Enable Automatic Updates For WordPress Plugins

How Can You Enable Automatic Updates For WordPress Plugins

It’s no new topic to talk about. WordPress users are always recommended to keep its core, plugins and the themes updated.

It’s because of the security purpose and many other aspects. If you’re a regular WordPress user then it won’t be a problem. You can easily update plugins and themes manually.

But when you don’t really have the time to manage your WordPress website then it’s better to enable automatic updates for WordPress plugins.

You wouldn’t want to create any vulnerability.

Manually Enable Automatic Updates.

There are many plugins which get updated weekly or monthly. The updates may include any bug fix, more resources, better functionality.

There are two ways, either you add a code in the functions.php file of your WordPress theme or use another plugin to control the updates.

To add the code, you have to edit the functions.php. It can be done by navigating to Appearance>>Editor>>functions.php file.

add_filter( ‘auto_update_plugin’, ‘__return_true’ );

Add this line in the file and save.

You have successfully enabled the automatic plugin updates. From now, whenever any update is available for any plugin, it will automatically get updated.

But a few WordPress users asked to choose the plugin which should be automatically updated or not. For that, you have to use a plugin.

How To Enable Automatic Updates For Specific Plugins?

You can choose which plugin should be updated automatically. To do that, you have to install and activate Automatic Plugin updates plugin.

After installation, go to Settings>>Automatic Plugin Updates and a list of all the installed plugins will be showing.

You can check the box and choose the enabled option from below. If you don’t want any plugin to get updated automatically then you don’t need to check the box.

After your final decision, you should save the settings.

NOTE : If you use this plugin then you don’t need to add the above-mentioned code.

You can use only one method at a time.

From now onwards only selected plugins will get updated automatically.

Will You Use The Manual Method or The Plugin?

People have their own preferences and you can’t force them to adopt your method. If you’re a WordPress beginner and afraid of adding the code in the theme file then use the second method.

Though it’s the matter of your choice whether you enable the updates for all the plugins or some selected but still it’s recommended to use the first method.

You would be happy to know that you enable automatic updates in WordPress for the big releases.

All the plugins should be updated. Can you now enable automatic updates for WordPress plugins? If you face any problem, feel free to drop a comment.

You can also connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

by Ravi Chahar

A WordPress Professional and the LinkedIn Influencer. A coder by passion and a blogger by choice. WordPress theme development is his forte. He is your WordPress guy who will teach you how to solve WordPress errors, WordPress security issues, design issues and what not.


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4 comments

  1. Hey Ravi

    Thanks for sharing. Automation is always preferable. Some plugins are damn important and it is very important to update them but sometimes we missed to update but using this syntax, it would be really helpful. Nothing is better than Automation.

    You updated my knowledge.

    1. Hi Jayant,

      An outdated website is the vulnerability. It’s important ti keep it updated. Specially the plugins. This automation can help you save a ton.

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Enjoy your weekend.

      ~Ravi

  2. Hi Ravi,

    Great tutorial as always! As a Designer, when I log into a blog and see there are many plugins that haven’t been updated, I cringe. This could be a good tool for some. However, as you know, sometimes when a plugin updates it can cause conflicts with our theme and/or other plugins. This is why I wouldn’t enable auto plugins. If a plugin auto updated and conflicted with something on my site and took it down, I may not be able to react fast enough to bring my site back up, thus possibly causing me missed opportunities.

    Do you use this on your site? I’m curious as to what your other readers have to say about it.

    Hope you are enjoying your weekend. We have beautiful Spring-like temperatures today! ?

    Bren

    1. Hey Bren,

      As I have mentioned in the tutorial, automatic updates are used when you don’t have enough time to manage your WordPress website. And enabling these updates can help you keep your website updated.

      It’s never advised to enable automatic updates for a big release. These are just for security and bug fix updates. I remain online 12 to 14 hours a day and it’s obvious that I don’t need any automation.

      Thanks for dropping by.

      ~Ravi

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