How to Safely Update Your Website Without Breaking It

Updating your website is important for security, performance, and overall user experience. However, if done incorrectly, updates can lead to broken pages, lost data, or even complete website failure. In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about updating your website safely without breaking it.

Why Website Updates Are Essential

Many website owners hesitate to update their sites due to fear of breaking something. However, updating your website is not optional; it is necessary for several reasons.

1. Security Enhancements

One of the primary reasons for updating your website is security. Hackers continuously search for vulnerabilities in outdated software. If your CMS (like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal) and plugins are not updated, your site becomes an easy target for cyberattacks. Updates contain security patches that fix known vulnerabilities, protecting your site from malware, data breaches, and hacking attempts.

2. Performance and Speed Improvements

Website updates often include performance optimizations that enhance loading speed. A faster website improves user experience and boosts SEO rankings. Search engines like Google prioritize fast-loading websites in search results. Slow websites can lead to higher bounce rates, meaning visitors leave quickly without engaging. So improving your website performance is very necessary.

3. Compatibility with New Technologies

Web technologies evolve rapidly. Older website versions may become incompatible with newer browsers, hosting environments, or third-party tools. Updating ensures that your website remains compatible with the latest trends, including mobile optimization, improved caching mechanisms, and better coding standards.

4. Better User Experience

Frequent updates bring new features, bug fixes, and user interface enhancements. This helps provide a smoother experience for visitors, improving navigation, readability, and overall satisfaction.

Failing to update your website can result in serious consequences, including security risks, slow performance, and loss of traffic. However, updating without proper precautions can also lead to major issues, which brings us to our next section.

Understanding the Risks of Updating a Website

While updates are necessary, they come with potential risks if not managed correctly. Below are some common problems that can arise when updating a website without proper precautions.

1. Website Downtime

If an update goes wrong, your entire website may become inaccessible. This can cause frustration for visitors and lost revenue if you run an e-commerce store.

2. Broken Functionalities

Some updates may conflict with existing themes, plugins, or custom code. This can lead to broken forms, missing images, or certain features no longer working properly.

3. Loss of Data and SEO Rankings

If an update causes errors, you might lose important website data, such as blog posts, customer orders, or user comments. Additionally, if your website experiences extended downtime, your SEO rankings can suffer, reducing visibility on search engines.

4. Compatibility Issues

Certain updates may not work well with older plugins, themes, or custom-built functionalities. This can cause elements of your website to break, leading to poor user experience.

To prevent these risks, you need a strategic approach to update your website. Let’s discuss how to prepare for a safe update.

Pre – update Steps before Website Update

Before applying any updates, follow this checklist to ensure a smooth process.

1. Backup Your Website

Always create a full backup of your website before applying any updates. This allows you to restore your site if anything goes wrong.

2. Create a Staging Environment

A staging environment is a clone of your live website where you can test updates before applying them to your actual site. Many hosting providers offer built-in staging tools.

3. Review Update Release Notes

Before updating, check the release notes of your CMS, plugins, and themes to understand what changes are included. This helps you identify potential conflicts.

4. Test Updates Before Applying Them to the Live Site

Never update directly on your live website. Test updates in your staging environment first to ensure everything functions properly, as skipping these steps increases the risk of breaking your website. Now, let’s discuss how to back up your website properly.

How to Backup Your Website Properly

A backup is your safety net in case an update goes wrong. There are multiple ways to back up your site, depending on your platform.

Manual Backup vs. Automated Backup: Which One Is Right for You?

Backing up your website is non-negotiable if you want to protect your data and prevent catastrophic losses in case of an update failure. But should you opt for manual backups or rely on automated backup solutions? Let’s break it down.

Manual Backup

A manual backup requires you to download your website files and database manually. While this method gives you full control, it can be time-consuming and requires technical know-how.

How to Perform a Manual Backup:

1. Using cPanel: Navigate to your cPanel dashboard, access the “File Manager,” and manually download your website files. Then, export your database using phpMyAdmin.
2. Using FTP (File Transfer Protocol): Connect to your site using an FTP client like FileZilla, download all essential files, and back up your database separately.
3. Using phpMyAdmin: If your website runs on a CMS like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal, you can access phpMyAdmin to export your entire database.

Pros of Manual Backup:

• Gives you complete control over your data.
• No reliance on third-party services.
• Allows you to store backups in multiple locations of your choice.

Cons of Manual Backup:

• Requires technical knowledge and time.
• If done incorrectly, you risk losing critical data.
• You have to remember to do it regularly, increasing the chance of missing important backups.

Automated Backup

If you want a stress-free way to secure your website, automated backups are the best option. Many hosting providers, including us at telaHosting, offer automatic backup services as part of their hosting plans. These services ensure that your website is backed up on schedule without any manual effort.

How to Set Up Automated Backups:

• If your hosting provider offers built-in backup services, simply enable them in your hosting dashboard.
• If using WordPress, install backup plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy to schedule daily, weekly, or monthly backups.
• For Joomla and Drupal users, consider using Akeeba Backup and Backup and Migrate, respectively.

Pros of Automated Backup:

• Saves time—no manual work required.
• Ensures regular and consistent backups.
• Reduces human errors—no risk of forgetting to back up.
• Many solutions offer one-click restore in case something goes wrong.

Cons of Automated Backup:

• Some premium backup services may cost extra.
• Depending on where backups are stored, you might need additional storage space.
• If your automated backup system fails, you might lose your data if you don’t have an alternative backup solution.

Recommended Backup Tools

No matter which method you choose, using trusted backup tools is crucial. Here are some of the best options available:

CMS Platform	Recommended Backup Tools
WordPress	UpdraftPlus, Jetpack Backup, Duplicator
Joomla	Akeeba Backup
Drupal	Backup and Migrate

Which Backup Method Is Best?

The best backup method depends on your needs and expertise:

• If you prefer full control and don’t mind a hands-on approach, go for manual backups.
• If you want a set-it-and-forget-it solution, automated backups are the way to go.

For maximum security, combine both methods—set up automated backups and perform manual backups occasionally as a failsafe. That way, your website data remains 100% secure, no matter what happens.

At telaHosting, we provide automatic backup solutions to keep your site safe and secure. If you’re not backing up your site yet, now is the time to start!

Staging Environment for Safe Testing

A staging site is a duplicate version of your website used for testing updates, as it allows you to test updates without affecting your live website. This helps catch errors before they reach your visitors. Many web hosts offer one-click staging, such as telaHosting. If your host doesn’t provide staging, you can use plugins like WP Staging. alternatively, create a separate subdomain or local development environment.

Benefits of Staging Environment 

• Prevents website downtime
• Identifies conflicts before they impact live visitors
• Allows troubleshooting and debugging in a controlled environment

Once updates have been tested in staging and confirmed to be working, you can safely apply them to your live website.

Steps in Updating Core Software, Plugins, and Themes the Right Way

When updating your website, follow these best practices to avoid issues.

1. Update Your CMS First

If you’re using WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal, update the core software first before updating plugins and themes. To learn more about WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal, check this post: WordPress vs Joomla vs Drupal: Choosing the Best CMS

2. Update Plugins One by One

Update your website plugins individually rather than all at once. If an issue arises, this makes it easier to identify which plugin caused the problem.

3. Handle Deprecated or Outdated Plugins

If a plugin has not been updated in years, consider replacing it with a maintained alternative, as outdated plugins can introduce security vulnerabilities and compatibility issues.

Updating in the right order minimizes the risk of breaking your website.

How to Testing Your Website After Updates

After updating your website, you need to test it thoroughly to ensure everything is working properly. Here’s what to check:

1. Check Core Functionalities

Ensure that all essential features like contact forms, login pages, and e-commerce checkout pages are working. Also navigate through your site as a visitor to check for broken links or missing images.

2. Test on Multiple Devices and Browsers

Open your website on different devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) to ensure it displays correctly. Then check compatibility with multiple browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

3. Look for Performance Issues

Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to monitor your website’s performance. If the update slowed down your site, you may need to optimize images, enable caching, or troubleshoot heavy scripts.

4. Fix Errors and Bugs Before Going Live

If you find any issues, resolve them in the staging environment first and only push the changes to your live website once you’re confident everything is working perfectly.

Skipping these tests can lead to a poor user experience and even lost customers.

How to Handle Compatibility Issues and Conflicts After Update

Sometimes, updates can cause compatibility issues, especially if you’re using multiple plugins or custom code. Here’s how to handle them:

1. Identify the Problem

If your site breaks after an update, deactivate recently updated plugins one by one to identify the culprit. Also check your website’s error logs for clues.

2. Restore Your Backup If Needed

If troubleshooting doesn’t work, roll back to your most recent backup. Once restored, try updating again but with extra caution.

3. Contact Support

If the issue persists, reach out to your hosting provider or plugin/theme developers for assistance. Many developers release patches quickly, so check for an immediate fix.

By handling conflicts proactively, you can prevent downtime and keep your website running smoothly.

How to Monitor Website Performance Post-Update

Once your updates are live, you should continue monitoring your website for potential issues.

1. Analyze Site Speed

Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or Lighthouse to see if updates have affected loading times, then optimize anything slowing down your site.

2. Check for Broken Links

Use tools like Broken Link Checker to scan your website for links that may have stopped working after updates.

3. Monitor SEO Performance

Use Google Search Console to see if Google has detected any errors also, if your rankings drop after an update, check if any critical SEO settings were affected.

Keeping an eye on these metrics will help ensure your site remains stable and high-performing after updates.

How to Roll Back Updates If Something Goes Wrong

Even with the best precautions, sometimes an update doesn’t go as planned. Here’s how to safely revert changes:

1. Restore from a Backup

If you took a full backup before updating (which you should!), restore your website to the last working version.

2. Use Plugin Rollback Features

WordPress users can use plugins like WP Rollback to downgrade problematic plugins and themes.

3. Manually Downgrade Software

Some CMS platforms allow you to download previous versions of plugins or themes. If necessary, reinstall the older version and test again.

Rolling back updates ensures your website remains functional while you troubleshoot the issue.

Automatic Updates 

Some website owners prefer to automate updates to save time. However, automatic updates can sometimes cause unexpected issues.

Pros of Automatic Updates

• Ensures security patches are applied immediately.
• Saves time and reduces manual work.

Cons of Automatic Updates

• Updates can break your website if not tested first.
• You may not notice changes until it’s too late.

How to Set Up Scheduled Updates Safely

• Use hosting providers that offer safe auto-updates with rollback options like telaHosting.
• If using WordPress, enable automatic updates only for minor security patches, not major version changes.
• Set up email notifications so you’re alerted when updates occur.

If you choose automation, monitor your site regularly to catch any potential issues early.

Best Practices to Keep Your Website Stable After Updates

To ensure your site remains secure and high-performing, follow these ongoing maintenance best practices:

• Perform Regular Backups: Schedule automatic backups at least once a week.
• Update Plugins and Themes Carefully: Only update trusted and actively maintained plugins.
• Keep a Change Log: Maintain records of updates in case you need to troubleshoot issues later.
• Monitor Website Uptime: Use tools like UptimeRobot to receive alerts if your site goes down.

By following these practices, you can prevent future update-related issues.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Updating a Website

Even experienced website owners make mistakes when updating their sites. Here are some common errors to avoid:

• Skipping Backups: Never update your website without backing it up first.
• Ignoring Update Notifications: Delaying updates for too long can leave your site vulnerable to security risks.
• Updating Everything at Once: If you update multiple plugins at once, it’s harder to identify issues when something goes wrong.
• Not Testing Updates First: Applying updates directly to the live site without testing can lead to major downtime.

Avoiding these mistakes will save you a lot of headaches in the long run.

Conclusion & Final Tips

Updating your website is necessary to maintain security, performance, and functionality. However, updates should be done carefully to avoid breaking your site. Follow these key steps:

• Always back up your website before updating.
• Use a staging environment to test updates first.
• Update CMS, plugins, and themes in the correct order.
• Monitor your website after updates to detect issues early.

By following these best practices, you can ensure your website remains secure and stable without any interruptions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How often should I update my website?

You should check for updates at least once a month. However, security updates should be applied immediately.

2. What should I do if my website crashes after an update?

Restore your website from a backup and identify which update caused the issue. You can also seek support from your hosting provider or developers.

3. Should I enable automatic updates?

Automatic updates are useful for security patches, but major updates should be tested manually in a staging environment.

4. What tools can help me test website updates?

Use tools like WP Staging for WordPress, GTmetrix for performance checks, and Google Search Console for SEO monitoring.

5. How do I know if a plugin is safe to update?

Check the update’s release notes, read user reviews, and verify compatibility with your current CMS version before proceeding.