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The Ultimate Guide to Downloading and Updating WordPress 5



How to Download WordPress 5: A Step-by-Step Guide




WordPress is one of the most popular and powerful platforms for creating websites, blogs, and online stores. It is free, open-source, and easy to use. WordPress also offers a lot of features and flexibility that can help you create any type of website you want.


WordPress is constantly evolving and improving, and every major release brings new improvements and enhancements. The latest version of WordPress, WordPress 5, was released in December 2021 and introduced some significant changes and features.




download wordpress 5




In this article, we will show you how to download WordPress 5 from the official website, how to install it on your web server, and how to update your existing WordPress site to WordPress 5. We will also explain what is WordPress 5 and why you should use it.


What is WordPress 5 and Why You Should Use It




WordPress 5 is the latest major release of WordPress that comes with some new features and improvements that make it easier and more enjoyable to create and manage your website. Here are some of the highlights of WordPress 5:


WordPress 5 Features and Benefits




  • The New Template Editor: WordPress 5 comes with a new feature called the template editor that allows you to create and edit templates for your posts and pages using the block editor. You can add different site elements such as site logo, site title, navigation menu, footer, etc. using blocks. You can also create custom templates for different types of content using the template editor.



  • The Block-Based Widget Editor: The widget screen in WordPress now uses the block editor as well. This means you can add widgets as blocks to your sidebar and other widget areas. You can also use any block you want as a widget, such as buttons, images, galleries, etc. This gives you more control and flexibility over your widgets.



  • The New Block Directory: When you search for a block to insert in the block editor, you will now see a block directory that shows you blocks that are not installed on your site but are available in the official WordPress plugin repository. You can easily install and activate these blocks with one click without leaving the editor.



  • The New Block Patterns: Block patterns are predefined layouts of blocks that you can insert into your content with one click. They help you create beautiful and complex designs quickly and easily. WordPress 5 comes with several new block patterns for different purposes such as columns, buttons, galleries, quotes, etc.



  • The New Content Previews: When you click on the preview button in the block editor, you will now see options for desktop, tablet, and mobile views. You can preview how your content will look on different devices without leaving the editor.



brightness, and apply filters to your images. You can also undo and redo your changes easily.


  • The New Twenty Twenty-One Theme: WordPress 5 comes with a new default theme called Twenty Twenty-One that is designed to showcase the power and flexibility of the block editor. It has a minimalist and elegant design that supports dark mode, custom colors, and different font sizes. It also comes with several block patterns that you can use to create stunning layouts.



These are just some of the new features and benefits of WordPress 5. There are also many other improvements and bug fixes that make WordPress faster, more secure, and more reliable.


WordPress 5 Requirements and Compatibility




To use WordPress 5, you need to have a web server that meets the following minimum requirements:


  • PHP version 7.4 or greater



  • MySQL version 5.6 or greater OR MariaDB version 10.1 or greater



  • HTTPS support (recommended)



You can check your web server's PHP and MySQL versions by creating a phpinfo.php file with the following code and uploading it to your web server:


<?php phpinfo(); ?>


Then, you can access the file from your browser and see the information about your web server.


If your web server does not meet the minimum requirements, you may need to contact your web hosting provider and ask them to upgrade your server or switch to a different web hosting provider that supports WordPress 5.


Before you download and install WordPress 5, you should also check if your plugins and themes are compatible with WordPress 5. You can do this by visiting the WordPress plugin repository and theme repository and looking for the compatibility information on each plugin and theme page. You can also use a plugin like WP Compatibility Checker to scan your site for potential compatibility issues.


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How to Download WordPress 5 from WordPress.org




One of the easiest ways to download WordPress 5 is from the official WordPress website, WordPress.org. Here are the steps to follow:


Step 1: Visit the WordPress Download Page




Go to in your browser. This is the page where you can download the latest version of WordPress for free.


Step 2: Choose Your Preferred Version of WordPress




On the download page, you will see two options: Download WordPress 5.x.x or Download WordPress 4.9.x. The first option is the latest version of WordPress, which is WordPress 5 at the time of writing this article. The second option is the previous major version of WordPress, which is WordPress 4.9.


We recommend that you choose the first option, Download WordPress 5.x.x, unless you have a specific reason to use an older version of WordPress. The older version may not have all the features and security updates that the latest version has.


Step 3: Click on the Download Button




Once you choose your preferred version of WordPress, click on the blue Download button below it. This will start downloading a zip file containing all the files and folders of WordPress to your computer.


Step 4: Save the WordPress Zip File to Your Computer




Depending on your browser settings, you may be asked where you want to save the zip file or it may be saved automatically to your default download folder. Make sure you remember where you save the zip file as you will need it later when you install WordPress on your web server.


How to Install WordPress 5 on Your Web Server




After you download WordPress 5 from WordPress.org, you need to install it on your web server. This is where your website will be hosted and accessible online. There are two main ways to install WordPress on your web server: using a one-click installer provided by your web hosting provider or manually uploading and configuring WordPress yourself. We will show you how to do both methods below.


Step 1: Unzip the WordPress File and Upload It to Your Web Server




If you want to install WordPress manually, you need to unzip the zip file that you downloaded from WordPress.org and upload all the files and folders inside it to your web server. You can use an FTP client like FileZilla or Cyberduck to do this.


For example, if you want your website to be located at you need to upload the files and folders to the root directory of your web server. If you want your website to be located at you need to upload the files and folders to a subdirectory called blog.


Step 2: Create a Database and a User for WordPress




WordPress uses a database to store all your website data, such as posts, pages, comments, settings, etc. You need to create a database and a user for WordPress on your web server before you can install WordPress.


You can use a tool like phpMyAdmin or cPanel to create a database and a user for WordPress. You need to choose a name for your database, a username and a password for your user, and grant all privileges to your user on your database. You also need to remember these details as you will need them later when you run the WordPress installation script.


Step 3: Run the WordPress Installation Script




After you upload WordPress files and folders to your web server and create a database and a user for WordPress, you need to run the WordPress installation script to complete the installation process.


You can do this by visiting the URL where you uploaded WordPress in your browser. For example, if you uploaded WordPress to the root directory of your web server, you need to visit If you uploaded WordPress to a subdirectory called blog, you need to visit


When you visit the URL, you will see a screen that asks you to select your language. Choose your preferred language and click on Continue.


On the next screen, you will see some information about what you need to have ready before installing WordPress. Click on Let's go! when you are ready.


On the next screen, you will see a form that asks you to enter your database name, username, password, host, and prefix. Fill out the form with the details that you created in step 2 and click on Submit.


On the next screen, you will see a message that says WordPress can communicate with your database. Click on Run the installation.


Step 4: Fill Out the Basic Information and Complete the Installation




On the next screen, you will see a form that asks you to enter some basic information about your website, such as site title, username, password, email address, and whether you want search engines to index your site. Fill out the form with your desired information and click on Install WordPress.


On the next screen, you will see a message that says WordPress has been installed successfully. Click on Log in to access your WordPress dashboard.


Congratulations! You have successfully installed WordPress 5 on your web server.


How to Update Your Existing WordPress Site to WordPress 5




If you already have a WordPress site and want to update it to WordPress 5, you can do so easily from your WordPress dashboard or manually by downloading and uploading WordPress 5 files. However, before you update your site, you should take some precautions to avoid any potential issues or errors. Here are the steps to follow:


Step 1: Back Up Your WordPress Site




The first and most important step before updating your site is to back up your site. This means creating a copy of all your site files and database and storing them in a safe place. This way, if anything goes wrong during or after the update, you can restore your site from the backup.


You can use a plugin like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy to back up your site automatically or manually. You can also use an external service like Dropbox or Google Drive to store your backup files.


Step 2: Check Your Plugins and Themes for Compatibility




The second step before updating your site is to check if your plugins and themes are compatible with WordPress 5. Some plugins and themes may not work well with the new features and changes in WordPress 5 and may cause errors or conflicts on your site.


You can check if your plugins and themes are compatible with WordPress 5 by visiting the WordPress plugin repository and theme repository and looking for the compatibility information on each plugin and theme page. You can also use a plugin like WP Compatibility Checker to scan your site for potential compatibility issues.


If any of your plugins or themes are not compatible with WordPress 5, you should either update them to their latest versions or deactivate them before updating WordPress. You can also look for alternative plugins or themes that are compatible with WordPress 5.


Step 3: Update WordPress from the Dashboard or Manually


The final step before updating your site is to update WordPress itself. You can do this either from your WordPress dashboard or manually by downloading and uploading WordPress 5 files.


To update WordPress from your dashboard, go to Dashboard > Updates and click on the Update Now button under the WordPress section. This will automatically download and install WordPress 5 on your site.


To update WordPress manually, you need to download WordPress 5 from WordPress.org and unzip the zip file. Then, you need to delete the old wp-includes and wp-admin folders from your web server and replace them with the new ones from the zip file. You also need to overwrite the old files in the root directory of your web server with the new ones from the zip file. You can use an FTP client like FileZilla or Cyberduck to do this.


After you update WordPress, you may need to update your database as well. You can do this by visiting your site URL in your browser and following the instructions on the screen.


Congratulations! You have successfully updated your site to WordPress 5.


Conclusion




In this article, we have shown you how to download WordPress 5 from WordPress.org, how to install it on your web server, and how to update your existing WordPress site to WordPress 5. We have also explained what is WordPress 5 and why you should use it.


WordPress 5 is the latest major release of WordPress that comes with some new features and improvements that make it easier and more enjoyable to create and manage your website. It has a new template editor, a block-based widget editor, a new block directory, a new block patterns, a new content previews, a new image editing tools, and a new default theme.


We hope that this article has helped you learn how to download WordPress 5 and enjoy its benefits. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below.


FAQs




  • Q: Is WordPress 5 free?



  • A: Yes, WordPress 5 is free and open-source software that you can download and use for any purpose.



  • Q: How can I learn more about WordPress 5?



  • A: You can learn more about WordPress 5 by visiting the official WordPress website, reading the WordPress documentation, watching the WordPress tutorials, joining the WordPress community, and following the WordPress news.



  • Q: How can I customize my WordPress 5 site?



  • A: You can customize your WordPress 5 site by using plugins and themes that add more features and functionality to your site. You can also use the block editor and the template editor to create and edit your content and layout.



  • Q: How can I secure my WordPress 5 site?



  • A: You can secure your WordPress 5 site by using a strong password, updating your site regularly, using a reputable web hosting provider, using HTTPS encryption, using a security plugin, and following the best practices for WordPress security.



  • Q: How can I optimize my WordPress 5 site?



  • A: You can optimize your WordPress 5 site by using a caching plugin, using a CDN service, compressing your images, minifying your code, removing unused plugins and themes, and following the best practices for WordPress performance.



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