How to Manually Update WordPress (Safe Upgrade Guide)

This guide explains how to update WordPress manually when the dashboard update fails or you need to replace core files yourself. For most sites, the built-in Dashboard → Updates process is the safer and easier first choice. A manual update can cause downtime or data loss if files are replaced incorrectly, so make a verified backup before proceeding.


Use your host's supported update process or WordPress's built-in updater whenever possible. The old hosting utility mentioned in earlier versions of this tutorial is no longer a general recommendation. Manual file replacement is a recovery method, not automatically safer than a supported update.

Laptop displaying the WordPress logo for a website upgrade tutorial

How to Manually Update WordPress

Before you begin: Confirm you are working in the correct site directory and have a recent, restorable backup of both the database and all WordPress files. If possible, test the update on a staging copy first. Use SFTP or your hosting control panel's secure file manager rather than unencrypted FTP.

  1. Try the dashboard updater first. In WordPress, open Dashboard → Updates and use the built-in updater if it is working normally.
  2. Download WordPress. Get the current release from the official WordPress download page and extract the archive locally.
  3. Enable maintenance precautions. Schedule the work for a quiet period. If the site is business-critical, use a maintenance page or staging workflow so visitors do not interact with a partially updated site.
  4. Replace core files carefully. Using SFTP or a secure file manager, replace the existing wp-admin and wp-includes directories with the new versions. Upload the new loose files from the WordPress root to the existing root, overwriting matching core files. Do not overwrite your wp-config.php or replace the entire wp-content directory. Keep your existing themes, plugins, uploads, and custom files.
  5. Run the database update if prompted. Sign in to /wp-admin/. If WordPress asks to update the database, follow its on-screen instructions. Avoid visiting upgrade.php unnecessarily; use the prompt provided by WordPress.
  6. Test the site. Check the front end, sign-in, key forms, plugins, theme features, and any custom functionality. Reactivate plugins if you deactivated them for troubleshooting, checking for errors as you go.
  7. Clear caches and review logs. Purge WordPress, server, and CDN caches as applicable. Check error logs and confirm the site is running the intended version.

Important: Do not delete or replace files blindly. If an update fails, restore the verified backup or follow the official recovery instructions rather than improvising on a live site.

For the latest procedure and additional cautions, see the official WordPress manual update documentation.

By Lance, Provider of Simple Solutions | 3 min read