Updating Plugins & Theme
To keep your website protected from possible security hacks, fix bugs and ensure speed, security, and compatibility it is recommended that you routinely check your website for Plugin updates.
An orange indicator will appear next to Plugins in the Dashboard menu, indicating the number of plugins with available updates. Follow the steps as listed to deploy the update(s).
Before Updating:
Check that a recent backup copy of your site is available, should the WordPress update cause any issues. Typically, backups are provided by your hosting provider: WP ENGINE
Secondly, ensure that all plugins are compatible with your current version of WordPress before installing. You can check this from the Dashboard > Updates page.
*Some plugins are lightweight and often time do not contain a lot of files which could cause an issue if deemed “incompatible”. Typically, you’re safe to proceed with updating a plugin even if it says “Compatibility Unknown”. In the event that an issue occurs, the site can be rolled back and the troubleshooted to determine if the plugin is no longer compatible.
Update Plugins/Themes via the Backend:
Once you’ve taken the precautions above, it’s time to update your Plugins. When an update is available, you’ll see a notice below the plugin under the Plugins section of your dashboard. Go to Dashboard > Plugins to view and update plugins. For themes, go to Dashboard > Themes. Alternatively, you can update your plugins from the Updates section. Go to Dashboard > Updates to view and update plugins/themes.
