Should You Update Plugins Before Updating WordPress?

When it comes to updating plugins, the answer is a bit more complicated than simply “yes.” Updating plugins before updating WordPress can result in some undesired consequences. Here’s a look at whether it’s worth it to update plugins before updating WordPress:

The Pros:

Updating plugins can ensure that your website is running the latest and most secure versions of the plugins. This can prevent potential security issues or crashes.

Updating plugins can also ensure that your website is functioning as it should. If there are any bugs or glitches with the new plugin versions, updating plugins can fix them.

Updating plugins can also improve the performance of your website. By upgrading to the latest versions of plugins, you can reduce the amount of time it takes your website to load.

The Cons:

Updating plugins can sometimes result in compatibility issues. If you’re using a plugin that was updated using a different version of WordPress, upgrading to the latest version of WordPress can result in conflicts.

Updating plugins can also result in lost data. If you’re using a plugin that was updated using the WordPress plugin installer, upgrading to the latest version of WordPress can delete your plugin files.

Upgrading to the latest versions of plugins can also increase the overall size of your WordPress installation. If you don’t have enough space on your server, upgrading to the latest versions of plugins can reduce your website’s performance.

In the end, it’s up to you to decide whether it’s worth it to update plugins before upgrading to the latest version of WordPress. If you’re confident that you can handle any potential conflicts or data loss, then it’s probably not a bad idea to update plugins first.

However, if you’re worried about potential problems, it’s probably better to wait until after you’ve upgraded to WordPress.