Read in 2 minutes
You know those update WordPress site notifications you see when you log into WordPress? What do you do when you see them? Take the necessary action and update your WordPress site? Or ignore them because your site is working fine and, as the old saying goes, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’?
If you’re the type of person who acts on the update WordPress site notifications, that’s great. (Although read on, because your efficiency can sometimes create problems in the short term.) If you’re the type of person who ignores the messages (or perhaps doesn’t even notice they’re there!), read on to find out why that’s a bad idea.
Your update WordPress site notifications might refer to the version of WordPress you’re using, your theme (the template your website design is based on) or your plugins (the clever bits of software that customise your WordPress site). Whenever a new version of any of them is released it’s because the developers have improved the old version. The improvement might be to add some new features, fix a bug that’s been spotted or solve a security glitch.
Continuing to use an old version of something might mean you haven’t got access to the latest tools to help your business. But perhaps more importantly, you could be increasing the risk of your website being hacked and your business being damaged as a result. By using the latest version you can be sure you’re using the version that’s most secure and stable (in other words, the version that’s most likely to keep your website up and running smoothly and safely).
Yes and no. In most cases, it’s a simple one-click procedure and nothing will go wrong. All you need to do having made the update is to check your site to make sure everything is still working as you’d expect. Sometimes, all will not be well. In this case you’ll either need to get to grips with the issue and solve it yourself or get help.
If you’re not a confident WordPress user or would rather leave the WordPress updates to someone else, I’d recommend looking into website maintenance for your WordPress website. That way, you can relax knowing that your WordPress version, themes and plugins will be up-to-date and secure and you’ll have one less thing to worry about.