How to rollback to previous version of WordPress

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Have you updated WordPress to the latest version and you have problems with blocking, unreachable site and plugins that do not work? Here’s how to get back to the previous version of WordPress

Not always everything runs smoothly with WordPress, an installation finished badly, an automatic update that has sent the whole site in error preventing access to it, corrupt files and much more can hide the pitfalls on WordPress and a trivial updating to a newer version can send offline or compromise your website.

Here is that sometimes, and in rare cases of need, it may be necessary to restore a previous version of WordPress that restores the full operation of our website. Although the operation is simple it must be done only if you know what you are doing and you must in particular:

  • Have a complete backup of the site
  • Install WordPress updates 1 month after release, to prevent any bugs or compatibility issues with plugins and themes

We come to the point. How to restore a previous version of WordPress.

How to get back to a previous version of WordPress

  1. Download the .ZIP file of the WordPress version you want to install by clicking HERE and extract it to your desktop. For example, if you have installed 4.9.7 (latest version available today) download 4.8.7. A number less than the second digit.
  2. Deactivate all the plugins you have installed without deleting them. Open the Plugin section from the Dashboard and then click on Disable on all plugins or select them all and from the drop down menu at the top click on Disable and then on Apply.
  3. Access your website via FTP. Your login information has been communicated to you by your provider and you should have HOST, USER and PASSWORD data. Once you are logged in to the website you will be faced with all these folders.
  4. Now delete the wp-admin and wp-includes folders. You are not going to delete the wp-content folder because it contains all the data on your site.
  5. Now from the previous version of WordPress folder you downloaded and unpacked in Step 1) select and copy via FPT only the wp-admin and wp-includes folders.
  6. Now the last step is to access the dashboard of your site by typing https://www.yoursitename.com/wp-admin and update the Database to complete the procedure by clicking on Update WordPress Database.
  7. Now you’ve finished and restored WordPress to a previous version.