{"id":38924,"date":"2022-07-02T15:00:54","date_gmt":"2022-07-02T13:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/?p=38924"},"modified":"2022-06-24T10:51:37","modified_gmt":"2022-06-24T08:51:37","slug":"how-to-update-woocommerce-the-right-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-update-woocommerce-the-right-way\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Update WooCommerce the Right Way"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Regardless if you\u2019re using a lot, or only a select few plugins to help enhance your website\u2019s functionality, you\u2019re probably aware of the fact that <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-update-plugins\/\">updating your plugins<\/a> is crucial for the security, stability, and overall well-being of every WordPress site. So naturally, if you\u2019re using <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/woocommerce-tutorial\/\">the powerful and flexible WooCommerce<\/a> plugin to power your online store, performing a WooCommerce update is no exception. Due to the plugin\u2019s immense popularity, WooCommerce is also a big target for hackers. As such, it has the potential to be one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/most-vulnerable-wordpress-plugins\/\">most vulnerable plugins<\/a> \u2013 that is, if it\u2019s not updated regularly.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]That being said, simply hitting the \u201cupdate now\u201d button when attempting to update your WooCommerce store might not be the wisest idea. There are instances when an update meant to offer better functionality all-around can cause a huge mess across the board, including payment issues, the inability to add products to the cart, and in some cases, the entire store crashing and becoming unavailable altogether.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Luckily, there is a completely safe way to perform important WooCommerce updates on your site from beginning to end and to prevent any potential accidents from occurring. You can do this by using a combination of different testing, backup, and automation tools. So this time around, we will show you all the <strong>steps you need to take to safely and efficiently update your WooCommerce store<\/strong> and make sure it is <strong>as secure and well-maintained as it can get<\/strong>. Here goes:[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;22px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#tools-you-should-use-for-proper-woocommerce-update\">Some of the Tools You Should Use for a Proper WooCommerce Update<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#things-you-should-do-before-you-start-updating-woocommerce\">Some of the Things You Should Do Before You Start Updating WooCommerce<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#updating-your-woocommerce-site\">Updating Your WooCommerce Site: Step by Step<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;80px&#8221;][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=&#8221;new-ecommerce-banner&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;80px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"tools-you-should-use-for-proper-woocommerce-update\"><\/a>Some of the Tools You Should Use for a Proper WooCommerce Update<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]To ensure that the WooCommerce update process is going smoothly and without any potential consequences, you should look into some of the tools that will help you test your WooCommerce-powered site both manually and automatically. And thankfully, there are many such tools that can help you go through it all as efficiently as possible. Check them out.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Staging Tools<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WP-Staging.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"WP Staging\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WP-Staging.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WP-Staging-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WP-Staging-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WP-Staging-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]When performing important updates on your WordPress site such as these, it\u2019s highly recommended that you <strong>use a staging environment to check how your site will react to any new changes<\/strong>. This basically means that you should <strong>create a copy or a clone of your live site instead of doing it on the website itself<\/strong> so as to avoid running into any risks such as your live site crashing during the updates.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Now, many <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-choose-wordpress-hosting-provider\/\">WordPress hosting providers<\/a> offer the ability to create a staging site as part of their hosting plan. This includes some of the well-known WordPress hosting services such as WP Engine, SiteGround, or Bluehost. Your best bet is to contact your hosting provider directly to learn how you can use their staging features. Alternatively, you can try using one of the available <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-staging-plugins-for-wordpress\/\">staging plugins<\/a>, like WP Staging or BlogVault, to name a few.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Finally, if you fall under the advanced WordPress user category, you can go ahead and attempt to create your staging environment manually using cPanel.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Visual Comparison Tools<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"473\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Visual-Comparison-Tools.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Visual Comparison Tools\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Visual-Comparison-Tools.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Visual-Comparison-Tools-300x146.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Visual-Comparison-Tools-768x375.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Visual-Comparison-Tools-620x303.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Another set of tools that can be quite useful when it comes to safely performing a WooCommerce update are so-called visual comparison tools. These tools can essentially <strong>help you with comparing snapshots of different pages on your site before and after the update<\/strong>, so that you can identify any visible changes that have occurred, no matter how small they may be. This also includes any small changes related to the styling and formatting of your pages.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]For the purposes of this article, we will use a tool called WPBoom to compare two before and after snapshots (more on this later).<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Functionality Testing Tools<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"474\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Functionality-Testing-Tools.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Functionality Testing Tools\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Functionality-Testing-Tools.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Functionality-Testing-Tools-300x147.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Functionality-Testing-Tools-768x376.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Functionality-Testing-Tools-620x303.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Aside from the visual bits, testing out your website\u2019s functionality after the update is crucial to ensure everything is done smoothly and with no errors. This includes testing all the major product (and\/or category) pages, cart and checkout pages, your product and order information, and the list goes on.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Luckily, <strong>using a testing tool like Ghost Inspector will allow you to automate and finish the testing process on your site in no time<\/strong>. This tool is great as it can be easily installed within your web browser. Every time you visit your site, you can start recording your tests using only a few clicks.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Backup Tools<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/UpdraftPlus.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"UpdraftPlus\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/UpdraftPlus.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/UpdraftPlus-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/UpdraftPlus-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/UpdraftPlus-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Backing up your site is an important precautionary security measure you should carry out from time to time. Of course, this can also come in handy during the update of your WooCommerce plugin. There are some great <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-wordpress-backup-plugins\/\">WordPress backup plugins<\/a> available you can use to perform occasional backups, like Jetpack and UpdraftPlus, among others.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"things-you-should-do-before-you-start-updating-woocommerce\"><\/a>Some of the Things You Should Do Before You Start Updating WooCommerce<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Aside from ensuring you\u2019ve got all the tools you need to safely update your WooCommerce store, there are a few other safety steps you can take before you start the updating process itself. Here are some of the things you can do for a good head start:<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Disable Automatic WooCommerce Updates<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Given everything we\u2019ve mentioned thus far, it\u2019s only safe to conclude that allowing automatic updates on your WooCommerce store wouldn\u2019t be the best idea as these can only bring risks to your site. So, before doing anything else, <strong>make sure that the latest WooCommerce update won\u2019t be installed automatically<\/strong> to your store and that the \u201cEnable auto-update\u201d button is not activated.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Auto-Updates.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Auto Updates\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Auto-Updates.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Auto-Updates-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Auto-Updates-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Auto-Updates-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;82px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Make Sure Your WordPress Version Is Up to Date<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"369\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WordPress-Updates.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"WordPress Updates\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WordPress-Updates.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WordPress-Updates-300x114.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WordPress-Updates-768x292.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WordPress-Updates-620x236.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-update\/\">Updating to the latest version of WordPress<\/a> is just as, if not equally important as keeping all other plugins up to date on your site \u2013 together with WooCommerce. As with all other plugin and theme updates, WordPress updates serve to fortify your website\u2019s security and functionality and ensure that everything is running smoothly and with as few issues as possible. So, before you delve into updating WooCommerce, check <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/what-wordpress-version-do-i-have\/\">whether you are using the latest version of WordPress<\/a> by <strong>going to your WordPress dashboard area and clicking on the <em>Updates<\/em> page<\/strong>. If there\u2019s a new WordPress core update available, you will be able to see the <em>Update Now<\/em> button at the very top of the page. Once again, make sure to back up your site and create a staging environment first where you will test out the latest version of WordPress and check how your pages behave before you do this on the website itself.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Inspect the Details of the Update<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Before you proceed with updating WooCommerce, we recommend that you check out the update details located in the so-called changelog. This will help you learn what the newest update consists of and also get familiar with the features you can expect to get with the newest release, i.e. whether it contains any security or performance fixes, etc. In addition, you can find out whether the latest update is compatible with other plugins and\/or themes you may be using.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You will be able to find the changelog information by <strong>going to <em>Plugins &gt;&gt; Install Plugins<\/em> and then clicking on the <em>View details<\/em> button<\/strong> next to the available update. Once the new window opens, you should <strong>choose the <em>Changelog<\/em> tab<\/strong>. This tab should list all the details of the available update.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Changeling.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Changelog\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Changeling.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Changeling-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Changeling-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Changeling-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Alternatively, you can <strong>head to the official WooCommerce plugin page located in the official WordPress repository<\/strong> (WordPress.org) and <strong>choose the <em>Development<\/em> tab<\/strong>. Then, you should find the Changelog section. The info related to the latest plugin versions should be located there.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"532\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Contributors-Developers.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Contributors &amp; Developers\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Contributors-Developers.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Contributors-Developers-300x165.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Contributors-Developers-768x422.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Contributors-Developers-620x340.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;82px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Check Out Support Forums<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]You can also visit the WooCommerce support forums to see whether people are talking about the newest update, i.e. if there are any issues they\u2019re experiencing, as well as to get info on how to solve these issues. You can access these forums by going to the plugin\u2019s official repository and hitting the <em>Support<\/em> tab.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"513\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WooCommerce-Support.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"WooCommerce Support\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WooCommerce-Support.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WooCommerce-Support-300x159.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WooCommerce-Support-768x407.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WooCommerce-Support-620x328.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;78px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"updating-your-woocommerce-site\"><\/a>Updating Your WooCommerce Site: Step by Step<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]After you\u2019re done with taking these preventive steps, you can proceed to use the tools we\u2019ve mentioned earlier and begin the process of safely updating your WooCommerce store. Without further ado, here\u2019s a list of steps you should take.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Backing Up Your Site<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]First things first, you need to create a backup of your site to make sure all your files, folders, and important website data are safe. Just like we mentioned in the beginning, you can use one of the available backup plugins that will be able to perform backup for you in no time.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]To learn how to perform a <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-backup-with-updraftplus-plugin\/\">safe backup of your site using the Updraft Plus plugin<\/a>, we suggest that you check out our article that covers the same subject in more detail. This plugin is great as it will allow you to automate the entire backup process quickly and effortlessly, and it will even help you restore all your files with ease afterward as well.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Creating a Staging Site<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Your next step should be the one we\u2019ve been suggesting all along \u2013 and that is to create a staging site that will create a copy of your live site. As we\u2019ve already mentioned in the Staging Tools section, there are a few different ways in which you can create your staging environment. You can use the features that come with your dedicated hosting provider, you can use one of the available staging plugins, or you can do so manually. We suggest that you check out our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-setup-wordpress-staging-site\/\">creating a staging environment in WordPress<\/a> to learn more about all these methods.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]And one final note \u2013 during the creation of your staging environment, you might want to put your WooCommerce site in maintenance mode. This way, you will prevent your customers from placing any orders in the meantime. After all, the creation of a staging site is just one step of the entire process. Sooner or later, you will have to make changes and update your plugin on a live site as well, so by putting your site under maintenance, you can avoid having any losses or unhappy customers in case something goes wrong once you\u2019re done with the update.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Running a Visual Testing Tool on a Staging Site<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]After backing up your site and creating a staging environment, it\u2019s time to perform an update on your staging site. But before you do, you should use one of the tools we\u2019ve also suggested in the beginning, like WP Boom and Ghost Inspector.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Like we\u2019ve said in the beginning, you can use WPBoom to create a snapshot so you can compare your staging site visually, before and after the update. This will be particularly useful if your site has many different pages as in that case, doing the comparison on your own can be a long and arduous task.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The first thing you have to do is create a <a href=\"https:\/\/app.wpboom.com\/users\/sign_up\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WPBoom account<\/a>. You can sign up for a free account and upgrade to the premium version of WP Boom if you feel the need to do so later.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"554\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WP-Boom.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"WP Boom\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WP-Boom.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WP-Boom-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WP-Boom-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/WP-Boom-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]After you enter your credentials (email and password) and hit the \u201csign up\u201d button, you will be prompted to <strong>connect your site to WP Boom by entering your site details<\/strong>. This includes your website URL, developer URL, display name, and tags. You can also choose whether you want to take your snapshot on a specific day and pick your start time.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Create-Site.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Create Site\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Create-Site.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Create-Site-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Create-Site-768x515.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Create-Site-620x416.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Once you hit the <em>create site<\/em> button, WPBoom will create the first snapshot of your site. This can take a few minutes.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Then, the page will refresh and your snapshot overview will be displayed, along with the information about the number of pages you have.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Welcome.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Welcome\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Welcome.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Welcome-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Welcome-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Welcome-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Make sure to perform the same step before and after your site update so that you can easily compare your snapshots and see if there are any visual changes. Simply select the site you want to take a snapshot of and hit the button named <em>Snapshot Selected Sites<\/em>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Testing the Functionality of Your Staging Site With an Automation Tool<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]It\u2019s highly important to run your testing tool right before you perform an actual update on your staging site so that you can ensure that there aren\u2019t any errors present before the update already. Now, when it comes to choosing the tool for checking the functionality of your staging site, you can do so using the automation tools like Ghost Inspector. This tool can be used as an extension in your browser and will allow you to go in-depth when it comes to testing out the performance and functionality of your most important pages and page elements. This includes your checkout page, any signup forms you may have, your website navigation, etc. And the best thing about is that you don\u2019t need to have any coding knowledge to do this.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]First things first, you should head to the <a href=\"https:\/\/ghostinspector.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ghost Inspector homepage<\/a> to start a free (14-day) trial.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Insert all the required information in the predefined fields, such as your name, company name, size, etc., and then hit the <em>Create account<\/em> button.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sign-Up.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Sign Up\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sign-Up.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sign-Up-300x217.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sign-Up-768x555.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sign-Up-620x448.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Afterward, a new screen will open, allowing you to choose the extension suitable for your browser (Chrome or Firefox).[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"687\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Ghost-Inspector.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Ghost Inspector\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Ghost-Inspector.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Ghost-Inspector-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Ghost-Inspector-768x544.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Ghost-Inspector-620x440.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Click on your browser of choice and then simply add the extension once a new screen loads.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"456\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Add-to-Chrome-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Add to Chrome\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Add-to-Chrome-2.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Add-to-Chrome-2-300x141.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Add-to-Chrome-2-768x361.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Add-to-Chrome-2-620x292.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]After you\u2019ve added the extension to your browser, make sure to log in with your credentials (in the upper right corner of your screen), then refresh your browser.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Once you visit your site, click on the browser extension and <strong>hit <em>Record<\/em><\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Record.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Record\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Record.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Record-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Record-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Record-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Then, you can browse through your site pages and do the testing of your staging site. As you do so, the Ghost Inspector tool will record the entire process for you. <strong>Click on the extension once again when you are done and hit the <em>Finish<\/em> button.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Finish.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Finish\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Finish.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Finish-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Finish-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Finish-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Give the name to your test and hit <em>Save<\/em>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Name-and-Save.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Name and Save\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Name-and-Save.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Name-and-Save-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Name-and-Save-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Name-and-Save-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]From here on, you can either view your test or make a new recording.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/View-Test-and-Record.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"View Test and Record\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/View-Test-and-Record.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/View-Test-and-Record-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/View-Test-and-Record-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/View-Test-and-Record-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]If you choose to view your test, you will be able to see all the details, including the steps you performed and the option to edit them, along with the information on whether your test has passed or not.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"555\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/See-the-Details.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"See the Details\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/See-the-Details.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/See-the-Details-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/See-the-Details-768x440.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/See-the-Details-620x355.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Finally, after you\u2019ve completed all the steps above, you can proceed to update WooCommerce on your staging site.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The best thing about performing an update on your staging site first instead of on the live site is that if it breaks or if any errors pop up, you can identify and fix them before they break your live site.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]We also suggest that you do a quick overview of your staging site to see if there are any error logs or any issues with your homepage or your admin area. Also, don\u2019t forget to look at other pages of your store, like shop, cart, checkout, and contact.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You can use the Ghost Inspector tool again and simply repeat the entire recording of your staging site after the update. Go ahead and test out different pages on your site, just like you did before. You can even simulate an entire customer journey while you\u2019re at it to see if there are any errors (adding the product\/s to the cart, going to checkout, etc.).<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]This might also be a good time to start WPBoom again and get an \u201cafter update\u201d snapshot of your staging site. Then, you can simply make snapshot comparisons and see if there are any changes.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Last but not least, make sure that your online store runs well across different devices, as well as on some of the most commonly used browsers.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Update and Test Your Live Site<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]If you\u2019ve completed all the staging and testing steps without any major problems until now, and\/or if you\u2019ve managed to solve any potential errors that have occurred thus far, then it\u2019s finally time for your live site to undergo the same process. In other words, you basically have to repeat most of the steps we suggested above, but you should do them on your live site instead.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]So first, you need to perform a backup of your live site, just like you did with your staging site. Of course, you should make sure that your live site is no longer in maintenance mode first.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Then, once again, you should do your live site snapshot using WPBoom before you perform the update. In addition, you should run a Ghost Inspector tool and record your tests, like before.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Next, depending on the staging environment you used to clone your site, you might be able to simply <strong>sync your staging and live site changes<\/strong>. In other words, you will be able to migrate all the changes made on the staging site directly to the live site (including your update, of course), or rather, replace your live site with the copy you\u2019ve created in the staging mode.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]If you use a hosting provider to run your staging environment, this can usually be done with only a couple of clicks. For example, on Kinsta, there is an option called <em>Push Staging to Live<\/em>, while with SiteGround, you can use the <em>Full Deploy<\/em> option.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]However, if for any reason the tool you\u2019re using doesn\u2019t provide you with any sync options, you might need to run a manual update of WooCommerce on your live site. You can do this by going to <em>Home &gt;&gt; Updates<\/em> and finding the \u201cupdate now\u201d link located next to your WooCommerce update.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Update-Plugin.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Update Plugin\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Update-Plugin.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Update-Plugin-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Update-Plugin-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Update-Plugin-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;82px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Perform One Final Check<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Finally, to ensure everything is running smoothly on your live site, you should do one final overview and check if anything is amiss. Essentially, this means repeating some of the steps we\u2019ve already covered. And while all this rinse-repeat process you have to take might seem pointless or frustrating to you, it\u2019s extremely important as it helps you ensure that you don\u2019t get surprised by any errors that you might have a hard time recovering from.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]So, after the live site update, we advise you to take a snapshot using WP Boom and do a comparison of your before and after snapshots. Also, you can use the automated Ghost Inspector tool again to test your site and its pages and make sure there are no issues. You shouldn\u2019t forget to check the most important areas of your site, including your shop, home, cart, and checkout pages. Check whether everything works well both visually and function-wise one final time before you\u2019re done. And in case you run into any critical or even minor error, you can always revert to the backed-up version of your site, <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-troubleshoot-wordpress-errors\/\">troubleshoot any errors<\/a>, and once you solve them, repeat the update process.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\">Wrapping Things Up<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]There is a myriad of reasons why properly updating your WooCommerce store is important, including prevention of any visual, functional, and performance issues after the update that might even result in your site crashing in some worst-case scenarios. By going out of your way to safely perform a WooCommerce update, you will not only ensure that your entire store is secure and that everything is running smoothly, but you will also help your visitors go through an entire customer journey quickly and effortlessly. We highly suggest that you perform all the previously-mentioned steps carefully and use the help of some, if not all the tools we suggested above for the best possible results.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]And remember \u2013 don\u2019t forget to create a backup version of your website first, build a staging environment where you will be able to perform all the visual and functional tests, and finally, safely update to the latest version of WooCommerce. Then, once you are done with performing all the tests and you\u2019ve removed any potential errors, you can finally proceed to migrate your updates to the live site. Above all else, be meticulous and patient. You can rest assured that it will all be well worth it in the end.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We will guide you through all the steps needed to safely and efficiently perform a WooCommerce update and avoid running into any errors during the process. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":38958,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[56,4,99],"class_list":["post-38924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tutorials","tag-ecommerce","tag-tips","tag-woocommerce"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38924"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38924\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38958"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}