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 WordPress’s built-in tools or a free plugin when you want more control.
In this post, you’ll learn:
- The importance of keeping your WordPress website updated.
- When WordPress’s built-in auto-update features are enough and when using a plugin is a good choice.
- How to install Easy Updates Manager on your website.
- How to configure the different settings and functions that Easy Updates Manager provides.
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.
Do you actually need a plugin for this?
Before we get into Easy Updates Manager, it’s worth asking the obvious question: does WordPress already do this for you?
In a lot of cases, yes!
WordPress now handles auto-updates natively, right from your admin. Here’s where to find the controls:
- For WordPress core, head to Dashboard → Updates. Minor releases (the small security and maintenance ones) update automatically by default. There’s nothing you need to do. For major releases, you’ll see a link that says “Enable automatic updates for all new versions of WordPress”. Click it, and you’re all set.
- For plugins, go to Plugins → Installed Plugins. You’ll spot an Enable auto-updates link next to each plugin in the list. Turn it on for the ones you trust.
- For themes, visit Appearance → Themes, click on a theme, and you’ll find the auto-update toggle in the details popup.
For most personal blogs and small business sites, that’s genuinely all you need. So why would you reach for Easy Updates Manager?
A few good reasons:
- You want a log of every update that runs on your site, so when something breaks you can actually figure out what changed.
- You’re tired of clicking through your plugins one by one and want to flip everything on (or off) in bulk.
- You need to block a specific update — maybe you’ve customized a plugin, or you know a particular version has issues with your setup. (Heads up: there’s no native way to switch off minor core updates without editing
wp-config.php, so this is where the plugin really shines.) - You manage multiple sites or a multisite network and want consistent control across all of them.
- You’d like email notifications whenever an update runs in the background.
👉 The short version? If you’re running one site and just want a sensible, hands-off setup, WordPress’s native controls have you covered. But if you’re managing client sites, juggling a multisite, or you’ve ever had an auto-update break something and wished you had a paper trail — Easy Updates Manager earns its keep.
How to update WordPress automatically with a free plugin
In brief, here’s the fastest way to get started:
- Install Easy Updates Manager.
- Open Dashboard > Updates options.
- Choose a quick configuration or customize core, plugin, theme, and translation update rules.
- Review the Logs tab if you want to monitor recent updates.
Easy Updates Manager is a free plugin that 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. These include General, Plugins, Themes, and Logs.
Automatic updates
Under General, you will find Updates settings.
Instead of one master Automatic Updates switch, Easy Updates Manager now gives you a few quick configuration actions. You can choose options like:
- WordPress default settings
- Auto update everything
- Disable auto updates
- Custom
If you want more control, use the individual sections on the same screen. You’ll be able to configure:
- WordPress core updates, including Auto update all minor versions or Auto update all releases
- A development option that lets development versions be replaced with a new minor/major version
- Plugin updates
- Theme updates
- Translation updates
Both Plugin updates and Theme updates provide the extra option of Choose per plugin or Choose per theme.
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 set plugin updates to Allowed or Blocked 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 set updates to Allowed or Blocked 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 Logs tab, you can view a record of recent updates.
The Logs tab includes update records for WordPress core, themes, and plugins, so you can quickly review what changed on your site.
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. For many sites, WordPress’s built-in auto-update controls will be the simplest place to start. If you want more control over update policies or would like built-in logs, Easy Updates Manager is still a useful option.
Quick recap:
- Use WordPress’s native auto-update controls if you just want a simple way to enable automatic plugin and theme updates.
- Use Easy Updates Manager if you want additional control over core, plugin, theme, and translation updates.
- Back up your site regularly before relying on automatic updates.
This makes Easy Updates Manager a helpful plugin for WordPress websites that need more advanced update management.
Do you have any questions about using Easy Updates Manager? Please feel free to ask away in the comments below…
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