{"id":1965143,"date":"2025-05-06T02:00:22","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T06:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/knowledgebase\/?p=1965143"},"modified":"2025-05-06T02:00:24","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T06:00:24","slug":"how-to-safely-update-the-events-calendar-plugins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/knowledgebase\/how-to-safely-update-the-events-calendar-plugins\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Safely Update The Events Calendar Plugins"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Keeping The Events Calendar and its add-ons up to date is essential for security, compatibility, and access to new features. This guide walks you through how to safely update your plugins \u2014 including how to back up your site, test updates on a staging site, and roll back if something goes wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-1-back-up-your-website\">Step 1: Back Up Your Website<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before updating any plugin, create a full backup of your site \u2014 both <strong>files<\/strong> and <strong>database<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recommended Backup Options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Hosting Control Panel:<\/strong> Most managed WordPress hosts (e.g., WP Engine, SiteGround, Kinsta) offer one-click backups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Backup Plugins: <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/updraftplus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UpdraftPlus<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/ithemes.com\/backupbuddy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BackupBuddy<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/jetpack.com\/backup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jetpack Backup<\/a><br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udca1 Tip: Store your backup offsite (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive, or local download).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-2-turn-off-automatic-plugin-updates\">Step 2: Turn Off Automatic Plugin Updates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We <strong>strongly recommend disabling automatic updates<\/strong> for The Events Calendar and its add-ons. Automatic updates can cause unexpected conflicts or issues \u2014 especially on high-traffic or customized sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To check:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to <strong>Plugins \u2192 Installed Plugins<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Find <strong>The Events Calendar<\/strong> and any related add-ons<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you see <strong>\u201cEnable auto-updates\u201d<\/strong>, leave it <strong>off<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If it&#8217;s already enabled, click <strong>\u201cDisable auto-updates\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This gives you full control over when and how updates are applied \u2014 so you can back up, test, and monitor safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3: Test Updates on a Staging Site First<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before updating on your live site, test updates in a <strong>staging environment<\/strong>. This allows you to catch potential errors without affecting real users or registrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Many hosts offer staging environments (e.g., WP Engine, Flywheel, Kinsta)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Or use a plugin like <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-staging\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WP Staging<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 4: Prepare for the Update<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before running any updates, make sure to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Check Compatibility<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Verify that your <strong>WordPress<\/strong> and <strong>PHP<\/strong> versions are compatible<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Review <a href=\"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/category\/release-notes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Events Calendar release<\/a> notes for important details<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Temporarily Disable Caching<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Turn off caching plugins and server-side caching to prevent update conflicts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>(Optional) Enable Maintenance Mode<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use a plugin like <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-maintenance-mode\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WP Maintenance Mode<\/a> to alert visitors if you&#8217;re updating during business hours<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-5-update-the-plugins\">Step 5: Update the Plugins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Go to <strong>Dashboard \u2192 Updates<\/strong> or <strong>Plugins<\/strong>, and click <strong>Update Now<\/strong> next to each Events Calendar plugin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Manual Upload (if needed)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Download the latest version from your <a href=\"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/my-account\/downloads\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Events Calendar account<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Deactivate and delete the existing version (your event data is safe)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Upload the new version via <strong>Plugins \u2192 Add New \u2192 Upload Plugin<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Activate the plugin<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>For more details on manual upload, please see our article <a href=\"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/knowledgebase\/manual-updates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-6-test-after-updating\">Step 6: Test After Updating<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After updating:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Clear all caches<\/strong> (browser, plugin, and server)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visit your main <strong>Events page<\/strong>, <strong>single event pages<\/strong>, and <strong>ticketing checkout<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Test creating events, purchasing tickets, or recurring event logic (if applicable)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If something looks off:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to <strong>Settings \u2192 Permalinks \u2192 Save Changes<\/strong> to flush permalinks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Temporarily switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Deactivate other plugins to rule out conflicts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For more details on conflict testing, you can refer to our article <a href=\"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/knowledgebase\/k\/testing-for-conflicts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-7-roll-back-if-needed\">Step 7: Roll Back if Needed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If an update causes a problem, you have options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Option 1: Restore From Backup<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use your host\u2019s backup tool or plugin backup to roll back your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Option 2: Manual Plugin Rollback<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Download the previous version from your <a href=\"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/my-account\/downloads\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">account dashboard<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Deactivate and delete the current plugin<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Upload and activate the older version<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>\u26a0\ufe0f Important: If you need to roll back, please contact <a>our support team<\/a> with details so we can investigate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-need-help\">Need Help?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you run into issues or have questions, our <a href=\"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/support\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">support team<\/a> is happy to help!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Keeping The Events Calendar and its add-ons up to date is essential for security, compatibility, and access to new features. This guide walks you through how to safely update your plugins \u2014 including how to back up your site, test updates on a staging site, and roll back if something goes wrong. Step 1: Back&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":1955565,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_swpsp_post_exclude":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[136,93],"tags":[258,85,195],"stellar-product-taxonomy":[158,161],"class_list":["post-1965143","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-updating-plugins","category-errors","tag-auto-updates","tag-testing","tag-updates","stellar-product-taxonomy-events-calendar-pro","stellar-product-taxonomy-the-events-calendar"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":136,"label":"Plugin Updates"},{"value":93,"label":"Troubleshooting"}],"post_tag":[{"value":258,"label":"Auto-updates"},{"value":85,"label":"testing"},{"value":195,"label":"Updates"}],"stellar-product-taxonomy":[{"value":158,"label":"Events Calendar Pro"},{"value":161,"label":"The Events Calendar"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/images.theeventscalendar.com\/kb\/uploads\/2023\/02\/social-share-1024x538.png",1024,538,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"The Events Calendar Team","author_link":"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/knowledgebase\/author\/the_events_calendar_team\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":136,"name":"Plugin Updates","slug":"updating-plugins","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":136,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":63,"count":9,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0","cat_ID":136,"category_count":9,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Plugin Updates","category_nicename":"updating-plugins","category_parent":63},{"term_id":93,"name":"Troubleshooting","slug":"errors","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":93,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":87,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0","cat_ID":93,"category_count":87,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Troubleshooting","category_nicename":"errors","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":258,"name":"Auto-updates","slug":"auto-updates","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":258,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0"},{"term_id":85,"name":"testing","slug":"testing","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":85,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":10,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0"},{"term_id":195,"name":"Updates","slug":"updates","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":195,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":4,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1965143","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/84"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1965143"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1965143\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1965171,"href":"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1965143\/revisions\/1965171"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1955565"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1965143"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1965143"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1965143"},{"taxonomy":"stellar-product-taxonomy","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeventscalendar.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/stellar-product-taxonomy?post=1965143"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}