In the dynamic world of web development, updating and maintaining websites is a crucial task to ensure their security and efficiency.
WordPress facilitates this process through automatic updates, but these can be a double-edged sword.
I am Javier Chiva, web development specialist and Flutter applications, and in this article I will show you how to disable automatic updates in WordPress to have full control over your site.
Why disable automatic updates?
WordPress automatic updates aim to simplify site maintenance by keeping your site secure and up to date.
However, they can cause incompatibilities with plugins or custom themes, affecting the functionality of your site.
Controlling updates manually allows you to:
- Test updates in a secure environment before applying them to the live site.
- Avoid incompatibilities and ensure that all components of your site work harmoniously.
- Plan updates according to your schedule, minimising interruptions.
How to disable automatic updates in WordPress
WordPress offers flexibility in how you manage updates. Here are several options for turning off automatic updates, suitable for both beginners and advanced users.
Option 1: Disable all automatic updates
For users with a basic knowledge of WordPress, disabling all automatic updates is a simple process. This can be accomplished by adding a line of code to the wp-config.php:
define( 'AUTOMATIC_UPDATER_DISABLED', true );
This method is radical, as it stops all updates, including security updates, so use with caution.
Option 2: Selectively disable automatic updates
If you are more experienced and prefer a more nuanced approach, WordPress allows you to disable automatic updates selectively for plugins and themes.
Plugins
To disable automatic plugin updates, add the following code to your file functions.php of your topic:
add_filter( 'auto_update_plugin', '__return_false' );
Topics
Similarly, to disable automatic theme updates, use this code:
add_filter( 'auto_update_theme', '__return_false' );
Option 3: Use update management plugins
For advanced users, there are several plugins that offer granular control over automatic updates, allowing you to specifically configure which updates to allow and which to block.
Plugins such as Easy Updates Manager o WP Rollback not only give you control over automatic updates but also allow you to revert to previous versions of plugins and themes if necessary.
Tips for managing WordPress updates manually
Disabling automatic updates means that you will have to handle updates manually.
Here are some tips:
- Establish a regular schedule for reviewing and applying updates.
- Use a staging environment to test updates before applying them in the production environment.
- Keep up to date with new versions of WordPress, plugins and themes to ensure your site is secure and working properly.
Conclusion
Turning off automatic updates in WordPress gives you full control over your site, but with great power comes great responsibility.
It is crucial that you follow a proactive maintenance routine to ensure that your site remains secure, stable and functional.
If you need professional help to manage your WordPress site, explore my web development and maintenance services.
Together, we can ensure that your website is functional and secure.
