WP Toolkit is a powerful tool integrated into cPanel that simplifies the management of WordPress websites. It allows you to perform administrative tasks directly from the hosting control panel without the need to access each individual WordPress dashboard.
This guide will show you how to check, apply updates, configure automatic maintenance, and use other useful options.
1. Accessing WP Toolkit.
To begin, log in to your cPanel account. On the left side, type “WordPress Management”.
You will see a list of all WordPress installations associated with your hosting account.
2. Checking and applying updates.
Regular updates are essential for your website’s security. WP Toolkit allows you to quickly see if there are outdated versions of the WordPress core, plugins, or themes.
- View the site status.
A green check mark indicates that everything is up to date.
An orange or red warning indicates that updates are available for plugins, themes, or WordPress.
- See what needs to be updated.
WordPress Core: Shows if the WordPress core is up to date.
Plugins: Displays the number of plugins requiring updates.
Themes: Displays the number of themes requiring updates.
Click “Update” next to the section you want to update (for example, “Plugins”). A list of all components that require updating will open. Select the ones you want to update and press the “Update” button.
Attention! Before applying major updates, it is always recommended to make a manual backup of the website.
3. Configuring automatic maintenance (Smart Update).
The “Smart Update” feature is one of the most advanced options in WP Toolkit. It allows you to safely automate the update process using artificial intelligence.
- Enable Smart Update.
On your site details page, find the “Smart Update” option and activate it. - Configure automatic tests.
When enabled, Smart Update will create a clone of your site before applying an update. On this clone, it will run visual tests to ensure the update does not cause errors or design issues. - Approve or reject the update.
After testing, WP Toolkit will notify you of the results. You will see a “before and after” visual comparison.
If everything looks good, click “Apply” to run the update on your main site.
If you notice any issues, click “Cancel” and contact a developer.
4. Checking WordPress Integrity.
This advanced feature is essential for detecting WordPress core files that may have been modified by malware or unauthorized activity.
What does this feature do?
WP Toolkit checks the checksums (unique digital fingerprints) of your WordPress files against those from the official wordpress.org repository. Any mismatch indicates that a file has been altered.
When to use it?
You should use this feature if:
You suspect your site has been infected with malware.
You notice unusual behavior (redirects, pop-ups, unknown content).
The site’s security status is marked as “Compromised”.
How to use it?
On the detailed site page in WP Toolkit, click the “Security” button.
A pop-up window (like in the screenshot) will appear with the option “Check WordPress Integrity”.
Click the “Verify Checksums” button.
WP Toolkit will scan the files and report if there are mismatches.
Troubleshooting:
If mismatches are found, click “Reinstall WordPress Core”. This action will replace the corrupted WordPress core files with clean versions without affecting your site’s content (pages, posts, plugins, themes). It is a quick and effective step to clean the core from infections.
5. Other useful features in WP Toolkit.
In addition to updates, WP Toolkit offers a number of other tools that simplify management:
Security Check: This option scans the site for common vulnerabilities and suggests improvements (e.g., changing the database prefix or disabling file editing from the admin panel).
Debug Mode: Useful for developers, this tool allows you to quickly enable or disable debug mode, which displays PHP errors.
Cloning and Staging: You can create a copy of your site to use as a testing environment. This way you can try major changes without affecting the live site.
Backup/Restore: WP Toolkit allows manual creation and restoration of backups. Note: On your shared hosting server, automatic backups are already configured. You can use these backups directly from the hosting control panel to restore the site if an issue occurs.
Password Protection: You can protect your site with a password so that only certain people can access it.
Search Engine Indexing: This feature allows you to control whether your site is visible to search engines.
By consistently using WP Toolkit, you can keep your WordPress site up to date and secure, saving time and effort.
