Knowing which version of WordPress a site is using is important for several reasons:
Table of Contents
Security
Keeping WordPress and plugins up-to-date is crucial for security. New WordPress versions often contain security patches that fix vulnerabilities which could be exploited by hackers. Similarly, plugin updates frequently address security issues. By keeping WordPress and plugins updated, you reduce the risk of your site being hacked.
Outdated software is one of the main reasons WordPress sites get compromised. Statistics show that a worrying number of sites use outdated WordPress versions:
- Over 3% of WordPress sites use a version that is over 2 years old [1]
- Over 30% use a version that is over 1 year old
So when managing a WordPress site, you need to know which version is currently active to assess if it needs to be updated.
Features and Enhancements
With each release, WordPress introduces new features, enhancements, and improvements. By knowing your current WordPress version, you can check the release notes to see what changes are included and if upgrading would benefit your site.
Staying up-to-date allows you to leverage the latest WordPress capabilities.
Troubleshooting Issues
Sometimes a problem on your site may be caused by the WordPress version. If you are experiencing an error or unexpected behavior, knowing the active version can help when troubleshooting.
You can search for details about issues specific to that WordPress release. Or try upgrading to the latest version, which may include a fix.
Theme and Plugin Compatibility
Themes and plugins may specify which WordPress versions they support or are compatible with. By knowing your current version, you can check if your extensions work with that release.
Incompatibilities can sometimes cause conflicts, breakages, or unexpected behavior. So it’s useful to verify the WordPress version before installing new themes or plugins.
Checking Version in the WordPress Admin
The easiest way to check the WordPress version is by logging into your site’s admin dashboard.
There are a few sections that display version information:
Updates Page
Go to Dashboard > Updates. This shows:
- Currently installed WordPress version
- Latest WordPress version available
So you can quickly see if your site is up-to-date.
About WordPress Page
Go to Dashboard > About WordPress. This displays:
- The currently active WordPress version
- Database version
- Some contributor credits
At a Glance Widget
The dashboard At a Glance widget shows:
- Active WordPress version
- Number of posts and pages
- Active theme details
So the version is visible at a quick glance without navigating elsewhere in the admin.
Bottom of Admin Pages
In newer WordPress versions, the version number displays in the bottom right of all admin pages.
Checking Version Via Site Health
The Site Health tool provides useful diagnostics and information about your WordPress install.
To see the version, go to Tools > Site Health and check the info under WordPress Version.
Finding Version in Source Code
You can view the WordPress version by checking the underlying source code, which contains meta generator tags indicating which WordPress version is active.
To view the source code:
- Open your site in a browser
- Right click and select View Page Source
- Press Ctrl + F to open search
- Search for
generator
You will see a meta tag like:
<meta name="generator" content="WordPress 5.3" />The content value shows the current WordPress version.
Using RSS Feed
A site’s RSS feed often contains generator data showing the WordPress version.
To find the RSS feed, visit:
yoursite.com/feedThen view the page source and search for generator to see version info.
Version File via FTP
If you have FTP access, you can connect and directly check the version.php file which contains the release details.
Go to /wp-includes/ and open version.php.
The WordPress version will be shown on line 7.
WP-CLI Command
WP-CLI is a command line tool for managing WordPress sites.
To check version, connect via SSH and run:
wp core versionThis will fetch and display the current WordPress version.
When You Can’t Access Admin
If you don’t have access to the WordPress admin or files, you can still check version using the frontend techniques above:
- View source code
- Check RSS feed
- WP-CLI if available
The version is not displayed to regular site visitors, but the underlying generator meta tags and feeds still contain the information.
Conclusion
There are a few handy ways to check the currently installed WordPress version, both via the admin dashboard or using the frontend code.
Knowing the active version is useful when managing a WordPress site for security, troubleshooting, compatibility checks, and other reasons.
Keeping your WordPress and plugin software up-to-date is highly recommended to leverage the latest features and security protections.
