Update Plugins, Themes and WordPress Files

Pre-Migration: Updating WordPress, Plugins, and Themes

NOTE: All actions outlined in this article must take place on your current host prior to migrating your website to WP Engine.

OVERVIEW:

This article will cover the steps that should be taken before migrating your website.

At WP Engine, we run the latest release of WordPress. This ensures that we are up-to-date with new features and security updates.

If you are following along on the Migration Checklist in the User Portal or need a little more information, this is the third task in the UpdatUpgrading your website’s theme to the latest version is highly recommended, not only because it ensures you have all the latest features, but you’ll also be up-to-date with any security patches.

To make sure your website is also up-to-date with new features and security updates, we will walk you through logging into your current host and upgrade your:

• WordPress Core (this is the base WordPress installation);
• plugins; and
• themes

Upgrading WordPress, and your plugins and themes, will prevent many common migration issues.

Preliminary Steps to be Checked With Your Current Host:

Backup Your Site

In this article, we’ll ask you to upgrade your WordPress installation, plugins, and themes.

However, upgrading your WordPress installation and updating plugins can cause unforeseen issues—such as changes in website functionality and plugin incompatibility.

Prior to making any changes we strongly recommend you backup your website with your current host. This will mean you can restore your website if your updates cause problems.

Check for Disallowed Plugins

Because some plugins are poorly coded or incompatible with WP Engine’s platform, we don’t allow them on our hosted sites. Please check the list of disallowed plugins and remove any of these plugins from your site.

Alternatively, you can use our WPEngine Ready plugin to verify your site’s readiness for migration. This plugin will check your current version of WordPress (Core), detect any disallowed plugins, and also highlight any incompatible functions that your site’s themes or plugins are using.

HOW TO UPDATE WORDPRESS CORE AND PLUGINS:

Steps Overview

This process contain 6 key steps, which are explained in more detail in the sections below.

1. Disable plugins (temporarily).
2. Check current site for updates.
3. Update WordPress Core/plugins/themes.
4. Update plugins.
5. Update themes.
6. Enable plugins.

1. DISABLE PLUGINS (TEMPORARILY):

The first thing you will want to do is disable your plugins. This will ensure that there are no complications when making any plugin or theme updates. To disable all plugins, go to Plugins > Installed Plugins and click on Active.

At this point, please take a note of which plugins are currently active. This will make it easy for you to re-activate them shortly.

From the list of active plugins, select all plugins. Next, from the Bulk Actions drop down menu select Deactivate. Then click on the Apply button.

All of the plugins will now be disabled.

2. CHECK CURRENT SITE FOR UPDATES:

To check your website for WordPress Core, plugin, or theme updates, log into your Dashboard (http://yoursite.com/wp-admin) and click Dashboard. Click on Check Againbutton to check for the latest available updates.

3. UPDATE WORDPRESS CORE/PLUGINS/THEMES:

Update WordPress Core

You are now ready to update WordPress. From the Dashboard > Updates screen, click on the button Update Now if you can see it. This will update the WordPress Core.

 

4. UPDATE PLUGINS:

Once WordPress is updated, select all of the plugins with available updates. Then click on Update Plugins.

5. UPDATE THEMES:

Continue down to the Themes section. Select all of the themes with available updates, and then click on the Update Themes button.

6. ENABLE PLUGINS:

After applying all of the available updates, you’re ready to re-enable the plugins.

Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins and select All. Select all of your previously active plugins. Next, from the Bulk Action drop down menu select Activate. Then click on theApply button.

That’s it. You’ve successfully updated your WordPress install, plugins, and themes!