In Brief
Always create a full backup before updating any plugin on your WordPress site
Update plugins one at a time rather than in bulk so you can identify problems quickly
Check the plugin’s changelog before updating to understand what’s changing
Keep track of premium plugin licenses to maintain access to security updates
If something goes wrong, restore your backup immediately and troubleshoot systematically
WordPress plugin updates have a bit of a reputation. Ask any small business owner about them and you’ll likely hear a horror story: the update that crashed an online shop on a busy Saturday, or the one that wiped out a carefully designed homepage layout.
These stories are real, but they’re also preventable. The businesses that run into trouble usually share one thing in common: they clicked “Update All” without any preparation and hoped for the best.
Plugin updates exist for good reasons.
Developers release them to fix security flaws before hackers can exploit them, to squash bugs that annoy your visitors, and to keep everything running smoothly as WordPress itself changes. Skipping updates leaves your site vulnerable. But applying them carelessly can cause the very problems you’re trying to avoid.
This guide shows you how to update your plugins the right way.
You’ll learn what to do before you update, how to spot potential problems, and exactly how to recover if something does go wrong. It’s a straightforward process once you know the steps, and it takes far less time than fixing a broken website.
Table of Contents
Why Plugin Updates Matter
Plugin developers release updates for three main reasons:
- security patches
- bug fixes
- improvements
Each of these directly affects your website’s health and your visitors’ experience.
Security Patches Protect Your Business
Security updates are the most urgent type of plugin update.
When researchers discover vulnerabilities in plugin code, developers race to release patches. Running outdated plugins means those known weaknesses remain on your site, giving hackers a clear entry point. The Wordfence vulnerability database lists thousands of plugin security issues, and most attacks target sites running old software.
For UK businesses handling customer data, security matters even more. A breach could mean GDPR complications on top of the immediate damage to your reputation and customer trust.
Bug Fixes and Compatibility Updates
Bug fixes improve how plugins work day to day.
You might notice a contact form that occasionally fails to send messages, or a caching plugin that conflicts with certain pages. Updates address these frustrating issues.
Compatibility updates ensure plugins continue working as WordPress itself evolves.
When WordPress releases a major version, plugins often need adjusting to work properly with new features and coding standards. Beyond security and functionality, keeping plugins updated means you can access support from developers. Most plugin companies require an active, updated installation before they’ll help troubleshoot problems.
What Can Go Wrong During Updates
Understanding potential problems helps you prepare for them. Most update issues fall into a few predictable categories.
Compatibility Conflicts
Your WordPress site runs many pieces of software together:
- WordPress core
- your theme
- multiple plugins
Each update changes how one piece of that system works. Sometimes those changes conflict with other components.
A common scenario: you update your page builder plugin, and your carefully designed homepage layout suddenly looks wrong. The page builder works fine on its own, but something in the update changed how it interacts with your theme.
These conflicts happen because different developers can’t anticipate every possible combination of themes and plugins that site owners might use together.
Plugin-to-plugin conflicts happen too.
Two plugins might try to modify the same WordPress function. When one updates and changes its approach, the other can’t compensate. You might see error messages, broken features, or a completely blank page where your website should be.
This blank page, often called the “white screen of death,” happens when a PHP error prevents WordPress from displaying anything at all.
Breaking Changes
Sometimes plugin developers make significant changes that require you to adjust settings or update how you use the plugin. Good developers warn you in their changelog before such updates.
Rushing through without reading these notes can leave you confused about why something that worked yesterday no longer functions correctly.
Before You Update: The Essential Checklist
Professional WordPress developers never update plugins without preparation. Following this checklist protects your site and gives you a clear recovery path if problems occur.
Create a Full Backup
Your backup is your insurance policy. If an update breaks your site, you can restore everything to exactly how it was before.
A proper backup includes both your database (where your content and settings live) and your files (themes, plugins, uploads, and WordPress itself).
Many UK hosting providers include automatic daily backups. Check your hosting dashboard to confirm backups are running and that you know how to restore them.
For additional security, install a backup plugin like UpdraftPlus to create independent backups you control. Store at least one copy somewhere other than your web server, such as Google Drive or Dropbox.
Before any significant update session, create a fresh backup. Don’t rely on last night’s automatic backup. A few minutes of extra precaution can save hours of rebuilding.
How to Backup Your WordPress Site
Check the Changelog
Every plugin update comes with a changelog listing what’s changed.
You’ll find this in the WordPress dashboard when you click “View version details” next to the update notification, or on the plugin’s page at WordPress.org.
Look for these important items: security fixes (update promptly), compatibility notes (check your WordPress version matches), and breaking changes (prepare for adjustments). If a changelog mentions “major rewrite” or “new requirements,” approach with extra caution. Test on a staging site if possible.
Review Your Current Setup
Before updating, note which version of each plugin you’re currently running. If problems occur, you’ll need this information to troubleshoot or request support.
Check that your WordPress version is compatible with the plugin updates you’re about to install.
Most plugins list their WordPress version requirements on their update details page.
Also confirm that your hosting meets any new requirements the plugin might have, particularly PHP version requirements.
Step-by-Step: How to Update WordPress Plugins
With your preparation complete, you’re ready to update. There are two approaches: individual updates (recommended) and bulk updates (faster but riskier).
Method 1: Update One at a Time (Recommended)
Updating plugins individually takes longer but makes troubleshooting far easier. If something breaks, you’ll know exactly which plugin caused it.
In your WordPress admin, go to Dashboard > Updates.
You’ll see a list of plugins with available updates. Choose one plugin to update first. Begin with a plugin that isn’t essential to your core business functions. If you run an online shop, don’t start with WooCommerce. Start with something like an SEO plugin or analytics tool.
Click “Update Now” for that single plugin and wait for the update to complete. Then test your site. Visit your homepage, check a few internal pages, and test any specific functions that plugin handles.
If everything works, move to the next plugin and repeat the process.
After each update, clear any caching you use. Caching plugins store old versions of pages, which can make it seem like updates haven’t applied or cause display problems.
Method 2: Bulk Updates (Use with caution)
Sometimes you need to update many plugins quickly, and bulk updating is an option. This works best when you have a recent backup, you’re comfortable restoring from backup if needed, and the plugins being updated are relatively simple.
Go to Dashboard > Updates, select all plugins using the checkbox at the top, and choose “Update” from the bulk actions menu.
Watch the progress and then test your site thoroughly.
The downside: if your site breaks after a bulk update, you won’t immediately know which plugin caused the problem. You’ll need to either restore your backup and try again one at a time, or systematically deactivate plugins until you find the conflict.
On occasion, updating more than 3 or 4 plugins at a time can cause WordPress to ‘hang’ or get interrupted. This may be caused by overloaded server resources or a memory issue.
The outcome is often a white screen where your website used to be.
Using a Staging Site for Safer Updates
For business critical websites where downtime costs money, testing updates on a staging site before applying them to your live site adds another safety layer.
What is a Staging Site?
A staging site, or development site, is an exact copy of your live website that exists separately from your public site.
Changes you make there don’t affect what your visitors see. You can update plugins, test new features, and even break things entirely without any real-world consequences.
Think of it as a test kitchen. Chefs experiment with new recipes in the test kitchen before putting dishes on the restaurant menu.
Your staging site lets you experiment with updates before they reach your customers.
How to Create a Staging Site
Many hosting providers now include staging tools in their dashboards. Look for options labelled “Staging,” “Clone,” or “Development.” The hosting provider creates a copy of your site at a separate address where you can safely test.
If your hosting doesn’t include staging, plugins like WP Staging or Duplicator can create staging environments. Some managed WordPress hosts include staging as standard, which is worth considering if updates frequently concern you.
Once your staging site exists, apply updates there first. Test thoroughly, checking forms, payment processes, and any features that matter to your business. Only when you’re satisfied everything works should you apply the same updates to your live site.
Testing New Ideas
Staging sites are also the perfect place to test new ideas, trial plugins and generally try different things out. If something breaks, you just restore using a backup and try again.
Managing Plugin Licenses and Paid Updates
Many plugins use a licensing model where you pay annually for access to extra features, updates and support. Understanding how this works helps you budget and plan your maintenance schedule.
Understanding Plugin Licenses
When you purchase a premium plugin, you receive a license key valid for one year.
During that year, you can download updates and contact support for help. When the license expires, the plugin doesn’t stop working. Your existing features continue functioning normally.
However, you lose access to new updates and support.
This creates a gradual risk. The longer you go without updates, the more likely compatibility issues become as WordPress evolves.
Security vulnerabilities in your version won’t be patched unless you renew and update. Some plugins, particularly those connecting to external services like social media or payment gateways, may stop working entirely if the external service changes its requirements.
Keeping Track of Your Licenses
With several premium plugins, tracking renewal dates becomes important for budgeting and planning.
Create a simple spreadsheet listing each plugin, its renewal date, and the annual cost. Many plugin developers send renewal reminders by email, but don’t rely solely on these.
Budget for plugin renewals as part of your annual website costs. For a small business WordPress site, expect to spend £100-£300 per year on plugin licenses. This is far cheaper than the custom development these plugins replace, and maintaining current licenses ensures your site stays secure and functional.
Tip: When the license renewal email comes through it is not always obvious which plugin it’s for. Check carefully before paying.
What to Do If Something Goes Wrong
Despite careful preparation, updates occasionally cause problems. Knowing how to respond quickly minimises disruption to your business.
Restore from Backup
If your site is broken or inaccessible, restore your backup immediately.
Don’t try to fix the problem while your site is down. Get it working again first, then investigate what went wrong.
Most backup plugins include a restore function. If you’re using your hosting provider’s backup system, check their documentation for restore instructions. The process usually takes just a few minutes, and your site returns to exactly how it was before the problematic update.
Identify the Problem Plugin
Once your site is restored and working, you can investigate which plugin caused the issue. If you updated plugins one at a time, you already know which update triggered the problem. Contact that plugin’s support team with details about what happened.
If you bulk updated, you’ll need to narrow down the cause.
Update plugins individually this time, testing after each one, until you identify the problematic update. Alternatively, you can deactivate all recently updated plugins and reactivate them one by one while testing your site.
Or, create a staging site and find the culprit.
When to Call a Professional
Some problems require expert help.
If you see database errors, can’t access your admin dashboard at all, or suspect your site has been compromised, contact a WordPress professional.
WordPress agencies and maintenance services can usually diagnose and fix update-related problems within a few hours.
Keeping Your Plugins Updated Long-Term
Safe plugin updates shouldn’t be a stressful occasional event. Building a regular maintenance routine makes the whole process feel manageable rather than risky.
Weekly Update Checks
Check for plugin updates weekly and set a calendar reminder if needed. Frequent small updates are safer than occasional large batches. When updates accumulate, the chance of conflicts increases significantly.
Remove What You Don’t Use
Each inactive plugin still contains code that could have vulnerabilities. If you’ve tried a plugin and decided against it, delete it entirely rather than just deactivating it. This reduces your security exposure and simplifies your update routine.
Annual Plugin Audit
Review every plugin on your site once a year and ask whether you still need it. Look for plugins that haven’t been updated in over a year, as these may be abandoned by their developers. Consider replacing them with actively maintained alternatives before they cause problems.
Moving Forward
Updating WordPress plugins safely comes down to preparation and patience.
- Back up before every update session
- Update plugins individually when possible
- Test your site after each change
Keep track of your premium plugin licenses so security updates remain available, and know how to restore from backup if something goes wrong.
The vast majority of plugin updates complete without any problems at all. The careful approach outlined here simply ensures you’re prepared for the occasional unexpected issue. Your website is a valuable business asset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check for updates weekly and apply them promptly. Security updates deserve immediate attention since they patch known vulnerabilities. Feature updates can wait a few days if you prefer to let others test them first, but don’t delay longer than a week or two. Regular small updates are safer than letting updates accumulate over months.
Update WordPress core first, then update your plugins. Plugin developers design their updates to work with the latest WordPress version. By updating WordPress first, you ensure plugins are updating to versions compatible with your current WordPress installation. This reduces the chance of compatibility conflicts.
You can, but updating one at a time is safer. When you bulk update and something breaks, you won’t know which plugin caused the problem. Updating individually takes more time but makes troubleshooting straightforward. If you do bulk update, ensure you have a recent backup and are prepared to restore if needed.
Usually the plugin continues working with its current features. However, you lose access to new updates and developer support. Over time, this becomes risky as WordPress evolves and security vulnerabilities are discovered in your plugin version. Renewing promptly ensures you receive security patches and compatibility updates.
Check the changelog for details about what’s changed. Look for mentions of “breaking changes” or major version numbers which indicate significant changes. Updates from reputable developers with good track records are generally safe. If you’re concerned, test the update on a staging site before applying it to your live website.
Automatic updates ensure you receive security patches promptly, which improves security. However, they remove your opportunity to test updates before they apply. For most small business sites, enabling automatic updates for minor security patches while manually handling major updates offers a reasonable balance between security and control.
A staging site is a copy of your website where you can test changes without affecting your live site. You don’t strictly need one for routine updates, but staging sites are valuable for testing major updates, new plugins, or theme changes. Many UK hosting providers include staging tools as standard.
Don’t panic. Connect to your site via FTP or your hosting file manager and rename the problematic plugin’s folder in wp-content/plugins. This deactivates the plugin without needing dashboard access. If you can’t identify which plugin caused the issue, restore from your backup and then troubleshoot systematically.
Inactive plugins still contain code files that could have security vulnerabilities. Either activate and update them, or delete them entirely. There’s no good reason to keep inactive, outdated plugins on your site. They create security risk without providing any benefit.
If updates feel stressful or you’ve had problems in the past, professional WordPress maintenance services handle this for you. We charge £99 per month for regular updates, backups, and monitoring. This can be worthwhile if your time is better spent on your actual business rather than technical maintenance.