Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to Download Older Versions of WordPress

WordPress, the most popular Content Management System (CMS) in the world, is constantly evolving. With each update, new features and bug fixes are added to improve the platform. However, sometimes you may need to download an older version of WordPress. This may be necessary for various reasons, such as compatibility issues with your current website setup or conflicts with plugins and themes.

Here are the steps to download an older version of WordPress:

Step 1: Choose the Version of WordPress to Download

The first step is to determine which version of WordPress you need to download. You can find the older versions of WordPress on the official WordPress website. Click the "Release Archive" link at the bottom of the page. From here, you can choose the version of WordPress to download. It's important to know that older versions of WordPress may have security issues, so make sure to do your research before downloading.

Step 2: Download the WordPress Zip File

Once you have chosen the version of WordPress to download, click the "Download" button next to the version number. The WordPress Zip file will then start downloading to your computer. Once the download is complete, extract the contents of the Zip file to a folder on your computer.

Step 3: Install the Older Version of WordPress

To install the older version of WordPress, you need to access your website's server through FTP or cPanel. Connect to your server using an FTP client or cPanel File Manager. Once connected, navigate to the root directory of your website, where you have installed WordPress. Find the "wp-admin" and "wp-includes" folders and delete them. Then, upload the "wp-admin" and "wp-includes" folders from the downloaded WordPress version to your website's root directory.

Next, upload all the remaining files from the downloaded WordPress version to your website's root directory, replacing any existing files. Once the upload is complete, navigate to your website's URL and follow the installation instructions on the screen.

Conclusion

Downloading an older version of WordPress can sometimes be necessary to resolve compatibility issues with plugins and themes or to address security concerns. By following the steps above, you can easily download and install an older version of WordPress on your website. Just remember to take necessary precautions and always do your research before downloading.