Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more

To enable automatic updates for an existing WordPress site, open its settings in hPanel: Websites → your site → Dashboard → WordPress → Security. Under WordPress auto-updates, select Smart auto-updates, review the disclaimer, and click Save.

How do I enable automatic WordPress updates in Hostinger?

  1. Sign in to hPanel and open Websites.
  2. Find the WordPress site you want to manage and click Dashboard.
  3. Open WordPress → Security.
  4. Find WordPress auto-updates and click Smart auto-updates.
  5. Review the disclaimer, then click Save to confirm.

These steps are for changing the setting on an existing site. Follow the labels currently shown in your hPanel account if the interface has changed. Hostinger’s support instructions describe this route.

Which parts of WordPress should update automatically?

Hostinger lets you choose update behavior separately for WordPress core, themes, and plugins. For each category, choose no automatic updates, security updates only, or all available updates. For core, Hostinger describes security updates as minor-version updates, such as 6.2.1 to 6.2.2; all updates also include major-version changes, such as 6.2 to 6.3. Its documentation describes theme and plugin security updates as fixes for known vulnerabilities, based on the Patchstack vulnerability database.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Category No automatic updates Security updates only All updates
WordPress core Do not install updates automatically. Install minor-version updates, such as 6.2.1 to 6.2.2. Install minor and major-version updates, such as 6.2 to 6.3.
Themes Do not install updates automatically. Install updates Hostinger identifies as security fixes for known vulnerabilities. Install all available theme updates.
Plugins Do not install updates automatically. Install updates Hostinger identifies as security fixes for known vulnerabilities. Install all available plugin updates.

Choose settings by category to suit how much change your site can accommodate. If you want to avoid automatic major core-version changes, select security updates only for core; if you want every available update installed, select all updates. The exact option labels can vary as hPanel changes.

What happens to WordPress’s own automatic updates?

When you enable automatic updates through Hostinger’s hPanel, Hostinger says it disables native WordPress automatic updates. The two update managers do not remain independently active. WordPress also enables minor core updates by default, while plugins and themes are not automatically updated by default; Hostinger’s hPanel controls provide a way to set update behavior for those categories.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What if the Security page is missing or an update causes a problem?

The setting is not available

Hostinger says its Automatic WordPress Updates feature is not available on Agency Hosting plans. Its related guidance also says those plans do not have a separate WordPress Overview or Security page. If you cannot find the described controls, check your plan and the current interface, then consult Hostinger’s current support guidance for account-specific help. Do not assume every other plan has identical controls.

The site breaks after an automatic update

Hostinger says it takes an automatic backup before updates. If an update breaks your site, its guidance is to disable automatic updates in hPanel → WordPress → Security while troubleshooting, then restore a backup. This is a recovery procedure, not a guarantee that every failed update is automatically rolled back.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.