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How to Update WordPress Safely

Minor and security releases install themselves; major releases need one click. Here is how to update WordPress safely, and what to do if it goes wrong.

By , Founder and editor, website developer
Updated · Last reviewed · 2 min read

In short

  • Since WordPress 3.7, most sites install minor and security updates automatically in the background.
  • Major releases, such as 7.0 to 7.1, need you to click Update Now in Dashboard › Updates.
  • Back up your site before a major update so you can restore it if something goes wrong.
  • If a failed update leaves a "maintenance" message, deleting the .maintenance file from the WordPress folder removes it.

What kinds of WordPress updates are there?

WordPress has two kinds of release:

  • Major releases add features, such as 7.0 (20 May 2026) and 7.1 (19 August 2026).
  • Minor releases fix bugs and security problems within a major version, such as 7.1.4 (28 October 2026). Only the most recent release in each series is actively maintained.

WordPress.org's update documentation explains that since version 3.7, most sites apply minor and security updates automatically in the background, as long as the site can update without asking for FTP details. You still need to start major updates yourself.

How do you update WordPress to a new major version?

  1. Back up your files and database. See how to back up WordPress.
  2. Update your plugins and theme first, so they're ready for the new version. See updating plugins safely.
  3. Go to Dashboard › Updates, or click the link in the "new version available" banner.
  4. Click Update Now and wait. Your site shows a short maintenance message to visitors while files are replaced; don't close the page.
  5. When it finishes, check your site: the home page, a post, your contact form and, for shops, the basket and checkout.

Should you wait before installing a major release?

For a simple site with well-maintained plugins, updating soon after release is usually fine. For a shop, membership site or anything that makes money, it's reasonable to wait a week or two for the first minor release, test on a staging copy if your host provides one, and check that your important plugins say they support the new version.

What if a WordPress update fails?

  • Stuck on "Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance": delete the file called .maintenance from your WordPress folder with FTP or your host's File Manager (it's hidden, so turn on "show hidden files").
  • A critical error after updating: usually a plugin or theme that isn't compatible. Check the email WordPress sends to the site's admin address and follow our error-fixing guide.
  • Nothing works: restore the backup you made in step 1.

Don't edit WordPress core files

Updates replace all of WordPress's core files. WordPress.org warns that any changes you've made to those files will be lost. Put custom code in a plugin or a child theme instead.

Where to go next

Set up a simple routine with our WordPress maintenance checklist, and download the printable safe update checklist.

Sources and further reading

  1. Updating WordPress – WordPress.org Documentation
  2. Release Archive – WordPress.org
  3. Backups – WordPress Advanced Administration Handbook

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