Why and How to Update Your WordPress Site?

WordPress is an extremely popular content management system (CMS), used by more than 40% of websites worldwide. To ensure its stability, security, and performance, regular updates are necessary.

Yet many site owners neglect these updates, often for fear of causing bugs or lack of time. However, not updating WordPress, its plugins, and themes can lead to security vulnerabilities and reduced performance.

In this article, we'll see why updates are essential, how to apply them safely, and what's the best way to manage them for your site.

1. Why is it Crucial to Update WordPress?

🔒 1.1. Security: Avoid Vulnerabilities and Attacks

WordPress being the most used CMS in the world, it's also one of the prime targets for cyberattacks. Hackers often exploit security vulnerabilities in older versions of WordPress, themes, and plugins to inject malware, steal data, or modify content.

Each update fixes identified vulnerabilities. Ignoring these updates is like leaving a door open to hackers. Here are some common threats:

  • SQL Injection: hackers can manipulate the database and steal information.
  • XSS Attacks (Cross-Site Scripting): malicious scripts can be injected into your site.
  • Brute Force Attacks: hackers try to guess your admin password.

👉 Concrete example: In 2017, a critical vulnerability in WordPress 4.7 allowed hackers to modify the content of thousands of sites in just a few days.

🚀 1.2. Performance and Speed

Each WordPress and plugin update improves not only security but also your site's speed and stability. A fast site offers a better user experience (UX) and is better ranked by Google in search results.

Performance improvements include:

  • More efficient SQL query management
  • Better compatibility with the latest PHP versions
  • Optimizations for CSS and JavaScript file loading

An up-to-date WordPress site = a faster and smoother site for your visitors ✅

🔄 1.3. Compatibility with Themes and Plugins

Many sites use premium themes and plugins to add advanced features. These extensions evolve along with WordPress. If you don't update your site, you risk encountering incompatibilities:

❌ An essential plugin no longer works ❌ Your design is broken after a theme update ❌ Some features become obsolete

Example: A contact form plugin may stop working if the WordPress version is too old, resulting in lost client messages.

💡 Solution: always check compatibility before updating WordPress.

2. How to Update WordPress Safely?

🛑 2.1. Always Back Up Before Updating

Before performing an update, make a complete backup of your site (database + files). In case of problems, you can revert to the previous version.

📦 Recommended backup plugins:

  • UpdraftPlus (easy to use, stores backups on Google Drive or Dropbox)
  • All-in-One WP Migration
  • BackupBuddy

🔎 2.2. Check Update Compatibility

Some plugins or themes may cause problems after an update. Before installing a new WordPress version: ✅ Read the release notes (changelog) ✅ Check if plugins are compatible with the latest version ✅ Test the update on a staging environment before applying it to the production site

💡 Best practices: If a critical plugin for your site isn't yet compatible, wait before updating WordPress.

🔄 2.3. Apply Updates in the Right Order

To avoid conflicts, update in this order:

  1. WordPress (core)
  2. Extensions
  3. Theme

🛠 2.4. Test the Site After Updating

After each update, test your site: ✅ Check that all pages display correctly ✅ Test features (forms, shop, member area) ✅ View your site on mobile and tablet

If a problem occurs, restore your backup and analyze what caused the error.

3. Automatic or Manual Updates?

WordPress offers two methods to update your site:

🔄 3.1. Enable Automatic Updates (ideal for simple sites)

Since WordPress 5.5, it's possible to enable automatic updates for plugins and themes.

Advantages: ✅ You don't need to intervene ✅ Your site always stays up to date

Disadvantages: ❌ An update can break your site without you knowing ❌ Less control over modifications

💡 Best for small showcase sites with few extensions.

🖥 3.2. Manual Updates: More Control

If your site depends on many plugins (WooCommerce, LMS, member area...), it's better to perform updates manually.

Advantages: ✅ You test each update before applying it ✅ Less risk of bugs

Disadvantages: ❌ Requires more time and vigilance

💡 Ideal for e-commerce sites and complex sites.

4. What to Do if There's a Problem After an Update?

If an update causes a problem, here's how to react:

  1. Disable plugins one by one to identify the one causing the error.
  2. Reinstall the previous version if necessary (via a backup).
  3. Check support forums to see if other users are experiencing the same problem.

Conclusion

WordPress updates are essential for security, performance, and compatibility of your site.

🚀 By applying updates methodically (backup, test, verification), you reduce risks and ensure your site's longevity.

Want to delegate your WordPress site maintenance? Contact us for personalized support!