Updating WordPress and its components (Plugins, Themes) from the Plesk Panel

Important: Use this procedure if you installed WordPress using the Plesk Panel Applications tab.

Wordpress and its Theme and Plugins need to be kept updated as vulnerabilities are discovered on a regular basis, and hackers are scanning the internet for vulnerable web sites to exploit.

You will fin a good write up about Upgrading WordPress on the WordPress Codex:
https://codex.wordpress.org/Upgrading_WordPress_-_Extended_Instructions

Here the procedure we recommend for Updating WordPress and its components (Plugins, Themes) using Plesk Onyx or Obsidian and above.

It is best to pick a time when the web site activity is low and allow plenty of time to do it.

A- Login to your Plesk Control Panel

Using the Control Panel Administrator login information provided when the account was created.

The panel address is at https://psaXXX.his.com:8443/
The exact server name was provided when your account was created.
Once logged-in, you will see the Websites & Domains page of your Panel.

There is always a risk that some plugins incompatibilities might break the site so the first step is:

B- Make a backup of your web site

• Click on Backup Manager, then click Back Up to create a new backup.

• Check Backup -- Domain configuration and content-> All configuration and content except mail

• If you don't mind your web site being offline for a the time of the backup,
  Check the option "Suspend the domain until the backup task is completed".

• Click OK to proceed with the Backup

• Wait until the backup is complete.
  It may take several minutes depending of the size of your web site.

Once the Backup is done, you will see it in the local repository. You can then proceed with Upgrading Wordpress

C- Upgrading WordPress

• Go back to the Websites & Domains page of your Panel.

• Click on WordPress, you should see a list of the Wordpress installations on your account with their Plugins and Themes.

If the list is empty, click on Scan to populate it. Plesk WordPress Toolkit will discover Wordpress installations down to version 3.6.

If updates are available for the Wordpress Core, Plugins or Themes, you will see an Update link next to a yellow alert.

• Review the list of plugins and Themes and remove the inactive ones as they can be hacked.
• Deactivate ALL your Plugins.

Ensure these first steps are completed. Do not attempt the upgrade unless you have completed the previous steps.

• Click on the Update Link to update the remaining components.

Once you have proceeded with all the Updates, make a new Backup of your web site.

D- Check how your Updated Site is Working.

Go back to your web site page and go through a few pages, and test the forms to make sure they are working as expected.

E- Backup your Updated site

• Go back to the Websites & Domains page of your Panel.

• Click on Backup Manager, then click Back Up to create a new backup.

• Check Backup -- Domain configuration and content-> All configuration and content except mail

If you don't mind your web site being offline for a the time of the backup:
-Check Suspend the domain until the backup task is completed.

• Click OK to proceed with the Backup

• Wait until the backup is complete.
  It may take several minutes depending of the size of your web site.

Once the Backup is done, you will see it in the local repository.

F- Recommendations

After a few days: Delete the older Backup.

You can also set up Auto-Update so WordPress core will update automatically.
You will still have to update the Themes and Plugins separately.