How to Keep Your WordPress Site Updated and Secure

Keeping your WordPress installation up to date is crucial for maintaining your website’s security, performance, and functionality. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to keep everything running smoothl

Step 1: Create Backups in cPanel

Before making any updates, it’s essential to create a full backup of your WordPress site. This ensures you can restore your site if anything goes wrong during the update process. You can use these steps, or any other backup solution you have.

1. Log into your cPanel account.

2. Navigate to the ‘Files’ section and click on ‘Backup Wizard’.

3. Select ‘Backup’ and then ‘Full Backup’.

4. Choose the backup destination (usually ‘Home Directory’) and enter your email address to receive a notification when the backup is complete.

5. Click ‘Generate Backup’.

Once the backup is complete, download it to your local computer for safekeeping.

Step 2: Upgrade the Core

Keeping the WordPress core updated is essential for security and new features.

1. Log into your WordPress admin dashboard.

2. Navigate to ‘Dashboard’ > ‘Updates’.

3. If a new version of WordPress is available, you’ll see a notification. Click ‘Update Now’.

WordPress will automatically handle the update process. This may take a few minutes.

Step 3: Update Plugins

Plugins add functionality to your WordPress site, so it’s important to keep them up to date.

IMPORTANT: Make a screenshot of the plugins list before upgrading, in case you’ll need the version numbers to rollback to.

1. Go to ‘Dashboard’ > ‘Updates’.

2. You’ll see a list of plugins that have updates available.

3. Select the plugins you want to update (it’s usually a good idea to update all at once) and click ‘Update Plugins’.

Step 4: Update Themes

Themes control the appearance of your WordPress site. Updating them ensures compatibility with the latest WordPress core.

1. In the same ‘Updates’ section, you’ll see any themes that need updating.

2. Select the themes and click ‘Update Themes’.

Step 5: Update Translations

Translations ensure that your WordPress site can be displayed in multiple languages.

1. Still under ‘Dashboard’ > ‘Updates’, scroll down to the translations section.

2. If any updates are available, click ‘Update Translations’.

Step 6: Post-Upgrade Checks

After updating, it’s crucial to check that your website is functioning correctly.

1. Visit your website’s front end and browse through several pages to ensure everything looks and works as expected.

2. Check the admin dashboard for any errors or issues.

3. Test key functionalities such as forms, search, and login to make sure they’re working properly.

Rollback Plugins

Sometimes updates may cause unexpected issues. Two handy plugins can help you roll back to previous versions of WordPress core and plugins.

Rolling Back WordPress Core

Plugin: Core Rollback

1. Install and activate the ‘Core Rollback’ plugin.

2. Navigate to ‘Tools’ > ‘Rollback Core’.

3. Select the version number you want to downgrade to and click ‘Rollback’.

4. Go to ‘Dashboard’ > ‘Updates’ and you’ll see the option to ‘Re-install Now’. Click this to revert to the specified version.

Rolling Back Plugins

Plugin: WP Rollback

1. Install and activate the ‘WP Rollback’ plugin.

2. Go to the ‘Plugins’ section in your admin dashboard.

3. Next to each plugin, you’ll see a ‘Rollback’ option. Click this to select the version you want to revert to and follow the prompts.

Using these rollback plugins, you can easily revert to a previous version if an update causes any problems.

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By following these steps, you can ensure your WordPress site remains secure, functional, and up to date. Regular updates and backups are key to maintaining a healthy website, giving you peace of mind and a smoother experience for your visitors.