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WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS) in the world, powering over 35% of all websites on the internet. One of the key benefits of using WordPress is that it is constantly being updated with new features and security patches. As a WordPress user, it is important to keep your site up-to-date to ensure that it is running smoothly and securely.
One of the first steps in keeping your WordPress site updated is to determine which version you are currently running. In this article, we will explore various methods for checking the version number, including both manual and automatic approaches.
Check the WordPress Version in the Dashboard
The easiest way to check the version number is to log in to your WordPress dashboard and look for the version number in the footer. Simply go to your website’s login page (usually located at http://yoursite.com/wp-login.php), enter your username and password, and click “Log In”.
Once you are logged in, you should see the version number in the bottom-right corner of the screen, as shown in the screenshot below:
Check WordPress Version via the “readme.html” File
Another simple way to check the version number is to visit the “readme.html” file on your website. This file is located in the root directory of your WordPress installation and contains basic information about your WordPress site, including the version number.
To access the “readme.html” file, simply add “readme.html” to the end of your website’s URL. For example, if your website’s URL is “http://yoursite.com“, you would visit “http://yoursite.com/readme.html” to view the file.
Check WordPress Version on the “wp-includes/version.php” File
If the first two methods don’t work for you, you can also check the version number by accessing the “version.php” file located in the “wp-includes” directory of your WordPress installation.
To access this file, you will need to use an FTP client or file manager provided by your web host. Once you have connected to your website via FTP or file manager, navigate to the “wp-includes” directory and open the “version.php” file.
Inside the file, you will see a line of code that looks like this:
$wp_version = ‘x.x.x’;
The version number (x.x.x) will be displayed in place of the x’s.
Use the “Site Health” Feature
Starting with WordPress 5.2, a new “Site Health” feature was introduced that allows you to check the version of your WordPress site as well as other important information about the health of your site.
To access the “Site Health” feature, go to “Tools > Site Health” in your WordPress dashboard. On the “Site Health” page, you will see a summary of the status of your site, including the version number and any issues that need to be addressed.
Use the “WP-CLI” Command Line Tool
To use WP-CLI to check the version number, you will need to have WP-CLI installed on your server. If you are not sure if WP-CLI is installed, you can check by running the following command:
wp –info
If WP-CLI is installed, you will see information about your WordPress installation, including the version number. If WP-CLI is not installed, you will need to install it using your web host’s control panel or by following the instructions on the WP-CLI website.
Once WP-CLI is installed, you can check the version number by running the following command:
wp core version
This command will output the version number of your WordPress installation.
Use a Plugin to Check Your WordPress Version
If you prefer not to manually check the version number, there are several plugins available that can automatically check for updates and display the current version of your WordPress site.
One popular plugin for this purpose is the “WP Updates Notifier” plugin. This plugin displays a notification in the WordPress dashboard when a new version of WordPress is available, as well as the current version of your WordPress installation.
To use the “WP Updates Notifier” plugin, simply install and activate it in your WordPress dashboard. Once activated, you will see the current version of your WordPress site displayed in the notification area of your dashboard.
Conclusion
As a WordPress user, it is important to keep your site up-to-date to ensure that it is running smoothly and securely. In this article, we explored several methods for checking the version, including both manual and automatic approaches. Whether you prefer to check your version manually using the WordPress dashboard, FTP, or the command line, or prefer to use a plugin or website to do it for you, there are several options available to help you determine which version of WordPress you are running. So, it’s always a good idea to check the version regularly to ensure that your site is up-to-date and running smoothly.
