If something breaks on a WordPress site, there’s a good chance updates were involved.
Plugins update. Themes update. WordPress core updates.
And because every site is configured differently, updates that “shouldn’t” break anything sometimes break everything.
But updates don’t have to be risky. With a repeatable process — one your team can follow every month — updates become safe, predictable, and (honestly) kind of boring.
Here’s the exact process we use.
1. Always update in a staging environment first
Never update directly on production.
A proper staging environment should:
- mirror the production environment
- match PHP versions
- share similar caching behavior
- include a copy of your database
- allow plugin/theme updates without affecting real users
If your host doesn’t include staging, that’s usually your first sign it’s time to upgrade hosting.
2. Review the release notes before you update anything
Before pressing “Update,” scan for:
- breaking changes
- deprecated functions
- database migrations
- removed features
- major version jumps
If you’re updating 10 plugins at once, this step alone prevents hours of troubleshooting.
3. Update in a predictable order
Updates should always follow the same sequence:
- WordPress core
- Themes (parent first, then child, if needed)
- Plugins
- WooCommerce (and extensions) last
This prevents accidental conflicts, especially with plugins that depend on newer versions of WordPress or WooCommerce.
4. Test key user flows — not the entire site
You don’t need to check every single page. You only need to check the workflows that matter.
Most teams should test:
- the homepage
- the primary navigation
- search or filtering (if used)
- forms (contact, quote, newsletter)
- login or account functionality
- checkout (for ecommerce)
- any key CMS workflows in wp-admin
If you check just these paths, you’ll catch 95% of real issues before they reach users.
5. Check for performance regressions
After updates, test:
- LCP on key templates
- INP on interactive components
- CLS on hero sections
- database query counts
- added or removed scripts
Sometimes an update doesn’t break anything — it just makes everything slower.
6. Confirm accessibility hasn’t regressed
Accessibility regressions are common, especially when:
- new UI components are introduced
- form plugins change markup
- page builders tweak spacing or headings
- themes adjust default styles
A few quick checks go a long way:
- landmarks still exist
- buttons are still buttons
- headings remain hierarchical
- focus states are visible
- aria-labels and alt attributes didn’t disappear
7. Back up before going live — always
Your production update process should be:
- Take a backup
- Update
- Test
- Clear cache
- Re-test
If something goes wrong, having a full backup means you can restore instantly with zero downtime.
8. Never skip minor updates
Teams often avoid updates for months because of fear.
But the longer you wait:
- the more plugins get updated
- the higher the chance of conflicts
- the harder it becomes to isolate issues
- the more likely you hit a major version jump
Small, frequent updates are far safer than big, infrequent ones.
9. Use a monthly update cadence (with room for emergencies)
The ideal rhythm is:
- one predictable monthly batch
- with the ability to run emergency security updates anytime
Clients and internal teams love this because it:
- reduces disruption
- adds predictability
- improves stability
- lowers long-term maintenance cost
Sites that follow a monthly update cadence simply have fewer issues. It’s that simple.
What to do next
Updates are one of the easiest ways to break a WordPress site — but with a repeatable system, they become routine. The goal isn’t to avoid risk; it’s to control it.
A safe, predictable update workflow gives your team:
- fewer surprises
- fewer outages
- fewer late-night emergencies
- a faster, healthier site
The more boring your updates become, the better your WordPress site will run.