1. Download the latest version of WordPress (all WP releases)
2. Backup your files (be sure to backup the wp-content folder)
3. Backup your database (suggestion:use the WP-DBManager plugin)
4. Disable plugins
5. Upload the new WordPress files to your web host (best to first DELETE any existing core WordPress files)
6. Go to the ../wp-admin/upgrade.php page of your site

[upgrading wordpress on wordpress.org]

Upgrading PRE-WordPress 2.3

Upgrading WordPress installations newer than 2.3 are less likely to cause problems than older ones. As long as you backup your database you can restore things in the event that you’re unable to upgrade a pre-WP-2.3 site. This is due to the changes in the database tables (some disappeared, some were added, some merged) made to the 2.3 generation of WordPress.

Many pre-2.3 sites will weather a typical WordPress upgrade just fine. Others will have difficulty translating data to the new structure. In most cases it’s a matter of which plugins are being used.

Check to see which plugins are compatible with your version of WordPress

If you have the most compatible version of a plugin installed and your data is not migrating from an earlier plugin, you can track down the discrepancy by comparing which database tables are written to in each version of the plugin. If saving your earlier data is absolutely critical, you may have to make manual edits to your WordPress database using PhpMyAdmin. Many times, though, it’s easiest to delete all traces of the old plugin and install the newest compatible version to avoid any of the WP2.3 hitches.

Tons of Plugins…Where to Start?

Before upgrading your WP installation, take a look at your plugins and decide if there are any that serve crucial functions. In most cases where your WP is older than 2.3 or so it’s best to start with a blank slate as far as plugins are concerned. No matter the function, there’s probably a much better version of the same or similar plugin available now, so go to a plugin site like http://plugins.wordpress.net or http://wp-plugins.net/.

Remember, you can potentially save a lot of time by checking the Plugin Compatibility pages for your version of WP. If your plugin is not mentioned it may very well still work, but if there’s a similar plugin *known* to work with your version (or if you see that your plugin has a known issue), you can find out easily by checking these pages.

Need More Help?

If you’d like a quote on upgrading your WordPress and/or WordPress plugins submit an inquiry, being sure to include as much information as possible to help ensure speedy service.