Updating WordPress, plugins or themes is an important part of maintaining your website’s security and performance. However, sometimes you may encounter a failed update error, causing disruption to website operations. In this article, we will show you how to fix the failed update error on WordPress to continue the update process safely and effectively.
Step 1: Check Network and Server Connection
Sometimes, the failed update error can be due to an unstable network connection or a problem with your server. Make sure your server and network connection are working properly before performing other troubleshooting steps.
How to Check Network Connection
- Try reloading the website to check if there are network connection problems.
- Log in to your hosting cPanel or use FTP to make sure your server is working properly.
Step 2: Remove WordPress Maintenance Mode
When you update WordPress or plugins, your website will temporarily go into maintenance mode. If the update process is interrupted, the website may get stuck in this mode and not exit automatically. You can delete the maintenance file to fix the problem.
How to Delete .maintenance File
- Connect to your website via FTP or file manager in cPanel.
- Go to the root directory of your website and find the file .maintenance.
- Delete this file and try reloading your site.
After deleting the .maintenance file, your site will exit maintenance mode and you can try updating again.
Step 3: Increase PHP Resource Limit
The update failed error can occur when your PHP resources (memory, execution time) are limited. You can try increasing the PHP resource limit to fix the problem.
How to Increase PHP Limit Through wp-config.php file
- Connect to your site via FTP and find the file wp-config.php.
- Open the file and add the following code to the end of the file:
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
- Save the file and try updating again.
You can also contact your hosting provider to request an increase in your PHP memory limit if necessary.
Step 4: Disable Plugin To Check For Conflicts
Some plugins can cause conflicts when you try to update WordPress or other plugins. You can disable all plugins and retry the update process.
How to Disable Plugins Via FTP
- Connect to your site via FTP and go to the directory wp-content/plugins.
- Rename the folder plugins wall plugins_old to disable all plugins.
- Try updating your website again.
- If the update was successful, one of your plugins may be causing the conflict. Rename the folder to plugins and activate each plugin to identify the plugin causing the problem.
Step 5: Update Manually via FTP
If you can’t update automatically, you can try updating WordPress or plugins manually via FTP.
How to Update WordPress Manually
- Download the latest version of WordPress from wordpress.org.
- Unzip the downloaded file and connect to your website via FTP.
- Go to the WordPress root directory and upload the new files, overwriting the old files. Avoid overwriting directories wp-content to keep the data intact.
- Once completed, visit your WordPress admin to check if the update was successful.
How to Update Plugins Manually
- Download the plugin zip file from the WordPress repository or the plugin developer’s website.
- Unzip the file and connect to your website via FTP.
- Go to folder wp-content/plugins and upload the new plugin folder, overwriting the old plugin folder.
- Return to the WordPress dashboard to check if the plugin has been updated successfully.
Tips to Avoid Update Errors
- Backup before updating: Always back up your site before making any updates so you can restore if something goes wrong.
- Periodic updates: Regularly update WordPress, plugins, and themes to ensure site security and performance.
- Check plugin and theme compatibility: Make sure that the plugins and themes you use are compatible with the current WordPress version before updating.
WordPress update error
The failed update error on WordPress can cause disruption to your website, but with the steps above, you can easily fix this problem. From testing network connectivity, to disabling plugins, to manual updates, these solutions will help you continue updating your website safely and efficiently. Always back up your site before updating to ensure data isn’t lost during troubleshooting.