How to Update WooCommerce Plugins via cPanel: A Step-by-Step Guide
Introduction:
Keeping your WooCommerce plugins up-to-date is crucial for the security, stability, and performance of your online store. Outdated plugins can leave your site vulnerable to security exploits, compatibility issues, and even slowdowns that impact your sales. While updating plugins through the WordPress dashboard is the usual method, sometimes circumstances (like a broken dashboard or access issues) necessitate updating them directly via cPanel. This guide provides a clear, step-by-step approach to updating your WooCommerce plugins using cPanel. This method is especially useful when you are locked out of your WordPress dashboard or encountering issues updating through the admin panel.
Why Update Plugins Via cPanel?
There are several scenarios where updating plugins directly through cPanel becomes necessary:
- WordPress Dashboard Access Issues: You might be locked out of your WordPress dashboard due to errors, hacks, or plugin conflicts.
- Server Limitations: Some hosting environments may impose limitations on plugin updates through the WordPress dashboard.
- Troubleshooting: In rare cases, direct access can help you identify and isolate problem plugins.
- Emergency Updates: Applying critical security updates quickly when you can’t access the normal update process.
- Download from WooCommerce or the Plugin Developer: The safest method is to download the updated plugin files directly from the official WooCommerce website (if it’s a core WooCommerce plugin) or from the plugin developer’s website. This ensures you get a legitimate and uncompromised version.
- Using an Existing Backup: If you have a recent backup of your website that contains the updated plugin files, you can use those.
- Click on the “Upload” button at the top of the File Manager window.
- A new tab or window will open. Click the “Select File” button and choose the `.zip` file containing the updated plugin.
- Wait for the file to upload completely. You’ll see a progress bar indicating the upload status.
- Right-click on the `.zip` file and select “Extract.”
- A window will appear asking you where to extract the files. The default location should already be set to the `plugins` directory. Confirm the extraction directory.
- Click “Extract.”
- Locate Check out this post: How To Make Slider Revolution Woocommerce the existing directory of the plugin you are updating (e.g., `woocommerce`).
- Right-click on the directory and select “Rename.”
- Add a suffix like `_old` or `_backup` to the directory name (e.g., `woocommerce_old`). This effectively disables the old plugin.
- Now, the extracted plugin files will be placed in a new directory (e.g., `woocommerce`).
- Only use this if you are absolutely sure that you have a backup and understand the risks.
- Locate the existing directory of the plugin you are updating (e.g., `woocommerce`).
- Right-click on the directory and select “Delete.”
- Confirm the deletion.
- The extracted plugin files will now be placed in the fresh `woocommerce` directory.
Main Part:
Before we dive into the process, always back up your website (both files and database) before making any changes via cPanel. This ensures you can restore your site if anything goes wrong.
Step 1: Accessing Your cPanel
Log in to your hosting account. Your hosting provider should have provided you with credentials (username and password). The cPanel login URL is usually something like `yourdomain.com/cpanel` or `cpanel.yourdomain.com`.
Step 2: Navigating to File Manager
Once logged in, locate the File Manager icon. It is often found under the “Files” section. Click on it to open the File Manager.
Step 3: Locating Your WordPress Installation
Inside the File Manager, you need to find your WordPress installation. Usually, it resides in the `public_html` directory (for your main domain) or in a subdirectory if you have WordPress installed on a subdomain or in a folder. Drill down into the WordPress installation directory.
Step 4: Locating the Plugins Directory
Within your WordPress installation directory, navigate to the `wp-content` folder. Inside `wp-content`, you’ll find the `plugins` directory. This directory contains all your installed WordPress plugins, including WooCommerce and its extensions.
The full path should look something like: `/public_html/wp-content/plugins/`
Step 5: Preparing the Updated Plugin Files
You have a few options here, depending on where you obtained the updated plugin files:
Important: The plugin files should be in `.zip` format.
Step 6: Uploading the Updated Plugin
Within the `plugins` directory in cPanel’s File Manager, upload the updated plugin’s `.zip` file.
Step 7: Extracting the Plugin Files
Once the upload is complete, go back to the `plugins` directory in the File Manager. You should see the `.zip` file you just uploaded.
Step 8: Handling Existing Plugin Directories
This is a critical step. If the plugin already exists (which it does, since you’re updating it), you need to handle the existing directory correctly.
Method 1: Rename the Old Plugin Directory (Recommended)
Method 2: Delete the Old Plugin Directory (Use with caution!)
Method 1 (renaming) is generally safer because it allows you to quickly revert to the old version if something goes wrong.
Step 9: Clean Up (Optional)
After you’ve successfully updated the plugin and verified that your website is working correctly, you can delete the `.zip` file you uploaded earlier to save space. You can also delete the renamed old plugin directory after you are confident the updated plugin is working.
Deleting the .zip file: Right-click on the `.zip` file and select “Delete.”
Deleting the old plugin directory: Right-click on the renamed plugin directory and select “Delete.” Only do this if you are absolutely sure that the new version of the plugin is working flawlessly.
Step 10: Verify the Update in WordPress
After updating the plugin via cPanel, log in to your WordPress dashboard (if you can now access it). Navigate to the “Plugins” section. You should see that the plugin is now updated to the latest version. Even if you were previously locked out, checking this confirmation step when you regain access is essential.
Conclusion:
Updating WooCommerce plugins via cPanel is a valuable skill for any website owner or administrator. While updating through the WordPress dashboard is usually preferred, this method provides a reliable alternative when the dashboard is inaccessible or experiencing issues. Remember to always back up your website before making any changes. By following these steps carefully, you can ensure your WooCommerce store remains secure, stable, and up-to-date, even when faced with technical challenges. Regularly updating your plugins is a key element in maintaining a healthy and successful online store.
