We all want to keep our WordPress websites secure. One of the best ways to do that is by keeping WordPress core, plugins, and themes up to date.

We’re often told to install updates as soon as they become available. That’s generally good advice, but there’s another side to the story.

Sometimes an update introduces bugs. Occasionally, a plugin changes how something works. In rare cases, security or quality issues slip through. You can do everything right and still run into problems.

That doesn’t mean you should stop updating your website. It simply means it’s okay to slow down a little.

For most updates, waiting a day or two is perfectly reasonable. Security updates are the main exception. Those should generally be installed sooner rather than later.

Not every update is urgent

The other part of the equation is staying informed.

Take a quick look at the plugin changelog to see what’s changed. If the plugin has a support forum, browse through recent posts and see whether other users are reporting any issues. A few minutes of research can save you from a broken website or a stressful afternoon.

Sometimes waiting pays off

I recently ran into this myself. One of the plugins we use has completely redesigned its settings screen. Knowing this was a major change, I decided to wait before updating.

I’m glad I did.

Within 24 hours, several follow-up releases were published to fix bugs that had slipped through the initial release. By waiting a little, I avoided those issues entirely.

Interestingly, WordPress.org is taking a similar approach.

Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress, recently announced that all new plugin releases undergo a waiting period of up to 24 hours before being distributed through automatic updates. The idea is simple: give the community and plugin authors a little more time to spot problems before an update reaches thousands of websites.

Be informed, not afraid

Keeping your website up to date is still important. But it pays to be smarter about how you manage the process.

Crossing your fingers and clicking ‘Update’ isn’t a strategy.

Instead, take a moment to understand what’s changing and what it means for your website. Then make an informed decision.

Before you update

Before updating anything, always make sure you have a recent backup that includes your WordPress database, files, themes, plugins, and media library.

If you’re unsure, avoid making major updates directly on your live website. Test them first on a staging or local development copy and make sure everything works as expected.

If you’re on a Good Websites WordPress Management Plan, you don’t need to worry about any of this. We handle WordPress updates, plugin updates, backups, and testing for you, helping keep your website secure and running smoothly.