Are you facing compatibility issues or experiencing glitches with the latest WordPress version? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the process of how to Downgrade WordPress Version, providing you with step-by-step instructions to seamlessly revert to an older version and ensure smooth operation for your website. Whether it’s plugin conflicts or performance concerns, mastering the art of downgrading WordPress will empower you to maintain optimal functionality and performance.
Upgrading to the latest version of WordPress is a breeze. Since version 3.7, the content management system (CMS) performs automatic updates for minor releases by default.
For major releases, you can simply log in to the WordPress dashboard and click the “Update Now” button at the top of your website.
But what if you need to downgrade WordPress to an older version?
In this post, we’ll cover why you might want to downgrade WordPress, as well as exactly how to do it—both manually (in case you can’t access your dashboard), and automatically via a plugin.
Generally speaking, it’s best to run the latest version of WordPress on your website.
Older versions aren’t actively maintained by WordPress developers, so they are more likely to contain security vulnerabilities, as well as have conflicts with third-party themes and plugins, than the latest version.
If you recently updated WordPress to the latest version, however, and discovered that it broke your website’s functionality, you may want to downgrade.
You can always try to troubleshoot the problem by deactivating plugins and scanning files for lines of bad code, but downgrading offers a quick and easy solution, at least until you can nail down the root of the problem.
By downgrading to the version of WordPress your website was previously running, your website’s functionality should be restored.
Wondering when it’s best to downgrade WordPress to an older version? Let’s explore the scenarios where reverting to a previous iteration of WordPress becomes a wise choice.
1. When might someone downgrade WordPress out of preference?Opting for a downgrade might be preferred if individuals find the features or operational flow of an older version more aligned with their preferences or simpler to navigate for their specific requirements.
2. When is downgrading WordPress advisable due to compatibility issues? Downgrading WordPress becomes necessary when updates result in compatibility issues with current plugins or themes, affecting the overall functionality of the website.
Before you decide to downgrade your WordPress core, try these troubleshooting steps. Often, the issue lies with themes or plugins rather than WordPress itself.
By following these steps, you can address most issues without resorting to downgrading WordPress, ensuring your site remains secure and functional.
We’ll first cover how to downgrade WordPress manually using FTP, which is necessary if you’re unable to access your admin area.
New to FTP? Check out our WordPress FTP tutorial here. 👈
Before downgrading, check to see which version of WordPress your website is currently running. There are several ways to check the version, one of which is to open the version.php
file in the wp-includes
folder.
In this file, the version numbered is proceeded by the code $wp_version
. If your website is running WordPress 5.4.1, for example, you’ll see $wp_version = '5.4.1'
listed in the version.php
file.
You can also see which version of WordPress your website is running by viewing the source code in your web browser.
Right-click on an open area of your website and select “View Page Source.”
With your web browser now showing your website’s source code, press Ctrl+F (Windows) or Cmd+F (Mac) and search for the word “generator.”
You should see a line like <meta name="generator" content="WordPress 5.4.1" />
, which indicates that your current WordPress version is 5.4.1.
Now that you know which version of WordPress your website is currently running, you can download an older version with which to replace it.
The WordPress Foundation offers all major versions, including those dating back to 2007, available free to download here.
After locating your desired version, download the compressed file and extract it to your computer’s storage drive.
🚨 Important Note: You should not attempt to downgrade WordPress without first backing up your website.
It’s always a good idea to back up your website when downgrading.
When performed correctly, downgrading shouldn’t affect your website’s content. With that said, you may accidentally delete the wrong file or files, resulting in the permanent loss of content.
By creating a backup, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that any mistakes made during the downgrade can be reversed.
To perform a complete backup, download your website’s MySQL database and all its static files and save them locally to your computer’s storage drive. You probably won’t need the backup, but in the event your downgrade goes awry, you can use it to rollback your website.
To downgrade, you’ll need to replace your website’s static WordPress files, except for the wp-config.php
file and all files in the wp-content
folder, with those of the older version.
Start by connecting your website’s server with a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) client such as FileZilla and opening the folder in which your website is stored (usually public_html
).
Next, highlight all the files and folders, except for the wp-config.php
file and the wp-content
folder, in your website’s main folder. You can then delete them by right-clicking in the FTP program’s interface and selecting “Delete.”
After deleting the appropriate static files, you’ll need to upload the static files from the older version of WordPress to your website’s server.
In your FTP program, locate and open the local folder containing the older version of WordPress. Next, upload all the files and folders, except for the wp-content
folder, to your website’s main folder.
When finished, your website will run the older version of WordPress. To verify the downgrade was a success, use either of the aforementioned methods to see which version of WordPress your website is running. Assuming the older version is listed, the downgrade worked.
It’s important to preserve the wp-content
folder when downgrading.
This folder contains all your website’s plugins, themes and images. If you accidentally delete the wp-content
folder, or if you replace it with the wp-content
folder of the older WordPress version, you’ll lose these files.
In addition to the wp-content
folder, you shouldn’t touch the wp-config.php
file when downgrading.
This otherwise small file contains essential information about your website’s MySQL database, including the name of the database, username and password.
If you delete the wp-config.php
file, WordPress won’t be able to connect to the MySQL database. As a result, you’ll see the message “Error establishing a database connection” when accessing your website rather than its actual content.
When you need to downgrade WordPress manually, it’s crucial to take several precautions to ensure a smooth, error-free process.
By taking these precautions—backing up your site, using a staging environment, and being familiar with SFTP—you can minimize risks and ensure a safer downgrade process.
By following these steps, you’ll ensure your site remains functional and stable after the downgrade.
Transferring a downgraded version of WordPress via SFTP is straightforward. Here are the steps:
After the transfer is complete, double-check that all files have been correctly overwritten. This ensures your WordPress site reverts to the desired version without any issues.
Downgrading your WordPress site requires careful preparation to ensure a smooth transition. Key to this process is deleting certain files from the downgraded version before uploading it to your server. Here’s a guide to help you:
By carefully removing these files from the downgraded version, you ensure the integrity of your WordPress site during the downgrade process.
To manually downgrade WordPress without disrupting your website’s functionality, follow these steps:
Following these steps ensures a safe downgrade while maintaining the integrity of your site.
Using a staging environment before downgrading your WordPress site is crucial for several reasons:
By utilizing a staging environment, you ensure that downgrading WordPress is a smooth, risk-free operation, preserving your site’s functionality and user satisfaction.
If you’ve found yourself locked out of your WordPress site, what’s the recommended method to regain access?
An alternative way to downgrade WordPress to an older version is to use a downgrade plugin.
The plugin WP Downgrade, for example, lives up to its namesake by introducing a downgrade feature in the WordPress admin dashboard.
Using it, you can specify which version of WordPress you’d like to install on your website while logged in to the admin dashboard. After installing, go to Settings > WP Downgrade
to use the plugin:
The problem with using a downgrade plugin, however, is that it requires the use of a functional WordPress admin dashboard. If you’re unable to access the admin dashboard, you won’t be able to install and run the plugin.
Maybe your entire website went down after updating WordPress to the latest version, or perhaps the admin dashboard shows a white screen. In cases such as these, you must manually downgrade by connecting to your website’s server and replacing the static WordPress files.
If you’re considering rolling back to an earlier version of your plugins and themes, it’s crucial to follow a detailed guide for a smooth experience. These guides simplify the process into easy-to-follow steps, ensuring you can safely revert your software without any worries about losing data or affecting your website’s performance. Before you start downgrading, remember to back up your current data to safeguard your settings and customizations. This precautionary measure ensures that you can always restore your site to its present state if necessary.
Wondering how to bring your website back online if it’s currently offline? Restoring a previous backup is a powerful solution. However, its success depends on having a comprehensive backup of your entire WordPress setup, covering everything from core files to plugins and themes. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
By following these steps diligently, you can bring your site back to a previously functional state, ideally without losing any crucial data or functionality. Remember, regular backups are your website’s lifeline, providing a critical safety net in times of crisis.
1. Where can you find a guide to help you roll back plugins and themes?
Consult Online Resources and Forums: Look for comprehensive guides and expert advice on rolling back plugins and themes by exploring online resources and visiting reputable WordPress forums. These platforms are rich in valuable insights and step-by-step tutorials tailored to assist you in managing and troubleshooting your WordPress site effectively.
2. What should you do if you want to revert updates not only in WordPress but also in plugins and themes?
Refer to Detailed Guides: When aiming to revert updates not only in WordPress but also in plugins and themes, it’s essential to refer to detailed guides that offer clear, concise instructions. These guides walk you through the entire process, ensuring you accurately rollback to the desired previous versions without encountering any errors or complications.
3. If your WordPress site is down, how can you restore it using previous backups?
Restore from Complete Backups: If your WordPress site experiences downtime, restoring it to full functionality can be achieved by applying a complete backup of your WordPress core. This comprehensive backup restores your website to its previous state before any issues arose, ensuring a seamless return to optimal performance.
By utilizing these methods and resources, you can effectively downgrade WordPress, roll back updates in plugins and themes, and restore your site from previous backups, ensuring smooth operation and minimizing downtime for your website.
Downgrading your website to an older version of WordPress may sound daunting, but it’s a relatively easy process once you familiarize yourself with the steps.
You can either replace your website’s static WordPress files or use a downgrade plugin. Both methods allow you to rollback WordPress to an older version.
If you have any questions about downgrading WordPress, please feel free to leave a comment below!
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View Comments
I downgraded my website, now I cant even access to it, even with admin. What can I do?
Did you create a backup before downgrading?