Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to Download Previous Versions of WordPress

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world. It is constantly evolving, with new updates and features being released on a regular basis. However, sometimes a new update may cause compatibility issues with certain plugins or themes. In such cases, it may be necessary to revert to a previous version of WordPress. Here's how you can do it.

Step 1: Identify the Version You Want to Download

Before you can download a previous version of WordPress, you need to know which version you want to download. You can find a list of all WordPress versions on the official WordPress release archive page. Scroll down the page until you find the version you want to download.

Step 2: Download the ZIP File

Once you have identified the version you want to download, click on the "Download" button to the right of that version. This will download a ZIP file containing the WordPress files for that version.

Step 3: Extract the Files

Once the ZIP file has finished downloading, extract the files to a folder on your computer. Make sure to keep the folder structure intact. You should have a folder named after the WordPress version you just downloaded, containing all the necessary files.

Step 4: Replace Your WordPress Installation

To revert to a previous version of WordPress, you will need to replace your existing installation with the files you just downloaded. This typically involves deleting the existing WordPress files from your server and replacing them with the files from the previous version.

Before you do this, it's always a good idea to back up your existing WordPress installation just in case something goes wrong. You can use a plugin like UpdraftPlus to do this.

Once you have backed up your site, delete the existing WordPress files from your server. Then, upload the files from the previous version that you just downloaded to your server, replacing the existing files.

Step 5: Test Your Site

Once you have replaced your WordPress installation with the files from the previous version, check your site to make sure everything is working as expected. Make sure to test all the pages and functionality of your site, including any plugins or themes you are using.

If everything looks good, you're all set! You have successfully reverted to a previous version of WordPress.

In conclusion, downloading a previous version of WordPress can be a useful tool in case of compatibility issues. By following these steps, you can easily download and install previous versions of WordPress on your site. However, remember to always back up your site before making any changes to ensure that you can restore it if anything goes wrong.