How to Update WordPress Automatically: Use This Handy Plugin

Keeping your site’s theme, plugins, and WordPress core updated is one of the most important jobs you can do. However, it’s also something that’s easy to overlook – it’s happened to everyone! That’s why we’re going to show you how to update WordPress automatically using a free plugin.

In this post, you’ll learn:

Ready to learn how to update WordPress automatically? Let’s get started…

Why you need to keep your WordPress website updated

The WordPress.org Codex recommends that “you should always update WordPress to the latest version”. In each new release there will be…

• Security Improvements
• Bug Fixes
• New Features
• Better Compatibility with Themes, Plugins and Other Tools

Therefore, upgrading to the newest version of your site will not only enable you to access any new features, it will keep your site safe and secure, improve its speed and performance, and provide a smoother user experience. And the same applies to your theme and plugins.

Finally, in case those carrots weren’t enough, here’s a scary stat:

Sucuri found that 61% of the hacked WordPress sites they looked at were running out-of-date software when they got hacked. So there’s a major correlation between a lack of updates and which sites get hacked.

How to update WordPress automatically with a free plugin

Easy Updates Manager

Author(s): Easy Updates Manager Team

Current Version: 9.0.18

Last Updated: July 13, 2024

stops-core-theme-and-plugin-updates.9.0.18.zip

96%Ratings 300,000+Installs WP 5.1+Requires

To update your WordPress site automatically, you can use Easy Updates Manager. Recently acquired by UpdraftPlus, this free plugin lets you configure all the updates on your site, including:

• WordPress core updates
• Plugin updates, including different settings for different plugins
• Theme updates, including different settings for different themes

Here’s how to use it…

Installing Easy Updates Manager

Easy Updates Manager is listed at the WordPress.org plugin repository, so to install it on your site, you just need to head to Plugins > Add New.

Then, on the Add Plugins page, type Easy Updates Manager into the Search function.

When you see the plugin’s listing, click Install Now > Activate.

Configuring Easy Updates Manager

To set up Easy Updates Manager, select Dashboard > Updates Options.

Here you have a number of tabs, under which you can configure the update options for your website.

Automatic updates

Under General, you will find Automatic Updates.

By selecting On, your site will automatically update

• The core WordPress software
• All themes
• All plugins

Turning this On is the simplest way to enable automatic updates for your site.

If you want more control over your automatic updates, though, you can choose Custom instead.

When you select Custom, you’ll open up an additional set of options with more settings. You’ll be able to Enable or Disable these options…

• Major Releases
• Minor Releases
• Development Updates
• Translation Updates
• Automatic Plugin Updates
• Automatic Theme Updates

Both Automatic Plugin Updates and Automatic Theme Updates provide the extra option of Select Individually.

This feature enables you to activate automatic updates for specific plugins or themes and not others (this is covered in more detail next).

Automatic plugin and theme updates

To configure the plugin updates options, select the Plugins tab at the top of the page.

Here you will find an alphabetical list of all the plugins that are installed on your WordPress website. You can then scroll down the page and activate Automatic Updates for the plugins of your choice.

There is also the option of applying bulk actions to your plugins to speed up the customization process if you wish.

Automatic theme updates work in the same way. Simply toggle to Themes and then turn on Automatic Updates for the appropriate themes.

After you have completed any customizations, Easy Updates Manager will then update WordPress automatically according to your settings.

Logs

Under the General tab, you will find another interesting feature – Logs. By activating Logs, Easy Updates Manager will create a log of updates so you can view a list of recent updates.

To turn on logs, select Enable Logs. Easy Updates Manager will now add a Logs tab to the menu bar at the top of the page. Under this tab, you will find a list of updates for WordPress core, themes, and plugins.

And that’s all you need to know to start using Easy Updates Manager!

Update WordPress automatically…but safely

Automatic updates are great because they’re convenient. But they can potentially be dangerous because if anything goes wrong, you’re not around to fix the issue.

To limit any potential problems, make sure to still follow good update best practices like regularly backing up your site.

Final thoughts on how to update WordPress automatically

Keeping your website updated is a crucial element of running a successful website. Using Easy Updates Manager is an extremely effective way to automate updates and help ensure your website is fully functioning, as well as safe and secure. Your website’s speed, performance, and usability will also benefit. This makes Easy Updates Manager a must-have plugin for all WordPress websites.