How to Update Plugins in WordPress for Better Performance

Ensuring your WordPress extensions remain current is a vital yet straightforward practice for upholding a rapid, protected, and efficient digital platform. Developers frequently refine these tools to address security gaps, introduce fresh capabilities, or enhance overall speed. However, neglecting these improvements can leave your site vulnerable to threats, software clashes, or unforeseen technical glitches.

In this comprehensive tutorial, you will discover the precise method for safely managing updates within premium wordpress templates whether you opt for the built-in dashboard, manual transfers, or automated configurations. We will also discuss the critical procedures to undertake before and after the process, alongside professional advice to prevent site outages or integration hurdles. By concluding this walkthrough, you will possess the expertise to refresh your tools with certainty and maintain peak site performance. By adhering to this extensive roadmap, you will develop a strong maintenance habit, guaranteeing your site stays resilient and stable.

Why Update Plugins in WordPress?

Updating plugins in WordPress is essential for keeping your website secure, stable, and performing at its best. Plugins play a major role in extending your WordPress site’s functionalities, from contact forms and SEO tools to security systems and eCommerce features. However, outdated plugins can quickly become a weak link. Here’s why keeping them updated matters:

• Improve Website Security: Plugins are one of the most common entry points for hackers. Developers regularly release updates to fix security vulnerabilities and patch bugs. By keeping your plugins up to date, you reduce the risk of malware attacks, data breaches, and unauthorised access.
• Ensure Compatibility With Latest WordPress Version: WordPress core updates often change how features and functions work. If your plugins aren’t updated to match these changes, conflicts may arise, causing errors or even site breakdowns. Updated plugins ensure smooth compatibility with the latest WordPress and PHP versions.
• Boost Website Performance: Outdated plugins can slow down your website due to inefficient code, deprecated functions, or conflicts with new WordPress features. Updates often include performance improvements, optimised scripts, and better resource handling to keep your site running fast and efficiently.
• Access New Features and Enhancements: Plugin developers frequently add new tools, integrations, or customisation options through updates. By updating, you stay ahead with the latest features that can enhance user experience and make managing your site easier.
• Resolve Glitches and Identified Flaws: New versions rectify errors, malfunctions, and integration hurdles reported by the community. Consistently refreshing tools ensures your platform receives these corrections, minimizing bugs and preventing wordpress permalink issues or general instability.
• Improve Website Reliability: Regular updates reduce the chances of sudden plugin failures or unexpected crashes. A well-maintained plugin system leads to a more reliable website with minimal downtime.

To-Do List Before Updating Plugins in WordPress

Here’s a clean, well-structured to-do list before updating plugins in WordPress that you can directly use in your blog:

• Take a Full Backup of Your Website: Always create a complete backup (files + database) using a backup plugin or your host’s backup tool. This ensures you can restore your site if anything breaks after the update.
• Check Plugin Compatibility: See whether the plugin is compatible with your current WordPress version, theme, and other plugins. Review the changelog and version notes.
• Update WordPress Core & Theme First: Keeping WordPress core and theme updated reduces conflicts with new plugin updates.
• Test in a Staging Environment: If your website is large or important, test plugin updates in a staging site before updating on live.
• Deactivate Caching Prior to refreshing: Flush the storage for caching tools and the CDN to prevent installation friction or the loading of stale assets. You might also want to disable wordpress plugins that handle optimization temporarily to ensure a clean transition during the core update process.
• Check Minimum PHP Version Requirements: Make sure your hosting PHP version meets the plugin’s latest requirements.
• Deactivate Unused Plugins: Remove or deactivate plugins you no longer use, so only essential plugins get updated.
• Verify You Are Logged In as an Administrator: Ensure you have admin access to avoid permission errors during updates.
• Ensure a Stable Internet Connection: Interruptions during updates can corrupt plugin files.

How to Update Plugins in WordPress? Useful Methods

There are three primary methods for “How to Update Plugins in WordPress: using the WordPress Dashboard (automatic/one-click), using a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) client (manual), and using the Command Line Interface (WP-CLI).

Method 1: How to Update Plugins in WordPress (Via WordPress Dashboard)

This is the most straightforward and common method, suitable for most users and standard plugins available on the WordPress.org repository. Here are the steps on “How to Update Plugins in WordPress” easily:

Steps

• Log in to your WordPress administrative area.
• Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
• Look for plugins that have an update available. You will see a notice under the plugin's name that reads, "There is a new version of [Plugin Name] available. Update now."
• Click the Update now link below the plugin you wish to update.
• Wait for the process to complete. WordPress will download and replace the old files and activate the new version.
• Once you see the success message, check your site immediately for any issues.

Bulk Update

You can also update multiple plugins at once:

• Navigate to Dashboard > Updates.
• Select the plugins you want to update using the checkboxes.
• Click the Update Plugins button.

Method 2: How to Update Plugins in WordPress (Automatically)

This is the automatic method on “How to Update Plugins in WordPress”. This method gives you selective control over which plugins update themselves automatically.

Steps

• Log in to your WordPress administrative area.
• Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
• Locate the column labelled "Automatic Updates."
• For each plugin you want to automatically update, click the link that says "Enable auto-updates."
• The link will change to "Disable auto-updates," confirming the feature is now active for that specific plugin.

Bulk Activation

You can also enable auto-updates for multiple plugins simultaneously:

• On the Installed Plugins screen, check the boxes next to all the plugins you want to automate.
• Select "Enable auto-updates" from the "Bulk actions" dropdown menu above the list.
• Click the "Apply" button.

Method 3: How to Update Plugins in WordPress (Manual Update)

Updating a WordPress plugin manually is often necessary when the one-click update fails, when you are updating a premium plugin not available on the WordPress.org repository, or if you are locked out of your dashboard. The most common method for manual updates is using an FTP client. This method involves replacing the existing plugin folder on your server with the new one.

Steps

1. Connect to Your Server

• Open your FTP client.
• Connect to your web host using your FTP credentials.

2. Navigate to the Plugins Directory

• On the Remote Site panel, navigate to the following path: /public_html/wp-content/plugins/

3. Rename or Delete the Old Plugin

• Find the folder for the plugin you want to update.
• Rename the folder. This automatically deactivates the plugin and keeps the files as a temporary backup.

4. Upload the New Plugin Folder

• On the Local Site panel, find the extracted plugin folder you downloaded in the pre-checklist.
• Drag and drop this new folder into the /wp-content/plugins/ directory on the remote site. Wait for the upload to complete.

5. Verify and Clean Up

• Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
• Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
• The newly uploaded plugin should appear, and you may need to click Activate if you renamed the old folder earlier.
• Check the plugin's version number to confirm the update.
• Test your site functionality thoroughly.
• If everything works, you can safely delete the old, renamed folder via FTP.

Best Practices for Updating Plugins Safely

Always Take a Full Website Backup
Before updating any plugin, create a complete backup of your website, including files and the database. This ensures you can quickly restore your site if something goes wrong during the update process.

• Review the Plugin Changelog First:Check the plugin’s changelog to understand what the update includes. Look for security fixes, major changes, or compatibility notes that may affect your website.
  
• Update WordPress Core and Theme Before Plugins: Keeping WordPress core and themes updated first helps prevent compatibility issues when updating plugins, as most plugin updates are designed to work with the latest WordPress version.
  
• Test Updates on a Staging Site: For business or high-traffic websites, test plugin updates in a staging environment before applying them to the live site. This helps identify conflicts without risking downtime.
  
• Refresh Extensions Individually: Updating each tool one by one simplifies the process of pinpointing which specific addition triggers a conflict if a failure occurs, facilitating much faster troubleshooting plugins for wordpress 
• Avoid Plugin Overload : Keep only essential and actively maintained plugins installed. Too many plugins increase the risk of conflicts and slow down your website.
• Disable Caching During Updates: Temporarily clear or disable caching plugins and CDN cache before updating to ensure old files don’t interfere with the update process.
• Enable Auto-Updates Selectively : Use automatic updates only for trusted, lightweight plugins. Critical plugins should be updated manually to maintain better control and review changes.
• Test Website Functionality After Updating: After updating plugins, check important site features such as forms, checkout pages, login areas, and navigation to ensure everything works correctly.
  
• Observe Site Functionality and Technical Flaws: Track your platform's velocity, system reports, and visitor engagement following any modifications. Promptly identifying bottlenecks is a crucial part of speeding up wordpress website and avoiding lasting complications.

Conclusion 

Updating plugins is a simple yet essential part of maintaining a secure, fast, and stable WordPress website. Whether updates are done automatically, manually, via FTP, or using WP-CLI, the key is to follow the correct process and always back up your site beforehand. Regular updates, testing important plugins on a staging site, and enabling auto-updates where suitable help prevent compatibility issues and keep your site running smoothly.

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