You see it every time you log in. That little red circle with a number in it.
“WordPress 6.x is available! Please update now.”
For many website owners, that button is terrifying. You wonder: “If I click this, will my site break? Will my design disappear? Will my checkout stop working?”
These are valid fears. Updates can break sites if you don’t do them correctly.
But not updating is even more dangerous. Outdated WordPress sites are the #1 target for hackers in 2026. If you are running an old version of WordPress, you are leaving the front door unlocked.
In this guide, we will show you the professional way to update WordPress. We will move beyond just “clicking the button” and show you how to ensure your site never breaks during an update again.
Why You Must Update (Do Not Ignore It)
Before we get to the how, let’s talk about the why.
Security: 90% of WordPress updates are security patches. Hackers find holes, and WordPress developers fix them. If you don’t update, you keep the holes.
Speed: New versions of WordPress are faster. They use cleaner code (like PHP 8.3+) that makes your pages load quicker.
Features: The Block Editor (Gutenberg) gets better with every release. You are missing out on cool design tools by staying in the past.
Step 1: The Golden Rule (Backups)
Stop. Do not touch the “Update” button yet.
If you take one thing from this article, let it be this: Never update without a backup.
If an update breaks your site (and it happens!), a backup is your “Undo” button. Without it, you could lose days of work.
How to Backup Fast:
Use a Plugin: We recommend UpdraftPlus or BlogVault.
Run a Backup: Click “Backup Now.”
Store it Off-Site: Make sure the backup file is sent to Google Drive, Dropbox, or your computer. Do not just leave it on the server.
Need a reliable backup tool? Check out UpdraftPlus.
Method 1: The "One-Click" Update (For Simple Sites)
If you have a simple blog or a brochure website with few plugins, the standard update method is usually fine.
Login: Go to your Dashboard.
Go to Updates: Click Dashboard > Updates.
Update Core: You will see “An updated version of WordPress is available.” Click Update Now.
Wait: Do not close the window.
Update Plugins: After WordPress finishes, go back to the Updates page. Select all plugins and click Update Plugins.
Check Your Site: Open your homepage in a new “Incognito” window. Does it look right? If yes, you are done!
Method 2: The "Staging" Method (For Business Sites)
If you run a WooCommerce store or a high-traffic business site, Method 1 is too risky. You cannot afford for your checkout to break for even 10 minutes.
The professional way to update is using a Staging Site.
What is a Staging Site? It is a clone of your website. It lives on a secret URL (like staging.yoursite.com). You can break the clone, fix it, and update it without affecting your real (live) website.
How to Update via Staging:
Create the Clone: Most hosts (like WP Engine, Kinsta, or SiteGround) have a “One-Click Staging” button. If yours doesn’t, use the WP Staging plugin.
Update the Clone: Log in to your Staging dashboard. Click “Update Now” on everything.
Test: Open your Staging site.
Click around.
Add a product to the cart.
Fill out a contact form.
Push to Live: If the Staging site works perfectly, go to your hosting dashboard and click “Push to Live.”
This copies the updated files to your real site. Zero downtime. Zero risk.
Method 3: The Manual Update (If You Are Locked Out)
Sometimes, an update fails and crashes your site. You might see a “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance” error that never goes away.
If you can’t access your dashboard, you need to update manually using FTP.
1. Download WordPress Go to the Official WordPress Release Page and download the latest .zip file. Unzip it on your computer.
2. Connect via FTP Use a tool like FileZilla to connect to your server.
3. Delete Old Files (Carefully!) Warning: Do NOT delete the wp-content folder or the wp-config.php file. These hold your design and database connection.
Delete the
wp-adminfolder.Delete the
wp-includesfolder.
4. Upload New Files Drag the fresh wp-admin and wp-includes folders from your computer to your server.
5. Update the Database Go to yoursite.com/wp-admin/upgrade.php in your browser. Follow the link to update your database. Your site should now be back online.
Troubleshooting: "Stuck in Maintenance Mode"
This is the most common panic moment. You clicked update, the internet flickered, and now your site just says:
“Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute.”
It has been 20 minutes. It’s still there.
The Fix:
Connect via FTP (FileZilla).
Go to your main folder (
public_html).Look for a file named
.maintenance.Delete it.
Refresh your site. It works again!
Should You Turn on Auto-Updates?
WordPress now allows you to auto-update plugins and themes. Should you use it?
For Minor Updates (e.g., WP 6.4 to 6.4.1): YES. These are security fixes. Turn them on.
For Major Updates (e.g., WP 6.0 to 7.0): NO. Major updates change how code works. They often break old plugins. Always test major updates on a Staging site first.
Conclusion
Updating WordPress doesn’t have to be scary. It is a routine part of owning a digital asset.
Your Safe Update Checklist:
Backup first (always!).
Use a Staging Site for big updates.
Check your site in Incognito Mode after updating.
Keep your PHP version updated too (ask your host).
Don’t Want to Deal with This? We understand. If you are busy running your business, you don’t have time to manage backups, staging sites, and plugin conflicts.
Check out our WordPress Maintenance Plans. We handle all the updates, security scans, and backups for you. You get a fast, secure site without ever touching the “Update” button again.
