Automatic updates in WordPress can be convenient, but they are not always the best choice for most websites. While enabling them ensures your plugins, themes and core are always up to date, they can also introduce unexpected issues that affect your site’s stability, performance, and user experience.
Manual updates give you more control, allowing you to test changes, monitor functionality, and ensure proper backups and cache management.
Here are the main reasons why automatic updates can be risky:
Backup Safety
Manual updates allow you to create backups first. Auto-updates may occur before a backup runs, leaving no safety net.
Site Breakage
Updates may occasionally break your site’s frontend or backend. Monitoring updates manually ensures you can fix issues immediately.
Cache and Performance Issues
Some updates require purging caches or clearing CDNs to prevent outdated content from displaying. Auto-updates don’t always handle this automatically.
Database Changes
Certain updates modify the database. Running updates manually gives you control and reduces the chance of data corruption.
Error Visibility and Compatibility
Manual updates let you monitor logs and test functionality. They also allow you to check compatibility with your PHP and WordPress versions before applying changes.
Plugin or Theme Conflicts
Sometimes an update can create conflicts with other plugins, themes, or custom code. Updating manually lets you test changes first, reducing the risk of site errors.