Hey there, WordPress user! Let me guess – you know how important it is to keep your WordPress site updated, but sometimes it slips through the cracks. Life gets busy and before you know it, you‘re several major releases behind. Sound familiar?
Well, what if I told you there was a way to put WordPress updates on autopilot and never have to worry about falling behind again? That‘s where enabling automatic updates for major WordPress releases comes in!
In this ultimate guide, I‘ll walk you through exactly how to set up auto-updates in WordPress step-by-step. By the end, you‘ll have a secure, up-to-date WordPress site that practically takes care of itself. Let‘s dive in!
Why Enabling Automatic Updates is Crucial for Every WordPress Site
First, let‘s talk about why keeping your WordPress site updated is so dang important. With WordPress now powering over 43% of all websites, it‘s a big target for hackers looking to exploit vulnerabilities. In fact, a recent study by WP White Security found that 70% of WordPress installations are vulnerable to hacking attempts simply because they are running outdated software. Yikes!
Whenever a new version of WordPress is released, it includes critical security fixes for any newly discovered threats. If you don‘t update, you‘re basically leaving the door wide open for bad actors to break in and wreak havoc on your site.
But security isn‘t the only reason to keep WordPress updated. Each major release also comes with exciting new features, performance improvements, and bug fixes that make your site faster, more stable, and easier to use. It‘s like getting a free upgrade for your website!
So if updating is so important, why don‘t more people do it? Well, it can be a hassle to remember to manually update every time a new version comes out. That‘s where automatic updates come to the rescue!
3 Methods for Enabling WordPress Automatic Updates for Major Releases
There are three ways to enable automatic updates for major WordPress releases:
- Using the WordPress Dashboard (introduced in WordPress 5.6)
- Installing a plugin like Easy Updates Manager or ManageWP
- Manually editing your WordPress files
Here‘s a quick comparison table of the different methods:
| Method | Difficulty | Control | Enables Auto-Updates For |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress Dashboard | Easy | Basic on/off | Core |
| Plugin | Medium | Granular control | Core, Plugins, Themes, Translations |
| Edit Files | Advanced | On/off with code | Core |
Let‘s go through each method step-by-step, complete with screenshots.
Method 1: Enable Auto-Updates via the WordPress Dashboard
Difficulty: Easy
Enables auto-updates for: WordPress core only
Step 1: From your WordPress admin dashboard, go to Updates.
Step 2: Look for the "This site is automatically kept up to date with each new version of WordPress" message.
Step 3: If auto-updates are not enabled for major core updates, click the "Enable automatic updates for all new versions of WordPress" link.
That‘s it! You‘ve now enabled automatic updates for all major WordPress releases going forward. Easy, right?
Note: As of WordPress 5.6, auto-updates are enabled by default for minor core updates and translation files. But major WordPress releases are not included unless you explicitly opt in.
Method 2: Enable Auto-Updates Using a Plugin
Difficulty: Medium
Enables auto-updates for: Core, plugins, themes, and translation files
If you want more control over which types of updates happen automatically, using a plugin is the way to go. Plugins like Easy Updates Manager and ManageWP Worker allow you to enable or disable auto-updates for different parts of your WordPress install. Here‘s how to set it up with Easy Updates Manager:
Step 1: Install and activate the Easy Updates Manager plugin.
Step 2: Navigate to the Dashboard > Updates Options page.
Step 3: Scroll down to the "Automatic Updates" section.
Step 4: Next to "Major Releases", select "Enable". You can also configure auto-updates for minor releases, plugins, themes, and more.
Step 5: Click the "Save Changes" button.
Now WordPress will automatically install new major versions as they are released, along with any other updates you opted into. I recommend enabling auto-updates for minor core releases and translations as well.
Method 3: Manually Edit WordPress Files
Difficulty: Advanced
Enables auto-updates for: WordPress core only
If you‘re comfortable editing WordPress files and want complete control, you can enable auto-updates for major releases by adding some code to your wp-config.php file.
Step 1: Access your WordPress files via FTP/SFTP or your hosting file manager.
Step 2: Download a copy of your wp-config.php file and open it in a text editor.
Step 3: Below the opening <?php tag and above the /* That‘s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */ line, add the following line of code:
define(‘WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE‘, true);Step 4: Save the file and re-upload it to your server, overwriting the existing wp-config.php file.
Now WordPress core will automatically update for major versions as well as minor versions and security patches.
Important: the WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE constant technically also enables automatic updates for WordPress development versions, which may not be stable. To disable dev auto-updates, add this line of code to your theme‘s functions.php file or a custom plugin:
add_filter( ‘allow_dev_auto_core_updates‘, ‘__return_false‘ );And that‘s it! With major WordPress release auto-updates enabled, you can rest easy knowing your site will always be running the latest and greatest version.
Frequently Asked Questions About WordPress Automatic Updates
Before we wrap up, let‘s address some of the most common questions and concerns about enabling automatic updates in WordPress:
What if an automatic update breaks my site?
It‘s very rare for a stable WordPress release to cause issues, but it can occasionally happen. That‘s why it‘s crucial to always keep complete backups of your WordPress site. I recommend using a plugin like UpdraftPlus or VaultPress to automatically back up your site daily. That way, you can quickly roll back if needed.
It‘s also smart to test updates on a staging site first if you have a mission-critical or ecommerce site. Some managed WordPress hosts like WP Engine and Flywheel can automatically create staging sites for you to safely test updates.
Do I still need to manually update plugins and themes?
Yes. Enabling auto-updates for major WordPress releases only covers the core software, not plugins or themes. It‘s important to still regularly log in and make sure your plugins and themes are up to date as well.
However, as of WordPress 5.5, auto-updates can be enabled for plugins and themes too. Some developers may opt in to allow auto-updates for their products. You can also use a plugin like Easy Updates Manager to configure auto-updates for specific plugins and themes.
Will auto-updates hurt my site‘s performance or SEO?
Nope! In fact, WordPress updates often include performance improvements that can actually make your site faster. Keeping your site updated also ensures you have the latest security features, which protects your SEO. There‘s really no downside to enabling auto-updates.
How can I tell if auto-updates are working?
To verify that auto-updates are working for major WordPress releases:
- Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
- Go to Dashboard > Updates.
- Check that the message says "This site is automatically kept up to date with each new version of WordPress."
- When the next major release comes out, log in and make sure your version has been upgraded.
You can also check the auto-update status by running the WP-CLI command:
wp core check-update --majorFinal Thoughts and Best Practices
Whew, you made it to the end! We covered a lot of ground in this guide. You now know three methods for enabling automatic updates for major WordPress releases and why it‘s critical for keeping your site secure.
As a WordPress expert, here are my final tips and best practices for managing WordPress updates:
- Always keep complete backups of your site before updating. I recommend automating daily backups.
- Set aside time to regularly log in and check for updates to your plugins and themes.
- If you have a ecommerce or membership site, test updates on a staging site first before pushing to production.
- Keep an eye out for emails from your web host or WordPress about upcoming updates.
- Consider using a managed WordPress host that handles core updates for you.
- When in doubt, hire a professional developer or WordPress maintenance service for help.
With automatic updates enabled for major WordPress releases, you‘re well on your way to a more secure, stable, and powerful website.
One more thing – I‘d love to hear from you! Do you have any other questions about WordPress updates or thoughts to share? Leave a comment below and keep the conversation going.
Cheers to staying up-to-date,
-Your Friendly WordPress Expert
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