Update WordPress
WordPress releases system updates several times per year. These updates contain security and bug fixes, and often add new features.
Site Owners are responsible for updating WordPress, but the Office of Information Technology requests you wait to update until we’ve confirmed the update won’t break any existing features or plugins. OIT and/or the Office of Communications and Marketing will let you know when it’s safe to upgrade your WordPress instance.
Only individuals with the Super Admin role can update WordPress.
Here’s the recommended update process:
1. You’ll want to perform the update first thing in the morning. That way, if anything goes wrong (and it occasionally does go wrong), OIT can restore your site from the previous overnight backup.
2. Before updating the WordPress system, it’s best to first update any plugins that have updates available. Click here to learn how to update plugins.
3. Log in to your WordPress site. If you see a message in yellow at the top-center of the screen similar to below, an update is available:
Don’t click the link for Please update now yet. There’s a bit more you need to do.
4. Log in as a Network Admin
Click the Network Admin link.
(If you don’t see the link for Network Admin, you likely don’t have the Super Admin role. If you have questions about who has the Super Admin role for your site, please contact the OIT Help Desk.)
5. Click Plugins at left:
6. Next, deactivate all of your plugins (you might want to make note of which ones are active, just so you make sure you reactivate the correct ones after the update has taken place). Start by selecting all of your plugins by clicking the Plugin checkbox. This will select all of your plugins:
7. Now click the Bulk Actions drop-down and choose Deactivate.
8. Now you can update WordPress. Click Updates at lower-left on the screen:
9. Click Update Automatically to update WordPress:
10. You will shortly receive a notice the update is complete. When done, reactivate your plugins by clicking Plugins at left, checking the appropriate plugins, and choosing Bulk Actions > Activate.
11. Finally, click Updates > Update Network at left.
Here’s a short video that shows the update process:
*Please note that the Network Admin dashboard is now found in the upper-left of the site dashboard under My Sites.
Need Help? Just ask!
If you have any problems or questions, please contact the OIT Help Desk at 426-4357, or email helpdesk@boisestate.edu.