How to Safely Update WordPress, Plugins, and Themes: A Step-by-Step Guide

Keeping your WordPress website updated is one of the most important parts of website maintenance.

WordPress updates can improve security, repair bugs, add new features, and help your website remain compatible with modern browsers and hosting technology. Plugin and theme updates are equally important because outdated software can create security vulnerabilities, performance problems, and conflicts.

However, clicking every available update without preparation can cause broken layouts, missing features, plugin errors, or even a temporarily unavailable website.

In this step-by-step guide, MK Marketing explains how to manage WordPress, plugin, and theme updates safely.

Why WordPress Updates Matter

A WordPress website includes several components that work together:

• WordPress core
• Your active theme
• A child theme, when applicable
• Plugins
• Page builders such as Elementor
• Hosting software
• PHP
• A database
• Custom code and integrations

Each component may be developed and updated independently. If one becomes outdated, it may eventually stop working properly with the others.

Regular updates can help:

• Correct security vulnerabilities
• Repair software bugs
• Improve website performance
• Maintain browser compatibility
• Add useful features
• Keep plugins compatible with WordPress
• Prevent larger technical problems
• Reduce spam and malicious activity

Updates are an essential part of maintaining a secure and dependable website, but they should always be handled carefully.

How Often Should You Check for Updates?

Most business websites should be checked at least once a week.

Websites with ecommerce, memberships, online courses, appointment booking, frequent form submissions, or other business-critical features may need more frequent monitoring.

Security updates should generally be handled promptly. Major WordPress, theme, or page-builder releases may require additional research and staging tests before being installed on a live website.

Do not allow dozens of updates to accumulate for several months. The longer a website remains outdated, the more difficult it may be to identify compatibility problems later.

Step 1: Schedule a Good Time for Maintenance

Choose a time when website traffic and customer activity are typically lower.

Avoid performing major updates:

• During a product or book launch
• Immediately before an event
• During an advertising campaign
• While customers are actively placing orders
• While another person is editing the website
• Immediately before leaving your office
• When you will not have time to test the website afterward

Leave enough time to complete the updates, inspect the website, test important features, and restore a backup if something goes wrong.

For an ecommerce or membership website, consider temporarily pausing new content changes while updates are being performed.

Step 2: Review the Website Before Updating

Before making changes, open the website and review its current condition.

Check several important pages, including:

• Home
• About
• Services or products
• Contact
• Blog
• Checkout
• Account or membership pages
• Landing pages
• Forms and booking pages

Take screenshots of important layouts, especially the home page, header, footer, mobile menu, forms, and complex Elementor sections.

If a design changes after an update, these screenshots will help you identify what moved or disappeared.

Also check the WordPress dashboard for existing error messages. If the website already has a problem, document it before updating so you do not incorrectly assume the update caused it.

Step 3: Create a Complete Website Backup

Never begin important WordPress updates without a current backup.

A complete backup should include:

• The WordPress database
• Themes
• Plugins
• Uploaded media
• Website files
• Configuration files
• Custom code

Many hosting companies offer automated backups, but you should confirm that the latest backup completed successfully.

Ask the following questions:

• When was the backup created?
• Does it include both the database and website files?
• How long are backups retained?
• Can the backup be restored quickly?
• Do I know where the restore controls are located?
• Can I download an independent copy?

WordPress officially recommends backing up your website before updating so it can be restored if a problem occurs. Review the WordPress update documentation.

A backup is only useful if it can be restored. For important websites, periodically test the restoration process on a staging environment.

Step 4: Use a Staging Website When Possible

A staging website is a private copy of your live website that can be used for testing.

On a staging site, you can install updates and look for problems without affecting visitors or customers.

Use staging for:

• Major WordPress releases
• Elementor and Elementor Pro updates
• WooCommerce updates
• Theme updates
• PHP version changes
• Large groups of plugin updates
• Plugins connected to payments, forms, bookings, or memberships
• Websites with custom code
• Updates with reported compatibility concerns

Many hosting companies provide a staging feature. If yours does not, contact your host or website developer before making a major update.

Elementor also recommends making a backup, reviewing release information, checking add-on compatibility, and testing updates on a staging site. Read Elementor’s pre-update recommendations.

Step 5: Check Your Website’s General Health

From the WordPress dashboard, go to:

Tools > Site Health

The Site Health screen can identify critical issues and recommended improvements involving:

• WordPress configuration
• PHP
• HTTPS
• Plugins
• Themes
• Database settings
• Server configuration
• Scheduled tasks
• Security settings

Review critical issues before performing a major update.

The Info tab also provides technical details about your WordPress installation, active plugins, themes, database, server, and permissions. Learn more about WordPress Site Health.

Do not make advanced server changes based only on a Site Health recommendation unless you understand the effect. Contact your hosting provider or website professional if you are unsure.

Step 6: Review Available Updates

Go to:

Dashboard > Updates

This screen may display available updates for:

• WordPress core
• Plugins
• Themes
• Translations

You can also review plugins under:

Plugins > Installed Plugins

Before clicking Update, review each item.

Look for:

• The current version
• The new version
• The date of the update
• The developer
• Compatibility information
• The changelog
• Security fixes
• Known conflicts
• Subscription or license requirements

Be especially careful with plugins that have not been updated in a long time or appear to be abandoned.

If a plugin requires a major version jump—for example, from version 4 to version 5—review the release documentation before installing it. A major version may include redesigned features, changed settings, database updates, or discontinued functions.

Step 7: Confirm Licenses and Compatibility

Premium themes and plugins often require an active license to receive updates.

Check licenses for important tools such as:

• Elementor Pro
• Premium themes
• Form builders
• Security plugins
• Backup plugins
• Ecommerce extensions
• Membership plugins
• Booking systems
• SEO plugins
• Performance tools

An expired license may prevent updates or access to technical support.

Also confirm that the new versions support your:

• WordPress version
• PHP version
• Theme
• Page builder
• Ecommerce platform
• Custom integrations

Do not update only one part of a closely connected plugin pair and leave it mismatched for an extended period.

For example, Elementor’s documentation states that the free Elementor plugin should be updated first, followed by Elementor Pro. Both versions should remain current and compatible. Review Elementor’s update guidance.

Step 8: Decide on a Safe Update Order

There is no single update order that is perfect for every website. The correct order depends on the compatibility requirements listed by each developer.

For a typical WordPress website, a practical maintenance sequence is:

1. Create and verify a backup.
2. Test the update sequence on staging.
3. Review plugin and theme compatibility.
4. Update lower-risk plugins individually.
5. Update connected plugin pairs in the developer’s recommended order.
6. Update the active theme.
7. Update WordPress core.
8. Check again for additional plugin or database updates.
9. Clear caches.
10. Test the website thoroughly.

If a plugin update specifically requires a newer version of WordPress, update WordPress core first. If a new WordPress release requires compatible plugin versions, install the compatible plugin updates before or immediately after the core update.

The release notes and compatibility requirements should guide the sequence.

Step 9: Update Plugins Carefully

To update a plugin:

1. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
2. Locate a plugin showing an available update.
3. Select View Version Details or review the changelog.
4. Confirm compatibility and license status.
5. Click Update Now.
6. Wait for the update to finish.
7. Confirm that WordPress reports a successful update.
8. Test the related website feature.

For example:

• After updating a form plugin, submit a test form.
• After updating an SEO plugin, check page titles and metadata.
• After updating a gallery plugin, open the gallery.
• After updating a security plugin, confirm that you can still log in.
• After updating a payment plugin, test the checkout process.
• After updating Elementor, inspect several Elementor pages.

WordPress allows administrators to update multiple plugins at once, but updating important plugins individually makes it easier to identify which update caused a problem.

WordPress also recommends reviewing plugins and maintaining a current backup before updating them. View the official plugin-management guide.

Special Instructions for Elementor Websites

When updating a website built with Elementor:

1. Confirm that you have a current backup.
2. Review Elementor’s release notes.
3. Check third-party Elementor add-ons for compatibility.
4. Test on staging when possible.
5. Update the free Elementor plugin first.
6. Update Elementor Pro immediately afterward.
7. Update Elementor add-on plugins.
8. Clear Elementor’s files and data if styles do not display correctly.
9. Inspect desktop, tablet, and mobile layouts.

Third-party Elementor add-ons may not always be updated at the same time as Elementor. If your website depends heavily on an add-on, verify compatibility before installing a major Elementor release.

Step 10: Update the Theme

To review theme updates, go to:

Appearance > Themes

Before updating your active theme, determine whether the website uses a child theme.

A child theme helps preserve customizations when the parent theme is updated. Direct changes made to a parent theme’s files may be overwritten during an update.

Before updating the theme:

• Confirm that a backup exists.
• Review the theme’s changelog.
• Check compatibility with WordPress and your page builder.
• Verify that premium licensing is active.
• Confirm whether custom code was added directly to the theme.
• Test the update on staging.

After updating, check:

• Header
• Footer
• Navigation menus
• Fonts
• Colors
• Blog layouts
• Page templates
• Sidebars
• Mobile menu
• Forms
• WooCommerce pages

Do not activate a different theme while attempting to update the current one. Activating a new theme can immediately alter the appearance of the website.

Step 11: Update WordPress Core

WordPress core is the primary software that powers the website.

To update it:

1. Go to Dashboard > Updates.
2. Confirm that your backup is complete.
3. Make sure no one else is editing the website.
4. Review the version and release information.
5. Click Update Now.
6. Do not close the browser during the process.
7. Wait for WordPress to confirm that the update is complete.
8. Complete any requested database update.
9. Return to the dashboard.
10. Check the website.

WordPress provides a one-click update process through Dashboard > Updates. Minor maintenance and security updates may also be installed automatically, depending on the website’s configuration. Read the official WordPress update instructions.

Major releases deserve more careful testing because they may introduce broader changes.

Step 12: Update Translations

WordPress may also display updates for translation files.

These updates provide revised wording for WordPress, plugins, and themes in different languages.

Translation updates are generally lower risk, but they should still be completed as part of the maintenance process.

Go to:

Dashboard > Updates

Locate the Translations section and select the available update.

Step 13: Clear Website Caches

After updating, the website may continue displaying older files stored in a cache.

Clear all applicable cache layers:

• WordPress caching plugin
• Hosting or server cache
• Browser cache
• CDN cache
• Elementor-generated files and data
• Object cache

For an Elementor website, go to:

Elementor > Editor > Tools

Select Clear Files & Data, save the changes, and check the website again.

The exact location may vary based on your Elementor version.

Do not repeatedly clear caches during an active update. Wait until the update process has finished.

Step 14: Test the Website Thoroughly

Never assume that a successful update message means the entire website is working correctly.

Open the public website in a private or incognito browser window and test:

• Home page
• Header
• Footer
• Navigation
• Mobile menu
• Important landing pages
• Contact forms
• Newsletter signup
• Search
• Blog posts
• Buttons and links
• Popups
• Videos
• Downloads
• Login pages
• Ecommerce cart
• Checkout
• Payment processing
• Customer account
• Booking tools
• Membership content

Also review the website on:

• Desktop
• Tablet
• Mobile
• More than one browser when possible

Check the WordPress dashboard for new warnings or errors.

Step 15: Test Forms and Email Delivery

Forms require special attention because they can appear to work while failing to deliver notifications.

After plugin or WordPress updates:

1. Submit each important form.
2. Confirm that the success message appears.
3. Verify that the submission is stored, if applicable.
4. Confirm that the notification email arrives.
5. Check the spam folder.
6. Test autoresponder emails.
7. Confirm that links inside emails work.

For ecommerce or booking websites, test customer confirmations and administrator notifications as well.

Step 16: Check Website Speed and Security

After completing the updates, check for unexpected changes in:

• Page loading speed
• Image loading
• Security scans
• Login behavior
• Database performance
• Error logs
• Server resources

A poorly configured plugin update may introduce extra scripts, database tasks, or background processes.

Run a security scan if your website uses a security plugin. Review the hosting error log if you notice blank pages, slow performance, or error messages.

Step 17: Document the Maintenance

Keep a simple update record containing:

• Date
• Backup time
• WordPress version
• Updated plugins
• Updated theme
• Person completing the maintenance
• Problems discovered
• Corrective actions
• Testing completed
• Final website status

This record can be extremely helpful if a problem appears several days later.

What Should You Do If an Update Breaks the Website?

Stay calm and avoid making multiple random changes.

Begin by identifying what changed.

If the Website Is Still Accessible

1. Stop installing additional updates.
2. Take screenshots of the problem.
3. Check the affected pages and features.
4. Clear all caches.
5. Review the plugin or theme changelog.
6. Check for known compatibility issues.
7. Review available error logs.
8. Disable or roll back the most recent update if appropriate.
9. Restore the backup if the problem cannot be corrected safely.

If the WordPress Dashboard Is Not Accessible

Contact your hosting provider or website professional.

You may need to:

• Restore a hosting backup
• Disable a plugin through the hosting file manager
• Rename a plugin directory
• Review PHP error logs
• Increase server resources
• Roll back a theme or plugin
• Restore the database

Do not delete plugins, themes, or databases while troubleshooting unless you fully understand the consequences.

Be Careful When Restoring Ecommerce Websites

Restoring a database backup can remove orders, form submissions, registrations, comments, and other activity created after the backup.

If the website processes live transactions, consult a qualified professional before restoring the entire database.

Should You Enable Automatic Updates?

WordPress allows automatic updates to be enabled individually for plugins and themes.

For plugins, go to:

Plugins > Installed Plugins

Look for the Enable Auto-Updates option.

For themes, go to:

Appearance > Themes

Open the theme details and select Enable Auto-Updates when available.

WordPress allows administrators to manage plugin and theme auto-updates individually. Review the official auto-update documentation.

Automatic updates may be appropriate for:

• Well-maintained, trusted plugins
• Security tools
• Simple plugins with limited website impact
• Websites with reliable automated backups
• Websites with active uptime monitoring

Manual or staged updates may be safer for:

• Elementor and Elementor Pro
• WooCommerce and payment extensions
• Membership plugins
• Booking systems
• Learning-management systems
• Form plugins
• Multilingual plugins
• Major theme updates
• Plugins containing custom modifications
• Plugins connected to external business systems

Automatic updates should not replace backups, monitoring, and testing.

Remove Plugins You No Longer Use

Inactive plugins can still create maintenance and security concerns.

Periodically review your plugin list and ask:

• Is this plugin active?
• Is it still needed?
• Is it maintained by its developer?
• Does another plugin already provide the same feature?
• Is its license current?
• Does it create performance problems?
• Is it compatible with current WordPress versions?

Do not immediately delete a plugin simply because it is inactive. First determine whether it stores data, controls shortcodes, or provides content that will disappear when removed.

Create a backup before deleting unused software.

WordPress Update Checklist

Before updating:

• Schedule a low-traffic maintenance window.
• Review the live website.
• Create a complete backup.
• Confirm that the backup can be restored.
• Use a staging site when possible.
• Review Site Health.
• Check release notes and changelogs.
• Confirm licenses.
• Verify WordPress and PHP compatibility.
• Check page-builder and add-on compatibility.

During the update:

• Update one critical component at a time.
• Follow developer-recommended update sequences.
• Wait for each update to finish.
• Do not close the browser during an update.
• Watch for error messages.
• Test important functionality between major updates.

After updating:

• Clear all caches.
• Review desktop, tablet, and mobile layouts.
• Test forms and email delivery.
• Test buttons and links.
• Test checkout, booking, or membership features.
• Check the WordPress dashboard for warnings.
• Run a security scan.
• Review website performance.
• Document the updates.
• Confirm that the final website is working properly.

Keep Your WordPress Website Protected and Performing Its Best

WordPress maintenance is not simply a matter of clicking an Update button. Every update should be supported by a current backup, compatibility review, careful testing, and a recovery plan.

Regular maintenance can help prevent security problems, broken website features, poor performance, and expensive emergency repairs.

If you would rather have an experienced professional manage your website, MK Marketing offers WordPress maintenance and support for authors and small businesses.

Our website maintenance services can help keep your WordPress core, themes, plugins, backups, security, content, and performance properly managed—so you can focus on running your business and connecting with your audience.