Have you ever updated a plugin and wished you could return to the previous version? Now you can! I won’t do a site without the WP Rollback plugin. It has saved my bacon more than once.
In this quick tutorial I’ll show you how to safely update your plugins so you can easily roll them back, if you ever need to.
NOTE: WP Rollback on work for free plugins available in the WP Plugins repository that support it. That means it does not work on premium themes. It also does not work for themes. Be sure you have a full backup before doing any updates.
The transcript is below the video.
FYI – some plugin breaks may be caused by having too low a PHP version at your host.
READ: How and why to switch to PHP 7 for more details.
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Transcript
Install the WP Rollback plugin and activate it.
There are no settings or configuration options to do.
Next
Once active, all of your plugins that can be rolled back will have a new link in their description.
Next
Let me show you the trick to being able to access that rollback link, even if a plugin update gives you the white screen of death.
First, it’s always good practice to take a backup before you update anything on your site.
Next, leave this installed plugins list page open.
Next
Then open a new tab and go to your site.
You should be logged in on that tab too.
Click the Updates tool in your black admin bar at the top.
That will take you to your WP Updates page.
Or go to Dashboard > Updates.
Next
Scroll down to the plugins section and select the plugins you would like to update.
You definitely want to do these one at a time, or in extremely small batches.
Then click the Update Plugins button.
Next
From this tab, poke around your site and ensure all is well, especially the function of the plugins you just updated.
Next
If you get a white screen, or anything else is wrong, then jump back to the tab with the plugins list.
Find the plugin you just updated.
As you’ll see, there have been no updates on this page, which is the way you want it.
Then click Rollback.
Next
Select the previous version, which should be just one down from the top.
And then click the Rollback button at the bottom.
You’ll see a pop up confirming that you want to do this.
Click that Rollback button.
Next
There! Your site should be back to the previous version of the plugin.
The trick is to not refresh that plugin list tab and only use the 2nd open tab to do the updates and check your site.
This update method is not foolproof, as on rare occasion there have been plugins that toast a site so bad that it freaks out the rollback. And that’s what you have your full backup for, if it comes to that.
But, this little plugin has saved my bacon 3 times in as many years, and worked without a hitch.
And not all plugins are available to be rolled back. I find that they are not well coded plugins in general. So, you might want to consider switching to a plugin that is better coded and can be rolled back if needed.
Next
I hope you’ve enjoyed this quick tutorial on using the WP Rollback plugin.
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Thank you for this very timely and informative post. I sent it my friends as well as sharing on all my social platforms. With the advent of the php changve as well as the introduction of Gutenberg, it is an absolute MUST read. I will share it again next week.
Thanks for that reminder about PHP, Marilyn!
I updated the post with that tip and a link to my post on updating to PHP 7.x
Nice to see that you are resurrecting the MaAnna minutes. Thanks for all you do for DIY site owners!
I’m delighted to be doing these short vid tuts again too. Have a WHOLE list of them to do!!
Thank you for this simple easy to understand tutorial!
Thanks for this very useful plugin, MaAnna – I look forward to your updates each week :)
thanks, Tracey
Hi MaAnna, Just a question on this regarding cache. After I do a plugin update on the second tab, I clear my cache and browser cache to be able to see those updates right away. But unfortunately when I clear BROWSER cache, it logs me out of WP and as a result, my first tab logs me out of that plugin page that I am supposed to hold up. Will it still work when I log back in to WP? If not, should I use a different computer instead of a second tab? I am probably overcomplicating it.. haha.
I would hold off on clearing the browser cache until you do the first check on the site. In general, if a plugin is going to completely freak out, you’ll see it without purging cache, as your local caching plugin and Cloudflare bypass cache on admin pages (when you’re logged in).
Ok will do MaAnna! Thanks so much for clearing up my confusion. I will be sure to put this in practice when updating my plugins! Thank you for the trick:)