The most reliable check is in your WordPress dashboard: open Tools > Site Health > Info, expand WordPress, and read the Version field. To see whether a newer core release is available, use Dashboard > Updates; that is a separate check from identifying the version already installed.
Check the installed version in Site Health
- Sign in to the WordPress administrator dashboard.
- Open Tools > Site Health > Info.
- Expand the WordPress section.
- Read the value beside Version. WordPress.org documents this field as the version currently in use.
The Site Health page is informational. It shows the installed core version but does not itself install an upgrade.
Check whether an update is available
After recording the installed version, open Dashboard > Updates. This screen reports whether a WordPress core update is offered and provides the controls for installing one when available.
Do not update merely to answer the version question. Treat updating as a maintenance decision: confirm that a current backup exists and follow your normal compatibility and staging process before changing core files.
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Installed version versus latest available version
| Question | Where to look | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Which version is this site running? | Tools > Site Health > Info > WordPress > Version | The exact WordPress core version currently in use. |
| Is a newer core release available? | Dashboard > Updates | Whether WordPress offers an upgrade and the controls to install it. |
For a dated comparison with the newest release, consult WordPress.org’s current WordPress Versions list at the time you check. Release numbers change, so an example from an earlier date should not be treated as current.
If you cannot access the dashboard
Ask an administrator or host
Without dashboard access, ask a user with the required WordPress role or your hosting provider to read the Site Health value. This is safer than guessing from a theme, plugin, or public page.
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Inspect the core file only with server access
A technical administrator with filesystem access may inspect /wp-includes/version.php, a core file referenced in WordPress release documentation. This is an administrator-level fallback, not the preferred general-user procedure; the file reference alone is not a complete, step-by-step version-check method.
Why public checks are unreliable
Page source, generator metadata, website scanners, theme details, and plugin versions do not establish a dependable way to identify the currently installed WordPress core version. Metadata may be removed or altered, and related software can have different version numbers. Use an authenticated dashboard or ask someone with administrative or server access instead.
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Troubleshooting missing menu items
- Site Health is not visible: confirm that you are signed in to the correct site and have sufficient dashboard permissions.
- The dashboard belongs to a managed host: contact the site administrator or host for the version value and update policy.
- You see an update notice but need the exact current version: return to Tools > Site Health > Info > WordPress; the update notice answers availability, not necessarily the version you are running.
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