Core Rollback

Description

Seamless rollback of WordPress Core to latest release or any outdated, secure release using the Core Update API and core update methods. Only latest release and outdated, secure releases are offered. Refer to https://api.wordpress.org/core/stable-check/1.0/ Logo from a meme generator. Original artwork by Allie Brosh.

Usage

From the Tools menu select Rollback Core, select the version you wish to rollback to from the dropdown and click Rollback. You will be directed to the update-core.php page where you should see a button to Re-install your specified version. If you move away from the update-core.php page before clicking the Re-install button you will have 15 seconds to return and complete the process or you will need to start over.

In multisite use the Settings menu.

WARNING: Downgrading WordPress Core may leave your site in an unusable state requiring a complete reinstall or a forced reinstall using WP-CLI, wp core update --force --version=5.5.3. It may also leave your site broken due to a plugin or theme incompatibility. Use at your own risk.

Rollbacks use your current locale.

PRs are welcome.

Screenshots

  • Tools menu item
  • Rollback Core action dropdown
  • Re-install Now button for rollback

Reviews

maý 11, 2025
My theme was not compatible with the automatically installed WP 6.8 and it let to critical errors on the page. I could still access the admin page to download the plugin and trigger the rollback. Unfortunately, the theme has no support from the developer and probably it is not going to receive a patch for WP 6.8. I followed the re-install steps and everything worked well. Once the installation was finished, I was force-logged out and upon trying to enter the admin area, my password was no longer valid. Small heart attack. (ref. @ndstry had the same issue mentioned in a previous review, it seems there is a hashing logic changed between the versions). Luckily the password reset email was working well and I could reset the admin account. I have also shut down the website (I am hosting it locally with Local) and then the WP version is also shown correctly. Thank you for developing this plugin!
maý 4, 2025 1 reply
Unable to log into site after rollback to 6.7.2 from 6.8.1. Password reset failed to send e-mails. Host provider e-mailed a temporary password which effected a successful log in. Website is otherwise OK. Was unaware of inherent rollback complications from 6.8 due to core encryption modifications, as I saw no disclaimer in plugin description.
maý 1, 2025
Used on 6.8.1 to 6.7.2 rollback – very nice and easy. I’d performed a simple file and folder rollback which worked perfectly but the DashBoard still showed the original WordPress version. Yes, could have fixed that easily (I believe) but this plugin just did what I wanted in about a minute, with the correct rollback version now displayed in the Dashboard, too. Thanks :o)
noýabr 5, 2024 2 replies
I attempted to use it on my test site and it would not rollback to any previous versions. I ended up using another plugin which worked effortlessly.
awgust 5, 2024 1 reply
Thank you so much for making this plugin, very helpful and thank you also for updating it. I used quite a lot and I always had no issue. Thank you for being so great with us.
Read all 13 reviews

Contributors & Developers

“Core Rollback” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.

Contributors

“Core Rollback” has been translated into 11 locales. Thank you to the translators for their contributions.

Translate “Core Rollback” into your language.

Interested in development?

Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.

Changelog

1.3.7 / 2024-12-02

  • start in init hook
  • add GitHub Action to generate POT

1.3.6 / 2024-11-01

  • remove load_plugin_textdomain()
  • composer update

1.3.5 / 2023-07-12

  • update rollback choices for PHP version

1.3.4 / 2023-02-07

  • composer update

1.3.3 / 2023-02-05

  • update for PHP 8.1

1.3.2 / 2022-05-10

  • use wp_is_block_theme() for check

1.3.1 / 2022-02-08

  • use sanitize_key() for nonces

1.3.0 / 2022-01-28

  • filter WP versions with significant deprecation notices/errors for newer PHP versions
  • add notice about limiting of rollback options for PHP versions

1.2.4 / 2022-01-14

  • proper nonce verification of settings page
  • remove unneededd version_compare check for notice

1.2.3 / 2022-01-11

  • I suck and so do typos

1.2.2 / 2022-01-11

  • need to use method_exists in check to properly function

1.2.1 / 2022-01-11

  • add function_exists( 'is_block_theme' ) check to avoid fatal

1.2.0 / 2022-01-10

  • add method to return array of block capable WP versions for rollback

1.1.2 / 2022-01-10

  • add notice if currently using block theme, thanks @costdev

1.1.1 / 2021-10-14

  • use sanitize_title_with_dashes() as sanitize_file_name() maybe have attached filter that changes output

1.1.0 / 2021-07-07

  • add @10up GitHub Actions for WordPress SVN

1.0.1 / 2020-12-4

  • fix text-domain in string, thanks Alex

1.0.0 / 2020-11-17

  • initial release to dot org repository
  • add Class Bootstrap to intiate process
  • updated instructions, etc
  • add assets, screenshots, banners, icon
  • add readme.txt and clean up create_admin_page()
  • add warning notice to settings
  • add force-check query arg to redirect to more consistently display the Re-install Now button.
  • limit rollbacks to WP > 4.0, I found some non-recoverable issue in my local testing
  • initial release