Struggling to update a WordPress plugin? Sometimes the automatic update button breaks or fails. No worries – I‘ll show you how to easily update any plugin manually using FTP.
Follow this detailed step-by-step tutorial to learn:
- Why manual updates are sometimes necessary
- How to download the latest version of a plugin
- Connecting to your WordPress site via FTP
- Safely deactivating and replacing the old plugin version
- Troubleshooting common update issues
- Tips and best practices for keeping plugins updated
By the end of this guide, you‘ll be able to confidently handle any WordPress plugin update, even when the automatic process lets you down. Let‘s dive in!
Why You Might Need to Update Plugins Manually
First off, why would you ever need to bypass the usual plugin update process in WordPress? There are a few common scenarios:
- The automatic update fails due to file permissions, server issues, or conflicts with your theme or other plugins
- Your web host‘s server times out before the automatic update can complete
- You want to update to a specific version of a plugin (i.e. not the latest version)
- You prefer to manage updates on multiple sites via FTP instead of logging into each one individually
Sound familiar? If any of those apply to you, read on to learn how to take matters into your own hands and update those pesky plugins manually.
Plugin Update Statistics
Still not convinced updating your plugins is important? Check out these eye-opening statistics:
| Statistic | Percentage |
|---|---|
| WordPress sites hacked due to outdated plugins or themes | 52% |
| Share of top WordPress plugins that are outdated and vulnerable | 37% |
| Percentage of hacked WordPress sites running an outdated version of a plugin | 98% |
Sources: Kinsta and WP WhiteSecurity
Yikes. As you can see, neglecting plugin updates is a massive security risk. Hackers actively target vulnerable outdated plugins as an easy entry point.
So even if everything on your site seems to be working fine, don‘t skip those updates! The consequences could be catastrophic.
How to Download the Latest Version of a Plugin
Alright, let‘s get into the actual process of manually updating a plugin. The first step is to download the latest version to your computer.
For Free Plugins
If it‘s a free plugin listed in the official WordPress.org plugin directory, you can grab the latest version right from there:
- Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress admin dashboard
- Search for the plugin by name
- Click the "Download" button on the plugin page
- Save the ZIP file to your computer
For Premium Plugins
If you‘re dealing with a premium plugin, you‘ll need to download the latest version from the developer‘s website instead. The exact steps vary, but in general:
- Log into your account on the plugin developer‘s site
- Go to your downloads or purchases page
- Find the plugin and download the latest version ZIP file
Can‘t find your download link? Check your original purchase receipt email. If you still can‘t track it down, reach out to the plugin‘s support team for assistance.
How to Access Your WordPress Site via FTP
Now that you‘ve got the latest version of the plugin, it‘s time to upload it to your WordPress site. To do that, you‘ll need to use an FTP client.
Choosing an FTP Client
There are tons of FTP client options out there, but here are a few of the most popular:
Personally, I‘m a fan of FileZilla since it‘s free, open source, and available on all major platforms. But go with whatever you‘re comfortable with.
Finding Your FTP Credentials
To connect to your WordPress site, you‘ll need the following information:
- Hostname (usually your domain name)
- FTP username
- FTP password
- Port (usually 21)
Don‘t know your FTP login details off the top of your head? No worries. You can usually find them in your web hosting account.
The exact location varies by host, but here are a few common places to look:
- cPanel – Look under the "Files" section for "FTP Accounts"
- Kinsta – Go to "SFTP/SSH" under the "Tools" menu in MyKinsta
- WP Engine – Find the "SFTP Users" options under the "Portal Settings" menu
- Flywheel – Select your site, then go to "Advanced" and click on "SFTP"
- Cloudways – Navigate to "Server Management" and choose "SFTP Details"
If all else fails, check the emails from when you first signed up for hosting. The FTP info is often sent over as part of the welcome package.
Connecting to Your Site
Once you‘ve got your login details, open up your FTP client and enter them like so:
- Hostname:
yoursite.comor the server IP provided by your host - Username: Your FTP username
- Password: Your FTP password
- Port: 21 (unless your host specifies otherwise)
Double check everything is correct, then click "Quickconnect" or "Connect".
You should now see your WordPress site‘s files and folders in the Remote Site column of the FTP client.
How to Deactivate and Replace the Old Plugin Version
You‘re connected and ready to update that plugin! But first, we need to properly deactivate and back up the old version to prevent any conflicts or errors.
Deactivating the Old Version
In your FTP client, navigate to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory. Look for the folder with the same name as the plugin you‘re updating.
Right-click that plugin folder and choose "Rename". Then add _old or -backup to the end of the folder name. So plugin-name would become plugin-name_old.
This will automatically deactivate the plugin in WordPress since it can no longer find the original folder name. Smart, right?
Backing Up the Old Plugin Files
Even though we‘re replacing this plugin version, it‘s a good idea to download it as a backup. That way you can always restore the old version if something goes wrong.
To do that, right-click the newly renamed plugin folder and choose "Download" or "Download to Computer". Save it somewhere you can easily find it later.
Uploading the New Plugin Version
Time to bring in the new plugin version! Locate the plugin ZIP file you downloaded earlier and extract it. You should see a folder containing all the plugin files.
Drag that entire folder from your computer to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory in your FTP client. The upload progress will appear in the Queued Files section.
Once the transfer completes, go back to your WordPress admin dashboard and navigate to the Plugins page. You should see the new plugin version listed.
Go ahead and click "Activate". Then test the plugin to make sure everything is working as expected. If not, you can always deactivate and replace it with the backup of the old version we made.
Troubleshooting Plugin Update Issues
Even when you follow all the steps to the letter, plugin updates don‘t always go smoothly. Here are some common issues and how to resolve them:
"Destination Folder Already Exists" Error
If you see this error when trying to upload the new plugin folder, it means there‘s already a folder with the same name on the server.
Chances are you forgot to rename the old version folder earlier. Double check that and try again.
Failed Upload Error
Uploads timing out or failing halfway through? This usually happens when you‘re dealing with a very large plugin or your internet connection is unreliable.
First, check your FTP client settings and increase the Connection Timeout value. You can also try limiting simultaneous transfers to 1.
If it still fails, try uploading the plugin folder in smaller chunks instead of all at once.
Plugin Breaks Site After Updating
Yikes – you updated the plugin and now your site doesn‘t work at all! Don‘t panic. You‘ve got that backup of the old version, remember?
Here‘s how to roll things back:
- Connect to your site via FTP
- Rename the current (broken) plugin folder to
plugin-name_broken - Upload the backup you made of the old plugin version
- Reactivate the old version from your WordPress Plugins page
It‘s also a good idea to report the issue to the plugin developer so they can investigate and hopefully resolve it in a future update.
Plugin Updating Best Practices
Want to avoid those stressful update failures in the future? Here are some tips and best practices to keep in mind:
- Always back up your full WordPress site before updating plugins, themes, or core. I recommend using a plugin like UpdraftPlus to automate the process.
- If possible, test updates on a staging site first. Most managed WordPress hosts offer one-click staging environments. Use them!
- Keep an eye on your site‘s error log so you can spot update issues early and roll back if needed. WP Security Audit Log is helpful for this.
- Schedule regular time for plugin updates so they don‘t pile up. An unmaintained site is a vulnerable site.
- Delete plugins you no longer need. The fewer plugins, the fewer opportunities for update conflicts.
- Consider enabling auto-updates for plugins you trust. Reputable developers will carefully test updates before releasing them.
Plugin updates don‘t have to be scary. With the steps and best practices outlined here, you can keep everything running smoothly and securely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before we wrap up, let me answer some of the most common questions I hear about manually updating WordPress plugins:
Can I use the same FTP process to update WordPress themes?
Yes! The steps for updating themes manually via FTP are essentially the same. Just go to the /wp-content/themes/ directory instead of /plugins/.
What if I‘m not sure a plugin is compatible with my version of WordPress?
Check the plugin‘s page on WordPress.org or the developer‘s website to see which versions of WordPress it has been tested with. You can also look through the support forums to see if other users have had issues.
When in doubt, test the update on a staging site first. Some hosts like WP Engine even offer one-click staging environment creation.
Is it safe to delete a plugin? Will it affect my site‘s content?
Yes, it‘s totally safe to delete a WordPress plugin you‘re no longer using. It won‘t affect any of your content, media, pages, posts, etc.
That content is all stored separately in your WordPress database. Deleting a plugin simply removes its code from your site.
Of course, if you delete a plugin that was responsible for some content or functionality, that content or functionality will probably disappear too. So just be mindful of that.
Why do plugins sometimes get stuck while updating?
Some of the most common reasons for a stuck plugin update include:
- Your site is hosted on a server with limited resources or slow performance
- Conflicts with your WordPress theme‘s code
- Conflicts with other active plugins on your site
- Outdated server software (PHP, MySQL, etc.)
- Poor coding practices used in the plugin itself
If an update gets stuck for an unusually long time, your best bet is to perform the update manually using the steps outlined above.
You may also want to reach out to your web host‘s support team to see if there are any underlying server issues at play.
How often should I update my plugins?
Ideally, you should apply plugin updates as soon as they become available. Responsible developers will clearly document changes in the version release notes.
Urgent security updates should be prioritized. But in general, I recommend setting aside 15-30 minutes every week to run updates and make sure everything is working properly.
If you really want to stay on top of things, you can even subscribe to plugins‘ support forums or sign up for the developers‘ newsletters. That way you‘ll be notified as soon as a new version drops.
Time to Update Those Plugins!
Well folks, that‘s all I‘ve got! I hope this in-depth tutorial has given you the knowledge and confidence you need to manually update any WordPress plugin under the sun.
Remember, keeping plugins up to date is crucial for the security and stability of your site. So even though it can be intimidating, it‘s well worth taking the time to learn this essential skill.
If you get stuck or have any additional questions, don‘t hesitate to leave a comment below. I‘m here to help!
Happy updating,
-Your Friendly WordPress Plugin Pro
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