As a website owner, prioritizing the security and functionality of your website is crucial. A simple but highly significant way to achieve this is by regularly updating your WordPress site. It’s often wrongly assumed that website hacks are only targeted at larger, more visible sites. In reality, hacks can strike at any time, and most of them result from outdated software.
This is why it’s paramount to frequently log into your site and implement updates, ideally once a month. This easy task could significantly protect your website from potential security breaches or technical problems. Furthermore, the process is typically quick and straightforward, taking merely about 20 minutes every two weeks to a month.
In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the step-by-step process for updating your WordPress website. This will help you keep your site secure, updated, and operating seamlessly. With just a smidge of effort and regular upkeep, your website’s safety and optimal function can be assured.
What are WordPress Updates?
WordPress updates constitute the upgrading of WordPress software, themes, and plugins to their latest versions. These updates usually incorporate bug fixes, security patches, new features, and enhancements for the platform’s overall performance and stability. Ensuring your WordPress site is secure, dependable, and in line with the latest industry standards is crucial.
WordPress updates can be segmented into Core updates, Theme updates, and Plugin updates. Core updates pertain to updates for the WordPress software itself, while Theme and Plugin updates involve updates for the site’s design and functionality. It’s imperative to keep all of these components updated consistently to uphold the security and functionality of your website.
Why Do I Need to Update My Website?
As a website owner, you might question the importance of updating your site. If your website is running smoothly and satisfying your needs, why trouble yourself with updates? However, neglecting updates can have serious ramifications, including security breaches, technical complications, and a degraded user experience. Frequent updates to your website are essential to ensure that it stays secure, reliable, and functions optimally.
Here are the top reasons why you should regularly update your WordPress site:
- Security: WordPress is a popular platform for websites, making it a common target for hackers. Regular updates provide security patches that address known vulnerabilities, making your site less susceptible to attacks.
- Bug Fixes: Updates often include fixes to bugs that have been discovered in previous versions of the software. These bugs can affect your site’s performance or create security weaknesses, so addressing them promptly is crucial.
- New Features: WordPress continuously improves and adds new features. By updating regularly, you’re able to leverage these enhancements and provide a better user experience on your website.
- Speed and Performance Improvements: Updates often come with performance improvements that can make your website load and operate faster, leading to improved user satisfaction and potentially better search engine rankings.
- Compatibility: Themes and plugins are regularly updated to be compatible with the latest WordPress version. By keeping your WordPress version up-to-date, you reduce the risk of encountering issues or conflicts.
- SEO: An up-to-date, fast, and secure website is favored by search engines, potentially leading to improved SEO rankings.
Remember, an outdated WordPress website is a vulnerable and potentially less efficient website. Regular updates help ensure your site’s security, efficiency, and effectiveness.
How Do I Update My Website?
Take a backup first! This is especially important if it has been a while. Updates can break your site, so it’s important to have something to roll back to.
1. Log into your site’s admin panel by appending /wp-admin or /wp-login to your website URL. If you have a custom login URL, use that.
2. After logging in, navigate to the “Updates” tab in the left-hand side navigation to check for available updates.
3. On the Updates page, you’ll see all the required updates, including Core, Theme, and Plugin updates. If a WordPress core update is available, click the blue “Update to version XXXX” button to update.
4. For plugins needing updates, check the box next to “Select All” and then click “Update Plugins”.
5. If your themes require an update, check the box to select all themes and then click “Update Themes”.
While updating your website, remember that auto-updates may cause compatibility issues or other problems, especially if you’re not technically inclined. For this reason, Full Circle Web recommends manual updates if possible.
If you need assistance or don’t have the time, Full Circle Web offers GuardianPress, a monthly maintenance plan. GuardianPress includes multiple backups of your site, monthly updates, database optimization, performance scan and optimization, image optimization, and a subscription to WP Rocket to boost your site’s page speed. We also provide free site restoration in case of a hack or server failure.
GuardianPress ensures your website remains updated and secure, letting you focus on your business without worrying about technical issues. Learn more about our website maintenance services here.