WordPress is the most popular content management system, without a doubt. Smooth and easy management is the basic reason behind it. However, another leading reason is the availability of thousands of free plugins. These add-ons help website owners fix various issues or offer advanced features to their users. A few issues are also part of the picture with too many benefits.
Finding the right WordPress plugins for your website could be overwhelming as over 60,000 available. However, once you have finalized the right ones, the next task will hit you hard – updating these WP plugins to keep the issues away.
WP plugins are unsure, and not all of them are reliable. It would be best to update them before they create serious issues for your website. Before we dive deep into the "How to update WP plugins" section, it would be best to go through common WP plugin problems. Let us begin!
6 Common WordPress Plugin Problems You Should Watch Out
Not all plugins, whether free or paid, are reliable. This is why authorities stress the use of only necessary plugins. Sticking to this will not eradicate the issue from the root but can substantially lower it. Still, you must be aware of the common WordPress plugin problems to develop strategies and take appropriate measures to fix them before it causes a major loss.
WP Plugins help site owners to boost their performance and functionality by exploring more features and modules. However, not all plugins help achieve these goals. Issues with plugins, sites, or hosting can hinder overall smooth functioning. Looking out for WordPress plugin problems can help you eradicate or resolve the issues significantly.
Here are some of the major WordPress plugin problems you should be prepared to fix or deal with.
1. Higher Compatibility Issues
The first and foremost WordPress plugin problem you must watch out for is the higher compatibility issues. The plugins need to be compatible with WordPress core and its themes too. On top of this, it should also be compatible with the potential updates. No matter how cautious you are, plugin compatibility issues are bound to happen. The best possible solution is to keep the number of plugins as minimum as possible and boost overall compatibility.
2. Poor Site Performance:
The next WordPress plugin problem you should be prepared to handle is poor site performance. Plugins are nothing less than computer programs that utilize the server's hardware resources and launch HTTP requests. If the plugin utilizes more resources, it will put more load on the server and slow down the site. Therefore, you should manage them efficiently.
Dealing with poor site performance might seem easy, but removing dirt from the surface takes a technical mind. Why not contact the best website maintenance company and let specialists do it for you?
3. More Potential Bugs:
Another significant WordPress plugin problem you must watch out for is more potential bugs. Plugins are another source of code meant to improve the functioning and performance of the site. However, it does not always accomplish the goal. This is because the plugin code can lead to more potential bugs. You might not be able to identify the issue until you install and run the plugin. This is why you should not just randomly install any add-on but consult experts and opt only for the recommended ones.
4. Higher Risk of Website Crashes:
One of the most crucial WordPress plugin problems you should be aware of is the higher risk of website crashes. Installing and using too many add-ons often leads to such issues, which can create chaos. Not all plugins are well written, and issues in the code can cause various issues. It can even invite cyber-attacks, so you should not take the matter too lightly. Using only the much-needed plugins is necessary, but do not forget to update them to mitigate the risk of site crashing.
5. Frequent Database Queries:
Frequent database queries are another important WordPress plugin problem you must be prepared to deal with. Some of the plugins utilize the database to store information. They frequently rely on database queries to save and retrieve information. Sending too many queries to the database can increase the load on the server and slow down the site's performance. You can either limit your plugins to decrease the load on the server or consult with your specialists to tackle the issue.
6. Security Vulnerabilities:
The last and most crucial WordPress plugin problem is higher security vulnerabilities. Any person with little expertise can write and launch plugins. As a site owner, you are responsible for only using reliable and necessary plugins. Picking every other plugin without proper security measures may give hackers access to your site.
If you are not too well-versed in the technical details, it is better to trust the experts. You can contact our web development experts to help you pick secure and necessary plugins.
Updating WordPress Plugins – A Detailed Analysis
Did you know that your website elements and features – meant to protect your website – can be used as attack vectors against your website? It is true, and the transformation takes nothing but a few weeks of ignoring (your website). What happens when you don't update or maintain your website and its associated elements? You don't want to think about the results! If you have developed your website using WordPress, you are bound to keep an eye on things like themes and plugins, as not watering them can cause trouble.
The upcoming lines will reveal the "Why" and "How" factors regarding updating your WordPress plugins. You must never abandon your WP plugins and regularly update them for better performance.
Top 5 Reasons to Update WordPress Plugins
What good would a damaged WordPress plugin bring your website? Certainly none! You have been busy doing other stuff and ignored the WP update notification during the process. Was it easy? Yes, but it was damaging too! Not updating your WP plugins can lead to serious security threats and issues. Here are a few reasons you should update your WP plugins to enjoy a streamlined experience.
i. Increased compatibility:
Keeping your plugins compatible with the latest WordPress version is recommended and fruitful. However, newbies won't know how to come about it! The best way is to keep an eye on your plugin updates and grab the offer when available. The repository page can help you check whether all the plugins support the current version of WordPress.
An outdated plugin on the repository page will not show the version number. It is probably the biggest sign a plugin is not maintained/updated, and you should immediately pay attention to it. The more you keep track of these plugins, the better the maintenance!
ii. Enhanced reliability:
Do you want your WP plugins to be more reliable and swerving? Updating them is the best remedy to keep them functional and reliable. WordPress specialists have rumors about WP plugins: They work fine initially but lose functionality as they grow old. The reason is that they are not properly maintained and updated.
It has always been a hectic task to update and maintain your website or parts of it. Who pays attention to small plugins when there are tons of other projects on the table?
However, it must be done!
Why not hire our professional web design experts for the job? They will constantly keep an eye on the plugins/other website elements and take a needed step!
iii. Improved plugin functionality:
Updating your plugins make them better at their work! New updates will certainly add new functionalities/features to the existing version, making them work better. Moreover, the updated version will optimize codes automatically, speeding up your online operations.
You can also eliminate unwanted codes by updating your WordPress plugins. It is a secrete not known to everyone, and almost half of the website owners often overlook this. However, developers should know and keep a constant eye on this!
iv. Reduced security vulnerabilities:
Another strong reason to update your WP plugins is to add more security to your website. Updates strengthen your site's overall security by preventing security flaws and vulnerabilities. Any security loopholes found since the previous version of WordPress were automatically fixed with the release of the new version.
You no longer need to worry about manually applying patches as a result. You will always be safe against known flaws and security issues if you stay up to date with the most recent WordPress versions. The more you take care of your website security, the better it will perform!
These issues will hit you hard, costing you all the sensitive information and data on your WP website. Apart from these reasons, here are a few more that must be used in the recipe to convince site owners to update plugins:
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Website crash
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Loss of customer/personal information
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Website defacement
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Data loss
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Automatic redirects
How to Update Your WordPress Plugins Safely?
You probably have realized the importance of WP plugins and why you should water them. Your website functionality and performance rely on a perfect combination of updated plugins complementing each other. Are you worried about the red-circled number of your dashboard beside plugins? It indicates that one or more of these plugins require updates.
Don't you know how to update your plugins, or haven't you tried it before? No worries! The easiest way is to join hands with SpiralClick Web Technologies and let experts help your cause!
Your website stability will never be a concern if you want to update the plugins, as the process is easier than ever. WordPress plugins can be updated automatically or manually, depending on the plugins' nature. Some plugins are fine with auto-updates, while others need manual processing. Should you opt for auto-updates or go through the changelog with a fine-toothed comb? Well, the answer is never easy!
a. Updating WP plugins automatically:
WordPress websites with the latest version installed have the option of enabling automatic updates for plugins. The website dashboard allows you to enable this option as you navigate to plugins – Installed plugins. Each plugin on the list has a different option for enabling Auto-Updates on its right.
If you want to leave things in WordPress's hands, you can enable the auto-update option. You have done the job as soon as the link button changes to Disable Auto-Updates! Moreover, you can also use WordPress Management Services ManageWP to add websites to the dashboard and update their plugins and themes. It would be best to schedule updates as you know when the maintenance will occur!
Recommended: Top 5 Reasons to Avoid DIY Website Maintenance and Updates
b. Updating WP plugins manually:
Most people often settle for this process, but it is not as easy as the previous one. Handling site management manually is a better idea as you can fix issues whenever you want.
To begin with, you must navigate to Plugins – Installed Plugins in the dashboard and locate plugins that need updates. Each plugin on the dashboard (that needs an update) will have a clickable link of Update Now under it. Clicking the link will update the plugin within seconds, and you can move on.
Moreover, you can also check on the Checkbox to see if a particular number of plugins need updates in a batch. Simply click the dropdown button and select Update to get on with things.
What if you need to update a plugin but can't access your dashboard for any reason? There is a remedy! You can access your site using FTP and ask your site administrator for access. You can update the plugin from there!
You can seek help from our website maintenance professionals if it sounds too complicated!
Don't You Understand the Plugin Game? Let Us Sort It Out!
WordPress plugins play a crucial role in your website maintenance and performance. However, the moves are not that easy, and it takes a technical mind to solve the puzzle. What if we offer you a helping hand? Our team of professional experts can help you stay on top of plugin updates to avoid issues. Contact us today to keep your website and WP plugins functional and updated!
