WordPress update failed: how to fix it

You're trying to update WordPress, but the update fails. You see an error message, or worse, your site is now completely broken. A failed WordPress update is annoying, but fortunately almost always recoverable.

In this guide you'll learn why updates fail, how to fix it and how to prevent future update problems.

Why WordPress updates fail

Updates usually fail due to these causes:

Insufficient PHP memory - The update requires more working memory than available. This is the most common cause.

PHP timeout - The update takes too long and the server terminates the process. Often happens with slow shared hosting.

Wrong file permissions - WordPress has no write access to files or folders. The update cannot write new files.

Disk space full - Your hosting has no space left. The update cannot save the new files.

FTP/SFTP credentials wrong - WordPress asks for FTP credentials but they are incorrect or the server doesn't accept them.

Plugin/theme conflict - A plugin or theme is not compatible with the new WordPress version and crashes during update.

Corrupt download - The update files were damaged during download.

Hosting blocks updates - Some hosts block automatic updates to reduce server load.

Symptoms of a failed update

These are the signs that your update failed:

"Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance" - Your site shows this message and doesn't come back. This means the update was aborted halfway.

White screen - You only see an empty white screen without error message. This indicates a fatal PHP error.

Database update required - You see a message "Database update required" that doesn't disappear after clicking.

Login doesn't work anymore - You can't log in to wp-admin anymore.

Error messages - You see PHP errors like "Fatal error", "Maximum execution time exceeded" or "Allowed memory size exhausted".

If you see one of these symptoms, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Remove .maintenance file

If your site is stuck in "maintenance mode", it's due to a .maintenance file that wasn't automatically removed.

How to fix this:

1. Log in via FTP or your hosting file manager
2. Go to the root of your WordPress installation (where wp-config.php is)
3. Find the file ".maintenance"
4. Delete this file
5. Reload your website

Your site should now load normally. If this doesn't work, continue to step 2.

Step 2: Increase PHP memory and timeout

Insufficient memory or time is often the culprit. Increase both:

Increase PHP memory limit:

Open wp-config.php and add before "That's all, stop editing":

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

Or add to .htaccess:

php_value memory_limit 256M

Increase PHP max execution time:

In wp-config.php:

set_time_limit(300);
ini_set('max_execution_time', 300);

Or in .htaccess:

php_value max_execution_time 300

This gives the update 256MB memory and 300 seconds time. For large sites use 512M and 600 seconds if needed.

Now try to update again via Dashboard > Updates.

Step 3: Update manually via FTP

If the automatic update keeps failing, update manually:

Update WordPress core manually:

1. First make a backup of your entire site (files and database)
2. Download the latest WordPress version
3. Extract the ZIP file on your computer
4. Remove the wp-content folder and wp-config.php file from the extracted files
5. Log in via FTP
6. Upload the remaining files to your WordPress root (overwrite old files)
7. Go to yourwebsite.com/wp-admin/
8. WordPress detects the update and asks to update the database
9. Click "Update WordPress Database"

Your site now runs on the latest version.

Update plugin manually:

1. Download the latest version of the plugin from WordPress.org
2. Log in via FTP and go to /wp-content/plugins/
3. Delete the folder of the old plugin version
4. Upload the extracted folder of the new version
5. Activate the plugin again in WordPress

Update theme manually:

1. Download the latest version of your theme
2. Go via FTP to /wp-content/themes/
3. Rename the old theme folder to "old-theme-backup"
4. Upload the new theme files
5. Test your site thoroughly

Note: with manual updates you may need to manually update the database. Go to wp-admin after uploading to do this.

Step 4: Check file permissions

Wrong permissions prevent updates. The correct settings are:

Folders: 755 Files: 644 wp-config.php: 440 or 400

How to adjust permissions via FTP:

1. Right-click on a folder/file
2. Choose "File Permissions" or "CHMOD"
3. Set:
   • Folders: 755
   • Files: 644
   • wp-config.php: 440
4. For folders: check "Apply to subdirectories"

This may take a while for large sites.

Important folders that must be writable:

• /wp-content/
• /wp-content/themes/
• /wp-content/plugins/
• /wp-content/uploads/

If you don't have FTP access, ask your hosting provider to restore permissions.

Step 5: Disable all plugins

A plugin can block the update. Test this:

1. Rename via FTP the folder /wp-content/plugins/ to /wp-content/plugins-disabled/
2. WordPress now deactivates all plugins
3. Try to update again
4. Then rename plugins-disabled back to plugins
5. Activate plugins one by one to find which plugin conflicts

If the update now works, a plugin caused the problem. Update that plugin or replace it with an alternative.

Step 6: Restore via backup

If nothing works and you have a recent backup, restore your site:

Via backup plugin:

Most backup plugins (UpdraftPlus, BackWPup, etc.) have a restore function:

1. Go to the backup plugin in your WordPress dashboard
2. Choose your most recent backup from before the update
3. Click "Restore"
4. Wait until the process is complete

Manually via FTP and database:

1. Log in via FTP and delete all WordPress files (except wp-content if you want to keep it)
2. Upload your backup files
3. Import your database backup via phpMyAdmin:
   • Log in to phpMyAdmin
   • Select your WordPress database
   • Click "Import"
   • Upload your SQL backup file
   • Click "Go"

Test your site thoroughly after restore. Then update again, but now follow steps 2-5 to prevent problems.

Step 7: Update database manually

Sometimes you need to manually trigger the database to update:

1. Go to yourwebsite.com/wp-admin/upgrade.php
2. You see "WordPress Database Upgrade Required"
3. Click "Update WordPress Database"
4. Wait until it's complete

If this page gives an error message, there may be a problem with your database. Contact your hosting provider.

Step 8: Check disk space

No disk space means no updates:

Via hosting control panel:

Log in to your hosting and check "Disk Usage" or "Disk Space". If you're above 90%, clean up:

• Delete old backups
• Compress images with ShortPixel
• Delete unused media files
• Empty trash in WordPress
• Delete old plugin/theme versions

Via FTP:

Check the size of your /wp-content/uploads/ folder. This is often the biggest space consumer. Delete old images you no longer use.

If you're consistently full, upgrade your hosting package or move media to external storage.

Step 9: Use WP-CLI (for advanced users)

If you have SSH access to your server, use WP-CLI:

# Update WordPress core
wp core update

# Update all plugins
wp plugin update --all

# Update all themes
wp theme update --all

# Update database
wp core update-db

WP-CLI has no GUI overhead and often works where the WordPress admin fails.

No SSH? Ask your hosting provider if they can use WP-CLI for you.

Prevention: prevent update problems

Here's how to prevent updates from failing:

Always make a backup before updates - Use UpdraftPlus or another backup plugin to automatically backup before updates.

Test on staging first - Managed WordPress hosting often offers staging environments. Test updates there first before updating your live site.

Update in steps:

1. First update plugins
2. Then update theme
3. Last update WordPress core
4. Test between each step

Choose reliable plugins/themes - Check before installation:

• Last update not older than 6 months
• Many active installations
• Good reviews
• Active support

Keep PHP and MySQL up-to-date - Old server software causes compatibility problems. Use at least PHP 8.0.

Monitor your site after updates - Check your site immediately after an update. Use uptime monitoring to detect problems immediately.

Enable automatic updates (with caution):

For security updates:

// In wp-config.php
define('WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE', 'minor');

This only automatically updates small security patches, not major version updates.

Rollback options

If an update causes problems, you can go back to the previous version:

WP Rollback plugin:

1. Install WP Rollback
2. Go to Plugins
3. For each plugin you now see "Rollback"
4. Choose the previous version and click "Rollback"

This works for plugins and themes, not for WordPress core.

Manually downgrade:

1. Download the old WordPress version from WordPress Releases
2. Upload via FTP (same method as manually updating in step 3)

Note: downgrading is only a temporary solution. Fix the underlying cause and then update again.

When to get help

Contact professionals if:

Your site is critical - With webshops or business-critical sites, experimenting is risky. Have an expert handle it.

Database corrupt - If you see database errors you can't fix, hire a WordPress developer.

Hosting problems - If server configuration is the problem, only your hosting provider can help.

No backup - Without backup, recovery is risky. A professional can often save data you can't.

Multiple failed attempts - If you've tried steps 1-8 without success, stop and ask for help.

Most WordPress hosting providers offer free support. Managed WordPress hosts often solve these kinds of problems for free.

A failed WordPress update is stressful, but with these steps you'll fix it. Always make a backup before updating, then you can take risks and always roll back if it goes wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WordPress free?

WordPress itself is free open-source software. You only pay for hosting, a domain name, and any premium themes or plugins you want to use.

How difficult is WordPress to learn?

WordPress is relatively easy to learn. You can master the basic functions within a few hours. Advanced customizations require more time.

Can I move WordPress to a different host later?

Yes, WordPress websites can be moved to a different hosting provider. Most providers offer free assistance for this.