How to Safely Update a WordPress Plugin

Updating plugins is essential for security, performance, and new features—but doing it the wrong way can break your website. This guide walks you through step-by-step instructions to safely update any WordPress plugin, minimizing the risk of downtime or data loss.

Contents

1. Why Safe Updates Matter

2. Before You Update: Preparation Steps

3. Safe Update Process

4. After the Update: Testing and Monitoring

5. Rollback Plan (If Something Breaks)

6. Automated Updates: Pros and Cons

1. Why Safe Updates Matter

Updating plugins can:

• Patch security vulnerabilities

• Fix bugs

• Improve performance

• Add new features

However, updates may also:

• Break site functionality

• Create conflicts with other plugins or themes

• Cause visual or layout issues

This is why a careful approach is important, especially for high-traffic or production websites.

2. Before You Update: Preparation Steps

Backup Your Website

Use a reliable backup plugin or your hosting provider’s backup system.

What to back up:

• Files: All plugin files, themes, media, and uploads

• Database: Posts, settings, user data, and plugin data

Popular backup solutions:

• UpdraftPlus

• BlogVault

• Jetpack Backup

• Hosting panel backups (e.g., cPanel, Plesk)

Check the Plugin Changelog

Review the changelog for:

• Breaking changes

• Removed or deprecated features

• New requirements (such as PHP or WordPress versions)

You can find changelogs on:

• The WordPress.org plugin page

• The plugin developer’s website

• The update details link inside the WordPress admin panel

Note the Current Plugin Version

Record the current plugin version before updating. If something goes wrong, you’ll want to know which version you were using.

Optionally, you can download the plugin folder from:

/wp-content/plugins/plugin-name

Check Site Health and Known Conflicts

Run a quick health check under:

• Tools > Site Health

Also review known conflicts or issues by checking the plugin’s support forum or changelog.

3. Safe Update Process

Use a Staging Site (Recommended)

A staging site is a copy of your live site where you can test updates without risk.

Ways to set up a staging site:

• Hosting provider tools (e.g., SiteGround, WP Engine, Kinsta)

• WordPress plugins like WP Staging or Duplicator

Update the plugin on the staging site first. Test your site carefully. If everything works as expected, then proceed to update on the live site.

Manual Update on Live Site (if no staging available)

Option A: Update via WordPress Admin Panel

1. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins

2. Click “Update now” next to the plugin you want to update

3. Wait for the confirmation message before reloading the page

Option B: Update via FTP/SFTP (Advanced)

1. Connect to your site via FTP or SFTP

2. Rename or delete the existing plugin folder in wp-content/plugins/

3. Upload the new version of the plugin folder

4. Log in to WordPress and verify that the plugin is active

Only use this method if the plugin developer recommends it, or if the update fails via the admin panel.

4. After the Update: Testing and Monitoring

Clear Caches

After updating, clear:

• Browser cache

• Page cache (from your caching plugin or server)

• CDN cache (e.g., from Cloudflare or similar services)

Test Core Functionality

Visit your site and test:

• Navigation

• Contact forms

• Checkout or payment processes (if applicable)

• Page builders or custom content

Testing in an incognito/private window can help you see changes without cache interference.

Check Error Logs

Look for issues in:

• wp-content/debug.log (if WP_DEBUG is enabled)

• Your hosting account’s error logs

This can help identify hidden problems that may not be immediately visible.

5. Rollback Plan (If Something Breaks)

If the update causes problems:

Use Your Backup

Restore your site using your backup plugin or your host’s restore tools.

Use a Rollback Plugin

There are plugins that let you revert to a previous version of a plugin, such as:

• WP Rollback (for plugins on WordPress.org)

• PlugVersions (a new tool for any kind of plugin, including the premium ones)

• BackupBuddy, BlogVault, or other full-site backup tools

Rollback plugins are especially useful if you didn’t manually save the old version.

6. What to Do If You Experience Issues After Updating

If your site starts behaving unexpectedly after a plugin update—such as broken layouts, fatal errors, or missing features—stay calm and follow these steps:

1. Don’t panic. Avoid making further changes until you’ve diagnosed the issue.

2. Clear all caches to ensure you’re seeing the most up-to-date version of the site.

3. Check error logs to identify any specific file or conflict.

4. Restore your backup, if necessary, to quickly return the site to a stable state.

5. Seek help from a professional if the problem persists or you’re unsure how to proceed.

If you want peace of mind, consider subscribing to the Plugin Update Rescue – Annual Protection Plan.

7. Automated Updates: Pros and Cons

Pros

• Stay protected with the latest security patches

• Less manual maintenance

Cons

• Updates may cause unexpected site issues

• No time to test changes before they go live

Best Practices

Enable auto-updates only for:

• Plugins you know and trust

• Simple plugins with limited impact on site behavior

Disable auto-updates for:

• Complex plugins (e.g., eCommerce, membership, custom integrations)

• Plugins that directly affect business-critical functionality

Summary Checklist

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