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Updating WordPress, themes and plugins safely

Update regularly without breaking your site.

Most hacked WordPress sites were running out-of-date plugins. Update regularly, safely:

  1. Back up first. See Backing up WordPress.
  2. Go to Dashboard → Updates.
  3. Update plugins and themes a few at a time, not all at once.
  4. Update WordPress core.
  5. Check your site after each step: home page, a form, and the checkout if you run a store.

If an update breaks the site

  1. In File Manager, open wp-content/plugins and rename the folder of the plugin you just updated (for example add -off). The site comes back.
  2. Restore your backup, or wait for a fixed version of the plugin.

Turn on automatic updates for minor WordPress releases and for plugins you trust, under Plugins → Enable auto-updates.

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