How to Force a WordPress Plugin Update

You can trigger a reinstall of a plugin’s files through WordPress without first removing the plugin. This method is intended to preserve the plugin’s stored data, but back up your site before editing plugin files.

1. Sign in to your WordPress admin dashboard.

2. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.

3. Find the plugin and click Edit.

4. In the plugin file editor, locate the version value in the plugin header, for example Version: 1.6. Change it to a lower value, such as Version: 1.5, then click Update File.

5. Return to Installed Plugins. WordPress should detect an available update for the plugin. Click Update now to replace its files.

This can be done whether the plugin is active or inactive. The update option may not appear if WordPress cannot retrieve an update for that plugin.