WordPress 3.5 Released – Update Safely!

WordPress 3.5 was released yesterday and it includes many usability updates – especially for the media manager.

Although there were no significant security updates mentioned we do recommend that you update as soon as possible.

However this is a major release, so it could potentially break a few things. Especially plugins and themes might require updates.

Most plugin and theme authors are pretty quick to release updates if required, but you might run into trouble.

Therefore we strongly recommend that you test this update on a development/test server before you update your live website.

To install your WordPress site on your local computer to test the update follow these steps:

1. Backup your live site:
2. Make sure you store and label a copy of this backup so it is easy to find.
   Note you could detect a problem only after some time has passed, so be sure to keep that backup handy for a while.
3. Install your backup on your local computer.
   This will also test that you can restore your site from your backup
4. Test the current version of your site on your local computer.
   Note that some parts might work sligthly differently on your local install compared to your live site.
   This includes WordPress File Monitor Plus (because the file system is different on your local computer) and WP Login Security 2 (because your local WordPress install might not be able to send email).
   For WP Login Security 2 you might have to remove the wp-contentpluginswp-security-login-2 folder on your local computer.
5. Update WordPress on your local computer.
6. Test thoroughly that everything works.
   Make sure you test every plugin that you use.
7. Finally update your live site.