Updating WordPress Plugins: Manual, Automatic, and Safe Methods

Keeping WordPress plugins current is critical for security, performance, and compatibility. Outdated plugins often harbor vulnerabilities: for example, over 80% of hacked WordPress sites had outdated plugins or themes. Updating wordPress plugins squash bugs and ensure that plugins work smoothly with the latest WordPress version. In fact, security experts note that updating your plugins and themes should be a top priority because it “patch[es] security loopholes by fixing known bugs and weaknesses”. This guide explains how to update plugins both automatically and manually and outlines safe practices to do so without breaking your site.

Automatic Updating WordPress Plugins

WordPress supports automatic plugin updates (introduced in WP 5.5) to streamline maintenance. By default, automatic updates run on a schedule (by default, twice daily). You can enable or disable them per plugin in the dashboard or configure them centrally via code. Below are the main methods:

Enable via Dashboard

Since WordPress 5.5, the Admin UI provides toggles for auto-updates. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins. In the list, look for the “Automatic Update” column. For each plugin, click Enable auto-updates to turn on background updates for that plugin. You can disable it anytime with the same toggle. You can also bulk-select plugins and use the “Enable auto-updates” bulk action to update many at once. Once enabled, WordPress will check your site twice per day and install any available updates for those plugins.

Configure via Code (wp-config.php or Filters)

For more control, you can enable auto-updates by adding code. In your wp-config.php file (just before the “stop editing” line), you can enable all core updates and plugin/theme updates. For example, setting the constant WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE to true enables all core updates (major and minor):

define( 'WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE', true );

This causes WordPress to auto-apply major core releases (in addition to the default minor/security updates). Note: in stable installations, the default WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE is set to ‘minor’, so turning it to true is needed for full auto-updates.

For plugins and themes, use the built-in filters (in a custom plugin or your theme’s functions.php). For example, to enable auto-updates for all plugins, you can add:

add_filter( 'auto_update_plugin', '__return_true' );

This tells WordPress to automatically update every plugin when an update is available. Likewise, add_filter( ‘auto_update_theme’, ‘__return_true’ ) enables themes. To disable automatic updates entirely, use:

define( 'AUTOMATIC_UPDATER_DISABLED', true );

or

add_filter( 'automatic_updater_disabled', '__return_true' );

(Be cautious: changing wp-config.php can break your site if done incorrectly.)

Pros and Cons of Automatic Updates

Automatic updates save time and keep your site secure without manual effort. They ensure minor/security releases are applied promptly, closing vulnerabilities faster. However, they’re not without risk. An incompatible update can break parts of your site. In practice, sites can break due to plugin or theme conflicts when updates apply without testing. Recovering from a failed update may require restoring backups or using rollback tools.

Pros: Less manual work, up-to-date security fixes, no need to watch release schedules.

Cons: Potential for compatibility issues or downtime. If an auto-update fails, WordPress will attempt to roll back the plugin (in modern versions), but you should still have backups in case of trouble.

In summary, automatic updates greatly reduce maintenance effort, but they make it even more important to have backups and a rollback plan in case something goes wrong.

Manual Updating WordPress Plugins

Sometimes, you’ll update plugins manually — either because you prefer full control or when automatic updates aren’t available (e.g., for premium plugins). There are several ways to do this:

Using the WordPress Dashboard

The simplest manual method is via the admin UI. When an update is available, you’ll see a notification on the Dashboard or the Plugins screen. Go to Dashboard > Updates or Plugins > Installed Plugins, and click the Update Now link under each plugin needing an update. This downloads and installs the new version.

This process is straightforward for one plugin at a time. You can also use the bulk update feature on Dashboard > Updates to update multiple plugins simultaneously by selecting them and clicking “Update Plugins”. WordPress handles the backup of plugin files during the update and displays success/failure messages. (If an update fails, it may try to roll back automatically.)

Updating via FTP

For full control, or if the Dashboard update isn’t working, you can update a plugin via FTP (or SFTP). Steps:

1. Back up your site (files + database). Always back up before making manual changes. Consider also using a staging site for testing.
2. Download the latest plugin ZIP from WordPress.org or the developer’s site.
3. Unzip the plugin on your computer.
4. Connect via FTP to your site and navigate to /wp-content/plugins/.
5. Rename the existing plugin folder on the server (e.g., add “-old”). Then, download it to your computer as a backup.
6. Delete the old plugin folder from the server. This removes the old version.
7. Upload the new plugin folder (unzipped version) into /wp-content/plugins/.
8. Re-activate the plugin in the WordPress admin if needed.

This method gives you a backup of the old version in case you need to revert and avoids potential file permission issues.

Using WP-CLI

For developers, the WP-CLI command-line tool can update plugins quickly. Once connected to your server via SSH (or using a local WP-CLI setup), use the following:

wp plugin update <plugin-slug>

Replace <plugin-slug> with the plugin folder name (for example, jetpack). To update all plugins at once, use:

wp plugin update --all

WP-CLI will put the site in maintenance mode, download each plugin update, and apply it. For example, running wp plugin update –all might output something like:

$ wp plugin update --all

Enabling Maintenance mode…

Downloading update from https://wordpress.org/plugins/

Unpacking the update…

Installing the latest version…

Removing the old version of the plugin…

The plugin was updated successfully.

…

Success: Updated 2 of 2 plugins.

You can also specify versions (–version=x.x.x), do a dry run (–dry-run), or exclude certain plugins (–exclude=akismet). WP-CLI updates are very fast, but make sure to backup first, as with any manual method.

Safe Update Practices

Whether updating manually or automatically, it’s best to follow safety practices to avoid downtime or data loss:

• Back-Up Your Site: Before any updates, backup both files and database. A current backup is your safety net if an update fails or causes issues. Use reliable backup tools or your hosting provider backup system.
• Use a Staging Environment: A staging (test) copy of your site lets you apply updates and test functionality before touching the live site. Many hosts offer one-click staging. If not, plugins can clone a site for testing. After testing updates on staging, you can push changes live.
• Check Compatibility and Changelogs: Review each plugin’s changelog or release notes. See if the update requires a minimum WordPress or PHP version or if it fixes known bugs. This can prevent surprises where a plugin update expects a newer PHP and causes errors.
• Test Critical Functionality: After updates, quickly test key features (forms, shopping cart, theme layout, etc.). This helps catch issues before visitors do.
• Plan Rollbacks: Have a rollback plan. You can use tools like the WP Rollback plugin to revert a plugin to a previous version if the update breaks things. (WP Rollback integrates into the Plugins screen and lists previous versions to restore.) In a pinch, restore the site from your backup or undo the update manually.
• Download from Trusted Sources: Only update plugins from official or reputable sources (WordPress.org or the developer site). Avoid “nulled” or unverified downloads, as they may contain malware. MalCare and WordPress docs advise downloading plugins from the WordPress repository or known vendors to reduce risk.
• Keep PHP and WordPress Core Updated: Often, plugin updates assume a recent PHP version and core version. Ensure your WordPress core is up to date before (or alongside) plugins. If your PHP is old, update PHP first (or ask your host to do it).
• Enable Email Notifications: By default, WordPress will email the site admin after auto-updates (success or failure). Pay attention to those notifications for any failed updates.

Troubleshooting Update Issues

Even with precautions, updates can sometimes fail or break functionality. Here are common issues and fixes:

• Stuck in Maintenance Mode: During updates, WordPress briefly shows a “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance” message. If the process is interrupted (e.g., browser closed, crash), WordPress may not remove the .maintenance file. If your site stays in maintenance mode, delete the hidden maintenance file from the site root via FTP or file manager.
• File Permission Errors: If a plugin update fails with a permission error (e.g., “Could not copy file”), check file and folder permissions. WordPress needs to write access to /wp-content/plugins. Typically, permissions should be 755 for directories and 644 for files. Adjust these or temporarily change ownership so WordPress (or your FTP user) can write.
• Memory Limit or Timeouts: Large plugins or slow servers can run out of time or memory during updates. Increase the PHP memory limit and max execution time in php.ini or ask your host. Alternatively, update via WP-CLI or split updates into smaller batches.
• White Screen / PHP Fatal Error After Update: If a plugin update breaks PHP (incompatible code), you might see a blank screen or error. To fix this, quickly connect via FTP and rename that plugin’s folder (to deactivate it). Then log in and restore the backup or install an earlier version. Check the PHP error message (if available) to identify the conflict.
• Plugin Conflict / Site Crash: An update may conflict with another plugin or theme. In that case, restore the site from backup. Then, enable one plugin at a time to isolate the culprit. Disable or rollback the conflicting plugin and wait for a fixed update. A systematic way is to:
  1. Restore from backup.
  2. Update plugins one by one, testing after each.
  3. When the site breaks, undo that plugin update (via rollback or backup) and find an alternative plugin if needed.
• Failed Update Notifications: WordPress will email you if an automatic plugin update fails (and after rollback). These alerts often include the plugin name. If you see one, manually investigate that plugin: possibly wait for a fixed version or update it manually with troubleshooting.
• Compatibility Warnings: Before major WordPress core updates, the Updates screen often warns if a plugin or theme isn’t marked “Compatible”. However, this is not foolproof. Still, take such warnings seriously and verify via plugin forums or testing.

In general, when an update issue arises, restore a backup first, then troubleshoot safely. Keeping your site backed up means you can recover quickly. Also, logs and debug mode can help pinpoint failures.

Security Implications of Outdated Plugins

Neglecting updates poses grave security risks. Outdated plugins often contain known vulnerabilities that attackers target. As noted earlier, the majority of hacked WordPress sites were running outdated plugins or themes. Each time a developer discovers a security bug and releases a fix, any site skipping that update remains open to exploitation. Common attacks on outdated plugins include malware injection, data theft, SEO spam, and complete site hijacking.

Keeping plugins up to date closes security holes immediately and is one of the simplest defenses. It also ensures your site is not flagged as malicious by services like Google, which blacklist known-vulnerable sites. In short, “Regularly updating your WordPress site is essential for its security and performance”.

On the flip side, automatically pushing updates can also have security implications: if a malicious update were ever inadvertently accepted (unlikely from the official repo), it could do harm. However, WordPress.org maintains a strict vetting process and forces security updates to occur only for critical issues. The security benefit of timely updates far outweighs the risk.

FAQs

add_filter( 'auto_update_plugin', '__return_false' );

add_filter( 'auto_update_plugin', '__return_false' );

Conclusion

Managing plugin updates is crucial for a healthy WordPress site. Automatic updates save time and ensure security patches are applied promptly, while manual methods give you control and the ability to troubleshoot. The key to safe updating is preparation: always have a recent backup, test major updates on staging, and monitor your site after changes. Adopt a consistent update strategy that balances convenience and caution. By staying proactive—updating plugins, themes, and core on a regular schedule, minimize security risks and keep your site running smoothly. In short, make updates a habit, and leverage the tools (auto-updates, WP-CLI, staging environments) that fit your workflow.

About the writer

Hassan Tahir wrote this article, drawing on his experience to clarify WordPress concepts and enhance developer understanding. Through his work, he aims to help both beginners and professionals refine their skills and tackle WordPress projects with greater confidence.