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To enable automatic updates for an existing WordPress site, open its hPanel Dashboard → WordPress → Security, choose Smart auto-updates, review the disclaimer, and click Save. You can set update behavior separately for WordPress core, themes, and plugins.
Enable automatic updates for an existing WordPress site
- Sign in to hPanel and open Websites.
- Find the WordPress site you want to manage and click Dashboard.
- Open WordPress → Security.
- Under WordPress auto-updates, click Smart auto-updates.
- Review the disclaimer, then click Save to confirm. Follow the current labels in your hPanel if the interface has changed. Instructions for enabling automatic WordPress updates describe this existing-site workflow.
Turning on hPanel automatic updates disables native WordPress automatic updates. The two update managers therefore do not operate independently after you enable the hPanel option.
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Choose what updates automatically
In the customization controls, choose a scope for each available category rather than assuming one setting applies to everything.
| Category | No automatic updates | Security updates only | All updates |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress core | No core updates are applied automatically. | Minor-version updates, such as 6.2.1 to 6.2.2. | Major and minor updates, such as 6.2 to 6.3. |
| Themes | No theme updates are applied automatically. | Updates that address known vulnerabilities, according to the support description. | All available theme updates. |
| Plugins | No plugin updates are applied automatically. | Updates that address known vulnerabilities, according to the support description. | All available plugin updates. |
The theme and plugin security-update selections are based on the Patchstack vulnerability database. Choose security-only behavior if you want to avoid automatic major core changes or non-security theme and plugin updates; choose all updates if you want those categories updated automatically as well. These are options, not a universal recommendation. The support article documents the categories and choices.
What happens if an update breaks the site?
Automatic backups are created before updates. If the site stops working after an automatic update, disable automatic updates in hPanel → WordPress → Security while troubleshooting, then restore a backup. This is a recovery path; it is not a guarantee that every failed update will be rolled back automatically. See the update and recovery guidance.
If the Security page or setting is missing
Automatic WordPress Updates is unavailable on Agency Hosting plans. A related support article also says Agency Hosting does not have a separate WordPress Overview or Security page. If you cannot find the setting, check whether your plan or current hPanel interface differs, then consult the help available in your account rather than assuming every plan has the same controls. Availability information and WordPress management guidance describe these interface limitations.
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How hPanel updates differ from WordPress’s built-in updates
WordPress enables automatic updates for minor core versions by default, while plugins and themes are not automatically updated by default according to the support article. You can manage plugin and theme updates manually or use hPanel’s automatic-update controls. If you are configuring a site that is already installed, use its Security page; separate Auto Installer preferences concern installation-time choices, not this existing-site procedure. An overview of automatic updates distinguishes these workflows.
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