How to Revert to the Saved Version of WordPress

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to revert to a saved version of your WordPress website, there are several methods you can use. Dealing with the WP Downgrade or using plugins such as WP Rollback can be highly effective. However, in some cases, you might need to manually manipulate your database to achieve this. Here’s how to do it.

Using WP Downgrade

The easiest and safest way to revert to a previous version of WordPress is through the Settings WP Downgrade option on your staging dashboard. This tool was designed specifically for this purpose. Here are the steps you need to follow:

Go to the left-hand menu on the staging dashboard and select Settings WP Downgrade. Enter the old WordPress version you wish to revert to. Click on Save Changes.

That’s it! The process is quite straightforward and should revert your WordPress installation to the desired version.

Manual Database Reversion

If the WP Downgrade feature is not available or if you want to manually revert to a saved version, you can use a database backup and the posts table in phpMyAdmin.

Backup Your Database

The first step is to back up your database. If you haven’t already, do this to ensure you have a complete record of your current version. You can use Duplicator Plugin for this purpose.

Locating the Saved Post Versions

Once you have your database backup, you need to locate previous versions of the saved posts. This can be done by accessing the posts table in phpMyAdmin. Here are the steps to follow:

Open your phpMyAdmin panel. Navigate to the posts table. Look for posts with a post_status of 'inherit' and a ping_status of 'closed'. These posts are usually older versions of the current post.

Once you find the version you want to revert to, you can compare the post_content field to ensure it’s the correct version.

Revert to the Desired Version

To complete the reversion process, follow these steps:

Change the current post’s post_status to inherit. Change the version you want to revert to, by setting its post_status to publish and its ping_status to open.

After making these changes, save the updated database. This will revert your post to the saved version you want.

Alternative Methods: Using Plugins

If you want a more user-friendly solution, you can consider using plugins like WP Rollback or WP Reset, which offer rollback and snapshot features to help manage versions effectively.

The WP Reset for WordPress plugin is especially useful, as it creates snapshots of your site before upgrades. This allows you to roll back to a previous state easily if anything goes wrong.

General Recommendations

While rolling back to previous versions of WordPress and plugins can be useful, it’s generally recommended to avoid this whenever possible. Instead, focus on maintaining regular backups and keeping your software up to date. Regular backups help you recover quickly from any issues, and staying current with updates keeps your site secure and functional.

Nevertheless, if you ever find it necessary to revert to a previous version of WordPress, follow these steps carefully to avoid any potential issues. By doing so, you can ensure a smooth and successful reversion process.