It is upgrade time again. Time to upgrade your WordPress.
WordPress 3.6.1 Maintenance and Security Release was announced today. It includes fixes to WordPress 3.6 and some security issues, so this is a mandatory update.
WordPress.com users are automatically updated, as are all those on managed WordPress hosting like WP Engine. This update applies to self-hosted versions of WordPress.
There are critical security issues that this update fixes, one reported by Dave Cummon, a Northrup Grumman subcontractor for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an intriguing story there, I’m sure, and proof that there are WordPress fans and contributors everywhere doing everything imaginable.
You may read a list of changes to WordPress in the WordPress Trac or check out the release notes on the WordPress Codex for more information.
Do not be foolish and delay this update. While it may not happen, in the past some evil doers took advantage of those who did not update, bringing heartbreak and frustration to many. These updates have been applied to WordPress.com so they have been tested and vetted.
Update now.
Issues with Updates
A very small percentage of WordPress users are having issues with the new update. For the past few years, very few issues were reported if you keep your site regularly updated when new versions are released, and updated your WordPress Theme and Plugins when updates are available.
If you update and find your site and the Administration Panels go to a blank white screen, it is most likely an issue with a WordPress Plugin. This is quite rare and this is the traditional method for resolving the issue.
- Log onto your server with FTP.
- Go to the Plugins directory under
wp-content. - Rename the directory to
pluginsback. This will automatically deactivate all of your WordPress Plugins. - Attempt to login. If the login is successful, there is a conflict with one or more of the WordPress Plugins.
- If the login is not successful and you still see a white browser page, rename the
wp-content/themesdirectory tothemesback. This will disable your WordPress Themes where a conflict may reside.
- If the login is not successful and you still see a white browser page, rename the
- Once logged in, go to Plugins and check for updates. Update any Plugins that need updating, even if they are deactivated.
- Go through the Plugins one by one, check the front of your site, to determine which one maybe causing the problem.
- If you find a Plugin causing issues, with FTP you may rename the Plugin folder to deactivate it if your site goes white again. Contact the Plugin author for help and an update.
- If the issue was with Themes, go through the same process with your WordPress Themes.
If the issues persist, search the WordPress Support Forums for similar support requests to find an answer, and if you find none, report it for more assistance.
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7 Comments
Halo 🙂
Thank you for your advice – but I should not….
I just tried to update to 3.6.1 – but now everything on the screen is white. Help 😉 what is this – and how can I get out of it. If I manually update wordpress I need to deaktive all plugin? But I do not get in touch of the plugins now :Z
Check the WordPress Support Forums for solutions.
If it is a Plugin issue, yes, you will have to go into your server with FTP and rename the Plugins folder. That is one solution, and usually the easiest.
It looks like the issue was resolved on the WordPress Support Forums. It seems it was a Plugin issue. Glad you were able to get the help you needed. Thanks.
All of my paragraph breaks are gone 😦 Unless I missed it, there’s nothing in the forums about it. Any help on this? (Site: vivianpaige.com)
Just figured it out – it was the JQUERY HORIZONTAL SLIDER plug-in. I deactivated it and now everything is back to normal 🙂 (I must have just needed to vent!)
LOL! Glad you resolved it. That was FAST! I didn’t have time to even look at your site. Glad you figured it out. Don’t you feel more powerful and capable for doing it yourself? That is one of the cool things I adore about WordPress. Thanks.
Ha! Yeah, your reference to plug-ins reminded me that I had just updated one as well. Figured I’d give it a shot to see if that was the culprit. Thanks so much for your help.
I get the white screen too when installing or updating the plugins.php through WP admin.
I’ll report back if I find the little sucker that’s messing with my update.
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