Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to Download a Previous Version of a WordPress Plugin

WordPress plugins are essential tools for extending the functionality of a blog or website. However, sometimes plugins can break or cause conflicts with other plugins/themes. In such cases, it might be necessary to revert to a previous version of a plugin. Here's a quick guide on how to download an earlier version of a WordPress plugin.

Step 1: Identify the Plugin

The first thing you need to do is identify the plugin you want to revert. Head to your WordPress dashboard, and under the 'Plugins' section, locate the plugin in question. Note down the name of the plugin and the version you need to roll back to.

Step 2: Find the Plugin on WordPress.org

The next step is to find the plugin on WordPress.org. Visit the official WordPress plugin repository and search for the plugin using its name. Once you find the plugin, click on the developers link to view all versions of the plugin available.

Step 3: Download and Install Previous Version

Choose the version you want to revert to, and click on the 'Download' button to save the file to your computer. Next, head back to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to the 'Plugins' section. Click on 'Add New' and then select 'Upload Plugin.' Select the file you just downloaded and click on the 'Install Now' button to install the older version of the plugin.

Step 4: Block Automatic Updates

To prevent WordPress from automatically updating the plugin to the latest version, you need to disable automatic updates. You can do this by adding the following line of code to your website's functions.php file:

add_filter( 'auto_update_plugin', '__return_false' );

This code will disable automatic updates for all plugins on your website.

Congratulations! You have successfully reverted to an earlier version of a WordPress plugin.

In conclusion, downloading previous versions of WordPress plugins is a simple process that can save you from headaches caused by plugin conflicts. However, always remember to test the plugin thoroughly after the rollback to ensure that everything works as expected.