Updating WordPress Plugins

Keeping WordPress plugins up to date is one of the most important things you can do to protect your site. Exact Hosting lets you update plugins from the WordPress admin area, or use Softaculous in cPanel to automate the process.

About plugin updates

Plugin updates patch security issues, fix bugs, and add features. You can update individual plugins manually from the WordPress admin, or enable Softaculous auto-updates to keep everything current without effort.

Before you begin

• An active Exact Hosting WordPress Hosting service with cPanel access. These steps require cPanel and Softaculous, which are not available on Managed WordPress plans.
• WordPress admin credentials. You need administrator access to install plugin updates from the admin area.

Step 1: Open cPanel

1. Log in to the Exact Hosting client area.
2. Select Services.
3. Click Active next to your hosting service.
4. Click Login to cPanel.

Step 2: Update plugins from the WordPress admin

1. In cPanel, click the WordPress icon under Scripts.
2. Click the Admin icon for your installation.
3. In WordPress admin, go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
4. Plugins with available updates are listed at the top of the page.
5. Click Update below each plugin, or select multiple plugins and use the Bulk actions dropdown to choose Update, then click Apply.

Step 3: Enable Softaculous auto-updates for plugins

1. In cPanel, click the WordPress icon under Scripts.
2. Click the Pencil icon for your installation to open the edit panel.
3. Click Upgrade plugin(s) now to immediately apply pending plugin updates.
4. To automate future updates, check the auto-upgrade boxes for plugins. Softaculous will install future plugin updates automatically.

Next steps

• Update your themes too. See Updating WordPress themes.
• Set up automated backups. See WordPress manual backup (Softaculous).

Questions? Contact Exact Hosting Support.