How To Update WordPress to the Latest Version
Updates are essential to accommodate the advancements in technology. WordPress has been releasing new versions of WordPress installations every three months at least.
Follow the steps below on how to update your WordPress to the latest version. However, if you want a version before the latest one, follow the steps on how to install WordPress via FTP instead.
NOTE: We advise you to update during the off-peak hours of your website so as to not interrupt your site visitors.
There are two ways to update your WordPress version:
- Secure a backup of WordPress website files
- Secure a backup of WordPress database SQL file
- Check the system requirements of the new version and make sure that it is compatible to the current features of your hosting account e.g., PHP version, PHP extensions, etc.
Via WordPress Dashboard
This is the quickest way to update as it would only need your WordPress dashboard logins. Follow the steps below on how to update the WordPress version in your dashboard.
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard using either of the links: yourdomain.com/wp-admin or yourdomain.com/wp-login.php (replace yourdomain.com with the domain of your website) or by any of the methods below depending on your web hosting plan.
- Click the Updates option on the left side of the page.
- Click the Update Now button to initiate the WordPress update.
A welcome page will show once the WordPress version has been updated as shown in the screenshot below.
The current WordPress version can also be confirmed by clicking the Updates menu in the WordPress Dashboard. The same page will also tell you if you need to update or if you already have the latest version of WordPress.
Automatic update of WordPress version can be enabled by clicking the Enable automatic updates for all new versions of WordPress link. If the website is installed in Softaculous Apps Installer on cPanel, you can check on how to enable the auto upgrade on this link.
Via Softaculous Apps Installer in cPanel
This is only applicable if your WordPress site is installed via Softaculous.
- Log in to cPanel.
- Click the Softaculous Apps Installer icon found under Software menu.
- Make sure PHP is chosen at the top, then click the Installations button.
- If an update is available, an update icon beside the current version number will show just like in the screenshot below. Click the update icon to set up the upgrade.
- Tick the box next to Create Backup if you want a backup to be generated by cPanel.
- Click the Upgrade button to start the update.
- Wait for the upgrade to complete.
A message will show on the page once the update is complete as shown in the screenshot below.
Follow the link on how to enable the auto-upgrade if you want to skip the hassle of manually upgrading each time a new version is released.
Please do not hesitate to contact our 24/7 Singapore or Australia Support Team if you have further questions.