The upcoming WordPress 5.5 update will enhance the content management system’s auto-updating capabilities to include themes and plugins.
Currently, auto-updating is available only for the WordPress CMS core. When a stable version of WordPress 5.5 is released, themes and plugins can also be set to update automatically.
This extension of auto-update functionality to themes and plugins is likely aimed at preventing site hacks.
Recently, a story was published about eight popular WordPress plugins being exploited by hackers. In each case, hackers were able to take over a site by exploiting a vulnerability in the plugin.
Such vulnerabilities can be easily patched with a quick update. The problem is that many site owners install plugins and themes and then forget to update them.
With the release of 5.5, site owners can theoretically install plugins, forget about them, and still remain safe because the plugins will be updated automatically.
### Long Overdue Feature Has Been in the Works for Months
This functionality has been in development since 2019, although, arguably, it has been much longer overdue.
In February, the official WordPress team released a plugin with this exact functionality. Be careful if you download it, though, as it is still a beta test plugin at the moment.
The plugin notes indicate that this feature was originally slated for release in 2019. Although it did not ship on time, it was not forgotten.
Auto-updating of themes and plugins is now expected to be included in the next version of WordPress (v5.5).
