Update WordPress Core from Dashboard > Updates, after backing up both your site files and database and confirming you can restore them. Many capable sites install minor and security releases automatically; major feature releases generally require an administrator to select Update Now. If the one-click update cannot write files, check the cause or use WordPress’s documented manual procedure rather than changing permissions blindly.
What a WordPress Core update changes
WordPress Core is the software that powers the WordPress application. A Core update replaces or adds Core files and may also upgrade the database. Plugins, themes, and translations have separate updates, even though the Dashboard Updates screen brings these controls together. Direct edits to Core files can be overwritten during an update; use a child theme, plugin, or another appropriate customization method instead of modifying Core files directly.
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The standard control point is Dashboard > Updates. The screen can start a one-click update or provide access to a manual package-based route. WordPress describes the automatic upgrade sequence as downloading and unpacking the release, verifying files, installing the update, and upgrading the database if needed. See the Dashboard Updates screen documentation.
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Before you start: make a restorable backup
Back up the site’s files and database, and make sure you know how to restore them. A backup that has never been checked may not be a usable recovery path. WordPress recommends backing up before an update; the recommendation applies whether you use the Dashboard or manual procedure. See WordPress’s Updating WordPress guide.
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Use the Dashboard for a one-click update
- Sign in to WordPress with an account that can manage updates.
- Open Dashboard > Updates.
- Review the Core update shown and select Update Now when you are ready.
- Wait for the process to finish before closing the page or making other changes.
- Confirm that WordPress reports success, then review the release changes and check important pages and functions on your site.
WordPress calls one-click updating the easiest route for most sites. If it is unsuitable or fails, use the official manual update procedure, which involves replacing Core files from a downloaded package. Avoid improvising by deleting files or mixing package contents; follow the full instructions for the manual route.
Dashboard or manual: which route fits?
| Route | Best suited to | What it depends on | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dashboard one-click update | Most site owners who want WordPress to handle the update. | The server configuration and file ownership must let WordPress write the updated files. | Quickest and simplest when the server permits it; less suitable if file writing or connectivity fails. |
| Manual package and file procedure | Owners who prefer hands-on control or cannot complete the one-click update. | The owner must follow WordPress’s package and file instructions carefully. | Offers more direct control but requires greater technical care. Back up first, as with the one-click route. |
Does WordPress update itself automatically?
WordPress documentation says that, since WordPress 3.7, most sites can apply minor and security Core updates in the background. This is conditional: the site must be able to perform one-click updates without FTP credentials, and host or site configuration can affect whether the background process runs. It is not a guarantee that every WordPress site updates itself. Major feature releases generally require an owner to select Update Now. Details are in the official update guidance.
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For a release-specific example, WordPress.org announced WordPress 7.1.1 on September 17, 2026, as a maintenance and security release. Its announcement reported 17 Core bug fixes, 19 Block Editor bug fixes, and 11 security fixes, and recommended immediate updating. It also said supported sites would begin the background update process automatically. Those figures and that recommendation describe WordPress 7.1.1, not every release. See the WordPress 7.1.1 announcement.
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Why WordPress asks for FTP credentials
The one-click updater needs permission to write files. File ownership and server configuration determine whether the web server can replace or create files with the expected ownership. If it cannot, WordPress may ask for FTP credentials as a way to connect and perform the update.
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This prompt does not by itself mean the site is broken. If you are unsure why it appears, ask your hosting provider how the site’s filesystem is configured or use WordPress’s documented manual method. Do not apply blanket advice to recursively change file ownership or permissions: arrangements vary, and making the web server the owner can create security risks on some shared hosting platforms. WordPress explains the considerations in its update documentation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to check if an update fails
First establish whether the update actually completed: check the version reported in WordPress and inspect the site, rather than assuming that an error message tells the whole story. The Dashboard Updates troubleshooting guidance identifies download connectivity and name-lookup failures as possible causes, and points to the .maintenance file as a possible reason for a persistent maintenance warning. Follow the full troubleshooting instructions; remove .maintenance only as directed, after checking that the update did not leave the site incomplete.
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- Update cannot write files or asks for credentials: check filesystem ownership and host configuration; use the official manual procedure if needed.
- Package download fails: check whether the server can connect and resolve the download host, and consult WordPress’s troubleshooting guidance.
- Maintenance warning remains: check the update state and follow the official directions concerning
.maintenance. - Site is incomplete or behaves unexpectedly: use your verified backup and restoration procedure if necessary, and ask your host or a qualified WordPress administrator for help rather than deleting files at random.
How current should your WordPress version be?
WordPress.org’s supported-versions guidance says only the latest major version is officially supported. Older major branches may receive security fixes as a courtesy, but such fixes are not guaranteed and have no fixed timeframe. Do not plan on an older branch receiving long-term support; check the supported versions guidance and current release information when deciding whether to update.
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Core updates are separate from plugin and theme updates
Plugin and theme updates are not Core updates. Since WordPress 5.5, administrators can opt in to automatic updates for plugins and themes individually. WordPress says these scheduled jobs normally run twice daily, rely on WP-Cron, and send email notifications about successful or failed attempts. A host or plugin can disable the controls, and scheduling can fail; WordPress suggests checking Tools > Site Health for cron errors. See Plugin and themes auto-updates.
Automatic plugin and theme updates are a separate setting from Core’s background minor and security updates. Before enabling them, have a rollback option, such as a restorable backup of the database and files.
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