Table of contents

How to disable auto updatesDisabling other updatesUpgrading without auto updatesNext stepsAdditional resources

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WordPress Guide → Admin → Disable Automatic Updates

How to disable WordPress auto updates

A WordPress user's hands type on a laptop computer to disable automatic updates

WordPress major updates include new features, but can also cause breaking changes on your site. To avoid this, you can disable WordPress from updating on your site.

By default, Liquid Web’s managed WordPress platform will automatically update your WordPress install to the most current WordPress version.

However, we understand some sites owners want more control over which type of WordPress update happens on their site. This article covers how to do that.

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How to disable automatic updates in WordPress

Log into the Liquid Web managed WordPress portal, powered by our Nexcess platform.

Select the plan for your site under Plans.

A user selects plans in the customer portal

Select the Plan Dashboard. In the Management tab in the portal. Toggle off Core Upgrades.

A user toggles off WordPress automatic updates in the portal

If you turn off WordPress updates for your site, it will mean that minor updates will still be updated but the site will not update to a major release.

There’s a difference between major and minor WordPress update releases. For example, WordPress 6.7 is a major release, while version 6.7.1 is a minor release.

A major release will have new features and can break backward compatibility. A minor release will include bug and security fixes.

Disabling other automatic updates

If you’re using plugins on your WordPress site, Liquid Web’s managed WordPress portal also includes the option to disable automatic plugin updates. You will find this toggle in the same location.

The following example is from one of our managed WooCommerce hosting plans.

A user toggles off WordPress automatic and plugin updates in the portal

How to upgrade WordPress without auto updates

If you have a number of plugins with updates on the site, create a staging site to then update the outdated plugins. At Liquid Web, staging sites on managed WordPress hosting plans are included free.

Then you will need to update the same plugins on the live site and re-enable WordPress core updates on it.

You can also update the WordPress core using the following WP-CLI commands.

wp core update --version=5.8.1 --force

wp core update-db

wp core version

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Take control of WordPress auto updates

While automatic updates provide convenience and enhanced security for many, manually managing updates allows for a more tailored approach to your site’s maintenance.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can confidently decide when and how your WordPress installation evolves, keeping your website secure, functional, and optimized for your audience.

Take a look at Liquid Web’s fully managed WordPress hosting plans to get started with easier automatic updates for WordPress.