Auto updates for WordPress plugins may seem like a feature you should enable without hesitation. After all, keeping your plugins updated is essential for security, performance, and compatibility. However, enabling automatic updates is not always the best choice for every website. Let’s dive into why you might want to disable WordPress plugins auto-updates and what to consider before making this decision.
Table Of Contents
What Are WordPress Plugin Auto Updates?
WordPress introduced the ability to enable automatic updates for plugins and themes in version 5.5. This feature allows WordPress to update plugins automatically whenever a new version is released. While it’s convenient, it can also come with unexpected risks.
Reasons to Disable Auto Updates for Plugins
As a WordPress developer, I have often encountered situations where clients faced issues due to automatic updates. Many clients have experienced plugin conflicts caused by unwanted updates, or their websites encountered problems in the middle of the night, resulting in significant sales losses. these are main reasons to disable WordPress Plugins Auto Updates:
1. Avoid Site Breakage
Not all plugin updates are guaranteed to work seamlessly with your current WordPress setup. Compatibility issues between plugins, themes, or the WordPress core itself could lead to broken layouts, error messages, or even complete site crashes. For example, if a critical plugin updates automatically and introduces a breaking change, your site might go down without you even realizing it and lose a lot of customers. we have a full article about how to fix when WordPress go down and Fix 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress.
2. Control Over Testing Updates
Manually updating plugins allows you to test the updates on a staging environment or get backups before applying them to your live site. This ensures you can catch potential issues before they affect your visitors.
3. Prevent Feature Changes Without Notice
Plugin updates often include new features or changes to existing ones. While these improvements may be beneficial, they can also disrupt your site’s functionality or design. Disabling auto updates gives you the opportunity to review the changelog and decide whether the new version is right for your website.
4. Avoid Plugin Conflicts
Some plugins may not play well with others, especially after updates. If one plugin updates automatically and introduces compatibility issues with another, it could create unexpected errors on your site. if you encounter an error after wordpress plugins update, you can read our article about “How to Recover WordPress After Plugin Update”
5. Security Concerns
While updating plugins is generally good for security, auto updates could unintentionally introduce vulnerabilities if a new version has not been thoroughly tested. Cybercriminals often target recently updated software with undiscovered exploits, you can learn more about WordPress Security in our complete article about this topic.
How to Disable Auto Updates for Plugins
If you decide that disabling auto updates is the right choice for your website, here are a few ways to do it:
1. From the WordPress Dashboard
- Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
- Select All The Plugins you want to disable auto update
- Click the Bulk Actions select Disable Auto Updates then Click On Apply. It will change to Auto-updates Disabled.
2. With Code
Add the following code to your theme functions.php file:
add_filter( 'auto_update_plugin', '__return_false' );Best Practices for Managing Plugin Updates Without Auto Updating Feature
If you disable auto updates, it’s important to have a solid update strategy to ensure your site remains secure and functional:
- Regularly Check for Updates: Make it a habit to log in to your WordPress dashboard weekly to check for available updates.
- Use a Staging Environment: Test updates on a staging site before applying them to your live site.
- Backup Your Website Before Updates: Always create a full backup before updating plugins. This ensures you can restore your site quickly if something goes wrong.
- Monitor Your Site: Use uptime monitoring tools to get alerts if your site goes down after an update.
Conclusion on Disable WordPress Plugins Auto Updates
While plugin auto updates are a convenient feature, they’re not always the best option for every WordPress site. By disabling auto updates, you gain more control over your website’s functionality and can avoid potential issues caused by untested or incompatible updates. However, remember to stay proactive in managing updates manually to keep your site secure and running smoothly.
If you’re unsure about whether to enable or disable auto updates, consider your website’s complexity, purpose, and your ability to monitor updates regularly. Taking the right approach can save you from unnecessary headaches while ensuring your WordPress site remains in top shape.