How to Enable Automatic WordPress Updates

Method 1: Enable Automatic Updates via WordPress Dashboard #

The easiest way to enable automatic updates is through the WordPress dashboard.

Step 1: Log In to Your WordPress Dashboard #

1. Go to yourdomain.com/wp-admin and enter your credentials.

Step 2: Enable Core Updates #

1. Go to Dashboard > Updates.
2. Scroll down to the WordPress Updates section.
3. Click on “Enable Automatic Updates for All New Versions of WordPress”.

Step 3: Enable Automatic Updates for Plugins and Themes #

1. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
2. Click “Enable Auto-Updates” next to each plugin you want to update automatically.
3. Go to Appearance > Themes, click on your active theme, and select “Enable Auto-Updates”.

Tip: #

• Enabling auto-updates for all plugins and themes helps ensure compatibility with the latest WordPress version.

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Method 2: Enable Automatic Updates via wp-config.php #

You can also enable automatic updates by modifying the wp-config.php file.

Step 1: Access wp-config.php #

1. Log in to your hosting account and open the File Manager.
2. Navigate to the public_html folder and find wp-config.php.
3. Right-click on the file and select Edit.

Step 2: Add the Auto-Update Code #

1. Add the following line of code to enable automatic updates for the core software:

phpCopy codedefine('WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE', true);

2. To enable automatic updates for plugins and themes, add these lines:

phpCopy codeadd_filter('auto_update_plugin', '__return_true');
add_filter('auto_update_theme', '__return_true');

Step 3: Save Changes #

1. Click Save and close the file.
2. Check your site to ensure it’s running smoothly with the updates enabled.

Tip: #

• This method gives you more control over specific update settings.

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Method 3: Enable Automatic Updates via hPanel #

If you are using OzSpeed’s hPanel, you can enable automatic updates directly from the WordPress Overview.

Step 1: Access the WordPress Overview #

1. Log in to your hPanel Dashboard at ozspeed.com.au.
2. Go to Website > WordPress Overview.

Step 2: Enable Auto-Updates #

1. In the WordPress Overview, click on “Settings” or “Auto-Updates”.
2. Toggle the switches to enable automatic updates for the WordPress core, plugins, and themes.

Step 3: Verify the Update Settings #

1. Check the Update Status section to confirm that auto-updates are enabled.

Tip: #

• hPanel makes it easy to manage updates for multiple WordPress installations from a single interface.

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Method 4: Using a WordPress Plugin #

If you prefer using a plugin, several options are available to manage automatic updates, such as Easy Updates Manager.

Step 1: Install the Plugin #

1. Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Search for Easy Updates Manager.
3. Click Install Now, then Activate.

Step 2: Configure Automatic Updates #

1. Go to Dashboard > Updates Options.
2. In the plugin settings, enable automatic updates for the WordPress core, plugins, and themes.
3. Save your settings.

Tip: #

• The plugin provides detailed options to control which components are updated automatically.

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Method 5: Enable Automatic Updates via WP-CLI (Advanced) #

If you have SSH access and prefer using the command line, you can enable automatic updates with WP-CLI.

Step 1: Connect via SSH #

1. Open your terminal or SSH client (e.g., PuTTY).
2. Connect to your server using SSH credentials.

Step 2: Enable Auto-Updates #

Run the following commands:

bashCopy codewp option update auto_update_core true
wp plugin auto-updates enable --all
wp theme auto-updates enable --all

Step 3: Verify Auto-Updates #

To check the status of automatic updates, run:

bashCopy codewp plugin list --update=enabled
wp theme list --update=enabled

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Additional Tips: #

• Back Up Your Site Regularly: Although automatic updates are convenient, always have a backup in place in case of any issues after updates.
• Test Updates on a Staging Site: If you have a complex website, consider testing updates on a staging site before applying them to your live site.
• Monitor Site Health: Use the Site Health tool in WordPress to ensure your site remains in good condition after updates.