{"id":16727,"date":"2021-08-17T14:10:37","date_gmt":"2021-08-17T14:10:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-agents.com\/?p=16727"},"modified":"2022-03-15T09:14:08","modified_gmt":"2022-03-15T09:14:08","slug":"wordpress-theme-and-plugin-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-agents.com\/wordpress-theme-and-plugin-update\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Update a WordPress Theme and plugin?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\u201cIt is damn easy to update the WordPress theme and plugins.\u201d Carla was explaining to her friend Joyce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

She instructed, \u201cGo to the back-end UI of WordPress and open the update tab. You\u2019ll find the notification regarding the updates. Now, select whatever you want to update and push the button. It automatically updates the themes or plugins. Nothing to fear about there!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Unfortunately, that update had created an irreversible problem. Moreover, Joyce didn\u2019t have taken the latest backup of the WordPress site prior to initiating the update.<\/span><\/p>

In a sad tone, Carla had picked up the phone and discussed the matter with the support and maintenance team at <\/span>WP Agents<\/span><\/a>. As per her opinion, WP-Agents is the most dependable and affordable agency for any kind of emergency or regular support.<\/span><\/p>

\"Get<\/a><\/p>

After hearing about this incident, I have made up my mind to write something valuable on how to update a WordPress theme and plugins in a completely safe and result-oriented way.<\/span><\/p>

Take Backup First<\/span><\/h4>

As we have seen in the case of Joyce, anything can go wrong during theme or plugin updates on your WordPress website.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Taking full backup means you will have resources, components, core, themes, plugins, and database to restore.<\/span><\/p>

Use auto-backup plugins or save your backup manually at safe places including cloud storage services.<\/span><\/p>

Ways to Updates: Auto vs. Manual<\/span><\/h4>

Manual updates mean login in the back-end of WordPress and run backups, as Carla was describing.<\/span><\/p>

Auto-updates are possible using automated updates taking plugins or software. Here, you can eliminate frequent logins in the back-end of WordPress and waste time.<\/span><\/p>

However, we cannot solely depend upon plugins or software for every theme or plugin update.<\/span><\/p>

Front-end Facing:<\/span><\/i><\/h4>

The reason behind is that some themes and plugins have front-end interfaces to make updates. So, we cannot allocate automation tasks to software for front-end-facing plugins. For instance, premium themes and WooCommerce plugins.<\/span><\/p>

Back-end Facing:<\/span><\/i><\/h4>

Typically, the majority of free and premium themes as well as plugins are back-end facing and we can go through the WordPress dashboard. These kinds of themes and plugins are safe for auto-updates.<\/span><\/p>

Ways to Updates: Live vs. Staging<\/span><\/h4>

I remember when WordPress took a major update and changed the layout of its CMS, I had to rewrite the entire website in the back-end to adopt and leverage block styles in CMS. It is because my WordPress site was extensively customized in core source.<\/span><\/p>

At that moment, I realized that I have to try first in a local or staging environment. If everything goes well, shifting to a live site or repeating the entire process is the safe bet.<\/span><\/p>

You can create a local server on your desktop or take the help of additional features of hosting services.\u00a0<\/span>Bluehost<\/a>\u00a0and HostGator<\/a> are providing staging server facilities through cPanel.<\/span><\/p>

Update WordPress Plugins<\/span><\/h4>

Typically, WordPress plugins developers are offering updates of their products after each major WordPress platform updates. Similarly, premium plugins and free plugins from highly active plugins developers offer frequent updates for sake of security and performance reasons.<\/span><\/p>

If you find any plugin in your WordPress site has not received an update for the last six months, you must think of replacing it with a new plugin that offers similar or advanced features and functionality.<\/span><\/p>

Take care of checking plugin requirements for the lowest WordPress version, themes, and compatibility of plugins with other existing plugins in your site. I think it is the duty of an expert WordPress developer, right?<\/span><\/p>

Update WordPress Theme<\/span><\/h4>

Updating WordPress themes, particularly after a major core update is a bit tricky. If you have customized the main theme extensively, chances are high when you go to major theme updates.<\/span><\/p>

Suppose you have taken the help of child themes and customized them; your job is easy to make updates of the main theme. Similarly, when a new theme has new IDs, Classes, and HTML, your external CSS files may work and demand extensive changes in it to make it compatible.<\/span><\/p>

One more thing, if you are going to install new plugins and you have an older version of the theme, incompatibility might be an issue there.<\/span><\/p>

Restoring WordPress Theme & Plugins<\/span><\/h4>

If you face a horrible issue while updating a WordPress theme or plugins, you must revert to your old theme or plugins using your backup.<\/span><\/p>

Through FTP, you can replace new themes or plugins in the WP-Content folder by overwriting them with older versions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Trouble Shoot while Updating WordPress Theme & Plugins<\/span><\/h4>

There are varied reasons that lead WordPress sites to crash while updating themes and plugins. In such cases, you can take the following steps.<\/span><\/p>