Updating plugins for a WordPress site is crucial because they help keep everything running properly. Plugins are essentially just apps for your website, you can install them to add new features and functionality. This includes things like adding contact forms, photo galleries, sliders, etc.

When you do update plugins be sure to do it in parts, not all at once. Also, you will want to ensure that you run through a checklist of items and actions before you start updating plugins. 

Here is a checklist of steps you can take:

Updating Plugin Checklist

• Do a complete backup of your site.
• Compile list of important URLs.
• Take a look at the plugin dashboard to see if this needs to be done in multiple backups or just one.
• After that assessment, start updating plugins that are similar and then back up.
• Repeat process.
• If E-Commerce and or Events Calendar, always have these two as separate backups.
• Check for Security breaches.
• After all plugins have been updated, backup the website again so it is the latest version with all of the plugins updated.

WordPress Core 

After the plugins have been updated, if the core needs to be updated as well, be sure to back up again after all of the plugin updates but before the core update. 

It is best practice to back up beforehand just in the case something does happen to the website, you can restore the previous core and diagnose the issue.

Tips to Manage WordPress Plugins More Efficiently (WPBeginner)

“If you are sure about the plugins that you are using, then you can enable automatic updates for all your WordPress plugins.

However, a better approach will be to setup automatic updates only for select few plugins that you trust. If you don’t manage multiple WordPress sites, then you can setup email notifications for plugin updates. This will allow you to be alerted when there is an update available without logging into your WordPress site.

Always make sure that you have setup an automatic backup plugin on your WordPress site. This will allow you to restore your WordPress site in case something goes wrong.”