WordPress Automatic Updates: How to Enable, Disable, and Manage Them Effectively

When it comes to maintaining a WordPress site, keeping everything up-to-date is essential for security and performance. But how do you manage WordPress automatic updates without losing control over your site’s functionality? This guide is perfect for WordPress agencies who need to update WordPress effectively. 

Learn how to enable, disable, and fine-tune your automatic updates to ensure a seamless experience for both clients and your team. Stay ahead of updates, reduce downtime, and boost your site’s security with these practical tips!

What Are Automatic Updates in WordPress?

WordPress automatic updates refer to the system that automatically installs updates for the WordPress core, plugins, and themes without user intervention. Introduced in WordPress 3.7, these updates help ensure that sites stay secure and functional by automatically applying critical patches, security fixes, and minor version updates. 

The goal is to keep your WordPress installation up-to-date with the latest features and security improvements without manual input, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities due to outdated software. While automatic updates are a crucial aspect of maintaining WordPress security, managing them effectively is key for agencies that oversee multiple websites.

By default, WordPress updates are applied automatically for minor releases (such as security patches), but major updates often require manual intervention unless configured for auto-updates. This flexibility allows WordPress agencies to customize their update strategy according to the needs of their clients or projects.

WordPress Automatic Update Types

WordPress automatic updates are crucial for keeping your site secure and functioning smoothly. Several types of WordPress updates apply automatically, each serving a specific purpose to ensure your site stays up-to-date. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of updates you can manage for WordPress sites.

Update Type	Description	Automatic Update
Core Updates	Updates for the WordPress core, including minor and major version upgrades.	Minor updates are automatic; major updates may require manual intervention.
Plugin Updates	Updates for installed plugins, including security patches, bug fixes, and new features.	Can be automatically enabled for each plugin.
Theme Updates	Updates for installed themes, including bug fixes and security improvements.	Can be automatically enabled for each theme.
Translation File Updates	Automatic updates for language packs to reflect changes in the core, plugins, and themes.	Automatic updates are enabled by default.
Minor & Security Patches	Critical updates to fix vulnerabilities and enhance security or performance.	Automatically applied to ensure site security.

How to Manage WordPress Automatic Updates Effectively

Managing WordPress automatic updates is essential for ensuring that your site stays secure and functions properly without manual intervention. While WordPress automatic updates are beneficial, agencies need to have control over when and how updates are applied to avoid compatibility issues or disruptions. 

In this section, we’ll explore how to update WordPress efficiently, manage updates for plugins and themes, and customize settings to balance automation and control.

Method 1: Manage WordPress Automatic Updates Through Site Management 

Agencies handling multiple WordPress sites often face the challenge of managing WordPress automatic updates efficiently across all installations. Relying on individual site dashboards is not scalable. 

A robust site management platform enables agencies to manage updates in bulk, saving time and reducing manual effort. For instance, InstaWP centralizes control, ensuring updates are applied seamlessly while minimizing the risk of incompatibility issues.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to managing WordPress automatic updates through InstaWP:

• Login to the InstaWP Dashboard. 
• Click on “Connected or Managed Site” in the dashboard.

• Select the WordPress site for which you want to manage WordPress automatic updates. You’ll have a dashboard with key metrics. 

• Enable automatic updates for core WordPress (major, minor, or both).

• Enable or disable automatic plugin updates.

• Enable or disable theme updates.

Pro Tip: You can use the InstaWP scheduling tool to set specific times for updates, minimizing downtime or disruptions.

To ensure compatibility, InstaWP offers a staging environment for testing updates before applying them to live sites.

Method 2: Manage WordPress Automatic Updates Through Dashboard

Managing WordPress automatic updates via the dashboard is a simple and effective method for agencies who want to maintain control over their updates. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to enabling or disabling updates using the WordPress Dashboard.

• Login to your WordPress site’s dashboard. 
• In the left-hand menu, hover over Dashboard>Updates. 

• By default, WordPress will automatically update plugins and themes for security and minor updates. If you want to disable automatic updates for plugins or themes, use a plugin like Easy Updates Manager or ManageWP to configure automatic updates.
• Once you’ve made the necessary changes, don’t forget to click the Save Changes button if you’re using a plugin or configuration settings that need to be applied.

Method 3: Manage WordPress Automatic Updates Through the wp-config.php File

If you prefer more control over WordPress automatic updates or need to adjust settings that the WordPress Dashboard doesn’t provide, the wp-config.php file offers a powerful way to manage updates. This method allows you to define specific settings for core updates, plugin updates, and theme updates directly within your WordPress configuration file.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to managing automatic updates through the wp-config.php file:

Step 1: Access the wp-config.php File

• Login to your hosting account (e.g., cPanel, Plesk, or FTP client like FileZilla).
• Navigate to the root directory of your WordPress installation (typically public_html).
• Find the wp-config.php file and download it to your local computer. If using cPanel, you can directly edit the file using the File Manager.

Step 2: Open the wp-config.php File

• Open the wp-config.php file in any text editor (e.g., Notepad, Sublime Text, etc.).

Step 3: Enable or Disable Core Updates

WordPress allows you to control whether major or minor core updates are applied automatically. To manage core updates:

• To disable automatic updates for WordPress core (including both minor and major updates):
  
  define( ‘WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE’, false );
• To enable automatic updates for all WordPress core updates (including major versions):
  
  define( ‘WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE’, true );
• To enable only minor updates (security and bug fixes), while excluding major updates:
  
  define( ‘WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE’, ‘minor’ );

Step 4: Enable or Disable Plugin and Theme Updates

By default, WordPress updates plugins and themes automatically for minor releases. To have more control, you can use the following code in your wp-config.php file:

• To disable automatic updates for all plugins:
  
  add_filter( ‘auto_update_plugin’, ‘__return_false’ );
• To disable automatic updates for all themes:
  
  add_filter( ‘auto_update_theme’, ‘__return_false’ );
• To enable automatic updates for a specific plugin or theme, use the same filter but change the return value to true:
  
  add_filter( ‘auto_update_plugin’, ‘__return_true’ );

add_filter( ‘auto_update_theme’, ‘__return_true’ );

Step 5: Save Changes to wp-config.php

• After making the desired changes, save the wp-config.php file.
• Upload the edited file back to the root directory of your WordPress installation (overwrite the old file).

Step 6: Test the Configuration

• To ensure your changes have taken effect, trigger an update or check the settings in the WordPress Dashboard under Updates. If you’ve disabled automatic updates for core, plugins, or themes, you should see the respective updates that need manual approval.

Method 4: Manage WordPress Automatic Updates Through Plugins to Manage WordPress Automatic Updates

Plugins provide an intuitive and scalable way for agencies to handle WordPress automatic updates efficiently. They eliminate the need for manual coding or multiple dashboards, offering granular control over updates for the WordPress core, plugins, and themes. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to managing automatic updates using WordPress plugins:

Step 1: Choose a Suitable Plugin

Select a trusted plugin designed for managing automatic updates. Some popular options include:

• Easy Updates Manager: Offers granular control over all updates.
• WP Auto Updater: Simplifies automatic updates with minimal configuration.

Step 2: Install and Activate the Plugin

• Log in to the WordPress dashboard of the site.
• Navigate to Plugins > Add New and search for your chosen plugin.

• Click Install Now, then Activate the plugin.

Step 3: Configure the Update Settings

• Access the plugin’s settings page from the WordPress dashboard.
• Enable or disable updates for the WordPress core, plugins, and themes.

Step 4: Set Schedules (Optional)

Some plugins allow you to schedule updates to minimize disruptions:

• Choose a specific time or day for updates, ensuring they occur during off-peak hours.
• Configure alerts to notify you of completed or failed updates.

Method 5: Managing WordPress Automatic Updates Through API Filters (Advanced Method)

For agencies or developers managing multiple WordPress sites, using API filters is a highly customizable way to control WordPress automatic updates. This advanced method for managing WordPress automatic updates is ideal for those with technical expertise, offering the ability to automate updates for the core, plugins, themes, and translation files without relying on plugins or the dashboard.

Step 1: Access the Must-Use Plugin Folder

• Use an FTP client or your hosting control panel to navigate to your WordPress installation.
• Locate the public_html/wp-content/mu-plugins/ directory.
• If the mu-plugins folder doesn’t exist, create it manually.

Step 2: Create a Must-Use Plugin File

• Inside the mu-plugins folder, create a PHP file (e.g., custom-auto-updates.php).
• Open the file using a code editor and add a PHP opening tag (<?php).

Step 3: Add API Filters Based on Requirements

Include the following filters in the PHP file to control updates:

• Disable All Automatic Updates:  add_filter( ‘automatic_updater_disabled’, ‘__return_true’ );
• Enable WordPress Core Updates: add_filter( ‘auto_update_core’, ‘__return_true’ )
• Allow Automatic Plugin Updates: add_filter( ‘auto_update_plugin’, ‘__return_true’ );
• Allow Automatic Theme Updates: add_filter( ‘auto_update_theme’, ‘__return_true’ );

Step 4: Save and Test

• Save the custom-auto-updates.php file in the mu-plugins folder.
• Test the configuration by initiating updates or waiting for scheduled automatic updates.

Step 5: Monitor Updates

Although API filters work silently, monitor your site after applying updates to ensure functionality remains intact. Use error logs or a staging environment to verify compatibility.

The Best Approach: Opt for Expert WordPress Maintenance Services

While the methods for managing WordPress updates vary, the most effective solution is to disable automatic updates and switch to manual updates. This ensures you reap the benefits of regular updates without the risks of unexpected errors caused by auto-updates.

However, manual updates come with a significant downside: they’re time-intensive and require careful oversight. For agencies and businesses managing multiple sites, this process can quickly become overwhelming.

Failing to update your site regularly risks leaving it vulnerable to security breaches and performance issues. However, staying on top of updates is a challenging and meticulous task that can divert valuable resources.

By partnering with a reliable WordPress site maintenance provider, you gain access to a team of professionals who can:

• Schedule updates strategically to avoid downtime.
• Verify update compatibility with your plugins, themes, and custom configurations.
• Prioritize critical updates while deferring non-essential ones.

So, enjoy peace of mind knowing your site is always up-to-date, secure, and performing at its best.

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