Update WordPress Core Manually if Automatic Update Does Not Work

Before you push the staging website to your production website with WP STAGING | PRO, the WordPress version on the production and staging website must be identical.

Do you use GoDaddy, and WordPress does not show the update notification?
Read this article.

If you are not able to automatically update WordPress because of not getting the WordPress update notification or because of any other reason, you can update WordPress manually by following the steps below:

1. Back up WordPress

Before you update WordPress, it’s recommended to create a backup of your entire website.

2. Get WordPress Install Files

Download the zip file of the latest WordPress version and extract the compressed file.

Do you plan to update it to an old WordPress version?
You can find all WordPress releases here, even the ancient WordPress versions.

Extract the zip file that you’ve downloaded!

3. Disable Plugins

Normally, nothing bad happens if you keep the plugins activated while updating WordPress. Still, it is recommended to disable plugins if you will update WordPress on your production site.

You can skip that step if you are going to update WordPress on your staging site!

If there should be an error in one of your plugins, you can disable that specific plugin later, and you don’t need to be concerned that anything on your live site could break.

4. Rename WordPress Core Folders

Rename the folders wp-includes and wp-admin on your web server. Use FTP or a file manager plugin to do so. (cPanel File Manager or Filezilla FTP client)

If ever possible, use the FTP protocol instead of a file manager plugin. If things go wrong, you can still access your website via FTP.

5. Upload WordPress Core Folders

Upload the folders wp-includes and wp-admin from the downloaded and extracted WordPress zip file and use FTP or another file manager to do so. Upload all files in place of the previously deleted folders.

Do not upload the folder. wp-content! This folder contains your media folders, and you should not touch it.

Do not delete any data in your wp-content directory!

6. Upload WordPress Root Files

Upload all new single files from the root of the extracted WordPress zip file and upload it to your web host’s root and use FTP or another file manager.

7. Update WordPress Database

Visit your WordPress admin dashboard and open
https://opening example.com/wp-admin

If there is a database update, necessary WordPress will lead you to an upgrade function. Confirm this and let WordPress update the database automatically.

Activate your plugins again after doing that!

More detailed installation instruction is available from:
https://codex.wordpress.org/Upgrading_WordPress#Manual_Update

Updated on August 8, 2022