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We just covered backing up your website. Today, we will go over how to update your WordPress website quickly.
If you missed how to backup your WordPress website, click the link below:
How To Back Up A WordPress Website
Why Updating Your Site Is Important
I always do a quick backup or refer to it as the “Fast Way” before updating anything (specifically WordPress, Plugin, or Theme).
You never know what will happen, and I would rather have a fallback plan than lose everything.
Again, updating gives you the latest fixes, patches, and other useful information if you wonder why it’s important. This helps keep your site safe from vulnerabilities.
Think about it another way: Consider the hackers out in the world.
These people will try anything to log into your site. I’m sure you don’t want that to happen. That could mean you lose everything you have worked so hard for.
Hackers do this by finding and exploiting errors found in the code on your site.
Updating will help fix these errors, also called bug fixes.
One last thing to keep in mind. Only download from sites you trust, like WordPress.
You can always view the details page before updating.
I always do an extra backup before clicking updates to the latest WordPress version.
How To Update Your Site
It’s straightforward, and I still don’t understand why people don’t do this more often.
Generally, you will see a red circle and a white number next to the Dashboard on the left-hand menu. Or, you can click on the Dashboard menu to see any updates available.
The best part about today’s post is that I had a theme update when I logged into this website.
So, I took a few screenshots with the hope of helping walk you through my process for doing this. It’s great when things like this work out.
Again, once you are in the update section, you will see any available updates.
Looking at the image above, you can see that I am using GeneratePress and have a theme update!
As for plugins, I’m all up to date, and at the top of the page (sorry, it got cut off), I have installed the latest WordPress version. You can see the version you are running on the bottom right of the screenshot image.
Side note: Stay tuned if you use the block editor because I can easily eliminate it.
Time To Update
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- The last time I say this, make sure you back up your site using the fast way (click the previous link, and the “Fast Way” is near the top of the article).
- On the left-hand menu, click or hover over Dashboard, next click on Updates.
- A few things to check out
- What version of WordPress you are using
- Any Plugins that need updating, this is the most common to see
- If the WordPress Theme you are using has an update available.
- Click Update
- Generally, you have to select the item you want to update. For me, I do one at a time. I will do the WordPress update first, then the Theme (which is not as common), and finally, the Plugins.
- Do you have to do it in any order? NO! But that is just what I do.
That’s it! I told you it was easy.
Wealthy Affiliate Plug
Here is yet another Wealthy Affiliate plug for you, as if you didn’t already have enough.
They have a redundant system to keep your site backed up and updated!
You still need to do the steps above to keep everything updated, but having an extra layer of protection with Wealthy Affiliate is awesome.
You can read more about it in my two posts:
- Is Wealthy Affiliate Worth It
- It’s free to try, and you can upgrade your account anytime to get all the benefits (including website hosting)!
Not only are they an awesome company, but they also provide excellent training, and they make your site fast and safe.
A quick note on the redundant system. Your site is always backed up and kept on two different servers. That is in addition to everything you do.
So, if you ever have an issue, email their support team; they take care of everything. I have done this, and they are one of the best out there.
If you haven’t already guessed, I’m a huge supporter of Wealthy Affiliate and think you should try them!
It’s so easy!
You don’t have any excuse not to check and see if your site needs updates.
If you haven’t done it already, do it now!
After you ensure your website is up to date, come back and let me know how it went. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how easy it truly is.
Let me know if this post helped you. I also want to know if you were able to update your site. Leave a comment below!
