Softaculous auto-upgrades: keep apps, plugins and themes updated

Out-of-date apps and plugins are the main way websites get hacked. Softaculous can update your installations automatically and take a backup first, so you stay secure without logging in every week. You can also upgrade manually when you prefer to test first.

Before you start

• The site must be listed in Softaculous → All Installations.
• Decide on a policy: automatic minor updates are safe for almost every site; major versions on complex shops are better tested on staging.

Turn on auto-upgrades

1. Open cPanel → Software → Softaculous Apps Installer → All Installations.
2. Click the Edit details (pencil) icon next to the installation.
3. Under Auto Upgrade, choose:
   • Do not Auto Upgrade
   • Upgrade to Minor versions only (e.g. 6.7.1 → 6.7.2), recommended for most sites
   • Upgrade to any latest version available (Major as well as Minor)
4. Tick Auto Upgrade WordPress Plugins and Auto Upgrade WordPress Themes if you want them updated too.
5. Tick Auto backup before upgrade (wording may differ), or set Automated backups so a recent copy always exists.
6. Click Save Installation Details.

Upgrade manually

1. When a new version exists, All Installations shows an Upgrade icon or a red badge next to the version.
2. Click it, tick Create backup, and click Upgrade.
3. Check the site and admin area afterwards.

Softaculous emails you when updates are available unless you disabled notifications in the installation's settings or in Softaculous → Email Settings.

What to check after an automatic update

• Open the home page, a few inner pages, the contact form and checkout.
• Look in the error log for new PHP errors.
• Clear LiteSpeed Cache and any CDN cache.

If an update breaks the site

1. Open Softaculous → Backups and Restore and restore the backup taken just before the upgrade (files and database). See Softaculous restore.
2. If no Softaculous backup exists, restore yesterday's copy from JetBackup.
3. For WordPress, a single broken plugin can often be disabled by renaming its folder in wp-content/plugins with File Manager.
4. Set Auto Upgrade to minor versions only for that site and test the next major version on staging.

Troubleshooting

• Auto-upgrade never runs: the installation is not detected correctly, or file ownership prevents writing. Re-scan via import, or contact support.
• Premium plugins not updated: paid plugins need a licence key inside WordPress; Softaculous cannot update them without it.
• Too many update emails: adjust notifications in Softaculous Email Settings.

Next steps

• Update WordPress safely
• Schedule Softaculous backups
• cPanel security checklist