If you’re a WordPress user, you know that updating plugins is a critical part of maintaining a secure and functional website. But, sometimes, plugin updates can bring unexpected issues. Downgrading a plugin to a previous version can be a useful solution in these situations.
However, just like any software, plugins can sometimes cause problems or stop working properly. This is where downloading an older version of a plugin can come in handy.
There are several reasons why you may need to downgrade a plugin. One of the most common reasons is compatibility issues. If you’ve upgraded your WordPress site to the latest version and one of your plugins stops working, it’s possible that the plugin is not compatible with the newer version of WordPress. Another reason you might need to download an older version of a plugin is if the latest version has introduced a bug or other problem. Some plugins may simply have features or options that are no longer available in the latest version. Besides these, you might face compatibility issues, negative user experiences, the infamous “White Screen of Death,” and the temporary inaccessibility of your website.
In this blog post, we will explore 5 methods to download older versions of WordPress plugins.
Method 1: Download from the WordPress Repository
One of the simplest methods to download an older version of a plugin is to visit the WordPress repository. Here, you can find older versions of plugins that have been tested and approved by the WordPress community. Simply find the plugin you need, select the version you need, and download it to your computer.
Method 2: Download from GitHub
Another option is to download an older version of a plugin from GitHub. If the plugin has a GitHub repository, you can usually find older versions there. Once you’ve found the version you need, you can download the ZIP file and install it on your WordPress site.
Method 3: Rollback to an older version using a plugin: WP Rollback
There are several other plugins that you can use to download and install older versions of WordPress plugins.
Some of these alternatives include:
WP Rollback
If you don’t want to go through the manual process of downloading and uploading plugin files, you can use a plugin to help you roll back to an older version. WP Rollback is a popular option that makes downgrading plugins easy. With just a few clicks, you can select the version you need, and the plugin will handle the rest.
Easy Updates Manager
This plugin allows you to control and manage plugin and theme updates on your WordPress site. You can also choose to roll back to an earlier version of a plugin or theme, making it a great alternative to WP Rollback.
WP Downgrade
This plugin is similar to WP Rollback, but with a more streamlined interface. With WP Downgrade, you can easily select the version of a plugin or theme that you want to install, and the plugin will handle the rest.
WP-Lister
This plugin is primarily designed for use with WooCommerce, but it also includes the ability to manage and rollback plugin and theme updates. With WP-Lister, you can easily select the version of a plugin that you want to install and the plugin will take care of the rest.
Plugin Security Checker
This plugin allows you to scan your plugins for known security vulnerabilities, and also includes the ability to rollback to an earlier version of a plugin. This makes it a great option for those who are looking for a plugin that provides both security and version management functionality.
Method 4: Use the Safe Updates feature
Option 1: Use the ManageWP Safe Updates feature:
If you’re a ManageWP user you have one more option for downgrading your plugins.
Option 2: Use your hosting company's Safe Updates feature:
Some hosting companies offer safe updates features that allow you to automatically detect, test, and deploy WordPress updates. These features can help you avoid compatibility issues and other problems that can arise from updating plugins.
For example, our hosting provider Cloudways offers this feature.
Method 5: Contact the Developer
If you can’t find the older version of a plugin through any of the above methods, you can always reach out to the developer. Most developers are happy to provide older versions of their plugins to users who need them for compatibility or other reasons. Simply reach out to the developer through their website or support forums, and they should be able to assist you.
Sources / More information:
https://www.cloudways.com/en/safeupdates.php
https://managewp.com/blog/downgrading-wordpress-plugins
https://themeskills.com/ways-to-download-older-versions-wordpress-plugins/
https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-rollback/
How to Install an Old Version of a WordPress Plugin (And Why You’d Want To)
How to Download Older Versions of WordPress Plugins
