**Should You Enable WordPress Automatic Updates?**

As a website owner, you're constantly juggling multiple tasks to ensure your online presence is secure, functional, and growing with your business. One crucial decision that can impact your site's security and performance is whether to enable automatic updates for your WordPress site. In this article, we'll explore the pros and cons of automating updates, provide guidance on how to make an informed decision, and walk you through the process of configuring auto-updates in WordPress.

**The Risks of Manual Updates**

While manually updating your site may seem like a straightforward task, it can lead to vulnerabilities if you fall behind schedule. According to DreamHost's data, around 3-4% of their email support tickets are related to hacked WordPress sites, with most security issues stemming from outdated plugins and themes.

**The Benefits of Automatic Updates**

Automating updates ensures your site uses the latest, most secure versions of plugins and themes, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities. Additionally, automatic updates can save you time and effort in keeping your site up-to-date. However, this convenience comes with its own set of risks, which we'll discuss below.

**The Dangers of Automatic Updates**

While automating updates can be beneficial, it's not without its drawbacks. Sites can break due to sweeping updates, causing compatibility issues between themes, plugins, and the core WordPress code. Server configurations may also cause issues, leading to downtime or even a completely shut-down site. The risk of downtime can be catastrophic for e-commerce sites, where every minute offline affects revenue.

**The New Rollback Auto-Update Feature**

WordPress 6.6 introduced a new feature that minimizes the risks associated with automatic updates: the rollback auto-update feature. When enabled, WordPress will automatically roll back plugins and themes to their previous versions if an update causes issues during the update process. This feature is available in WordPress 6.6 and later versions.

**Assessing Your Risk**

Before deciding whether to enable automatic updates, consider the following questions:

1. **What type of site do you run?** If your site can afford a few hours of downtime without significant consequences, automated updates might be suitable. 2. **How costly is downtime for your business?** Consider the potential impact on sales, bookings, or revenue if your site goes offline due to automated updates. 3. **What's your technical backup situation?** Ensure you have a reliable backup plan in place before enabling automation. 4. **How much time and willpower can you devote to updates?** If you're short-staffed or lack expertise, automating updates might be the best option.

**Choosing the Right Path**

Based on our analysis, automatic WordPress website updates could be right for your business if:

* Your site is low-risk and low-traffic. * You have a reliable backup plan in place. * You have the time and skills to handle manual updates.

However, you may want to stick to manually updating your WordPress site if:

* Downtime would significantly impact revenue or reputation. * You're unsure about server configurations or compatibility issues. * You lack expertise in handling technical issues related to automated updates.

**How to Turn On WordPress Automatic Updates**

To configure auto-updates in WordPress, follow these steps:

1. Visit Dashboard > Updates from the left-hand menu of your website. 2. Click on "Switch to automatic updates for maintenance and security releases only" if you're on the latest version of WordPress. 3. Enable auto-updates for plugins by navigating to Plugins > Installed Plugins, selecting each plugin, and clicking "Enable auto-updates." 4. Update your theme by navigating to Appearance > Themes, selecting the theme, and clicking "Enable auto-updates."

**Conclusion**

Automatic WordPress updates can be a game-changer for site security and performance, but they require careful consideration of potential risks and consequences. By weighing the pros and cons, assessing your risk, and configuring auto-updates properly, you can ensure your site remains secure, functional, and growing with your business.

**Reliable Hosting Solutions**

For businesses that prioritize reliability and speed, consider partnering with a hosting provider specifically optimized for WordPress. DreamHost offers lightning-fast hosting solutions designed to meet the needs of WordPress sites.

**Frequently Asked Questions**

* **Are automatic updates safe for all WordPress sites?** Not always. Low-risk, low-traffic sites are generally fine, while high-risk, high-traffic, or revenue-critical sites may be better served by manual updates. * **Should I enable auto-updates for core WordPress, plugins, or themes?** Consider your site's complexity and traffic. Many choose to automate minor updates and manually handle major updates to reduce risk. * **Are site backups still important with automatic updates?** Absolutely. Automatic updates can reduce risk, but they can also lead to complications, so it's essential to maintain a solid backup plan before enabling automation.

By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you'll be well-equipped to make an informed decision about whether to enable WordPress automatic updates and take control of your site's security and performance.