Updates fix security holes and bugs — most hacked WordPress sites were simply out of date. But updating carelessly can break your layout. This guide shows the safe order and method: backup first, update in stages, check after each stage.
✅ Before you start
- Make a backup — a plugin backup (see "How to Back Up Your WordPress Site") or a full cPanel backup. No backup, no updating
- Log in to your WordPress Dashboard
- Pick a quiet time — not the middle of your busiest sales hour
Steps
- Go to Dashboard → Updates. WordPress lists everything pending: core, plugins, themes.
- Update plugins first — tick them (or update in small groups) and click Update. Visit the site afterwards and click through a few pages.
- Update themes next the same way, then check the site's look — header, footer, homepage.
- Update WordPress core last. Click "Update to version X" and let it finish — do not close the tab mid-update.
- Final check: browse the site as a visitor (private window), test the contact/order form, and confirm the admin still loads normally.
✅ Result: Everything is on the latest version and the site works as before — now with the security fixes included. In the Updates screen, WordPress confirms "You are running the latest version".
Make it automatic: on the Updates page and in Plugins → (each plugin) you can enable auto-updates for plugins and themes, and WordPress core minor updates happen automatically by default. Auto-updates + weekly visits to eyeball the site is the routine most small sites should run.
⚠ Common mistakes & fixes
- Something broke after updating: don't keep clicking. Restore the backup you made — that's exactly why we made it — then update in smaller groups to find the culprit.
- "Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance" stuck: an update was interrupted. Wait 10 minutes; if it stays, the maintenance file can be removed via cPanel File Manager (ask support if unsure).
- Editing your theme directly, then an update erased it: custom changes belong in a child theme or the Customizer — theme updates overwrite edited files.
- Ignoring updates for months: the risk compounds. Outdated plugins are the #1 entry point for WordPress hacks.
Related articles
- How to Back Up Your WordPress Site (UpdraftPlus)
- Fix: WordPress White Screen / 500 Error
- How to Secure Your WordPress Website