Outdated WordPress sites become easy targets for hackers who exploit security flaws
Plugin and theme conflicts increase as components update independently
Performance degrades because you miss speed improvements and code optimisations
The longer you delay updates, the harder they become to apply safely
Search rankings can suffer if your site slows down or triggers security warnings
You’ve probably noticed those update notifications in your WordPress dashboard. The little red badge telling you plugins need attention or a new version of WordPress is available.
When your site is working fine, putting off those updates until later feels harmless enough.
But those ignored updates add up. Each one represents security patches, bug fixes, and improvements your site is missing.
The longer you leave them, the more problems stack on top of each other.
This article explains exactly what happens when WordPress sites fall behind on updates. You’ll understand the real consequences so you can decide how to handle your website maintenance going forward.
Table of Contents
Security Vulnerabilities Leave Your Site Exposed
Security is the biggest concern with outdated WordPress sites.
When developers discover security flaws, they release updates to fix them. Once that update goes live, the details of what was fixed become public knowledge.
Hackers read these release notes and they look for sites still running old versions with known vulnerabilities. Automated scanning tools sweep across the internet, finding outdated WordPress installations within hours of a security patch being released.
Why Outdated Sites Become Targets
Your site doesn’t need to be important or popular to get hacked.
Attackers use automated bots that don’t care about your traffic numbers. They want access to your server to send spam, host phishing pages, or launch attacks on other websites.
The statistics paint a clear picture: research shows that 97% of WordPress vulnerabilities come from plugins and themes rather than the WordPress core software.
In 2024 alone, security researchers discovered nearly 8,000 new vulnerabilities in the WordPress ecosystem, representing a 34% increase from the previous year.
Around 42% of WordPress sites have at least one vulnerable component installed. If you’re not updating regularly, your site is likely among them.
Plugin and Theme Conflicts Become More Likely
WordPress, plugins, and themes all update on different schedules. Plugin developers release fixes independently, theme authors push new versions when they’re ready, and WordPress core follows its own release cycle.
When everything stays current, these components work together smoothly.
When versions drift apart, conflicts can appear. You might notice forms that stop submitting properly, images that won’t display correctly, or page layouts that break without warning.
Some WordPress plugins stop supporting older WordPress versions entirely.
Their developers focus on current releases and drop compatibility with outdated installations. If you’re running WordPress 5.9 while everyone else is on 6.7, you’ll find fewer plugins that work reliably with your setup.
The mismatch problems compound over time. One outdated component might cause minor issues. Several outdated components interacting with each other can make your site unreliable or completely unusable.
How to Update WordPress Plugins Safely (Without Breaking Your Website)
Your Website Slows Down
Every WordPress update includes performance improvements.
Developers optimise database queries, streamline code execution, and reduce memory usage. These changes are small individually, but they add up to noticeable differences in how your site performs.
Running old versions means your site works harder than necessary. Pages take longer to load because the database queries are less efficient. Server resources get consumed by outdated code that newer versions handle more elegantly.
Your visitors notice the difference even if you don’t. Research consistently shows that slower sites have higher bounce rates, with users leaving if pages take more than a few seconds to appear.
If your competitors’ sites load faster because they keep WordPress current, potential customers may choose them over you.
Speed also affects your search rankings.
Google uses page speed as a ranking factor, particularly for mobile searches. An outdated, sluggish site competes less effectively in search results against well-maintained alternatives.
The Update Debt Problem
Missing one update is usually manageable. You can apply it next week with minimal fuss. Missing a year’s worth of updates creates a very different situation altogether.
Why Small Delays Create Big Problems
Think of updates like dental check-ups. Skip one appointment and you’re probably fine. Skip three years and you’re looking at major work.
WordPress version jumps work the same way. Going from WordPress 6.6 to 6.7 is simple enough. Going from WordPress 5.2 to 6.7 involves years of database changes, code updates, and compatibility adjustments happening all at once.
Each update builds on the previous one.
When you skip multiple versions, your site hasn’t had the gradual changes that prepare it for newer code. That makes large updates far more likely to cause problems than small, regular ones.
What Happens When You Finally Update
Eventually you’ll need to update. A plugin you rely on will require a newer WordPress version.
A security issue will force your hand. Someone will ask why the site looks outdated compared to competitors.
When you try to apply months or years of accumulated updates, conflicts become almost inevitable. Themes display incorrectly, plugins throw errors, and database problems appear where none existed before.
The update that should take ten minutes turns into a day-long project requiring technical knowledge you may not have.
Many web developers refuse to work on severely outdated WordPress sites. The risk of breaking something is too high, and the time required to bring everything current isn’t worth it.
They’ll recommend building a fresh site instead, which costs considerably more than regular maintenance would have.
New Features Pass You By
WordPress improves with every release.
- The block editor gains new capabilities.
- Image handling becomes more efficient.
- Mobile editing works better.
- Security features grow more sophisticated.
Running old versions means working with outdated tools while everyone else moves forward. You miss improvements to the writing experience, better media management options, and security features that modern WordPress includes by default.
Some improvements might seem minor until you need them.
Support for newer image formats like WebP reduces file sizes and speeds up your pages.
Better accessibility features help you reach more visitors. Improved handling of large media libraries saves time when you’re managing content. These additions make WordPress easier to use, but only if you’re running versions that include them.
For small businesses competing online, staying current means staying competitive. Your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business.
Search Rankings Can Suffer
Google prioritises sites that provide good user experiences. Several factors that affect rankings connect directly to how well you maintain your WordPress installation.
The SEO Impact of Neglected Sites
Site speed affects where you appear in search results, particularly on mobile devices. If your outdated WordPress loads more slowly than your competitors’ current installations, you’re at a disadvantage in the rankings before anyone even sees your content.
Security problems create bigger issues still.
When Google detects malware on a hacked site, they add warnings to search results. Visitors see a message saying the site may harm their computer instead of clicking through to your content. Traffic drops sharply, and recovering your reputation takes months of work even after you’ve fixed the underlying problem.
Hacked sites often get injected with spam links or redirected to malicious pages without the owner knowing. Google notices this behaviour and may remove your site from search results entirely until you clean up the infection and prove the site is secure again.
Even without a hack, outdated sites often provide poor mobile experiences.
Old themes may not display properly on modern phones. Page builders from years ago might create layouts that frustrate mobile users. These user experience problems hurt your search visibility regardless of how good your content might be.
What You Should Do About It
The solution is simple in principle: keep your site updated regularly.
Monthly updates are a sensible minimum. Security patches should be applied as soon as they’re released, ideally within a day or two.
Regular Updates Are Easier Than Emergency Fixes
When you update monthly, each session involves small, manageable changes. Testing takes minutes rather than hours. Problems are rare and usually easy to fix when they do occur.
Always take a backup before running updates. Most UK hosting providers include backup tools as part of their packages, or you can use plugins like UpdraftPlus to manage backups yourself. If something goes wrong during an update, you can restore your site to its previous state within minutes.
After applying updates, check your site’s key pages.
Make sure forms submit properly, the checkout works if you have one, and images display correctly. This quick check catches most problems before your visitors notice them.
Can’t I Just Update WordPress Myself?
When to Get Help
Consider professional maintenance if your site is more than one major WordPress version behind. The update process becomes more complex with larger version gaps and benefits from expert handling.
Get help if previous update attempts have caused problems you couldn’t fix yourself. If you’re uncomfortable with the technical side of WordPress, or if you simply don’t have time to manage updates yourself, a maintenance service removes the burden entirely.
Sites with many plugins face higher complexity during updates. If you’re running fifteen or twenty plugins, each one represents a potential conflict point. Professional maintenance handles these interactions more reliably than occasional DIY efforts.
If you don’t have a backup system in place, sort that out before attempting any major updates. Without backups, a failed update could mean losing your entire site with no way to recover it.
DIY vs Professional WordPress Maintenance: Which Is Right for Your Business?
Check Your Site Today
Log into your WordPress dashboard and look at the bottom-right corner to see which version you’re running. Compare that number to the current version shown on WordPress.org.
If you’re one or two minor versions behind, running updates yourself is usually safe. Take a backup first, apply the updates, and test your site afterwards to confirm everything works.
If you’re significantly behind, or if the update screen shows warnings about major version changes, consider getting expert help.
Frequently Asked Questions
You should update WordPress at least once a month. Security patches need applying as soon as they’re released, usually within a day or two. Most updates take just a few minutes when you keep on top of them regularly. Setting a monthly reminder helps you remember before updates pile up and become more complicated to handle.
Related: What Happens to Your WordPress Site If You Don’t Keep It Updated?
Updates occasionally cause problems, particularly when you have many plugins or haven’t updated for a long time. Taking a backup before updating protects you if something goes wrong, letting you restore your site within minutes. The risk of breaking something is much lower than the risk of leaving known security vulnerabilities unpatched.
Most small business owners can handle routine updates themselves. The WordPress dashboard makes the process simple: just click the update button and wait. If your site is many versions behind, has complex plugin setups, or if previous updates have caused problems, getting professional help reduces the risk of something going wrong.
Some managed WordPress hosting providers include automatic updates as part of their service. Standard shared hosting typically does not. Check with your hosting provider to understand what’s included. Even with automatic updates enabled, you should still monitor your site afterwards to catch any problems that might appear.
Yes, plugins and themes need updating alongside WordPress core. In fact, 97% of WordPress security vulnerabilities come from plugins and themes rather than WordPress itself. Keeping all three components current prevents compatibility issues and closes security holes that attackers could exploit.
Log into your WordPress dashboard and check the bottom-right corner for your current version number. The Dashboard home page also shows pending updates with a notification badge. Compare your version against the current release on WordPress.org. If you see a significant difference, your site needs attention.
Always take a complete backup of your site before running updates, including your database and all files. After backing up, apply updates one at a time if possible, starting with WordPress core. Then test your site’s main pages to check everything works properly. This process typically takes fifteen to thirty minutes.
Yes, WordPress maintenance services handle all updates for you on a regular schedule. They take backups, apply core, plugin, and theme updates, and test your site afterwards to confirm everything works. This removes the technical burden and ensures updates happen consistently. Monthly maintenance packages typically cost between £75 and £150 per month depending on your site’s complexity.