July 17, 2025

Should You Update WordPress Immediately When a New Version Drops?

Keeping your WordPress website up to date is one of the most important aspects of site management. Every update, whether it’s a major core release or a minor patch, usually comes with performance improvements, security fixes, and new features. But what many website owners want to know is this: should you update WordPress immediately when a new version is released?

It’s a fair question—and not one with a simple yes or no answer. In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of immediate updates, what risks are involved, and how to approach updates strategically to keep your site secure without breaking anything in the process.

Understanding the Different Types of WordPress Updates

Before diving into whether you should update immediately, it helps to understand the different types of updates WordPress releases. Not all updates carry the same level of risk or urgency.

WordPress updates are generally categorized as major or minor. Major versions include changes to core functionality, new features, and sometimes visual changes to the dashboard or editor. Think of updates like 6.6 to 6.7 or 6.7 to 7.0. These updates may affect themes, plugins, and custom functionality.

Minor updates, on the other hand, usually contain bug fixes and security patches. These are smaller updates, such as moving from 6.6.0 to 6.6.1. Minor updates are considered safe to apply and are often applied automatically by WordPress unless disabled.

Security updates, whether part of a minor release or a standalone patch, should generally be applied as soon as possible. These address known vulnerabilities that can leave your site open to attacks if ignored.

The Case for Updating Immediately

There are valid reasons to update WordPress right away, especially in environments where security is the highest priority. WordPress powers over 40 percent of all websites, which makes it a popular target for hackers. When a new version is released, especially one containing a security fix, the vulnerability it addresses becomes public knowledge almost instantly. This creates what is known as a “zero-day” risk for websites still running older versions.

By updating quickly, you close that window of opportunity for attackers. This is particularly important if your website handles sensitive data, customer logins, or eCommerce transactions. In these cases, proactive updates are part of responsible site management.

Immediate updates also give you access to the newest features and improvements. These might include better performance, accessibility upgrades, or enhancements to the site editor. For developers and content managers who want to stay on the cutting edge, there can be value in accessing these tools right away.

The Risks of Updating Too Soon

Despite the benefits, updating immediately after release isn’t always the safest choice, especially for sites that rely on a complex stack of third-party plugins and themes.

One of the main risks is incompatibility. While WordPress core updates are tested extensively, plugin and theme developers may need time to catch up. If a major update introduces changes to how the block editor works or alters functions used in plugins, those tools can break. This can result in anything from minor styling issues to complete site outages.

Another concern is undiscovered bugs in the new version. While updates go through a testing phase before release, issues sometimes make it into production. In the hours or days following a new version drop, reports often surface about edge-case bugs that weren’t identified earlier. By waiting a few days, you allow time for those issues to be caught and patched, reducing the risk to your own website.

A Safer Approach: Controlled Updates

Rather than updating blindly or delaying indefinitely, the best approach is to create a controlled update strategy. This involves monitoring new releases, testing updates in a staging environment, and rolling them out in a way that minimizes risk.

For site owners managing mission-critical websites, such as online stores, news platforms, or membership communities, using a staging site is highly recommended. This is a clone of your live site that allows you to test updates safely. If something breaks, your live site remains untouched while you troubleshoot.

It’s also helpful to check the plugin and theme changelogs to see if they’ve confirmed compatibility with the latest WordPress version. Many developers will note which version of WordPress their release is tested up to. If your must-have plugin hasn’t been updated in months, updating core WordPress could result in conflicts.

Backup systems also play a key role. Before applying any major update, make sure you have a complete backup of both your database and files. This way, you can quickly restore your site if anything goes wrong. Many professional maintenance services run backups automatically as part of their update process.

Automatic Updates: Should You Enable Them?

WordPress offers the option to automatically apply updates to the core software, themes, and plugins. This feature is useful, especially for small sites that are rarely updated manually. But it comes with a trade-off: you lose control over when and how updates are applied.

Automatic updates are generally safe for minor releases and security patches. For major updates, however, many site owners choose to disable automation and update manually once compatibility is confirmed.

If you’re not actively managing your site on a daily basis, enabling automatic updates with a reliable backup solution is better than ignoring updates altogether. But for sites with more complexity, a manual process is usually more reliable and predictable.

So, Should You Update Immediately?

The answer depends on the type of update and the nature of your site. If the release is a security update or a critical bug fix, it’s wise to apply it quickly—ideally within 24 to 48 hours. If it’s a major version with new features, waiting a few days or a week allows time to assess community feedback, plugin compatibility, and overall stability.

Sites with heavy traffic, eCommerce capabilities, or extensive custom code should never update blindly. These should follow a test-first approach that includes staging, backups, and monitoring. On the other hand, smaller brochure sites with minimal plugins may be able to update much sooner with fewer consequences.

Final Thoughts

Updating WordPress is not something to take lightly, but it’s also not something to fear. The key is to find the balance between being proactive and being careful. Security should always be a top priority, but so should stability and continuity for your users.

If you’re managing your own website, take time to build a proper update process—one that includes backups, plugin audits, and testing. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, consider working with a professional WordPress maintenance service that can handle updates for you, safely and efficiently.

At WP Assist, we monitor every WordPress release, test updates in a safe environment, and roll them out with care. That means your site stays secure, performs well, and doesn’t suffer from unexpected issues when a new version drops. Reach out to us if you’d like help maintaining your site the right way.

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