Updating your WordPress software, themes, and plugins is one of the most important steps in keeping your website secure, functional, and compatible with new tools. In this lesson, we’ll go over the correct way to update, how to avoid crashes, and why keeping your PHP version updated is just as important.
How to Safely Update WordPress and Plugins
WordPress is regularly updated with new features and crucial security patches. The same is true for the themes and plugins you install. Outdated software can leave your site vulnerable to attacks or simply cause things to stop working.
You can check for updates in your WordPress dashboard under Dashboard > Updates. If updates are available, you’ll see a list including WordPress core updates, themes, and plugins.
Plugins should always be updated one at a time. After updating a plugin, refresh your site and check that everything still works correctly. Updating multiple plugins at once can lead to compatibility issues, and if something breaks, it’s much harder to determine which plugin caused the problem.
The same strategy applies to themes—update them individually and then verify that your design and layout are still intact. If you’re using a child theme, make sure any customizations you’ve made are preserved before updating.
Keeping PHP Up to Date
PHP is the programming language that powers WordPress. Your hosting provider manages your PHP version, but it’s important to know that older versions of PHP can create security vulnerabilities and performance issues. Running an outdated version could make your site slower or prevent new plugins and themes from working correctly.
Most modern hosting companies allow you to change or update the PHP version from within your hosting control panel (such as cPanel or Site Tools). You’ll usually find this under a section labeled PHP Manager or PHP Configuration. If you’re unsure, contact your hosting support—they can either update it for you or walk you through the process.
As of this course, PHP 8.1 or higher is considered the standard for performance and security. Be sure to test your site after a PHP upgrade, as some older plugins might not be compatible. If you have GoDaddy as your host, you may have to purchase the ability to upgrade your PHP (which is truthfully criminal, and one of hte reasons we suggest people do not use them).