Core, Plugin, and Theme Update Source

To improve your site’s resilience, WP Engine provides two options for receiving updates for WordPress® core, plugins, and themes from the WordPress.org repository – the default within the WordPress Core software and the source from which most free plugins and themes are downloaded.¹ This guide explains how to set your preferred update source at both the account and site levels.

Sources

WP Engine has two options available; the WordPress.org update service and WP Engine’s Mirror of the WordPress.org update service.

1. WordPress.org Update Service
   A direct connection to the WordPress.org API
2. WP Engine’s Mirror of WordPress.org
   Updates are served locally from WP Engine’s Mirror of WordPress.org.

---

User Portal Settings

The first place to review or update your settings for WordPress core, plugin, and themes source is the WP Engine User Portal. Settings for all sites in an account can be managed via the WP Engine User Portal. It’s important to note that only User Portal Account Owners will see this option.

1. Go to the User Portal at my.wpengine.com.
2. Click the profile icon in the top right.
3. Select WordPress Update Source.
   
4. Select from two available options:
   
   • “Use the source chosen by WP Engine” is the default when a user takes no action—This option means that WP Engine will manage the source and switch between the two options if necessary.
   • “Select a specific source” —You have the option to specify a source:
     • WP Engine’s Mirror of WordPress.org – When this option is selected WP Engine will use the WP Engine Mirror of the WordPress.org update service as your default source of core, plugin, and theme updates.
     • WordPress.org – When this option is selected WP Engine will use the WordPress.org update service as your default source of core, plugin, and theme updates.
5. Click Save to update your source preference.

---

WordPress Admin Dashboard Settings

The second place where you can review or update the settings for your WordPress core, plugin, and theme source is in your website’s WordPress Admin Dashboard.

1. Log into the WordPress admin dashboard for your website, manually or with seamless login.
2. Go to Settings > Update Source, in the main left menu.
   
3. Select from the two source options:
   • “Use the default source configured for this site” (default) – When this option is selected WP Engine will use the default source selected in User Portal Settings.
   • “Select a specific source” – You’ll have the option to choose between two sources:
     • WP Engine’s Mirror of WordPress.org – When this option is selected WP Engine will use the WP Engine’s Mirror of the WordPress.org update service as your default source of core, plugin, and theme updates.
     • WordPress.org – When this option is selected WP Engine will use WordPress.org as your default source of core, plugin, and theme updates.
4. Click Save Changes to update your source preference.

---

Article FAQs

What if my chosen source has an issue?

• If your selected source has an issue we’ll switch you over to the other source to ensure continued access to WordPress core, plugin, and theme updates.

Why is my selected source not being used right now?

• The option is a selection for the default source. WP Engine may switch users to a particular update source when necessary.

What is the order of precedence for source selections?

1. The WP-Admin selection will override the User Portal account level selection.
2. The User Portal selection will serve as the account default if no selection is made in the WordPress dashboard.

* This order of precedence will apply unless either of the source options becomes unavailable in which case WP Engine will override the selection to failover to an available source.

Why are the selection options grayed out?

• When a WP Engine override is in effect, the selection options will be grayed out. You should see a notification message on the page with more information.

Does WP-CLI use my chosen source?

• At this time, wp-cli will continue to use WP Engine’s mirror of WordPress.org.

If I take no action, what will my source be?

• By default, the source will be WP Engine’s Mirror of the WordPress.org update service. WP Engine will manage the source and switch between the two options as necessary.