In this generation of electronics and software, the concept of updating your software to ensure that security holes are fixed and the latest and greatest functions are being used, it would seem that this policy should be done to your WordPress platform as well, right? The problem is that WordPress is a VERY public web application that contains much of your brand on it and numerous WordPress plugins have too many conflicting actions that can takedown your website temporarily or completely corrupt your database, ultimately making you lose everything.
In my opinion, WordPress should NOT be automatically updated. If you are of the same mind as me, we have details below on how to fix this.
Disabling Automatic Updates in WordPress
To disable automatic updates in WordPress is easy but will require that you have access to your WordPress’ ‘wp-config.php‘ file and know just a little bit of PHP coding. If for some reason you feel uncomfortable doing this, but still want to get this done? We would love to help, go check out our “Bonus Level – Online Audit” package on our Social Media and Blogging Consultation page.
Open up the PHP file and at the bottom of the file copy/paste the following line of code:
define( 'WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE', false );
When you have added it, save the file and immediately upload it to the right folder on your web server. This will disable the WordPress automatic updater, and you will still get notified when there is a new version available, so you can update at your own convenience.
What are your thoughts on WordPress’ autoupdating feature? Are you okay with it or do you plan to have it disabled on your blog?
Eric Dye says
I like how WP Engine is dealing with this. They have an automated process by which it updates your site, checks to make sure it’s functional, if not, it rolls it back and notifies you.
seventy8Productions says
Agreed. AND they have the ability for you to preview how the website looks before they autoupdate it. It’s not like it happens that very minute its live.