How to Enable Automatic Updates in WordPress

WordPress releases updates regularly to improve security, fix bugs, and introduce new features. Enabling automatic updates ensures that your website stays up to date without manual intervention. In this guide, we will show you how to enable automatic updates in WordPress.

Step 1: Update WordPress Core

Before enabling automatic updates, make sure your WordPress core is up to date. Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to the Updates page. If there are any available updates, click on the "Update Now" button to install them.

Step 2: Enable Automatic Updates for WordPress Core

To enable automatic updates for WordPress core, you can add the following code to your wp-config.php file:

define( 'WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE', true );

Alternatively, you can use a plugin like Easy Updates Manager or WP-Optimize to manage automatic updates for WordPress core and plugins.

Step 3: Enable Automatic Updates for Plugins and Themes

In addition to core updates, you can also enable automatic updates for plugins and themes. To enable automatic updates for plugins, add the following code to your theme's functions.php file:

add_filter( 'auto_update_plugin', '__return_true' );

For themes, you can use the following code:

add_filter( 'auto_update_theme', '__return_true' );

Remember to test your website after enabling automatic updates to ensure that everything is working correctly.

Step 4: Configure Update Settings

Some plugins and themes may have their own update settings that you can configure. Check the settings of each plugin and theme to ensure that automatic updates are enabled and set up according to your preferences.

Step 5: Monitor Automatic Updates

After enabling automatic updates, it's important to monitor your website regularly to ensure that updates are being applied correctly. Check your website for any issues or errors that may arise from automatic updates.

Conclusion

Enabling automatic updates in WordPress is a convenient way to keep your website secure and up to date. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your WordPress core, plugins, and themes are always updated without manual intervention. Remember to test your website after enabling automatic updates and monitor for any issues that may arise.