How to Check Your WordPress Version (5 Methods Compared)

As a website owner, you know how important it is to keep your WordPress site secure and performing at its best. One crucial but often overlooked aspect of WordPress maintenance is regularly checking your version number and updating to the latest release.

Why does your WordPress version matter so much? An outdated installation can contain known vulnerabilities that leave your site open to hacks and data breaches. Performance improvements and new features in the latest versions can also help your site run faster and provide a better experience for your visitors.

In this guide, we‘ll walk through five methods to quickly determine which WordPress version your site is running. We‘ll also discuss the risks of using an outdated version and share some tips to help you keep your site updated with minimal hassle. Let‘s dive in!

WordPress Usage and Market Share (2023)

Before we get into the technical details, let‘s take a quick look at some WordPress usage statistics to put the importance of updates into perspective:

Statistic Value
Percentage of websites using WordPress 43.2%
Total number of WordPress websites 455+ million
WordPress market share (CMS) 65.2%
Percentage of WordPress downloads from versions older than 2 years 46.5%

Sources: W3Techs, WordPress.org, Kinsta, WP Engine

The widespread usage of WordPress worldwide makes it an attractive target for hackers looking to exploit vulnerabilities. The fact that nearly half of WordPress installations are running versions more than two years old is concerning from a security standpoint.

Failing to update your WordPress site puts you at greater risk of malware infections, SEO spam, data theft, and other consequences of a hacked website. Checking your current version and updating frequently is a simple but essential step in securing your site.

5 Ways to Check Your WordPress Version

Now that we understand the "why", let‘s get into the "how". Here are five methods you can use to determine which WordPress version your site is running:

1. WordPress Admin Dashboard

If you have access to the WordPress admin area, checking your version number is a breeze. Here‘s how:

  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard
  2. Navigate to Dashboard → Updates

You‘ll see your current version number listed at the top of the page. If an update is available, you‘ll be prompted to install it here as well.

WordPress Updates Screen

Alternatively, you can find the version number in a few other places around the dashboard:

  • On the main Dashboard page, look under the At a Glance widget
  • Hover over the WordPress logo in the top left corner and click "About WordPress"
  • Scroll to the bottom of any admin page and look in the bottom right corner

2. View Site Source Code

What if you don‘t have admin access? You can still check the WordPress version by viewing your site‘s source code in any web browser. Follow these steps:

  1. Open your website in Chrome, Firefox, or another browser
  2. Right-click anywhere on the page and select "View Page Source"
  3. Press Ctrl+F (Windows) or Command+F (Mac) and search for "generator"
  4. Look for a line of code like this: 
    <meta name="generator" content="WordPress 5.9.3" />

The number after "WordPress" indicates the version currently running on the site.

Note that the generator meta tag may be hidden on some WordPress sites using certain security plugins. If you can‘t find it, try searching the page source for the following and check the version number after "ver=":

<link rel=‘stylesheet‘ id=‘wp-block-library-css‘ href=‘https://example.com/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css?ver=5.9.3‘ type=‘text/css‘ media=‘all‘ />

3. Check the RSS Feed

By default, WordPress websites have RSS feeds that may expose the version number. Here‘s how to check:

  1. Append /feed to the end of the site‘s URL (e.g. https://example.com/feed)
  2. View the source code of the feed page
  3. Look for a line like this: 
    <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9.3</generator>

4. Access version.php via FTP

For a definitive look at the WordPress version, you can check the version.php file via FTP or your hosting control panel. Here‘s how:

  1. Connect to your server via FTP or open your host‘s file manager
  2. Navigate to the wp-includes directory
  3. Open version.php in a text editor and look for this line: 
    $wp_version = ‘5.9.3‘;

The number in single quotes is the WordPress version currently installed.

5. View readme.html

This method only works for older WordPress versions (pre-5.7) that included the version number in the readme.html file. If you‘re running an outdated installation, you can try this:

  1. Append /readme.html to the site‘s URL (e.g. https://example.com/readme.html)
  2. The WordPress version will be listed at the top of the file

Again, this is not reliable for newer WordPress versions, so use one of the other methods for a more current version check.

Comparing the Methods

So which version check method should you use? The best approach depends on your role and level of access to the site.

Method Requires Admin Access? Works for Current Versions?
Dashboard Yes Yes
Source Code No Yes
RSS Feed No Yes
version.php Yes (via FTP or host panel) Yes
readme.html No No (only pre-5.7)

If you have admin or FTP access, checking via the Dashboard or version.php file will give you the most reliable and up-to-date version information.

For most users without admin privileges, viewing the source code is the next best way to determine the WordPress version on any website (as long as the generator tag is present).

The Risks of Using an Outdated WordPress Version

We‘ve touched on the importance of keeping WordPress updated from a security standpoint, but let‘s dig a little deeper into what can happen if you use an outdated version:

  • Security vulnerabilities: WordPress publishes details about the security issues patched in each new version. Hackers can easily scan for sites running older versions and exploit those flaws. Consequences include malware infections, spam content, data theft, SEO penalties, and more.

  • Compatibility issues: Themes and plugins may not function properly on older WordPress versions, leading to frustrating errors and even bringing down your whole site. Newer versions ensure better compatibility.

  • Slower performance: WordPress developers work hard to optimize code and improve performance with each release. By using an outdated version, you miss out on those enhancements and risk slower load times that drive away visitors.

  • Lack of support: If you run into issues with an older WordPress version, it may be difficult to find support resources or guidance to resolve the problem. The WordPress community focuses its efforts on supporting the latest versions.

To quantify the risk, consider this: a recent study by WP Engine found that 44% of hacked WordPress sites were running an outdated version at the time of infection.

Failing to update is like leaving your front door unlocked – it may not cause problems right away, but you‘re making it a lot easier for bad actors to access your property. Keeping your WordPress version current is a simple but powerful way to reduce risk and keep your site safe.

How to Keep WordPress Updated

We‘ve established the importance of using the latest WordPress version, but how can you streamline the update process and avoid falling behind? Here are a few tips:

  1. Enable auto-updates: In WordPress 5.6+, you can configure your site to automatically install new versions as they become available. Go to Dashboard → Updates → Advanced Options and select "Enable automatic updates for all new versions of WordPress."

  2. Use a managed WordPress host: Managed hosting providers like WP Engine and Kinsta handle core updates for you, ensuring your site is always running the latest stable WordPress version. This is a great option if you want to offload the technical aspects of site maintenance.

  3. Set a reminder to check for updates: If you prefer to handle WordPress updates manually, create a recurring task in your calendar to check your version and install any available updates. Aim to check at least once per month.

  4. Backup before updating: Before installing any WordPress core, theme, or plugin updates, it‘s wise to fully backup your site files and database. That way, you can quickly roll back if any issues arise during the update process.

By following these strategies, you can ensure your WordPress version stays current without excessive manual effort.

Troubleshooting WordPress Update Issues

While WordPress updates typically install without problems, you may occasionally run into issues like these:

  • White screen of death (WSOD) after updating
  • "The site is experiencing technical difficulties" error
  • Plugin compatibility issues
  • Layout/styling problems after update

If you encounter problems during or after a WordPress version update, here are a few troubleshooting steps to try:

  1. Clear browser cache: Cached files from the previous version may cause display issues, so clear your browser cache and cookies before checking the site again.

  2. Deactivate plugins: If you suspect a plugin conflict, deactivate all plugins and see if the issue persists. You can deactivate via FTP by renaming the wp-content/plugins folder. Then reactivate plugins one-by-one to identify the culprit.

  3. Switch to a default theme: To rule out a theme compatibility issue, switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty. If the problem disappears, your theme likely needs an update as well.

  4. Restore from backup: If all else fails and your site is severely broken, you can restore from a pre-update backup. This is why it‘s so important to backup before making any changes.

If you continue to have problems after trying these steps, reach out to your web host or a WordPress support service for expert troubleshooting assistance.

Key Takeaways and Next Steps

To recap, checking your WordPress version regularly is essential to keeping your site secure, fast, and fully functional. An outdated version puts you at risk of security breaches, compatibility issues, and performance problems.

Remember these key points:

  • You can easily check your WordPress version from the Dashboard Updates screen or by viewing your site‘s page source
  • If you‘re not running the latest WordPress release, update as soon as possible to prevent security vulnerabilities
  • Enable auto-updates or set a reminder to stay on top of new versions
  • Always backup your site before updating in case you need to roll back

We covered several ways to check your version number, but the most important takeaway is to make version checks and updates a regular part of your WordPress maintenance routine. A few minutes spent on this task can save you hours of frustration and costly repairs down the road.

Now that you know how to check your WordPress version and understand the importance of updates, put that knowledge into action. Go check your version number today and make a commitment to keep your site updated. Your visitors, customers, and search engine rankings will thank you!

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