Manual updates via the dashboard are tedious, we want to automate.
WP-CLI plus a simple cron or Git hook saves hours per month. Larger setups (Bedrock, Trellis) move on to a proper CI pipeline.
Try this first
- 1Install WP-CLI on the server (or use your hosting CLI; many managed WP hosts ship it).
- 2Routine commands: wp core update, wp plugin update --all, wp theme update --all. Test on staging first via a script that copies-then-updates.
- 3Schedule via cron: a weekly update script that updates staging, runs a smoke test (curl to key URLs) and on success pushes to production.
- 4Back up before updating: wp db export pre-update.sql plus a file snapshot. On issue: wp db import pre-update.sql, files back.
- 5For Git-workflow teams: keep plugins and themes in Git (composer for plugins is clean), deploy via SSH with a script that pulls and runs WP-CLI.
- 6Document the pipeline. Nobody wants a script legacy only the old dev understood.
When to bring us in
Multiple sites or an agency setup? Tools like WP-CLI Profile, ManageWP, MainWP or a real CI/CD pipeline (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI) are the growth path.
See also
- WordPress, plugins and theme have gone 6+ months without updatesOut-of-date WP is the number-one entry for malware. Don't just hit 'update all', back up first.
- Theme update broke the layout or threw a fatal errorThemes overwrite custom CSS on update unless you use a child theme.
- WordPress shows a blank screen after a plugin install or updateWSOD (white screen of death) is usually one crashing plugin. You isolate it.
None of the above fits?
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