Troubleshooting ‘An Automated WordPress Update Has Failed’ Issue

WordPress updates are crucial for maintaining the security and functionality of your website. However, encountering the “An Automated WordPress Update Has Failed To Complete” error can be frustrating. This issue often leaves your site stuck in maintenance mode, preventing visitors from accessing your content and affecting user experience.

The cause of this error could be limited resources, plugin conflict, or a .maintenance file that has not been deleted. To overcome these problems, you can configure settings, ensure file permissions, and delete the .maintenance file.

In this blog, we’ll dive into various causes and their fixes, along with two methods that WordPress developers use to remove the error. So, with that, let’s begin by understanding what the issue is exactly.

What does “An Automated WordPress Update Has Failed To Complete” Mean?

The message “An Automated WordPress Update Has Failed To Complete” indicates that WordPress’s attempt to automatically update its core was unsuccessful. WordPress has a built-in feature that periodically checks for updates and, if enabled, will automatically download and install them. That ensures your site remains secure and up-to-date.

When this process encounters an issue, such as a network error, file permission problem, or plugin compatibility issue, the update might fail to complete. As a result, WordPress will display this error message to alert administrators that the automated update process was interrupted and did not finish successfully.

Failing to complete an update can leave the website in an unstable state or vulnerable to security risks. Therefore, addressing this issue quickly is essential to maintain the site’s performance and security.

Common Causes of WordPress Update Failures

The “An Automated WordPress Update Has Failed To Complete” error can occur due to a variety of reasons. Here are some common causes:

• Server-Side Limitations: Certain server settings or restrictions can hinder WordPress from executing updates. This might include restrictions set by the hosting provider, like limited execution time or memory limits. If the server is not configured to allow sufficient execution time or memory for updates, they might time out or fail.
• Network Connectivity Issues: Poor or unstable internet connection can interrupt the update process. If the server hosting your WordPress site experiences downtime or has network issues during the update, it might not complete successfully. Here, the update might start but fail to download, resulting in incomplete installation.
• File Permission Problems: WordPress needs the correct file and folder permissions to perform updates. If permissions are set too restrictively, WordPress may not be able to write the new files to the server.
• Incompatible Themes or Plugins: Themes or plugins that are not compatible with the latest version of WordPress can interfere with the update process. Sometimes, even outdated or poorly coded plugins can create conflicts, leading to failed WordPress updates.
• Locked .maintenance File: WordPress creates a temporary .maintenance file in the site’s root directory to signal that the site is undergoing maintenance. If this file is not removed after the update, it may lock the site in maintenance mode. That can prevent the site from returning to normal operation, resulting in failed updates.
• Slow Server Response Times: Sometimes a slow or unresponsive server can cause the update to fail due to timeout. The reason behind this could be delayed response from the server because of high network traffic.
• Corrupted Update Files: The updates that are received can be incomplete or corrupted. This file can lead to a failed WordPress update, leaving your site vulnerable.

These were some of the common reasons that could result in the “An Automated WordPress Update Has Failed To Complete” issue. Now that we know the reasons let’s explore how WordPress development experts have fixed this issue in the next section.

How to Fix “An Automated WordPress Update Has Failed to Complete”?

To fix the “An Automated WordPress Update Has Failed To Complete” issue, you can follow these step-by-step solutions. Each step targets a potential cause of the problem, ensuring a thorough troubleshooting process.

Check Server Resources

Server resource limitations, such as low memory or disk space, can prevent WordPress updates from completing. Insufficient CPU, RAM, or storage capacity might halt the update process.

How to Check:

Step 1: Use a server monitoring tool like New Relic, ServerPilot, or your hosting control panel. That can provide insights into CPU usage, memory consumption, and disk I/O.

Step 2: Look for spikes in CPU or memory usage during update attempts.

Step 3: Optimize server configuration and remove the previous limitations. You can consider to make flowing changes:

• Upgrading your hosting plan to a more powerful server.
• Reducing the number of plugins or themes.
• Optimizing database queries.
• Implementing caching solutions.

By checking server resources, you can identify the limitations that could interfere with the update process. Increasing resources or optimizing your site ensures that the update has sufficient space to complete successfully.

Verify File Permissions

Ensure that your WordPress files and folders have the correct permissions. Incorrect permissions can hinder the update process. Ideally, files should have read and write permissions for the owner and group. Conversely, folders should have read, write, and execute permissions.

How to Verify and Correct:

Step 1: Connect to your website using an FTP client or through the file manager in your hosting control panel.

Step 2: Check the permissions of the wp-content, wp-includes, and wp-admin folders. They should typically be set to 755.

Step 3: Check the permissions of files, which should be set to 644.

Step 4: To change permissions, right-click on the folder or file, select ‘File Permissions,’ and enter the correct numeric value.

Verifying and correcting file permissions ensures that WordPress has the necessary access to write and modify files during the update. Proper permissions prevent errors caused by restricted access, allowing the update to be completed without interruptions.

Disable Plugins and Themes

Temporarily deactivate all plugins and switch to a default WordPress theme. This helps isolate potential conflicts that might be causing the update to fail. If the update succeeds after disabling plugins or themes, you can reactivate them one by one to identify the culprit.

How to Disable and Switch:

Step 1: Log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins.

Step 2: Select all plugins and choose ‘Deactivate’ from the bulk actions dropdown menu. Click ‘Apply.’

Step 3: Navigate to Appearance > Themes, and temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.

Step 4: Retry the update to see if it completes successfully. Once the update is completed, reactivate plugins and switch back to your original theme one by one to identify any conflicts.

Disabling plugins and themes helps identify if any of them are causing conflicts with the update process. By isolating and fixing conflicts, you ensure that no one interferes with the update, leading to a successful installation.

Increase Memory Limit

The WordPress update process can be memory-intensive. If the PHP memory limit is set too low, it might not have enough memory to complete the update.

How to Increase:

Step 1: Access your wp-config.php file through FTP or the file manager.

Step 2: Add the following line to increase the  WordPress memory limit:

define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);

Step 3: Save the changes and try running the update again. Increasing the limit to 256MB is generally sufficient for most updates.

Increasing the PHP memory limit provides WordPress with the additional resources needed to complete the update process. Resolving memory limitations prevents update failures due to insufficient memory, ensuring that the update can proceed without errors.

Check for Network Issues

Poor or unstable network connectivity between your server and WordPress.org can cause update failures. A slow or unreliable connection can result in incomplete downloads.

How to Check:

Step 1: Ensure your hosting server has a stable connection and is not experiencing downtime. Check with your hosting provider for any known network issues.

Step 2: You can use tools like Pingdom and Traceroute from your server to api.wordpress.org to see if there are network connectivity issues.

Step 3: Consider temporarily disabling any firewalls or security plugins that might be blocking connections to WordPress update servers.

Checking and resolving network issues ensures that your server has a stable connection to WordPress.org. Fixing connectivity problems prevents interruptions or incomplete downloads during the update, allowing the process to complete smoothly.

Update WordPress Manually

If automated updates fail repeatedly, performing a manual update can be an effective solution. This bypasses any automated processes and allows for a direct update.

How to Update Manually:

Step 1: Go to the WordPress.org download page and download the latest version of WordPress.

Step 2: Unzip the downloaded file on your computer.

Step 3: Connect to your site using an FTP client like FileZilla or through the file manager in your hosting control panel.

Step 4: Navigate to your site’s root directory (where WordPress is installed). Upload the contents of the extracted wordpress folder, excluding the wp-content folder and wp-config.php file, to preserve your site’s content and configuration. When prompted, choose to overwrite the existing files.

Step 5: After uploading, log in to your WordPress dashboard. If necessary, WordPress will prompt you to update your database. Follow the instructions to complete the update.

Performing a manual update bypasses issues with automated processes. By directly uploading the new version of WordPress, you can ensure that the update is applied correctly.

By following the above steps and utilizing the recommended tools, you will be able to fix the WordPress update failed issue. If you are still not able to fix then consider getting a WordPress maintenance package.

How to Remove the “An Automated WordPress Update Has Failed to Complete” message?

You can remove the “An Automated WordPress Update Has Failed to Complete” by deleting the file named .maintenance. There are two methods for deleting this file: Using cPanel and FTP (FileZilla). Here are the steps to delete the file using both methods:

Method 1: Delete the .maintenance File via cPanel

The .maintenance file is created during WordPress updates to indicate that the site is under maintenance. If the update fails, this file may not be removed automatically, causing the maintenance message to persist.

Step 1: Access your hosting account and log in to cPanel. Locate and open the File Manager tool within cPanel.

Step 2: Navigate to the public_html folder (or the folder containing wp-admin and wp-content folders).

Step 3: Look for the .maintenance file in the list of files. If you don’t see it, ensure that you have enabled the option to view hidden files.

Step 4: To make the hidden files visible go to Settings and select Show Hidden Files from the window that pops up.

Step 5: Once the hidden file gets visible you will be able to see the .maintenance. Select the .maintenance file and choose the ‘Delete’ option. Confirm the deletion if prompted.

With that, we have deleted the issue creating .maintenance file. Now you will be able to update your WordPress core successfully. If you face any problem following these steps or want development help consider hiring WordPress developers.

Method 2: Delete the .maintenance File via FTP (FileZilla)

Using FTP to delete the .maintenance file is another effective method. FTP clients like FileZilla allow you to manage your WordPress files directly.

Step 1: Launch FileZilla or your preferred FTP client. To connect your server with WordPress enter your FTP credentials (Host, Username, Password, and Port) to connect to your web server.

Step 2: After connecting, locate the public_html folder (or the folder containing wp-admin and wp-content folders) on the right panel. Inside that folder find the .maintenance file in the directory. Make sure your FTP client is set to show hidden files, as .maintenance may be hidden by default.

Step 3: To make all the files visible, select Server from the top toolbar and then enable the Force showing hidden files option.

Step 4: Once the file gets visible, right-click on the .maintenance file and select ‘Delete’ from the context menu. Confirm the action if prompted.

Once done, the .maintenance will be deleted, and the error “An Automated WordPress Update Has Failed To Complete” will be removed.

You choose any of the methods to delete the .maintenance file. If you are comfortable using hosting control panels, use the cPanel method. And if you prefer working directly with files, using an FTP client like FileZilla is a simple approach. If you are not very into tech, it’s recommended that you get help from WordPress development services.

FAQs About WordPress Update Failed

How do I know if the WordPress update has failed?

You may notice the error if your site displays a message indicating that it is in maintenance mode or if you cannot access the WordPress admin area. Additionally, an incomplete update can cause functionality issues or prevent your site from loading properly.

Will removing the .maintenance file fix all update issues?

Removing the .maintenance file will clear the maintenance mode message but may not resolve the underlying issues that caused the update to fail. It’s important to address the root cause of the failure by checking server resources, file permissions, and other issues.

How can I manually update WordPress?

Download the latest version of WordPress from WordPress.org. Extract the files and upload them to your site via FTP, excluding the wp-content folder and wp-config.php file. After uploading, login to your WordPress dashboard and complete any remaining updates.

Conclusion

Fixing the “An Automated WordPress Update Has Failed To Complete” error is essential for keeping your site running smoothly. Deleting the .maintenance file often resolves the problem, but sometimes, it could be due to insufficient server resources or plugin conflicts.

You can fix the WordPress update that has failed by ensuring proper configurations or downloading it manually. To prevent this issue in future it’s recommended to keep your themes updated and ensure the .maintenance is removed.If you are finding it hard to manage WordPress updates or need help building an optimal site, hire WordPress developers.