Should I update WordPress? A plain-English guide
Last updated October 5, 2026
Yes. Updates to WordPress, your theme and your plugins fix security holes that attackers already know about. Sites that fall far behind are the easiest ones for automated attack tools to break into.
The three kinds of update
- WordPress itself. Small security updates usually install automatically. Bigger updates often need you to click “Update”.
- Plugins. The add-ons that give your site extra features. Out-of-date plugins are a common way in for attackers.
- Your theme. The design. It gets security fixes too.
How to update safely
- Take a backup first. Many hosts have a one-click backup, and there are free backup plugins.
- Update plugins and your theme, then WordPress itself.
- Check your important pages afterwards: home, contact form, booking or checkout.
- Delete plugins and themes you don’t use. They can still be attacked while switched off.
If an update breaks something
Restore your backup, then update one plugin at a time to find the one causing trouble. Its developer usually releases a fix quickly.