Find current version of WordPress and update

WordPress is a constantly evolving software with new features, security fixes, and maintenance updates that are updated regularly. These basic updates ensure the security and functionality of your WordPress system.

If you are running a WordPress site, you need to update to the latest version of WordPress so that you have the latest features, performance enhancements, and protection.

In this article, we will show you how to check your current WordPress version, discuss the latest version of WordPress and its features, and guide you how to update to the latest version of WordPress.

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Why WordPress releases regular updates

Before we start, we need to understand why WordPress has a regular update cycle. In short, you may see updates for the following reasons:

• WordPress regularly releases new features. Whether it's the addition of minor changes such as the new oEmbed server (WordPress 4.4) or the perfect editor update after the addition of Gutenberg (WordPress 5.0), these additions will make content creation and site building easier.
• WordPress updates usually include security fixes. This is an ongoing battle, because hackers can always see weaknesses. Therefore, it is necessary to upgrade to obtain the latest protection from new types of attacks.
• The latest version of WordPress usually provides "inexperienced" performance enhancements. You may not notice these improvements immediately, but they make working with WordPress easier and faster. In WordPress 2.0, the user experience has had a significant impact on the publishing of blog posts. In WordPress 4.2, they added plugin updates through a simple one-click button instead of the more tedious process before.
• Each version of WordPress also eliminates previous errors. This happens with all software. It's like correcting certain behaviors on the grid and returning to normal.

Now that you understand the reasons for WordPress updates, let’s take a look at the new version of WordPress and learn more about how to check and update your existing WordPress version.

Note: Although WordPress people prefer everyone to update to the latest version, it does not mean that they give up support for the old version. In fact, previous versions of WordPress are still receiving updates-for example, the WordPress 3.7 "Count Basie" update was released on October 24, 2013. However, there will still be some updates every year. This is because some (not many) sites still use the old version.

Step 1 Update your WordPress site: Click on Twitter

What is the latest version of WordPress available?

WordPress 5.7 is named "Esperanza Spalding" after the Grammy Award-winning jazz musician from Oregon. It is the latest version of WordPress that you can upgrade to. After going through several stages of development, he was released on March 9, 2021. You can learn more about it in our in-depth WordPress 5.7 article, including all its new features and recent enhancements.

You can download WordPress 5.7 from the official repository or directly through the WordPress admin panel.

What's new in WordPress 5.7?

WordPress 5.7 has made numerous adjustments and minor improvements to the block editor, as well as major changes to create advanced blocks and increase customization flexibility.

It's a version worth updating. Look at how every update since the Gutenberg editor was launched has solved the problem of people using the block editor, and it's no exception.

Here are some highlights:

Changes to the WordPress editor

WordPress 5.7 provides three important enhancements, including reuse of blocks, font size settings in multiple locations, and the option to drag and drop blocks into the editor.

The most significant change involves caching and deleting blocks. Look at the WordPress editor, like many of its competitors, and has never been a caching and deleting page builder. Now you can shop in any Gutenberg neighborhood and move pages or post information anywhere.

WP Admin palette (thanks to ryelle)

The WordPress industry and design agencies saw some changes in 5.7, which WordPress calls a simpler custom palette.

The dashboard no longer has a long list of about 56 colors, but only seven basic colors. This is a simple change, but important because it applies not only to dashboards, but also to the design of themes and plugins.

More no-code elements

Each WordPress version includes some plugins to eliminate the need to use custom code. One of the new features of the editor block is the full-height coordination setting. It allows you to distribute the blocks in the window, gives you more control over the size of the blocks, and makes it relatively easy to use Cover blocks because it can make full-screen images.

Large size of social icons

In addition, when you block social icons from social media icons, you can still change the size of the social media icons.

Finally, the Button block received a new option to set the width to a specific percentage size. You can also choose a horizontal or vertical button design to improve the way you design other buttons and blocks.

More technological advancements

The following "shower room" updates can help developers improve or enhance the overall performance or infrastructure of WordPress:

• Use iframes for lazy loading: All iframes on the site now have a custom lazy loading feature. You no longer need to write your own custom code or add additional components for this feature.
• New robot API: To allow search engines to detect larger image previews, WordPress 5.7 has a new robot API with the largest image preview: as a good guide for customization options. You can also implement other filter routing in the robot meta area.
• Fast conversion from HTTP to HTTPS: In the past, converting a WordPress site from HTTP to HTTPS was a very tedious process. In 5.7, just click the mouse. WordPress has completed an automatic update of your database URL, which annoys the process.
• Continuous cleanup of the jQuery 3.5.1 update: Although jQuery has always been a very useful tool for the WordPress user interface, it has also attracted attention and confusion. WordPress continues to clean up this mess by introducing smaller jQuery elements.

Read my separate article in WordPress 5.7 to learn more.

How to check the current version of WordPress on your website

There are four ways to check the current version of WordPress on your website. In this way, you can understand the features and limitations available as a WordPress user, and can decide whether to update to a new version of WordPress.

Here are four ways to control the WordPress version:

1. Navigate to the WordPress administration area.

2. Pass in front of the site.

3. Check the version.php file.

4. Use WP-CLI.

For more details on these methods, please follow my complete guide on controlling the WordPress version. Related articles also provide valuable information on how to delete version information from your WordPress site.

How to update to the latest version of WordPress

It is always wise to update your WordPress to the latest version. It reduces errors, security holes or performance issues. At the same time, you can access all the new features, which will make it a successful situation.

WordPress automatically introduces basic updates for multiple versions. Today, most WordPress users receive automatic updates or alerts in their dashboard.

For example, you may receive an email stating that your website has been updated. In this case, no other tasks need to be completed. Simply delete the email or save it for reference and continue your day.

Email in the new version of WordPress

We recommend that you check the "About" section of the WordPress dashboard to see what features and bug fixes are provided in the new update. You can see that the features you once wanted are now added to WordPress.

You can view the "About" page by clicking the automatic update email from WordPress. To get there directly, enter about.php at the end of domain.com/wp-admin/. This page focuses on new features, credits, and privacy statements.

The "Latest News" page of WordPress 5.7

However, if you did not receive an email about automatic updates, but you still want to complete the update to ensure that you have the latest version of WordPress, what should you do?

To perform a manual update, go to your admin panel.

You can find the current version of WordPress in the "Overview" box. The version in the sample screen is older, so you can update to a newer version.

Check old version of WordPress

You will also receive a warning message on the dashboard in a few minutes, most commonly right above the dashboard. It states "WordPress X.y is available! Please update now."

The important part of this warning is that it appears on almost every page, so you won't forget it.

Please purchase the update now to proceed to the next step.