Upgrade WordPress – Should You Click the Button?

Many people with a WordPress website, Best News, wonder what to do when they see the notice in the WordPress admin prompting them to upgrade to the latest version.

Upgrading WordPress can be as simple as clicking a button, but things can go wrong. Many people take it for granted that all WordPress websites should use the latest version. There is some risk involved, so it’s worth considering why it’s worth bothering – and what you can do to minimize the risks.

The latest major release of WordPress was version 3.3, released in December 2011. As well as the new features for WordPress developers, there are loads of improvements to benefit the average blogger or website owner:

• My favorite new feature is the hover menus in the WordPress admin navigation, which give you single-click access to any screen. It sounds simple, but it’s a significant improvement that rather than having to click – for example – pages, wait for the page to load, then connect ‘Add New’, NOW you can hover over pages and immediately click ‘Add New’ in the flyout menu. As a WordPress designer, this has already saved me considerable time and will help you, too.
• It’s easier than ever before to upload images and other media via the single upload button in the WordPress toolbar. The drag-and-drop media uploader allows you to drag and drop files directly from your computer into the WordPress admin rather than having to browse to the file’s location.
• A pointer tip appears whenever you add a new feature, providing helpful information on using the feature.
• Touch support has been improved for those using iPads or tablets to manage their WordPress website.
• Version control has been improved for larger companies with multiple users editing the same pages and posts. These improved co-editing support locks posts are being edited by someone else.
• And more.