WordPress Updates Are Not Enough to Keep Your Website Healthy

Let's talk about something that often gets overlooked regarding WordPress websites: maintenance. I know it's not the most exciting thing in the world, and it needs to be done.

Many people think that as long as they're updating WordPress, the plugins, and the theme, they're doing everything right. And hey, if that's you, well done! You're already doing more than many.

But here's the hard truth: updating your site isn't enough to keep it healthy, secure, and running smoothly.

website health - laptop with stethoscope

Just Because There Are No Updates Doesn't Mean Everything's Fine

Sometimes, you'll log into your dashboard and see no updates needed. You might think, "Great, nothing to do this week!"

But that's not always good news.

You see, when a plugin or theme is no longer being updated — because the developer has moved on or lost interest — WordPress stops showing update notices. From your end, it looks like everything is up to date. Behind the scenes? Not so much.

Why Plugins and Themes Get Abandoned

Many plugins and themes are created by generous developers who offer them for free. Some do have a premium upgrade, but others are simply passion projects.

Sometimes life gets busy.

Sometimes people change careers.

Sometimes, a plugin isn't needed anymore.

Whatever the reason, updates stop, and because you're not "subscribed" to anything when you install it, you won't necessarily know when it's been abandoned.

What Happens When A Plugin / Theme is Abandoned?

You might be thinking, "Well, it's still working. What's the big deal?"

Here's the thing:

WordPress evolves.
PHP (the programming language behind it) evolves.
Security standards evolve.

Your plugin or theme? It doesn't evolve unless someone updates it.

And that's when the problems start. Even if everything looks fine on the front end, outdated code can:

Cause slowdowns on your website (invisible errors building up in the background)
Create security risks (hackers love old, vulnerable code)
Stop playing nicely with other, more up-to-date plugins

"But My Website Is Small. Hackers Won't Care - Right?"

Wrong. I've seen brochure-style websites with no online shop and no sensitive customer data still get hacked.

Why? Because hackers don't care what your site does. They care that it's online.

Some want to inject malicious code
Some want to redirect your visitors to shady websites
Some want to hold your site hostage until you pay up

Small doesn't mean safe. It means you might not notice the attack right away.

Tools to Check for Abandoned Plugins

Some plugins, such as Wordfence, can scan your website and flag plugins that haven't been updated in a long time. (Themes are trickier and usually require manual checking.)

I recently had a client whose theme hadn't been updated in seven years—from a major theme developer, no less! There were no warnings, update notices, or anything else—it was just quietly abandoned.

Updates Aren't Enough — Here's What Else to Check

If you want to keep your site truly healthy, here are a few extra steps:

✅ Use the "Site Health" tool (under Tools > Site Health)

It can flag critical issues, but the language can be geeky. Don't panic. If you're not sure what it means, reach out. I offer free sessions and can walk you through it.

✅ Monitor for plugin/theme abandonment

Use a plugin checker or make it a habit to manually check whether the developer is still updating your plugins and themes.

✅ Look out for plugin conflicts

Even fully updated plugins can clash. That's why regular, deeper check ups are important. These issues may only be seen in your hosting PHP error logs.

Need a Hand?

I think it's amazing if you are someone who manages their own website. WordPress websites are often handed over with zero training—I know because I used to do it that way myself! (I've learned a lot over the last 15 years using WordPress.)

So if:

You're unsure when somebody last checked things
You've seen errors but don't know what they mean
You're worried something's wrong, but don't know where to start

👉 Book a free session. We'll take a look together, no pressure, no techy talk. It's one per client, and you can book a 15 minute free session here.

Want Something More Ongoing?

I offer my Stress-Less Web Care Plans — because who needs more stress?

I've got the capacity to take on more websites for regular care and maintenance. If you'd like me to look after your WordPress site, I'd be delighted to help.

Prefer to DIY but want a little guidance?

Check out my:

WTF Sessions (WordPress Tweaks & Fixes — you mutter or think WTF when you log in and something looks weird) - For Australia use this WTF session link and if you are in the UK use this WTF session link to pay in GBP rather than AUD.