Before you start
- Current versions and proposed updates.
- A restorable backup and protected copy.
Record versions and proposed changes
Under Dashboard → Updates, note current WordPress, theme and plugin versions. Review release notes and requirements. Major changes need more preparation than a limited corrective update.
- Check compatibility of critical payment, subscription and page-builder components.
- Keep commercial licences needed for updates.
- Choose a time when you can inspect the website afterwards.
Prepare a restorable backup
Back up files and database, then verify the copy's date and location. A recent backup is not useful if incomplete or inaccessible. Preserve versions and settings needed to investigate failures.
- Confirm restoration capability before making changes.
- For active stores, identify orders received after the backup.
- Do not treat full restoration as a consequence-free rollback for those orders.
Test on an isolated copy
Reproduce the site in a protected test environment and verify it works before updating. For stores, prevent real payments, renewals, customer messages and external integrations. Testing must not act on customers.
- Use gateway test credentials.
- Check essential functions before and after each change.
- Record errors to identify which update introduced them.
Apply updates methodically
Follow publisher instructions for dependencies and database changes. Use WordPress update tools and wait for completion before restarting an operation. Avoid changing PHP, theme and every plugin simultaneously without intermediate checks.
- Inspect the site after each coherent group of changes.
- For WooCommerce, check any requested database upgrade steps too.
- Keep a record of the configuration validated on your copy.
Deploy and verify functions
Back up the live site's current state, then apply tested changes. Check navigation, forms, login, search and mobile display. For stores, review cart, checkout, order notes and email receipt.
- Test in a private window rather than relying only on your administrator session.
- Check that caches display the updated version.
- If errors occur, record them and follow conflict testing before hurried restoration.
Decide on automatic updates
WordPress supports automatic updates for certain components. Suitability depends on monitoring and recovery arrangements. Available functionality varies with plugins and configuration; enabling an option does not replace checking the outcome.
- Read notifications and regularly review installed versions.
- Maintain backups and someone responsible for incidents.
- For essential store components, choose a policy compatible with testing and selling hours.
Official documentation
Labels and options vary with versions, plugins and your account. Refer to publisher documentation for your configuration.
WordPress — Updating WordPress