---
title: How to Update a WordPress Plugin Manually via FTP
description: "**In short:** If a WordPress plugin fails to update automatically, update it manually: download and extract the latest version, connect to your site over FTP, and in wp-content/plugins rename the old plugin folder, keep a copy and delete it. Then…"
url: "https://www.hyyat.com/en/knowledgebase/update-wordpress-plugin-ftp/"
updated: "2026-09-29"
category: WordPress explanations
---

# How to Update a WordPress Plugin Manually via FTP

**In short:** If a WordPress plugin fails to update automatically, update it manually: download and extract the latest version, connect to your site over FTP, and in wp-content/plugins rename the old plugin folder, keep a copy and delete it. Then upload the new folder and activate the plugin from your WordPress dashboard.

WordPress lets you update plugins with one click. Sometimes the automatic update fails, because of wrong permissions or other server factors, and a failed update can leave your site stuck in maintenance mode. In that case, update the plugin manually over FTP.

![Update now link in WordPress](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/update-now.png)

## Update a plugin over FTP

**1.** Download the latest version of the plugin from [WordPress.org](https://wordpress.org/plugins/) or from the developer's website (for premium plugins, from your account on the developer's site).

![Download the plugin](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/download-plugin.png)

**2.** Plugins come as .zip files, so extract the file on your computer.

![Extract the plugin](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/plugin-extract.png)

**3.** Connect to your site with an FTP program such as FileZilla, using your FTP host, username and password. You find these in the welcome email from Hyyat Host or in your [client area](https://www.hyyatdomain.com/clientarea.php).

![Connect with FileZilla](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ftp-login-1.png)

**4.** Go to the **wp-content/plugins** folder. Each folder there is an installed plugin.

![Plugin folders](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/plugins-folders.png)

**5.** Back up the old plugin: rename its folder (for example add -old to the name) and download a copy to your computer. Then delete it from the site. In the Plugins page of your dashboard you will see a message that the plugin was deactivated.

![Plugin deactivated message](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/plugin-error.png)

**6.** In FileZilla, under Local, find the new plugin folder you extracted, right-click it and choose **Upload**.

![Upload the new plugin folder](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ftp-local.png)

**7.** When the upload finishes, go to Plugins in your WordPress dashboard and activate the plugin.

![Activate the plugin](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/active-plugin.png)

See also [how to install WordPress plugins](https://www.hyyat.com/en/knowledgebase/install-wordpress-plugins/).

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