Bluehost Account Manager Websites Plugins Tab

Update your WordPress plugins frequently to keep your website safe, running well, and functional. This article provides steps to update WordPress plugins using the updated Websites Plugins tab and WP Admin dashboard so you can benefit from security patches, the latest features, and bug fixes. With regular updates, you avoid potential vulnerabilities in your WordPress site.

• Backup Your Website Before Updating
• Update WordPress Plugins in Account Manager
• Alternative Way to Update Plugins
• Summary

Backup Your Website Before Updating

Before updating plugins, creating a backup is important to prevent data loss or site crashes.

Why? Backups help restore your site if an update causes issues.

• Use plugins to create a full site backup.
• Use Jetpack or CodeGuard for premium backup and restore options.

Update WordPress Plugins in Account Manager

1. Log in to the Bluehost Account Manager.
2. From the left-hand navigation menu, click on Websites.

   
    

   • If you have only one website, you’ll go directly to its Overview page.
   • If you have multiple websites, all websites will be listed. Click Settings to access the Overview menu of the desired site.

     
      

3. Click on the Plugins tab in the top navigation menu.

   
    

   From here, you can:

   • Activate Automatic Updates
     • Ensures your plugins are always up-to-date.
     • Helps protect against vulnerabilities with the latest security patches.
     • Introduces new features that can enhance site functionality.
        
   • Deactivate Automatic Updates
     • Provides control over which plugin versions are active.
     • Useful for maintaining compatibility with custom themes or other plugins.
     • Ideal for sites requiring stability without unexpected changes.
        
   • Manual Control of Updates
     • Allows you to schedule when updates occur.
     • Enables testing updates in a staging environment before applying them to your live site.
     • Helps identify potential issues early, ensuring smooth operation.
   Note: Each plugin listed indicates its status: Active (blue toggle), which means the plugin is currently running. In contrast, Inactive (grey toggle) means the plugin is installed but not active.

Alternative Way to Update Plugins

1. Log in to your WordPress Admin Dashboard.
2. Navigate to Plugins.
3. Locate plugins with available updates (highlighted with an update notice).
4. Click Update Now next to each plugin that needs updating.
5. To update multiple plugins at once, select them, choose Bulk Actions, and then click Apply

Enable Automatic Plugin Updates (Optional)

To automate plugin updates, follow these steps:

1. Go to Installed Plugins.
2. Choose the plugin or plugins you want to enable auto-updates by clicking the checkbox.
3. Click the Bulk actions dropdown, Enable Auto-updates, and click the Apply button.

Troubleshooting Plugin Update Issues

If a plugin update fails or causes issues, try the following:

• Clear your cache and refresh the page.
• Roll back the update.
• Disable conflicting plugins and try updating again.
• Check your PHP version in your hosting settings to ensure compatibility.

If the issue persists, consider restoring your backup and contacting the plugin developer for support.

Summary

Updating your WordPress plugins is simple but important because it ensures your site is secure and functional. This article explains how to easily update WordPress plugins directly from your WordPress dashboard, protect the site from various security attacks, run at maximum speed, and exploit its new functionalities.