Updating WordPress Tips and Techniques - WordPress automatic updating or upgrading procedures

First check to see if there is an “upgrade” feature included with your existing WordPress installation. Go to Dashboard -> Tools -> Upgrade. If you can see this path, then you can upgrade automatically.

Step 1: Do the same back up procedure I described in the first step in the previous section (for manual updating).

Step 2: You can also test your backup using XAMPP (see details in the second step in the previous section).

Step 3: Deactivate your plug-ins.

Step 4: Go to the WordPress admin panel backup path: Dashboard -> Tools -> Upgrade. Look for the following message: “There is a new version of Word Press available for upgrade.” If you cannot see this message, there is no need to update WordPress.

Step 5: If you see the message above, click the “upgrade automatically” button.

Step 6: Enter FTP log-in details and proceed. If you see this error: “Could not open handle for fopen(),” you have hosting limitations (this is common in free hosting accounts) and you cannot upgrade automatically. Settle the problem with your hosting company before proceeding.

Step 7: If you do not encounter any problem, then the application will be able to upgrade automatically. Once you see the message “WordPress upgraded successfully,” your upgrade is complete. You can then reactivate your plug-ins, one at a time.

Step 8. Review your upgrade and make sure the site is performing normally, the same as it did before. If you edited the WordPress core files (especially those that are included in the WP-includes directory), then those changes will be gone and you need to make them again. This is why you should never edit those core files. Leaving them alone will make a WordPress update as easy as possible.