Major WordPress releases are smoother when you prepare like a release manager, not like a gambler. Treat WordPress 6.9 as a planned change. Build a short checklist, test on staging, and only then roll it to production. The aim is simple. No broken templates. No missing styles. No surprise performance drops. Use the checklist below to cover your bases and keep your launch calm.
Before you touch the update button
Confirm hosting and PHP versions
Check that your hosting stack meets current WordPress and PHP recommendations. Verify PHP version, database version, and web server modules. Make sure common extensions like mbstring, intl, and imagick are enabled. Turn on OPcache and confirm it persists across deploys. If you run object caching, confirm Redis or Memcached is active and healthy.
Backups that actually restore
A backup that has never been restored is a guess. Run a full backup of files and database. Restore it to a separate test instance and confirm the site loads, logins work, and media appears. Keep at least one offsite copy so a provider issue does not remove both your live site and your backup.
Make a staging copy
Clone production to staging. Use the same PHP version, the same caching, and as close to the same environment as possible. Scrub personal data where required. Block indexing on staging so test content does not appear in search results.
Compatibility checks that prevent regressions
Theme readiness
If you use a block theme, review theme.json for deprecated tokens or properties. If you use a classic theme, confirm template parts and widget areas still behave as expected with the current editor. Test your header, footer, archive, single, and search templates. For child themes, compare the parent theme’s new template files and copy changes only where needed. Avoid hacking the parent to chase a quick fix.
Plugin inventory and risk assessment
List every plugin in use. For each one, check the last update date and current compatibility notes. Mark high risk plugins. These are the ones that control critical flows like checkout, forms, SEO, caching, or anything that adds custom blocks. If a plugin has been dormant for a long time, plan a replacement. Remove plugins that are installed but not used. Fewer moving parts means fewer surprises.
Custom code and child theme diffs
If you maintain a mu-plugin or site-specific plugin, scan for calls that may have changed or deprecated hooks. For child themes, run a diff between your child and the new parent release. Where you have overridden templates, confirm that the structure still matches. Keep changes tidy and documented so future updates remain simple.
Performance and Core Web Vitals sanity check
Measure a baseline
Before you update, record page weight, number of requests, and Core Web Vitals for two or three key templates. Take readings on mobile and desktop. Screenshots help when you compare after the update. The goal is to spot regressions, not to chase a perfect lab score.
Asset loading and lazy features
WordPress has improved script strategy over recent releases. After the update, confirm that only the scripts you need load on each template. Dequeue plugin assets where they are not used. Check that images use modern formats where possible and that responsive image attributes are present. Confirm that lazy loading does not delay above the fold images.
Database cleanup
Post-update, optimize database tables, remove expired transients, and clear fragment caches. If you use WooCommerce or a form builder that stores a lot of entries, archive old records. A lighter database keeps admin pages and queries responsive.
Editor and content workflow updates
Block editor changes and patterns
Open the editor on staging and review any changes that affect authors. Check your saved patterns and templates. If you rely on a pattern library, confirm spacing, colour, and typography tokens still apply as expected. Test media blocks, galleries, cover blocks, and any custom blocks your site uses. If you provide editors with reusable blocks for CTAs, verify variants still look correct.
theme.json and design tokens
Define colours, font sizes, spacing, and border radii in theme.json so your design remains consistent. Remove token duplicates and ensure naming stays clear for editors. If new properties are available, add them only after confirming they do not conflict with your current design system.
Interactivity and script loading
If you use small client side interactions, confirm event handlers still bind as expected and return control quickly to keep interactions responsive. Avoid shipping heavy libraries on templates that do not use them. Split code for complex components so the first interaction loads fast.
Security posture after update
User roles and REST API permissions
Review administrator and editor accounts. Remove any unused admins. Rotate application passwords and API keys where integrations allow. Confirm the REST API endpoints you expose are intended and secured. If you ship a headless feature, check CORS settings.
WAF, rate limiting, and file permissions
If you run a web application firewall, set it to learning mode on staging during testing, then set it back to block once you deploy. Enable rate limiting on login and XML-RPC. Verify correct file ownership and that write permissions are not overly broad. Ensure automatic updates for minor core releases are on.
Headers and login hardening
Set security headers like Content Security Policy, X Frame Options, and Referrer Policy in your web server or CDN. Use a separate admin URL only if it does not break editor links. Enable two factor authentication for all admin users. Disable directory indexing. Replace the default login URL only if your team documents the change clearly.
QA test plan that mirrors real users
Critical journeys
List the three to five flows that matter most. For service sites, that may be open mobile menu, submit contact form, download a resource, and search. For ecommerce, add add to cart, mini cart, checkout, and payment. Test each on staging in a private browser window. Use a real phone on mobile data to see what users see.
Accessibility spot check
Keyboard test your menus, tabs, accordions, and modals. Make sure focus is visible and not hidden under sticky headers. Verify link names and button text make sense out of context. Check colour contrast on your most common components. Fixes here often improve conversion and reduce support tickets.
Cross browser and device coverage
Test current versions of Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. On iOS and Android, test at least one mid range device. If you serve a broad audience, keep a simple device matrix so future updates follow the same checks.
Rollout and monitoring
Deployment plan
Plan a maintenance window, even if brief. Put the site into maintenance mode, update core on staging, then run plugin updates on staging. When you are happy, update production in this order: core, theme, plugins. Clear caches after each step to avoid serving mixed assets. Keep a copy of the previous release to hand.
Post deploy checks
As soon as production is live, test the same critical journeys again. Check server error logs. Open Search Console and verify that the site is still indexed. Run a quick crawl over top templates to look for missing titles, duplicate meta tags, or blocked assets. Watch analytics for any spike in errors or drop in conversions.
Rollback plan
If something fails, revert without drama. Restore the previous backup or deploy the previous release from your repository. Document the issue, fix it on staging, and retry. A known rollback plan turns a bad afternoon into a minor delay.
Bonus: when to delay the update
Consider delaying if a key plugin vendor asks for a short window to push a compatibility release, or if your site is mid campaign with high traffic and complex tracking. There is no prize for being first if the update costs revenue. Schedule the change for a quieter period, keep stakeholders informed, and proceed once dependencies are ready.
A short, safe path you can follow this week
Day 1. Back up, create staging, and run your baseline tests.
Day 2. Update staging to WordPress 6.9, review theme and plugins, fix obvious issues.
Day 3. Run QA on critical journeys and accessibility basics.
Day 4. Plan the deployment window, brief the team, and prepare a rollback.
Day 5. Deploy, verify, and monitor.
The takeaway
A clear WordPress 6.9 update checklist reduces risk and keeps your site reliable. Confirm the stack, test on staging, review themes and plugins, protect performance, and secure the result. When you treat the release like a controlled change rather than a quick click, you ship a stable site and you keep your roadmap on track.
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