How to Automate WordPress Updates in Few Minutes

In the past, I have published an article on How to Update WordPress Plugins Automatically Without using Plugin. We have written a piece of code in that article. One of our readers asked, is there any process to automate WordPress updates without writing a code? If you are a non-technical person then it’s obvious you prefer a tool for such kinds of tasks.

Actually, since WordPress 3.7 automatic updates are enabled for minor releases. You don’t need to initiate the update process for minor releases. WordPress handles these updates on its own.

But for major releases, you have to update your WordPress software explicitly.

Using a plugin, you can make the WordPress update process automatic. In this way, one should not worry about all types of WordPress updates. Whenever a new WordPress version is available either major or minor release, your website would automatically update to the latest version in the background.

That being said, let’s take a look at how to automate WordPress updates in a few minutes.

Note: Before doing any kind of updates in WordPress, you should first make a website backup. Using backup, if any new updates break your site, you can revert the website back to the previous version.

Now in this tutorial, we are talking about auto-update. That means your software is going to update in the background. In such a case, you should have scheduled your website backups periodically say per week, per day whichever fits well for you. The UpdraftPlus allows you to schedule your website backups.

Automate WordPress Updates

To get started, install and activate a plugin Easy Update Manager.

Upon activation, you will see the plugin settings under Dashboard > Update options.

With the help of this plugin, you can automate your WordPress updates in just a few clicks.

Under the ‘General’ tab click on the ‘Enable all updates’ button. It will turn green after clicking.

Next, under the ‘WordPress core updates’ section click on the ‘Auto update all releases’ button. It should also turn green. Also, check the box for ‘Include WordPress development updates’.

Refer to the screenshot below.

wordpress-auto-updates

By default, WordPress checks for updates every 12 hours. And whenever this check happens, your website will auto-update to the latest WordPress version available.

Automate Plugin and Theme Updates

The Easy Update Manager plugin also gives you features to handle plugin and theme updates. You can enable auto-update for all plugins or for specific plugins.

By clicking the ‘Enable auto updates’ button under ‘Plugin updates’ section, it automates background updates to all your plugins.

If you want this feature only for a few plugins, go to the ‘Plugins’ tab. Here, set your preference by clicking either ‘Allowed’ or ‘Blocked’.

auto-plugin-updates

The plugins with ‘Blocked’ settings will never update on your website.

The same settings apply to your themes. You will find their configuration under the ‘Themes’ tab.

Once you are done with these settings, your website will automatically update to the latest version in the background for WordPress core, plugins, and themes.

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