I am 100% for updating to the latest version of WordPress as it’s optimal for security, however, sometimes, it is necessary to go back to an earlier WordPress version. This rarely happens, but unfortunately a theme I installed from ThemeForest was built more than 2 years ago and is NOT ready for 3.5. Sometimes, plugins do not work with a new version and cause major theme issues too.
{UPDATE: Happy to help anyone make themes 3.8.1 ready with our killer programming team. I’ve got an amazing support team who can do anything with a small budget 😉 }
As I discovered today, there is a way!
Downgrade to an older version is an easy task, and it’s very similar to upgrading WordPress to a newer version.
Step One: BACK UP YOUR DATA
As ALWAYS, make a full back-up of your site by copying your entire WordPress Folder and Database.
* You need to have access to your site control panel using ftp program such as Transmit, CuteFTP or Filezilla to
make a copy of all WordPress platform files. These are located in the root directory of your host or the root
directory of the location you installed WordPress.
* Delete wp-admin and wp-includes folder which are located in your default host directory.
Step Two: GET ARCHIVE OF WORDPRESS VERSION
Get and download an archive / older version of WordPress from wordpress.org release-archive located here:
http://wordpress.org/download/release-archive/
Step Three: OVERWRITE WORDPRESS FILES (all but WP-CONTENT FOLDER)
Unzip your desired version of WordPress and overwrite all files EXCEPT WP-content folder (this is where all your THEME, images, pages of your site come from!) to your website by using the same FTP program. WP-Content is where all your theme files and images are and you don’t want to mess with that or you WILL lose you website. All the rest of the files are simply the shell of WordPress programming. 🙂
Step Four: LOG IN TO WORDPRESS TO SEE
Log into your site’s WordPress Dashboard www.yourdomain.com/wp-admin
Go to your site admin area except this time you won’t see WordPress admin login page.
Instead you will notice a message that say WordPress Database needs to upgraded current
WordPress to a new one!! Do not worry, just click OK and you will then see the admin login box.
Login to admin area and HAVE FUN!
Everything will be fine and you can enjoy an old WordPress installation! Good as new (well as it was!)!!!
SPECIAL NOTES BEFORE YOU DO:
If you have special plugins that have “themed” your WP-ADMIN, make sure you back those up as well BEFORE so that you can
apply those design / settings after! When you replace WordPress files you’ll wipe out that as well.
Just take your time, carefully think about your website assets and plan it out.
