As you probably already know, WordPress is a very popular Content Management System which is open source and available to absolutely anyone, free of charge.
(The charge for owning a website comes with purchasing a domain name and a web hosting package.)
The amazing thing about WordPress is that even though it’s free, it’s incredibly powerful. So much so that I cursed myself 4 years ago when I was trying to learn all its features. At the time it seemed very complicated. Today, I don’t know where I’d be if I hadn’t learned it.
Beginners beware: there is a slight learning curve to WordPress but it’s well worth your time to learn it.
Customize Your Website with WordPress Plugins
Not everyone needs the same exact WordPress features and that’s where plugins come into play. A plugin is an additional program / piece of code that you can install on your site to add a new, special feature.
For example, WordPress does not come with any social media buttons. All those social media buttons you see on other people’s sites are plugins. Once WordPress was installed, they downloaded and installed a separate plugin / code to make those social media buttons appear.
Thousands of these plugins are free of charge while others with more intense features are paid plugins. If you’re just starting your business, you can certainly get by with the variety of free plugins. When you start earning money and want to invest in a paid plugin, please do your research and search out reviews before parting with your hard-earned money.
Updating WordPress & WordPress Plugins
Just like every other computer program you’ve ever owned, new versions of WordPress and its plugins are developed all the time. Not only do they try to improve the features but regular updates also prevent hackers from breaking into your prized website and wreaking havoc.
How do you know when to update? WordPress will tell you!
When you first login to WordPress you’re brought to your Dashboard. If you see this yellowish rectangle at the top of your dashboard page, it’s time to update your version of WordPress.
The same is true for updating your plugins, except look for that notification along the left sidebar of your dashboard, where it says “Plugins”.
That little number next to the Plugin title? That’s how many of your activated plugins need updating. Simply click on the Plugin link and you’ll see exactly which plugins need attention.
How to Upgrade to the Newest Version of WordPress or Your Plugins
Before you upgrade anything to a new version, create a backup of your site. Many times that can be done via your hosting service and I believe there’s even a plugin to do that for you.
There are 2 schools of thought on the actual next steps for upgrading to new versions of WordPress and its plugins. Some people will argue that updating both WordPress and your plugins manually is best and will pose the least security threat.
Personally, in the last 4 years I’ve been in business, I’ve had excellent luck with clicking on the “Update Automatically” links. In literally 1 minute or less the update is done, usually with no catastrophic results.
That said, occasionally there have been plugin updates that make my site look screwy; for whatever reason the newest version isn’t compatible with my other plugins or theme. So my advice is to upgrade just one plugin at a time and check your site before upgrading any others.
Have a Problem? Ask Your Hosting Provider for Help
Reliable web hosting companies are supposed to backup their servers on a regular basis. This could be weekly or daily, depending on the company and on what package you purchased.
If you upgrade WordPress or any plugins and your site gets messy in the process, contact your host and ask them to upload your site’s backup file. Again, depending on the hosting company there might be a nominal fee for this (it’s a good question to ask prior to purchasing your hosting package).
I haven’t mastered using WP yet and I have that notification at the top of the page. I didn’t really think it’s urgent that I update my version of it. Thanks for pointing out that beginners have a learning curve. I’m already starting to get frustrated.
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Hey Sheila! Stick with WordPress…you will be VERY happy once you learn all of its functions. The more you use it the more you’ll learn in the process. Also, don’t let your update notice sit for too long. WordPress comes out with frequent updates and you don’t want to have a version that is 3 updates behind the most current because trying to skip ahead in update levels can be just as detrimental to your site as hackers. {Hope that made sense!}
Sheila, you also want to upgrade because there could have been security upgrades added in the mix and you don’t want to be behind on those.
Christina, I’ve used the instant upgrade option since it came out and have never had a problem. I also know some people will rant and rave that it’s not safe to upgrade that way. But I would like them to point to some facts proving this isn’t a safe option. I don’t know anyone that has ever had a problem upgrading “the easy way”.
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I’ve always made a point of keeping up to date, as a couple of plugins I use have had security breaches + there’s been issues with WordPress’s own updates and plugins not working correctly.
When I do the round’s on my sites updating is now the first thing I do before checking comments, etc.
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Hi,It is a very nice and informative post.Thanks for sharing your information on how to update newest version of wordpress or plugins.This post is really helpful for neophytes.
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I just had my site get hacked because I hadn’t upgraded a plugin. This was TOTALLY my fault as I knew this was a possibility and simply didn’t get around to it So lesson learned there
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Like you said Val, upgrading the easy way has never caused issues. WP works nearly flawlessly on the platform end (gotta leave room for plugin and theme errors). Security is important to keeping your hard work safe from hackers looking to destroy it. Also on another note always back up your wp site.
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Thank you for giving this info. I have always founded difficulties concerning the upgrades. But thankfully WordPress ones are not so hard even for me (I am not a geek girl) so I am very happy when I can find such an info.
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It’s really a great article regarding word press. I will go through when my blog ask for it. I don’t think till date i had got any update. I also heard from some source about it but never took it so seriously. Anyway thanks for the article.
Hi, I am new to wordpress, well I have it since quite some time but have not really mastered it-I am still a blogspot addict I believe. Lately I have been noticing that my dashboard has become really unstable, I cannot add links directly to the post and I have to save a draft first before getting access to the preview. Do you think that it has something to do with the fact that I never upgraded?
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WordPress is one of the easier CMS around. My main site uses Drupal, another CMS. Out of the two, WP is easier to use but I do like Drupal better in some aspects. Probably the greatest thing about WP is that there are so many free resources available to you on the web.
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great blog, I wasn’t sure if I should upgrade my wordpress plugins, but after reading this blog I think it is best that I should
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When I see there’s a new update available to wordpress or some plugin, I immediately think of my blog security, because if you do not update on time, you risk to have open doors for hackers and then wake up with a broken blog.
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I am still new on WP but I find it really nice and easy to communicate with. However I am not a master but I think that with a lot of practice – I will:) And you encouraged me a lot
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I never update theme and plugin before. I’ve mess up my wp before.
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Some people will argue that updating both WordPress and your plugins manually is best and will pose the least security threat. |
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