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Updating WordPress

  • Applies to: All Services
    • Difficulty: Easy
    • Time Needed: 10
    • Tools Required: WordPress installed

Overview

WordPress frequently releases updates to the core WordPress files. These updates include important security patches and other updates to keep your sites running smoothly. Since WordPress is open-source software, it is important to keep the core software updated to the most recent version to protect against the latest security vulnerabilities. The minimum requirements to run WordPress may be found on the WordPress Codex Minimum Requirements.

Good news! Managed Wordpress automatically updates your core WordPress installation to the latest version for you. The following article will provide instruction on how to update your plugins and themes which do need to be updated by customers.

Method 1 - Account Center

  1. Log into your Media Temple account.
  2. Click the blue ADMIN button associated to your Managed WordPress service.
  3. Locate your desired site. Select the aria.png, and then select Overview.
    mwp-overview.png
  4. Select Check for Updates.
  5. If available updates are found, select Update next to the desired plugins or select Update All.
    mwp-pluginupdate-2-fix.png

Instructions

Good news! Managed Wordpress automatically updates your core WordPress installation to the latest version.

In some instances, you may want to delay these updates so that you can make sure your sites will function properly after the update.

  • Managed WordPress allows you to easily delay updates for 30 days.
  • If you have chosen to delay your automatic updates but do not want to wait the full 30 days, contact our helpful 24/7 support and we'll apply the updates for you.

Overview

WordPress frequently releases updates to the core WordPress files. These updates include important security patches and other updates to keep your sites running smoothly. Since WordPress is open-source software, it is important to keep the core software updated to the most recent version to protect against the latest security vulnerabilities. The minimum requirements to run WordPress may be found on the WordPress Codex Minimum Requirements.

READ ME FIRST:
Please keep in mind that troubleshooting the configuration/functionality of third-party applications is not covered by our statement of support. These resources were provided as a courtesy to assist you to the extent of our abilities. For more information on our statement of support, feel free to click here.

CREATE A BACKUP:
Before making updates to your website, it is advised that you create a backup of your files. This can help address any issues that may occur during the update (including the potential loss of custom settings/modifications). For information on the backup options available to you, feel free to click the following link: Backup Options Backup Options Backup Options

Method 1 - wp-admin

WordPress Version

  1. Log into your Wordpress admin dashboard. Wordpress admin dashboard. Wordpress admin dashboard.
  2. Click on Updates.
    wp-1.png
  3. Click on Update Now.
    wp-2.png
  4. That's it! Your WordPress version should now be updated.

Method 2 - wp-admin

Plugins

  1. While in your WordPress Dashboard, click on Plugins.
    wp-5.png
  2. Select the desired plugins, or click the checkbox next to the plugins.
    wp-3.png
  3. Under the Bulk Action drop-down, select Update. Then click Apply.
    wp-4.png
  4. That's it! Your plugins should now be updated.

Theme

  1. While in your WordPress Dashboard, click on Appearance >> Themes.
    t-1.png
  2. Locate your desired theme and look for the update banner above. Click Update now.
    t-2.png
  3. That's it! Your theme should now be updated.

Method 2 - FTP

WordPress Version

  1. Download the latest version of WordPress.
  2. Unzip the WordPress file.
  3. Connect to your server using FTP FTP FTP FTP. In this example we will be using Filezilla.
  4. While in your FTP client, navigate to your site's root directory root directory root directory root directory.
  5. Delete the old /wp-admin and /wp-include directories that are on your server.
    ftp-1.png
  6. Upload (or copy) the new /wp-admin and /wp-include directories onto your server.
    ftp-2.png
  7. Open the new /wp-content directory. Then copy the individuals files into the old /wp-content directory on your server.
    • Do NOT delete your old /wp-content folder, as this will delete all the photos, videos, etc on your site.
      ftp-3.png
  8. Your FTP client may inform you of duplicate files. Set this to overwrite. This will allow you to update your core WordPress files, while leaving existing custom plugins, themes, and settings in place.
    ftp-4.png
  9. Upload the remaining new files onto your server. And set these to overwrite duplicates as well.
    ftp-5.png
  10. That's it! Your WordPress version should now be updated.
  11. You may need to clear your browser cache, clear any caching plugins/CDNs, and/or re-activate plugins to view the update.

Method 3 - FTP

Plugins/Themes

We will be using plugins in this example, but the process is very similar for updating themes.

  1. Download the latest version of your desired plugin. You can normally find this on the official website of the plugin you are looking to update..
  2. Connect to your server using FTP FTP FTP FTP.
  3. Navigate to the correct directory on your server:
    • Plugins: /wp-content/plugins
    • Themes: /wp-content/themes
  4. Rename the old plugin folder on your server. This will effectively disable it.
    • In this example we renamed our plugin to plugin_name.old
      p-1.png
  5. Upload (or copy) the new plugin folder onto your server.
    p-2.png
  6. Your plugin should now be updated!
  7. If you wish, you can delete or remove the old plugin folder from your server.

Method 3 - WP-CLI

WordPress Version

  1. Log into your server using SSH SSH SSH SSH.
  2. Navigate to where your WordPress files are installed.
  3. Enter the following command:
    wp core update
  4. That's it! Your WordPress version will now be updated.

Method 4 - WP-CLI

Plugins/Themes

  1. Log into your server using SSH SSH SSH SSH.
  2. Navigate to where your WordPress files are installed.
  3. To update ALL your plugins, enter the following command:
    wp plugin update --all
  4. To update ALL your themes, enter the following command:
    wp theme update --all
  5. That's it! Your plugins and themes will now be updated.

Additional Info

  1. Starting with version 3.7, when there is a new version of WordPress available as a "." release (such as 3.7 to 3.7.1) the update will be performed automatically by the software. If your WordPress version is prior to 3.7, you will need to upgrade to 3.7 to enable this behavior. To disable this behavior, please read the article at WPBeginniner about "How to Disable Automatic Updates in WordPress.
  2. When there is a major release of WordPress (such as 3.7.1 to 3.8) you will be notified via the WordPress admin that an update is available and would you like to update your WordPress version. To enable automatic updates for all WordPress core updates, themes, and plugins, you may look into the plugin Automatic Updater.

Resources

 

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