Introduction:
After you've set up your WordPress website, it's important to regularly take care of it to keep it working well. This means you should pay attention to the update messages on your WordPress dashboard. If you ignore these updates, your site might have problems like things not working properly or even breaking completely. Fixing these issues can be hard, so it's better to do preventive actions before things go wrong.
Reasons to Update Your Website to the Latest WordPress Version:
Just like any other software, updating WordPress brings new features, improvements, and bug fixes that can enhance your website.
If you don't update WordPress, your site may not work as well because it's outdated. Visitors might be less interested, leading to lower traffic, which is not good for your site's long-term success.
There are other benefits to updating WordPress:
Better Security: Older versions of WordPress can have security issues. Updating helps prevent hackers from stealing important information.
Speed: Installing a new WordPress version can make your site faster. It will be more responsive on different browsers and devices, encouraging visitors to stay longer and possibly come back.
Compatibility: The latest WordPress release ensures your site works well with plugins and themes. You won't face problems when adding new features to extend your site’s functionality.
Functionality: Updates bring new or improved features to make managing your site easier. You'll have more options and tools to enhance your site.
Before You Update WordPress:
Before you update to the newest version of WordPress, it's important to get ready for any potential issues. Here's a quick checklist to go through before updating your WordPress site:
Read and understand the update notice: Find out what the latest update includes by checking the WordPress changelog. It could be new features or security fixes. If you're moving from version 5.9, you can learn about WordPress 6.0 in the release notes.
Check the support forums: See what other users are saying about the latest WordPress version. Check for any reported errors or bugs. Decide if it's necessary to update right away or if it's better to wait. Generally, prioritize security updates.
Create a full WordPress backup: Backups are crucial to prevent permanent data loss. They serve as a backup plan if something goes wrong during the update. Make sure you can restore your site if needed.
Turn off caching: Caching plugins might not recognize a WordPress installation in progress, which can cause issues. Clear your WordPress cache and turn off caching plugins before updating.
Deactivate other plugins. Some WordPress updates may not work well with certain plugins, leading to an inaccessible website. Deactivate any additional plugins before installing the update.
Upgrade PHP version: If your current PHP version isn't compatible with the update, make sure to update the PHP version of your website.
Steps to update WordPress by command line:
To update WordPress using commands, follow these steps:
Step 1: Connect to your server using SSH as the root user.
Step 2: If you haven't installed WP-CLI, follow these instructions:
a. Download WP-CLI using the following command (using wget in this example):
# wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/wp-cli/builds/gh-pages/phar/wp-cli.phar
b. Make the downloaded file executable and move it to /usr/bin:
# chmod +x wp-cli.phar
# mv wp-cli.phar /usr/bin/wp
c. Verify the installation:
# wp --info
Step 3: Navigate to your WordPress installation using the cd command:
# cd /path/to/your/wordpress/installation
Step 4: Update WordPress to the latest version:
# wp core update --allow-root
Optional: Update plugins and themes:
# wp theme update --allow-root --all
# wp plugin update --allow-root --all
Update the database:
# wp core update-db --allow-root
Step 5: Verify theme and plugin updates:
# wp --info
Step 6: Check the WordPress version to confirm the update:
# grep wp_version wp-includes/version.php
That's it! Ensure everything is working correctly after the update.
Conclusion:
WP-CLI's "wp core" command helps users efficiently manage their WordPress websites directly from the command line. By following these steps, you can easily keep your WordPress site up to date, ensuring it stays secure, optimized, and equipped with the latest features. Integrate WP-CLI into your workflow to enhance your overall experience managing WordPress.