How updating plugins and extensions impacts website health

Running a website isn’t a “set it and forget it” process. Just like your phone needs software updates and your car needs servicing, your website requires regular maintenance to keep it running smoothly. One of the most important – and often overlooked – parts of that maintenance is keeping your plugins and extensions up to date.

Whether your website is built on WordPress, Joomla or another content management system (CMS), plugins and extensions give it functionality beyond the basics. They can add forms, image galleries, SEO tools, booking systems, e-commerce capabilities and more. But those same plugins and extensions can also be a source of trouble if you neglect them.

In this article, we’ll explore why updating plugins and extensions is essential, how it impacts the health of your website, and the best practices to keep everything in top shape.

What are plugins and extensions?

Before we dive into the “why,” let’s quickly clarify what these terms mean.

• Plugins (often used in WordPress terminology) and extensions (often used in Joomla) are add-on pieces of software that expand your website’s functionality.
• They’re created by third-party developers and integrated into your website’s core system.
• Examples include:
  • Contact form tools like Gravity Forms or RSForm!
  • SEO optimisation plugins like Yoast SEO or sh404SEF
  • Security tools like Wordfence or Admin Tools
  • Shopping carts and payment gateways
  • Image sliders and galleries

While incredibly useful, they’re also bits of software that interact with your website’s main framework — and just like any software, they need to be updated regularly.

Why updating plugins and extensions is crucial

Skipping updates might seem harmless. After all, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” right? Unfortunately, that approach can lead to serious website problems.

Here’s why updating matters so much:

1. Security protection

Cybercriminals are always on the lookout for weaknesses they can exploit, and outdated plugins/extensions are one of the most common entry points. Developers frequently release updates to patch security vulnerabilities.

If you don’t apply these updates, you leave your website exposed to:

• Malware injections
• Data breaches
• Spam attacks
• Complete site takeovers

For example, a popular WordPress plugin with millions of installs once had a small security flaw that allowed hackers to upload malicious files. The developer released a patch, but many site owners who didn’t update were compromised within days.

Bottom line: Regular updates close these security holes before hackers can exploit them.

2. Compatibility with your CMS

Your CMS (like Joomla or WordPress) also gets updated regularly to improve speed, security and features. When the CMS core changes, older plugins/extensions may no longer work correctly unless they’ve been updated to match.

Failing to update can cause:

• Broken features (contact forms suddenly stop sending)
• Visual issues (layouts break or formatting changes)
• Website crashes

Think of it like car parts — if you upgrade your engine but keep the old fuel injectors, something is bound to fail.

3. Performance improvements

Updates often bring performance enhancements. Developers refine their code to:

• Reduce page load times
• Use less server memory
• Improve responsiveness on mobile devices

Faster, more efficient plugins/extensions don’t just make your website smoother; they also improve your search engine optimisation (SEO) because Google considers speed as a ranking factor.

4. New features and functionality

Sometimes updates aren’t just about fixing issues — they add entirely new capabilities.

For example:

• A form plugin might introduce drag-and-drop field creation
• An e-commerce extension might add new payment methods like Apple Pay or Afterpay
• A gallery plugin might now support lazy loading for faster image delivery

Staying up to date means you can take advantage of these improvements without having to switch to a completely different tool.

5. Avoiding technical debt

“Technical debt” is what happens when you postpone updates and fixes, creating a backlog of issues that becomes harder (and more expensive) to address later.

If you ignore updates for months or years:

• You may need a major, costly overhaul to bring everything up to current standards.
• Some plugins/extensions may become abandoned by their developers, forcing you to rebuild certain site functions from scratch.

Updating regularly keeps your website current and avoids that dreaded “we need to rebuild the whole thing” conversation.

What happens when you don’t update plugins and extensions?

Neglecting updates can have real consequences for your website’s health. Some of the most common issues include:

• Security breaches — leading to data loss, site defacement or even blacklisting by Google.
• Loss of functionality — key features like your online store or booking system stop working.
• Website downtime — errors from outdated plugins can cause your site to crash.
• Poor user experience — slow load times, broken layouts or non-working forms frustrate visitors.
• SEO damage — downtime and poor performance can cause rankings to drop.

Best practices for updating plugins and extensions

Updating is essential, but it’s also important to do it the right way to avoid breaking your site.

1. Back up first
Always make a full website backup (files and database) before running updates. This means you can roll back if something goes wrong.

2. Check changelogs
Most developers provide a “changelog” describing what’s in an update. Review it to see if the update addresses security issues, adds features or changes functionality.

3. Test in a staging environment
If your website is critical to your business, test updates in a staging (private) copy first. This allows you to spot any conflicts before applying them to your live site.

4. Update regularly
Don’t wait months between updates. Schedule a maintenance routine — monthly or even weekly for high-traffic sites.

5. Remove unused plugins/extensions
If you’re not using a plugin or extension, uninstall it. Even deactivated software can present a security risk if it’s outdated.

6. Use quality plugins
Stick to reputable developers with good ratings, regular updates and solid support. Cheap or “one-off” plugins are more likely to be abandoned.

How a professional website maintenance package helps

For many business owners, keeping track of updates can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re busy running your business. That’s where a website maintenance package comes in.

A professional maintenance plan typically includes:

• Regular plugin/extension and core CMS updates
• Backups before updates
• Security monitoring
• Compatibility testing
• Quick fixes if something breaks after an update

With professionals managing your updates, you can rest easy knowing your site is secure, functional and running at peak performance.

Real-world example

One of our clients – a busy e-commerce store, delayed plugin updates for over a year. When they finally contacted us, their checkout process had stopped working after a core CMS update. Because their payment gateway plugin hadn’t been updated, it was incompatible with the latest version.

We:

• Backed up the entire site
• Updated all plugins/extensions in a safe staging environment
• Replaced one outdated plugin with a modern, supported alternative
• Tested everything thoroughly before going live

Within hours, their store was back to full functionality — but it could have been avoided entirely with regular updates.

Updating your website’s plugins and extensions isn’t just a “nice to have” — it’s a critical part of website health. Neglecting updates can compromise security, break functionality, slow down performance and even damage your SEO.

By making plugin and extension updates a regular habit (or letting a professional handle it), you’re protecting your investment, safeguarding your customer data and ensuring your website continues to serve your business effectively.

Remember:

• Security comes first — updates close vulnerabilities.
• Compatibility matters — keep everything in sync with your CMS.
• Performance and features improve — updates often add speed and functionality.

Your website is the digital face of your business. Keeping it healthy starts with something as simple as hitting that “update” button — the right way.

If you’d like some assistance with updating your CMS, get in touch today about one of our website maintenance packages.