Upgrading WordPress is not only the right decision to enjoy the new features of each version, but it is also advisable to have a secure installation. However, there are times when it is necessary to return to a previous version of WordPress.
There are times when a plugin or theme is not compatible with a WordPress update and you realize it after upgrading.
In these types of cases, while updating the plugin or theme to be able to live with the latest version of WordPress it may be necessary to go back to a previous version, in which it did work.
Other times it is simply that you do not like the new version but, seriously, this should not be the reason.
Steps to follow
The procedure would be as follows:
- Edit the wp-config.php file of the current installation by adding the following line:
define( 'WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE', false );This way you prevent WordPress from upgrading itself without your intervention and you don’t have to start from the beginning again. - Download the version you want from the official repository in English, where you have absolutely all versions.
- Unzip the zip file containing the downloaded version and, via FTP, upload to your installation folder all the unzipped files and folders except the wp-content folder because otherwise you would replace yours with the new one and you would lose all the theme customizations and plugins, plus all the files you have uploaded. Beware of this, my trick to avoid this error is to delete the newly unzipped wp-content folder so as not to give rise to the possibility of uploading it to the server.
- Go to the following address of your site in case you need to upgrade the database: yoursite.com/wp-admin/upgrade.php
That’s it, if you have followed the steps simply access your WordPress desktop to check that it has been downgraded. But don’t get lazy or you will regret it sooner rather than later, act quickly and update the incompatible theme or plugin, it is never a good idea to have a version of WordPress or a plugin without updating, they would be an easy gateway to hackers.
Another tip? Whenever possible it is better to use another theme or plugin that does not force you to be outdated than to live with the risk and insecurity of having an old version of a plugin or WordPress.
