Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsAfter a WordPress security update, verify that it completed, review Tools > Site Health, and test the pages and workflows visitors rely on. Then resolve any remaining update or configuration issues and confirm you can restore a recent backup. An update is an important maintenance step, but it does not prove that a site was already free of malware or that every part of it is now secure.
1. Confirm the update completed
In the dashboard, open Dashboard > Updates and check whether WordPress still lists core, plugin, or theme updates. If an update failed or is still pending, address that before treating the maintenance as complete. For plugin and theme auto-updates, WordPress relies on scheduled Cron tasks; update-related errors may also appear in Site Health. See the WordPress documentation on plugin and theme auto-updates.
Auto-updates for plugins and themes were introduced in WordPress 5.5, but their availability does not remove the need to check whether updates actually ran.
2. Review Site Health for remaining issues
Go to Tools > Site Health > Status. Review critical issues, recommended improvements, and passed checks. Site Health can flag conditions such as failed background updates, outdated PHP, or plugins awaiting updates; it reports these conditions rather than automatically fixing every one. Open the Info tab if you need details about the server, plugins, themes, or filesystem. See the Site Health screen documentation.
Work through what it reports
- For a failed or pending update, return to Dashboard > Updates and resolve the update problem.
- For an outdated plugin or theme, check whether an update is available and whether the software is still maintained.
- For an outdated PHP version, contact your host about supported versions and compatibility rather than changing it casually.
3. Test the site visitors actually use
Visit the homepage and representative pages, then test the important workflows for your site. For example, try logging in, submitting a form, completing checkout, or publishing a post if those functions apply. Check both that pages load and that the intended action succeeds; a dashboard update message alone cannot confirm that your site’s essential features still work.
4. Check plugins, themes, and PHP
Keep extensions current and trusted
Check that plugins and themes are current and come from sources you trust. Remove plugins you no longer use. If a plugin has not been updated since the current WordPress core release, its compatibility may be unknown; do not assume it works simply because the update finished. WordPress provides guidance on hardening a WordPress installation and managing plugins.
Coordinate PHP changes with your host
Your hosting provider configures PHP. Before changing its version, make a backup and check compatibility with your WordPress theme and plugins; ask your host what versions it supports. WordPress’s PHP update guide explains the process and the need to check compatibility.
5. Make sure recovery is possible
Confirm that a recent backup covers both your WordPress files and database, and that you know how to restore it. A backup is useful only if it is available when needed and can be restored. WordPress recommends regular backups and advises having a current backup before plugin updates; its hardening guidance also discusses read-only media as one possible integrity measure. See the WordPress hardening guidance and auto-update documentation.
When assessing a backup arrangement, check whether it covers files and the database, whether copies are independent or stored off-site, how often they are retained, how access is controlled, and whether a restore has been tested. No storage device or backup service by itself guarantees a secure, usable recovery.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.6. Treat signs of compromise as an incident
If you find unfamiliar admin accounts, malicious redirects, unexpected file changes, or other signs that the site may have been compromised, routine post-update checks are not enough. Follow WordPress’s hacked-site response guidance: document what you find, clean or replace affected files, and change passwords after the site is clean. Consider qualified incident-response help if you cannot establish what was changed or safely restore the site.
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