your comfort level with tech, how many sites you're juggling, and frankly, your personal preference.
We’re going to walk through three reliable methods to get your plugins up to date. Each one has its place, whether you're a hands-off blogger or a power user managing a fleet of client sites. This flexibility is one of the things I love most about the platform.
Here's a look at the most common way people update, right from the dashboard. It really is as simple as a click.
As you can see, the built-in system is designed to be incredibly straightforward, making it the go-to for most WordPress site owners.
The Classic Dashboard Update
This is the method nearly every WordPress user knows. It's built right into the admin dashboard, it's visual, and you don't need any special skills beyond knowing how to click a mouse.
Anytime a plugin has an update, you'll see those familiar red notification circles pop up next to the "Plugins" menu and on the main "Updates" screen. You can't miss them.
Updating a Single Plugin
Just head over to Plugins > Installed Plugins. You'll see a little message right under any plugin that has a new version available. Click the "Update Now" link, and WordPress takes care of the rest—it downloads the new files, swaps out the old version, and gets the new one running.
Updating Multiple Plugins at Once
If you've got a bunch of plugins needing attention, the Dashboard > Updates screen is your friend. It’s much faster. From there, you can tick the checkbox next to each plugin you want to update and hit the "Update Plugins" button to run them all at once.
A Word of Caution on Bulk Updates: While it saves time, updating everything at once can be a headache if something breaks. You won't know which plugin was the culprit. For any important website, I always update plugins one by one, checking the site for issues after each update.
The Set-It-and-Forget-It Automatic Update
If you're all about convenience and have plugins you absolutely trust, turning on automatic updates is a fantastic time-saver. WordPress will handle updates in the background the moment they're released, keeping your site secure without you having to lift a finger.
You can set this up right from the Plugins > Installed Plugins screen. Look for the "Automatic Updates" column on the far right and click "Enable auto-updates" for any plugin you want.
This approach is perfect for:
- Rock-solid plugins from big-name developers (think Yoast SEO or Akismet).
- Simple, single-task plugins that are very unlikely to cause conflicts.
- Site owners who don't log in daily but need security patches applied right away.
The downside? You lose the chance to review what's changed or test updates on a staging site first. For mission-critical plugins like page builders or WooCommerce, I'd strongly suggest sticking with manual updates to keep full control.
The Power User's WP-CLI Update
For developers, agencies, and anyone managing multiple sites, the WordPress Command Line Interface (WP-CLI) is an absolute game-changer. It's a tool that lets you manage your entire site with text commands through a terminal, which is worlds faster than clicking around the admin panel.
You'll need SSH access to your server, which is standard with most good hosting plans these days. Once you're logged in, updating plugins is astonishingly fast.
To update just one plugin, you'd run a command like this:
wp plugin update elementor
Want to update every single plugin at once? It's one simple line:
wp plugin update --all
That single command does the work of logging in, navigating to the updates page, selecting everything, and clicking the button—all in less than a second. It is the peak of efficiency.
Choosing Your Plugin Update Method
Still not sure which path to take? This table breaks down the three methods to help you decide what fits your workflow and technical skill set best.
| Method | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dashboard | Beginners, single-site owners, and anyone who prefers a visual interface. | Very easy to use, no technical knowledge needed, built directly into WordPress. | Can be time-consuming for multiple sites; bulk updates make troubleshooting hard. |
| Automatic | Hands-off site owners, sites with simple and highly trusted plugins. | Completely automated, ensures security patches are applied immediately. | No control over timing, no pre-update testing, risky for complex plugins. |
| WP-CLI | Developers, agencies, and anyone managing multiple sites or servers. | Incredibly fast and efficient, can be scripted for automation, powerful for bulk tasks. | Requires server access (SSH) and comfort with the command line. |
Ultimately, the best method is the one you're comfortable with and that fits the needs of your specific site. For many, a hybrid approach works well—auto-updating simple plugins while manually handling the more complex ones.
This constant need for updates is driven by WordPress's own evolution. Since its start in 2003, the platform has had over 760 releases. With 66% of sites currently on version 6.7 and new versions coming out regularly, plugin developers are always playing catch-up to ensure their code stays compatible and secure. This is why learning how to update plugins in WordPress is such a core skill for any administrator. You can read more about WordPress release cycles and market share statistics directly from the official WordPress team.
How to Fix Your Site When an Update Goes Wrong
It happens to the best of us. You click to **update plugins in WordPress**, and suddenly, your site is showing the “White Screen of Death” or a critical error. The initial panic is understandable, but there’s a clear path to getting things running again.
The key is to avoid guessing and follow a methodical recovery process. Let’s walk through exactly what to do when an update goes sideways, so you can handle it like a pro.
Identifying the Problematic Plugin
First, you need to play detective and figure out which plugin is causing the headache. Sometimes it's obvious—if your contact form stops working right after you updated a form plugin, you've found your culprit.
But if the entire site goes down, you'll have to do a bit more digging. If you can still get into your WordPress admin dashboard, the classic troubleshooting step is to deactivate all your plugins and then reactivate them one by one until the site breaks again. This will isolate the troublemaker.
If you’re completely locked out of your admin area, don't worry. You can still do the same thing by accessing your site's files directly using an FTP client or the File Manager in your hosting cPanel.
Disabling the Plugin When Locked Out
Using FTP or your host’s File Manager is your master key for getting back in when a plugin locks you out. The process is simple and doesn't require touching any code.
Here's the game plan:
- Navigate to your WordPress installation's root directory.
- Open the
wp-contentfolder. - Inside, locate the folder named
plugins.
Just rename that plugins folder to something else, like plugins_old. This simple change effectively deactivates every plugin on your site. This should resolve the conflict immediately and let you log back into your WordPress admin.
Once you're back in the admin dashboard, change the
plugins_oldfolder's name back toplugins. Now, head to your Installed Plugins page. You'll see they are all still deactivated. You can now activate them one at a time until the error comes back, which will pinpoint the exact plugin causing the issue.
Restoring Your Site from a Backup
Remember that pre-update backup we talked about? This is where it really pays off. Restoring your site from a recent backup is often the quickest and cleanest fix. It’s like a giant undo button, taking your entire site—both files and database—back to the moment right before the failed update.
How you do this depends on your backup setup:
- Hosting Provider Backups: Most good hosts provide one-click restores right from their control panel.
- Backup Plugins: Tools like UpdraftPlus have straightforward restoration features built right in.
While it’s a solid solution, a full restore can sometimes be overkill, especially if you’ve added new content since the last backup was taken. For a more targeted approach, you might want to roll back just the single plugin that's causing problems.
A Less Drastic Fix: Rolling Back a Single Plugin
Sometimes you don't need a full-site restore. A much less invasive option is to simply revert the one faulty plugin to its previous, working version. This is where a free tool like WP Rollback is a lifesaver.
After you've identified and deactivated the misbehaving plugin, install WP Rollback from the WordPress repository. Once it's active, you'll see a new "Rollback" link under each plugin on your Installed Plugins page. Clicking it lets you pick and install any previous version of that plugin. This is a surgical fix that undoes the bad update without touching the rest of your site or any new content.
Dealing with a broken site can feel stressful, but these steps give you a reliable playbook. For more advanced troubleshooting, our guide on WordPress site recovery covers more complex scenarios.
Smart Habits for Long-Term Plugin Health
Proper plugin management isn't just about reacting to those little update notifications. It's about building a proactive strategy to keep your website lean, secure, and fast. Think of it less as a chore and more as a long-term investment. Adopting a few smart habits now will save you from a world of headaches down the road.
This proactive mindset means treating your plugin list as a dynamic part of your site that requires regular attention. Just like tending a garden, you have to periodically weed out what no longer serves a purpose to make room for healthy growth.
Conduct Periodic Plugin Audits
I make it a point to conduct a "plugin audit" at least twice a year, and I recommend you do the same. Simply go through your list of installed plugins and ask one direct question for each one: "Is my site still using this?"
It's amazing how quickly you can accumulate plugins. Maybe you installed one for a single task or tested a feature you decided against. These unused plugins aren't just taking up space. They are:
- Potential security risks, especially if abandoned by their developers.
- Unnecessary code that bloats your database and makes backups larger than they need to be.
- A potential drag on performance as they might still load scripts on every page.
If a plugin is deactivated and you haven't thought about it for a few months, just delete it. If you're not sure, deactivate it for a week. If nothing breaks, you have your answer. Get rid of it. This simple cleanup is a key part of our complete guide on WordPress plugin management.
Choose New Plugins Wisely
This proactive approach is just as critical when adding new tools. With around 60,000 free plugins in the official directory, it’s easy to feel like a kid in a candy store. The sheer scale is massive—tools like Yoast SEO have over 5 million installations, showing just how essential these add-ons are.
But before you click "Install Now," do a quick background check. It only takes a minute.
- Last Updated Date: If a plugin hasn't been updated in over a year, that's a serious red flag.
- Active Installations: A high number is usually a good sign of trust and stability.
- Developer Reputation: Check out their other plugins. Read through the support forums to see if they are active and helpful.
A few minutes of research before installing a plugin can save you hours of troubleshooting later. A well-chosen plugin improves your site; a poorly chosen one becomes a liability.
Consider Investing in Premium Plugins
The free plugin repository is an incredible resource, but don't automatically dismiss paid plugins. A premium plugin can be one of the best investments you make in your website. While they average around $57.54, they often come with dedicated support, guaranteed updates, and more powerful features.
When you pay for a plugin, you're buying peace of mind. You get a direct line to the developers for help and they have a vested interest in keeping the plugin secure and compatible. These habits—from regular audits to careful selection—are foundational to optimizing your WordPress site for better performance and ensuring it runs smoothly for years to come.
Plugin Update FAQs
It's natural to have questions, even when you've got a solid process down. Let's run through some of the most common ones that pop up when you need to update plugins on a WordPress site. My goal is to give you direct, practical answers to help you handle your website with more confidence.
Think of this as your quick-reference guide for those tricky "what if" moments.
How Often Should I Update My Plugins?
This is easily the most common question I get. There's no magic number, but a balanced approach works best. I recommend logging in to check for updates at least once a week. This simple habit ensures you don't leave your site exposed to known vulnerabilities for too long.
That said, you don't always have to smash the update button the second it appears. For minor feature updates, I often wait a few days. This gives the developer a bit of breathing room to catch and patch any surprise bugs that slipped through their initial release. It’s a small delay that can save you a big headache.
Can I Really Trust Automatic Updates?
Automatic updates are a double-edged sword: you trade control for convenience. When used strategically, they’re a fantastic safety net that applies critical security fixes without you lifting a finger.
So, when is it safe to turn them on?
- Simple, single-function plugins: A plugin that just adds social sharing buttons is a pretty low-risk candidate.
- Plugins from highly reputable developers: Big names like Yoast or Automattic have rock-solid testing pipelines, making their updates extremely reliable.
- Security-focused plugins: I'd argue that tools like Wordfence or Akismet should always be on auto-update. You want that protection the moment it's available.
On the other hand, I would never enable auto-updates for complex, mission-critical plugins. Think page builders like Elementor, your e-commerce engine like WooCommerce, or anything you've heavily customized. For these, always test the update on a staging site first. It's the only safe way.
What If a Plugin Is No Longer Updated?
This happens more than you'd think. You find a plugin that does exactly what you need, but then notice it hasn't been touched by the developer in over a year. This is what we call an "abandoned" plugin, and it's a security time bomb.
If a plugin isn't being maintained, you need to replace it. An abandoned plugin won't get security patches or compatibility fixes for new WordPress versions, turning it into a bigger liability every day it stays on your site.
Don't keep it just because it "still works" today. The risk is not worth it. Proactively find a modern, actively supported alternative. The WordPress repository is full of great options waiting for you.
Is It Safe to Update Multiple Plugins at Once?
WordPress lets you bulk update plugins, but I strongly advise against it. The main issue is troubleshooting. If you update 10 plugins at once and the site breaks, how do you know which one is the culprit? You'll waste more time deactivating and testing them one-by-one than you "saved" with the bulk update.
My professional advice is to update plugins one at a time. After each one, spend 30 seconds clicking around your site's main pages. It feels slower, but if something goes wrong, you'll know exactly which plugin caused it. This makes the fix quick and painless.
Juggling all these updates across one, five, or even fifty sites can quickly become a full-time job. That's exactly why we built WP Foundry. Our desktop app lets you update, manage, and back up everything—plugins, themes, and more—across all your WordPress sites from a single dashboard. Stop wasting time logging into dozens of admin panels. Check out WP Foundry today and see how much more efficient you can be.