{"id":665417,"date":"2023-09-07T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/?p=665417"},"modified":"2025-04-18T14:16:25","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T18:16:25","slug":"update-wordpress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/update-wordpress\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Update WordPress (3 Easy Steps)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Like many site owners, I learned that skipping updates could leave my site vulnerable to security threats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, rushing into them without preparation sometimes leads to broken layouts, plugin conflicts, and late-night troubleshooting sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this post, I&#8217;ll share the lessons I&#8217;ve learned about WordPress updates \u2014 not just the technical steps, but the strategic thinking that can save you from the headaches I experienced along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here are the key takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>WordPress updates provide critical security patches, new features, and bug fixes that keep your site secure and performing well<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Always create a full backup before updating to protect against data loss and compatibility issues<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Update in order: themes and plugins first, then WordPress core to minimize conflicts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use automatic backups and staging environments to make updates safer and less stressful<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Two update methods available: one-click dashboard update or manual FTP upload for flexibility<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-quick-summary-how-to-update-wordpress\">Quick Summary: How to Update WordPress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ht-blocks-accordion wp-block-hb-accordion\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__section\" data-ht-blocks-accordion-block-state=\"closed\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__title\"><span>1. Create a backup.<\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__contentwrap\">Sometimes, updates can cause incompatibility issues. To protect your data, you&#8217;ll need to back up your site beforehand. <a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/pricing\/\">Duplicator Pro<\/a> is a backup plugin that makes this process easy. <\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__section\" data-ht-blocks-accordion-block-state=\"closed\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__title\"><span>2. Update themes and plugins. <\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__contentwrap\">On your WordPress dashboard, find the <strong>Updates<\/strong> page. Bulk select all of the plugins and themes listed here. Then, update them. <\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__section\" data-ht-blocks-accordion-block-state=\"closed\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__title\"><span>3. Update WordPress software. <\/span><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-hb-accordion__contentwrap\">When there&#8217;s a new version of WordPress available, you can install it from the <strong>Updates<\/strong> page. You could also download it from WordPress.org and overwrite your current files with an FTP client. <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Table of Contents<\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-aioseo-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-why-you-should-update-wordpress-regularly\">Why Update WordPress Regularly?<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-how-to-update-wordpress\">How to Update WordPress<\/a><ul><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-step-1-back-up-your-website\">Step 1: Back Up Your Website<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-step-2-update-wordpress-themes-and-plugins\">Step 2: Update WordPress Themes and Plugins<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-step-3-update-wordpress-core-files\">Step 3: Update WordPress Core Files<\/a><ul><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-faqs\">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/a><ul><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-why-you-should-update-wordpress-regularly\">Why Update WordPress Regularly?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Updating WordPress is crucial for the success and security of your website. Here are some helpful benefits you\u2019ll get with every update.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Security Enhancements<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>With each new update, WordPress addresses potential security vulnerabilities, making it more challenging for hackers to exploit your site. By keeping your site updated, you can stay one step ahead of potential&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wordpress-security\/\">WordPress security<\/a>&nbsp;threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>New Features<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress is constantly evolving, with each update bringing new features and improvements. These can enhance the functionality and user experience of your website.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Like any software, WordPress is not immune to bugs or performance issues. When users report these issues, the development team releases updates to address them. These updates not only fix bugs but also optimize performance, making your website faster and more efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Compatibility with Themes and Plugins<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don&#8217;t update WordPress, there&#8217;s a risk that outdated themes or plugins may not be fully compatible. Updates reduce the chances of any functionality or design-related problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-how-to-update-wordpress\">How to Update WordPress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re new to WordPress, here&#8217;s how to update your website:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Step 1: Back Up Your Website<\/strong>: Create a complete backup using plugins like Duplicator for easy restoration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Step 2: Update WordPress Themes and Plugins<\/strong>: Update all themes and plugins first to ensure compatibility<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Step 3: Update WordPress Core Files<\/strong>: Update the main WordPress software via dashboard or manual FTP upload<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-step-1-back-up-your-website\">Step 1: Back Up Your Website<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before updating your WordPress website to the latest version, you\u2019ll want to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/how-to-backup-wordpress-site\/\">create a full backup of your site<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have a copy of your current files and database information, you can restore your site if anything goes wrong during the update process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although you could create a manual backup, it\u2019s much easier to install a\u00a0WordPress backup plugin. One of the best options is\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/\">Duplicator Pro<\/a>. It comes with automatic backups, cloud storage, and many more helpful backup features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"701\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Duplicator-Pro-Plugin.png\" alt=\"Duplicator Pro plugin\" class=\"wp-image-683536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Duplicator-Pro-Plugin.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Duplicator-Pro-Plugin-50x41.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>To get started,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/pricing\/\">select a subscription for Duplicator Pro<\/a>. You could use the free version of the plugin, but the premium version offers easier restore options, drag-and-drop migrations, and even multisite support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/pricing\/\" style=\"background-color:#fd4615\">Get Started with Duplicator<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, <a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/knowledge-base\/plugin-installation\/\">install Duplicator<\/a> in your WordPress dashboard. Next, find&nbsp;<strong>Settings \u00bb General<\/strong>. Paste the license key you received with your purchase and activate it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"380\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Duplicator-Activate-License.png\" alt=\"Activate Duplicator license key\" class=\"wp-image-832597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Duplicator-Activate-License.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Duplicator-Activate-License-50x22.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Now you can back up your website! To do this, go to&nbsp;<strong>Duplicator Pro \u00bb Backups \u00bb Add New<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"418\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Add-New-Duplicator-Backup.png\" alt=\"Add new backup with Duplicator\" class=\"wp-image-830300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Add-New-Duplicator-Backup.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Add-New-Duplicator-Backup-50x25.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Give the backup a name with dynamic tags. Then, select a storage location. Duplicator supports a variety of options, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wordpress-backup-to-google-drive\/\">Google Drive<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wordpress-backup-to-dropbox\/\">Dropbox<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wordpress-backup-to-onedrive\/\">Microsoft OneDrive<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wordpress-backup-to-amazon-s3\/\">Amazon S3<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wordpress-wasabi-backup\/\">Wasabi<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/google-cloud-backup\/\">Google Cloud<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/dreamhost-wordpress-backup\/\">DreamObjects<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/vultr-backups\/\">Vultr<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wordpress-digitalocean-spaces\/\">DigitalOcean Spaces<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/cloudflare-r2-backup\/\">Cloudflare R2<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/backblaze-b2-backup\/\">Backblaze B2<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To create a complete backup of your entire site, expand the&nbsp;<strong>Backup<\/strong>&nbsp;section and select the <strong>Full Site<\/strong> preset. This will include all your plugins, themes, media files, and other data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"274\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Full-Site-Backup-Preset.png\" alt=\"Full site backup preset\" class=\"wp-image-830328\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Full-Site-Backup-Preset.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Full-Site-Backup-Preset-50x16.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Click&nbsp;<strong>Next<\/strong>. You\u2019ll see that Duplicator performs a full scan of your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"699\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Duplicator-Backup-Scan.png\" alt=\"Duplicator backup scan\" class=\"wp-image-830330\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Duplicator-Backup-Scan.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Duplicator-Backup-Scan-50x41.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Hit <strong>Create Backup<\/strong>. Once it\u2019s ready, it\u2019ll be listed on the&nbsp;<strong>Backups<\/strong>&nbsp;page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"319\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Download-Backup-Files.png\" alt=\"Download backup files\" class=\"wp-image-830331\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Download-Backup-Files.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Download-Backup-Files-50x19.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Be sure to download your backup. You should also consider&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/restore-wordpress-from-backup\/\">setting a disaster recovery point<\/a>&nbsp;so you can easily roll back your site if the update causes compatibility issues.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-ht-blocks-messages wp-block-hb-message wp-block-hb-message--withicon is-style-info\">Before moving on to the next step, deactivate any caching plugins. You can reactivate them after the update is complete. You should also make sure your PHP version is up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-step-2-update-wordpress-themes-and-plugins\">Step 2: Update WordPress Themes and Plugins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As a WordPress website owner, you\u2019ll have to regularly update three parts of your site:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Core WordPress software<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Themes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plugins<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you go to the&nbsp;<strong>Updates<\/strong>&nbsp;page on your dashboard, you\u2019ll see what needs to be updated. For both plugins and themes, you can bulk-select them and install the new versions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"543\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bulk-Update-WordPress-Plugins.png\" alt=\"Bulk update WordPress plugins and themes\" class=\"wp-image-665426\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bulk-Update-WordPress-Plugins.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bulk-Update-WordPress-Plugins-50x32.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There will also be notifications on your&nbsp;<strong>Plugins<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Themes<\/strong>&nbsp;pages. You can view information about the new update and hit <strong>Update Now<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"159\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Update-WordPress-Plugins.png\" alt=\"Update WordPress plugin\" class=\"wp-image-665427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Update-WordPress-Plugins.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Update-WordPress-Plugins-50x9.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This allows you to update each one individually. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, you could enable auto-updates so you don\u2019t have to worry about keeping all of your WordPress plugins and themes up to date.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-ht-blocks-messages wp-block-hb-message wp-block-hb-message--withicon is-style-info\">Updating your theme could delete any customizations you\u2019ve made to it. To solve this problem, consider&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-themes\/how-to-create-a-wordpress-child-theme-video\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">creating a child theme<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-step-3-update-wordpress-core-files\">Step 3: Update WordPress Core Files<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you\u2019ve updated your themes and plugins, it\u2019s time to update your WP core files. I&#8217;ll show you two different methods, so you can keep your site secure no matter your experience level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Method 1: Admin Dashboard Update:<\/strong> One-click update from WordPress Updates page (recommended for most users)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Method 2: Manual FTP Update<\/strong>: Download and upload files via FTP client for advanced users or when dashboard method fails<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-method-1-update-wordpress-version-in-your-admin-dashboard\">Method 1: Update WordPress Version in Your Admin Dashboard<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>One way to update WordPress is through your wp-admin dashboard. When there\u2019s a new major version of WordPress, you\u2019ll see it at the top of the&nbsp;<strong>Updates<\/strong>&nbsp;page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"436\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Update-WordPress-Version.png\" alt=\"Update WordPress version\" class=\"wp-image-665429\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Update-WordPress-Version.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Update-WordPress-Version-50x26.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Simply click on the&nbsp;<strong>Update to version X.X.X<\/strong>&nbsp;button to start the update. While the software is installed, your site will temporarily go into maintenance mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After this, you\u2019ll be directed to a welcome screen. Depending on the update, you may see some descriptions of features or functionality that weren\u2019t available in the previous version.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you re-visit the&nbsp;<strong>Updates<\/strong>&nbsp;page, you\u2019ll see that you have the latest version of WordPress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Updated-WordPress-Site.png\" alt=\"Updated WordPress site\" class=\"wp-image-665431\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Updated-WordPress-Site.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Updated-WordPress-Site-50x29.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After this core update, you can continue to manage your website, knowing that it\u2019s fully secure!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-method-2-manually-update-wordpress-version\">Method 2: Manually Update WordPress Version<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;d recommend using the one-click update on the WordPress admin screen for any WordPress upgrades. However, this may not work or you might prefer to update WordPress manually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also update your website by manually uploading the new version of WordPress to a <a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/best-ftp-client-for-wordpress\/\">File Transfer Protocol (FTP) client<\/a> or File Manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Go to WordPress.org and download the latest version available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Download-WordPress-Update.png\" alt=\"Download WordPress update\" class=\"wp-image-665432\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Download-WordPress-Update.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Download-WordPress-Update-50x27.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This will save a zip file with the WordPress update to your computer. Extract the zip file. You\u2019ll see a folder named\u00a0<strong>wordpress<\/strong>\u00a0with all the files for the new update.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, open an FTP client and connect your website. For this tutorial, I&#8217;ll be using <a href=\"https:\/\/filezilla-project.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"\">FileZilla<\/a>, which is a free FTP\/SFTP tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll see your site\u2019s core files under the&nbsp;<strong>public_html<\/strong>&nbsp;directory in the right-hand box. In the&nbsp;<strong>Local site<\/strong>&nbsp;box, open the&nbsp;<strong>wordpress<\/strong>&nbsp;folder, select all the files, right-click, and hit&nbsp;<strong>Upload<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"419\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Upload-WordPress-Update.png\" alt=\"Upload WordPress update\" class=\"wp-image-665433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Upload-WordPress-Update.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Upload-WordPress-Update-50x25.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The new WordPress update will move from your computer to your website. Since you\u2019ll already have the same files, select&nbsp;<strong>Overwrite<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Always use this action<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"475\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Overwrite-WordPress-Files.png\" alt=\"Overwrite WordPress files\" class=\"wp-image-665434\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Overwrite-WordPress-Files.png 845w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Overwrite-WordPress-Files-50x28.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After this, the older versions of your WordPress files will be replaced with updated versions. Once this is done, open your admin dashboard. Sometimes, you\u2019ll need to also update your database.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"322\" src=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Update-WordPress-Database.png\" alt=\"Update WordPress database\" class=\"wp-image-665435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Update-WordPress-Database.png 680w, https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Update-WordPress-Database-50x24.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In this case, simply click&nbsp;<strong>Update WordPress Database<\/strong>. This will fully update your website!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-faqs\">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\" id=\"aioseo-how-do-i-update-my-wordpress-version\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">How do I update my WordPress version?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>You can update your WordPress version on the&nbsp;<strong>Updates<\/strong>&nbsp;page of your WordPress dashboard. Alternatively, you can download the latest WordPress software and manually upload it to your site via FTP. If you\u2019re familiar with unix shells, you could also use wp-cli.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\" id=\"aioseo-does-wordpress-automatically-update\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">Does WordPress automatically update?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>Ever since WordPress 3.7, there are <a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/disable-wordpress-auto-updates\/\">automatic updates<\/a> for minor updates and security patches. However, you\u2019ll still need to update your site for major versions, unless you have a managed <a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/best-wordpress-hosting\/\">WordPress hosting plan<\/a>. For plugins and themes, you can either update them manually or enable auto-updates.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\" id=\"aioseo-why-cant-i-update-my-wordpress-site\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">Why can&#8217;t I update my WordPress site?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>Usually, WordPress update issues happen because of caching. Additionally, you may have some incorrect file permissions. You can check out these&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/wp-tutorials\/how-to-fix-wordpress-website-not-updating-right-away\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">troubleshooting tips when your WordPress website isn\u2019t updating<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\" id=\"aioseo-should-i-update-my-wordpress-site\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">Should I update my WordPress site?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>Yes, it is generally recommended to update your WordPress site regularly. New WordPress releases often include bug fixes, security patches, and new features that can improve your site\u2019s performance. However, before upgrading WordPress, it\u2019s important to back up your site to avoid any potential issues.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-schema-only=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-aioseo-faq\" id=\"aioseo-what-is-the-current-version-of-wordpress\"><h3 class=\"aioseo-faq-block-question\">What is the current version of WordPress?<\/h3><div class=\"aioseo-faq-block-answer\">\n<p>The current version of WordPress is 6.7. You can download the latest update on WordPress.org or use the one-click update feature in your dashboard.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"aioseo-conclusion\">Keep Your Site Thriving with Regular Updates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You just updated your WordPress site to the latest version! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, this isn&#8217;t a one-time task. It&#8217;s the beginning of a healthy maintenance routine that will keep your site secure, fast, and feature-rich. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Set a monthly reminder to check for updates, and you&#8217;ll never have to worry about falling behind on security patches or the latest features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Need to quickly back up your site before updates?&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/pricing\/\">Download Duplicator Pro<\/a>&nbsp;to protect your site from data loss!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/pricing\/\" style=\"background-color:#fd4615\">Get Started with Duplicator<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>While you&#8217;re here, I think you&#8217;ll like these extra WordPress guides:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/downgrade-wordpress-version\/\">How to Downgrade Your WordPress Version and Revert Bad Updates<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/best-wordpress-maintenance-services\/\">9 Best WordPress Maintenance Services For Easy Site Management<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/update-woocommerce\/\">How to Update WooCommerce (Without Breaking Your Online Store)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/how-to-update-wordpress-theme\/\">How to Update Your WordPress Theme and Keep Your Customizations<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wordpress-maintenance\/\">11 WordPress Maintenance Tasks You Won&#8217;t Want to Forget<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Enhance your WordPress website&#8217;s security and performance by updating to the latest version. Follow our step-by-step guide to update WordPress easily!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53701,"featured_media":665453,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[195],"tags":[22,112,47],"class_list":["post-665417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-informational","tag-back-up-wordpress","tag-wordpress-maintenance","tag-wordpress-security"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/665417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53701"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=665417"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/665417\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":971363,"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/665417\/revisions\/971363"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/665453"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=665417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=665417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duplicator.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=665417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}