{"id":9495,"date":"2026-06-03T05:03:56","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T03:03:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/?post_type=manual_kb&#038;p=9495"},"modified":"2026-06-03T05:03:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T03:03:57","slug":"how-to-enable-or-disable-automatic-updates-in-wordpress","status":"publish","type":"manual_kb","link":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-to-enable-or-disable-automatic-updates-in-wordpress\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Enable or Disable Automatic Updates in WordPress"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"translation-block translation-block-merged\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keeping WordPress up to date is an important part of maintaining a secure and stable website. Updates can include security patches, bug fixes, performance improvements, and new features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WordPress updates are divided into three categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>WordPress core updates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Theme updates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plugin updates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"mybox-3803557570\" class=\"mybox-content mybox-entity-placement\"><div class=\"early-access-banner-inpost\">\r\n  <div class=\"banner-left-inpost\">\r\n    <div class=\"icon-box-inpost\">\r\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/square-info-icon.svg\" alt=\"Info\">\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"text-box-inpost\">\r\n      <span class=\"label-inpost\"><span class=\"translation-block translation-block-banner-text\">Early access<\/span><\/span>\r\n      <h4><span class=\"translation-block translation-block-banner-text\">Still need help?<\/span><\/h4>\r\n      <p><span class=\"translation-block translation-block-banner-text\">Contact our customer service team.<\/span><\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"banner-right-inpost\">\r\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/panel.mybox.com\/helpdesk2\/v\/list\/\" class=\"banner-button-inpost\"><span class=\"translation-block translation-block-banner-text\">Message us<\/span><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"translation-block translation-block-merged\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each category can be managed separately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-to-enable-or-disable-automatic-updates-in-wordpress\/#Why_Updates_Matter\" >Why Updates Matter<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-to-enable-or-disable-automatic-updates-in-wordpress\/#Theme_Updates\" >Theme Updates<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-to-enable-or-disable-automatic-updates-in-wordpress\/#Plugin_Updates\" >Plugin Updates<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-to-enable-or-disable-automatic-updates-in-wordpress\/#WordPress_Core_Updates\" >WordPress Core Updates<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-to-enable-or-disable-automatic-updates-in-wordpress\/#Major_Releases\" >Major Releases<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-to-enable-or-disable-automatic-updates-in-wordpress\/#Minor_Releases\" >Minor Releases<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-to-enable-or-disable-automatic-updates-in-wordpress\/#Managing_Core_Updates\" >Managing Core Updates<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-to-enable-or-disable-automatic-updates-in-wordpress\/#What_to_Expect\" >What to Expect<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/how-to-enable-or-disable-automatic-updates-in-wordpress\/#Summary\" >Summary<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Updates_Matter\"><\/span>Why Updates Matter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regular updates help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Address known security vulnerabilities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improve compatibility with newer software versions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fix bugs and stability issues<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Introduce new features and functionality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While automatic updates can simplify website maintenance, some website owners prefer to review updates manually before applying them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Theme_Updates\"><\/span>Theme Updates<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Themes control the appearance and layout of a WordPress website. To ensure compatibility and security, themes should be kept up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To enable or disable automatic updates for a theme:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log in to the WordPress administration panel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Navigate to <strong>Appearance \u2192 Themes<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hover over the theme you want to manage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click <strong>Theme Details<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Locate the automatic updates option below the theme information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click the available link to enable or disable automatic updates.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Automatic updates are configured individually for each installed theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Plugin_Updates\"><\/span>Plugin Updates<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plugins add additional functionality to WordPress and can also receive security and feature updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To manage automatic updates for plugins:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log in to the WordPress administration panel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Navigate to <strong>Plugins \u2192 Installed Plugins<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Locate the plugin you want to manage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use the <strong>Enable Auto-Updates<\/strong> or <strong>Disable Auto-Updates<\/strong> option displayed next to the plugin.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each plugin can be configured independently, allowing you to choose which plugins update automatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"WordPress_Core_Updates\"><\/span>WordPress Core Updates<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The WordPress core includes the files and functionality that power the platform itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WordPress releases two main types of updates:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Major_Releases\"><\/span>Major Releases<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Major releases typically introduce:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>New features<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>User interface improvements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Significant functionality changes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Examples include version upgrades such as WordPress 6.0 to 6.1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Minor_Releases\"><\/span>Minor Releases<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Minor releases are generally focused on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Security fixes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bug fixes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maintenance improvements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These updates are usually smaller and lower risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Managing_Core_Updates\"><\/span>Managing Core Updates<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WordPress enables automatic updates for minor releases by default.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To review or change core update settings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log in to the WordPress administration panel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Navigate to <strong>Dashboard \u2192 Updates<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Review the available automatic update options.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Depending on your WordPress version, you may be able to switch between automatic updates for major and minor releases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Core updates cannot always be completely disabled through the standard administration interface and may require additional configuration at the server or application level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_Expect\"><\/span>What to Expect<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Automatic updates can reduce the amount of manual maintenance required for a website. However, updates may occasionally introduce compatibility issues with themes, plugins, or custom code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For production websites, it is recommended to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Keep regular backups of your website.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Test major updates when possible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Review plugin and theme compatibility before applying significant changes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summary\"><\/span>Summary<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WordPress allows you to manage automatic updates separately for themes, plugins, and core software. Keeping updates enabled helps maintain security and stability, while individual update settings provide flexibility for websites with specific compatibility requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","manualknowledgebasecat":[125],"manual_kb_tag":[426,437,438,3488,3492,3493,3495,5335,5336,5337],"class_list":["post-9495","manual_kb","type-manual_kb","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","manualknowledgebasecat-websites","manual_kb_tag-plugin-updates","manual_kb_tag-wordpress-updates","manual_kb_tag-theme-updates","manual_kb_tag-automatic-updates","manual_kb_tag-enable-automatic-updates","manual_kb_tag-disable-automatic-updates","manual_kb_tag-update-management","manual_kb_tag-core-updates","manual_kb_tag-major-releases","manual_kb_tag-minor-releases"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb\/9495","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/manual_kb"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb\/9495\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9496,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb\/9495\/revisions\/9496"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9495"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"manualknowledgebasecat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manualknowledgebasecat?post=9495"},{"taxonomy":"manual_kb_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb_tag?post=9495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}