If you are here, you are undoubtedly trying to understand the proper way to update a site. A common question that everyone asks, myself included, when I first began using WordPress, is how to update WordPress in the right order? Should I update WordPress, plugins or theme first?
This question first came up when I noticed updates available for some of the installed plugins. Being a newbie, I ignored those and continued with the daily routine work, but as time went by, I noticed that the number of plugin updates increased from a few to almost all of them.
On both the WordPress update page and the plugin page, I started to notice the red update notification, and when the core WordPress update was available, it was then that I decided I should roll up my sleeves and update my site.
I spent a few days understanding how to update a site by going through various tutorials and resources. Once I had all the information, I felt confident that updating a WordPress site was a simple procedure.
Oftentimes, beginners and non-tech users are afraid to touch their website because everything is running smoothly, and they fear that any interference from their part will break an already functioning website. Why? Well, because they don’t know what they should and should not do.
If you are like me and trying to figure this out, I would suggest reading a step by step guide on how to update WordPress, themes, and plugins the proper way. I have included everything in this one article. It provides a thorough explanation of:
- Why should WordPress be updated?
- How to create a WordPress site backup?
- How to update WordPress, plugins, and themes?
Once I had everything ready, which involved taking a backup of my entire site, I navigated straight to the WordPress update page. This page prompts to update:
- WordPress
- Plugins
- Themes
Now for the main question: Should I update WordPress first, plugins first, or themes first? Oh! What to do?!
The answer is simple and has always been right in front of us.
The order in which the site should be updated is WordPress, plugins and themes as stated on the updates page. As a result, we should adhere to the procedure that WordPress has already established.
Update WordPress
After taking a backup, I update WordPress to the latest version. Once the update was complete, which took hardly more than a minute or so, I jumped to the second section.
Update Compatible Plugins
I went through the list of plugins and only selected those that were compatible with the latest version of WordPress. Simply choose the specific plugins you want to update and press the “Update Plugins” button. You can also perform a bulk update by checking the “Select All” box at the top of the list.
Update Theme
Finally, the last part of the update procedure is the theme itself. If you have more than one theme installed, you may see updates for all of them. Simply, update the theme that you are currently using and ignore the rest. You can update them all if you want, but upgrading only the active theme is essential.
Conclusion
WordPress has already provided us with the update order but the fear of breaking our website is the cause that makes as second guess what we should do. Once all of the updates are done, it is time to test your website to ensure that everything is functioning as it should. Maintain a watchful eye on your website for any mistakes, and correct them as needed.
If you believe there is a better strategy that should be followed or if you have any questions. Let me know in the comments below.