Updating WordPress should make your site faster and more secure — but sometimes, everything suddenly breaks. Maybe your layout shifts, a plugin stops working, or you see the dreaded “There has been a critical error”.
The good news?
These issues are extremely common and almost always fixable within minutes, even if you’re not a developer.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through a simple recovery plan, plus a pre-update checklist that prevents your site from breaking in the future.
Quick Summary
Most WordPress update problems come from plugin or theme conflicts. You can usually fix everything by restoring a backup, rolling back a plugin, or using WordPress Recovery Mode.
This guide covers:
- 🛡️ Prevention before updating
- 🧯 5-minute rollback if your site is already broken
- 🛠️ Tools that protect your site during future updates
🛡️ The Pre-Update Prevention Plan (Avoid Website Breakage)
Before updating WordPress Core, plugins, or themes, follow these best practices:
1. Always Back Up First
A backup is your undo button.
Use a backup plugin like Duplicator to store backups on Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, etc.
Even if you forget, many hosting companies create automatic daily backups — check your hosting dashboard under Backups.
2. Check the Changelog & Update One-By-One
Never bulk-update everything at the same time.
Instead:
- Update WordPress Core first
- Then plugins, one at a time
- Then your theme
After each update, check your site to confirm nothing broke.
This makes troubleshooting very easy if something goes wrong.
3. Use a Staging Site for Major Updates
For big updates (WooCommerce, Elementor, WordPress major versions):
- Test first on a staging site
- Then update the live site only when everything works
Some hosts offer 1-click staging.
Alternatively, use WP Stagecoach.
4. Turn On a Maintenance Page
While updating plugins, turn on Maintenance Mode using SeedProd.
Visitors will see a clean notice instead of a broken page.
5. Enable WordPress Debug Mode
Debug mode helps identify:
- which plugin caused the error
- outdated functions
- missing files
Just remember to turn it off after troubleshooting.
🧯 Already Updated and Your Site Broke? (Don’t Panic)
Here are the most common symptoms:
- White screen of death
- “There has been a critical error” message
- Inability to access wp-admin
- Broken layout or missing CSS
- Plugin functions stop working
These issues almost always point to one faulty plugin or theme.
Now let’s fix it.
🧩 5-Minute WordPress Rollback & Recovery Plan
Follow these in order — start with the fastest fix.
Step 1: Restore a Backup (Fastest Fix)
If you used a backup plugin like Duplicator Pro:
- Open your backups
- Click Restore
- Your working site comes back instantly
If you don’t have a plugin backup, check your hosting account — most hosts offer automatic backups.
Step 2: Roll Back the Faulty Plugin or Theme
If you can still access WordPress admin:
- Install WP Rollback
- Roll back the plugin or theme that caused the problem
For premium plugins or themes, download the previous version from the developer’s site and reinstall manually.
Step 3: Use WordPress Recovery Mode
If you see “There has been a critical error”:
- Check your admin email inbox
- Look for: “Your Site is Experiencing a Technical Issue”
- Click the recovery link
- WordPress will show which plugin is causing the crash
- Deactivate it and regain control
Step 4: Disable Plugins via FTP (Last Resort)
If you are locked out of wp-admin and have no recovery email:
- Open your File Manager or FTP connection
- Go to
/wp-content/plugins/ - Rename the entire plugins folder to
plugins-disabled - All plugins deactivate instantly
Now your website loads again.
Step 5: Verify, Clear Cache & Rebuild
After recovering:
- Clear your browser and site cache
- Check all major pages (Home, Blog, Contact, Checkout, etc.)
- Re-enable plugins one by one
- Reinstall the update after taking a fresh backup
🛠️ Bonus: The Proactive WordPress Toolkit
Here are reliable tools that drastically reduce website breakage:
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Duplicator Pro | Automatic backups + 1-click restore |
| SeedProd | Maintenance mode + coming soon pages |
| WP Mail SMTP | Ensures you receive recovery emails |
| WPCode | Add custom code safely |
| WP Stagecoach | One-click staging site |
Using these tools makes WordPress updates stress-free.
📌 Final Words: From Panic to Proactive
A broken WordPress site looks scary — but now you know:
- Most issues come from plugin conflicts
- They are easily fixable within minutes
- A simple backup and update strategy prevents 95% of future problems
With the right tools and habits, you can manage your WordPress site confidently and avoid downtime.
🙋♀️ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I undo a WordPress update?
Restore a backup, or roll back the plugin/theme using WP Rollback.
How do I fix the “briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance” message?
Delete the .maintenance file in your site’s root folder.
Should I update everything at once?
No.
Update in this order:
- WordPress Core
- Plugins (one by one)
- Theme
Are automatic updates safe?
Yes for minor updates, but avoid automatic major updates.