An update, like any other piece of software, ensures that WordPress users may improve their sites with new features, improvements, and bug fixes.

If you do not update your WordPress, the site will run poorly since it is out of date, and visitors will be less likely to visit it. As a result, the website’s traffic will be reduced, which isn’t ideal in the long run.

There are further benefits to updating WordPress:

Increased security. Previous versions of WordPress are more vulnerable to security flaws. Install security upgrades to prevent hackers from stealing sensitive info.

Speed. Installing a new version of WordPress can help to accelerate the site. As a result, it will be more responsive across browsers and devices, encouraging users to remain longer and possibly return in the future.

Compatibility. With the new WordPress release, your site will be compatible with plugins and themes. As a result, you’ll have no trouble adding additional elements to your site’s functioning.

Functionality. WordPress updates include the addition of new or better quality-of-life features. More options and tools for scaling up your site will be available.

1. Update WordPress via the WP Admin Dashboard

This is one of the easiest ways to update your site to the latest WordPress version. This manual update process is only a click away, and the installation process will only take a few minutes.

All you have to do is log in to your WordPress admin dashboard. Then, check if there is a new WordPress release at the top page of the WordPress admin dashboard.

Click Please update now to initiate the website update. The Updates page will open, where you’ll have to press the Update Now button again.

For minor updates, the success message along with the plugin and theme update options will appear. However, you will see a welcome screen with a detailed summary of what has been upgraded for major releases.

Now you can update all of your themes and plugins to make sure they are compatible with the latest version of WordPress.

Updating Plugins

Plugin developers update their plugins occasionally by adding new features, improving code quality, and keeping them secure. To ensure that these changes are applied on your site immediately, you should keep your WordPress plugins up to date. This helps to improve your site’s WordPress security and performance.

Manual Plugin Update From The Dashboard

Your WordPress Dashboard automatically notifies you when a plugin needs to be updated — you can view this notification under the Dashboard->Updates tab.

1. Scroll down to the Plugins section.

2. Select the checkbox for the plugins you want to update and then click  ‘Update Plugins’ button.

NOTE: Always make sure you have a current backup of your site before updating your plugins. Sometimes problems can happen during the update process.

Manual Plugin Update From The Plugins Page

You can find the plugins that need to be updated on your site’s Plugins page.

To find any plugins installed on your site that need to be updated:

1. Click the “Plugins” link in the left nav of your site’s dashboard.
2. Look down the list of installed plugins for any that include a line reading “There is a new version…”
3. Click the “View version…” link in that note to view details about the plugin’s update.
4. Click the “update now” link to update the plugin.

NOTE: Always make sure you have a current backup of your site before updating your plugins. Sometimes problems can happen during the update process.

Envato Market Auto-Updates for Themes & Plugins

Now that you have the Envato Market plugin installed and synced to your account you will have all of your purchases and item updates at your fingertips.

If an update is available for an item you have purchased you will see an orange notice like the image above.

Additionally, if a theme or plugin update is available you’ll also be able to see it on the core WordPress updates page by clicking on the refresh symbol in your admin navbar or by clicking on Dashboard > Updates. From here you can process your update per usual by selecting and updating your item.

To update your item via the Envato Market plugin simply click on the Update Available link in the orange notice to begin installing the update.

If your item is showing the Updating… message for longer than a few minutes, refresh the page and try again.

When the update is complete you will see a quick green notice that your item has been Updated! And that’s it. As updates are available you’ll be able to see them right from your dashboard (much more convenient than downloading updates yourself as you get email notices from Envato).

Error When Updating: Download failed (or Forbidden)

There’s a chance that when updating you’ll see an error message that the update download has failed. When testing we found that refreshing your browser window and clicking to update again worked solved the problem. So when in doubt – refresh and you should be a-ok.