WP Umbrella: Safe Update Feature Documentation

Keep your WordPress sites safe and running smoothly with WP Umbrella’s Safe Update feature. Whether you’re looking for a quick update, a backup restore option, or extra security with visual regression testing, our safe update feature gives you the tools to update your plugins and themes with confidence—without worrying about downtime or errors.

Prerequisites

• WP Umbrella account with a connected site.
• Plugins or themes that need updates.

How does Safe Update work?

Safe Update lets you update WordPress plugins and themes with minimal risk. You can:

Quick Update process

What is it?

Quick Update mirrors WordPress’s native bulk upgrade process for updates.

When to Use It:

• You need fast updates for multiple sites or plugins.
• You’re confident that the update is stable.

Classic Safe Update process

What is it?

The Classic Safe Update creates a restore point for the plugin folder before updating, giving you peace of mind that your site can be restored if needed. To perform optimally, the classic safe update requires that you have added your FTP credentials to WP Umbrella.

When to Use It:

• You’re updating important plugins or themes that affect critical functions.
• You want a fallback plan.

Advanced Safe Update

What is it?

The Advanced Safe Update takes extra steps by capturing screenshots before and after the update to catch any visual discrepancies.

When to Use It:

• You’re updating plugins or themes that could impact your site’s layout or design.
• You want visual confirmation that everything’s perfect after the update.
• You've activated auto-update in WordPress.

Options:

• Manual Validation (Recommended): Review the screenshots to check for issues before approving the update.
• Automatic Rollback: WP Umbrella will automatically roll back if a visual issue is detected. Please note that visual regression testing can result in false positive because of dynamic contents or ads.

How to Use Safe Update

1. Log in to WP Umbrella and select the site to update.
2. Pick an update method: Quick, Classic Safe, or Advanced Safe Update.
3. (Optional) Check Clear Cache After Update if needed (it's automatic for advance safe update)
4. Click Update Plugins to start.
5. If using Manual Validation in Advanced Safe Update, review the screenshots before confirming the rollback.

Outcome 🎉

After following these steps, your plugins/themes will be updated securely with minimal risk of downtime or design glitches. You’ll be back up and running in no time, knowing you’re covered in case anything goes wrong!

FAQ about Safe Update Feature

Q1: What’s the difference between Classic and Advanced Safe Update?

Classic Safe Update creates a restore point. Advanced Safe Update also includes visual checks for layout issues.

Q2: Do you take a full backup before an update?

We only backup the plugin folder cause there is not point in taking a full backup before every update as plugin update only affect the plugin folder in 99,99% of the scenarios.

Q3: Should I always use Advanced Safe Update?

Not necessarily. If the update doesn’t affect your site’s design, Quick or Classic Safe Update is enough. Use Advanced Safe Update for design-related changes.

Q4: Can I manually trigger a rollback after an update?

Yes, with Manual Validation in Advanced Safe Update, you can review screenshots and manually roll back if needed.