How to Properly Update Your WordPress Divi Theme Website

Today I’ll walk you through the essential steps to keep your WordPress with Divi theme website, up to date. Regular updates are crucial, and I’m here to show you the correct order to make these updates seamlessly.

Why Keep Your WordPress Site Updated?

Keeping your WordPress site updated is critical for several reasons:

1. Security: Hackers often exploit outdated plugins to inject malicious code and gain access to your website.
2. Compatibility: WordPress, themes, and plugins consist of code that needs to work harmoniously. If your plugins and themes are outdated while WordPress is updated, conflicts may arise, causing your site to malfunction.

How Often Should You Update?

You should update your site at least once a week. If not, biweekly at the most. Neglecting to update can leave your site vulnerable to attacks, making it easy for hackers to exploit outdated plugins.

“It’s a good idea to do it regularly, at least once a week or once every two weeks at the longest.”

Before you initiate any updates, always ensure you back up your website. I’ll cover how to set up UpdraftPlus for backups in a future post.

The Correct Order for Updates

Following a specific order for updates can minimize potential issues and conflicts:

1. Update Plugins First
2. Update Themes Second
3. Update WordPress Lastly

Step-by-Step Guide to Updating

1. Navigate to Updates: Go to the dashboard and click on updates. You’ll see the plugins and themes listed for updates.
2. Update Plugins: Select all the plugins and start updating them first. This avoids conflicts with the new version of your theme or WordPress.
3. Update Themes: Once plugins are updated, proceed with the themes. If you have multiple themes, it’s best to delete unused ones. Always keep your main theme, such as Divi, and a spare theme as a backup.
4. Update WordPress: Finally, update WordPress. This order ensures that the compatibility between plugins, themes, and WordPress is maintained, reducing the risk of website errors or getting locked out.

Important Tips

• If any issues arise during updates, having a spare theme allows you to switch and troubleshoot accordingly.
• Regular updates prevent significant issues, saving you from potential nightmares of hacked or broken websites.
• Consider subscribing to a maintenance service if frequent updates or technical tasks aren’t your forte. Some agencies, including my own, offer comprehensive services to keep your site secure and functional.

Wrapping Up

Maintaining your site involves regular updates and backups. As a web development professional, I offer update and maintenance services for Divi theme users to ensure their websites run smoothly. Feel free to explore my website for more handy tips and tricks, and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have.

“Regular updates prevent significant issues, saving you from potential nightmares of hacked or broken websites.”

Stay Connected

Please stay in touch and access more resources:

• WordPress Official Site
• UpdraftPlus Plugin
• Divi Theme

Feel free to connect with me anytime if you have any questions or need further assistance.

Take care, and happy updating!

— V

Remember to back up your site before doing any updates and follow the order of first plugins, then themes, and finally WordPress to minimize conflicts. Stay updated, stay secure!