Log in to WordPress.
It says there are 3 updates. Or 8. Or 17.
WordPress itself will be updated. A theme has a new version. Several plugins will also require your attention.
So what do you do?
Do you just click “Update All”?
Not necessarily.
A WordPress update is generally a good thing. But that doesn’t mean you should update without giving it some thought.
Why are there so many WordPress updates?
A WordPress website typically consists of several parts.
The WordPress system itself is constantly being developed. The same goes for themes, page builders, and plugins.
Updates may include, among other things, bug fixes, security patches, improvements, new features, or adjustments to accommodate newer versions of WordPress and PHP.
That’s why frequent updates aren’t necessarily a sign that something is wrong.
On the contrary, it often means that the software the website uses is still being maintained.
Why is it important to keep WordPress up to date?
Safety is one of the most important reasons.
When a vulnerability is discovered in WordPress or a plugin, the developer can release an update that fixes the problem.
If the website continues to use an old version, it will also continue to have the old error.
But safety isn’t the only reason.
An older plugin version may eventually become incompatible with the rest of the website. Features may start to behave strangely, or a future update may become more difficult because the website has fallen several versions behind.
That’s why it usually makes the most sense to maintain the website on an ongoing basis rather than waiting until something goes wrong.
Can an update break the website?
Yes.
That doesn’t mean updates are dangerous. But a website consists of many parts that need to work together.
A plugin can change something that another plugin depends on. A major WordPress update can affect older code. A theme can change the way a function is handled.
Sometimes it’s just a minor visual glitch.
Other times, a form, online store, or important feature may stop working.
That’s why my approach isn’t just:
Update and hope for the best.
Back Up First
Before making major updates, you should have a usable backup of the website.
Not just because something might go wrong, but because a backup makes the problem much easier to handle if it does happen.
If an update causes errors, you should be able to revert to the version that works.
It’s also worth remembering that a backup is only useful if it can actually be restored.
On the websites I maintain, backups are therefore part of routine operations—not something I only think about once the site has already crashed.
Do you just click “Update All”?
It can be tempting.
And for a small, simple website, that will often work just fine.
But especially on larger sites, I prefer to have a little more control over the process.
First, I back up the site, review what needs to be updated, and then check the most important parts of the website—such as the homepage, navigation, contact forms, and other features that are important to the business.
On an online store, there will, of course, be even more things that should be tested.
What about plugins you no longer use?
If a plugin is no longer in use, the question may not be whether it should be updated.
The question is whether it should be installed at all.
Old plugins can remain in WordPress for years because no one can quite remember why they were installed.
This adds unnecessary complexity and more software that needs to be kept up to date.
That’s why it makes sense to tidy up regularly and get rid of things that no longer serve a purpose.
It could also be part of the solution if the website has gradually become slow to load.
See also: Slow Website? 7 Things You Should Check
Are automatic updates a good idea?
Automatic updates can be convenient, especially on smaller, simpler websites.
On more complex pages, however, I’d prefer to have control over backups and the ability to review the page afterward.
The more important the website is to the company, the more sense it makes to know what changes are being made—and to be able to respond if something stops working afterward.
What if you’re afraid to update?
If you consistently avoid WordPress updates because you’re afraid of breaking your site, that in itself is a sign that your setup needs to be reviewed.
A website must be maintainable.
If a single plugin update feels like a gamble, the problem isn’t necessarily the update itself.
It may be that the website is too outdated, has too many dependencies, or lacks a proper backup and maintenance routine.
WordPress requires a little ongoing maintenance
A WordPress website isn’t something you build once and then leave untouched for five years.
It doesn’t require constant attention.
But it requires ongoing maintenance.
Updates, backups, security, and an occasional check to make sure the most important features are still working are all part of keeping the website in good shape.
So when WordPress tells you that updates are available, the solution is neither:
“Click on everything without thinking.”
or:
“Never touch anything.”
It is:
Stay up to date with a plan.
