How to Update the TranslatePress Free Plugin When Updates Don't Appear

Many users of the free TranslatePress plugin encounter a common issue: their installed version (e.g., 2.5.4) is outdated, but the WordPress dashboard does not show an available update for the latest release (e.g., 2.7.1). This guide will explain why this happens and walk you through the steps to manually update your plugin.

Why Manual Updates Are Sometimes Necessary

The WordPress update system is generally reliable, but occasionally it can fail to notify you of a new version. This can be due to a temporary caching issue on your site's server, a conflict with another plugin, or a delay in the update propagation across WordPress's global network. The free version of TranslatePress is maintained and updated separately from its commercial counterpart, and its latest version is always available on the official WordPress Plugin Directory.

Solution: Manual Plugin Update

Manually updating the plugin is a safe and straightforward process. Your existing settings and translations will be preserved during the upgrade. Follow these steps:

1. Download the Latest Version: Visit the official TranslatePress WordPress.org page and click the blue 'Download' button to get the newest .zip file.
2. Access Your WordPress Admin Dashboard: Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
3. Deactivate TranslatePress (Recommended): Find 'TranslatePress Multilingual' in the plugin list and click 'Deactivate'. This is a precautionary step to avoid potential conflicts during the update process.
4. Upload the New Version: Click 'Add New' at the top of the page, then click the 'Upload Plugin' button. Click 'Choose File', select the translatepress-multilingual.zip file you just downloaded, and click 'Install Now'.
5. Replace the Old Version: WordPress will detect the older version and prompt you to replace it. Confirm that you want to proceed. The installation process will overwrite the old files with the new ones.
6. Reactivate the Plugin: Once the update is complete, click the 'Activate Plugin' button.

After reactivation, go back to your Plugins page to verify that the version number now reflects the latest release. Your site should be fully updated and functioning correctly.

Checking the Version and Changelog

You can always check your currently installed version on the Plugins page in your WordPress admin area. To see what's new in each update, you can review the public changelog on WordPress.org.

If you continue to experience issues with updates after following this guide, a general troubleshooting step is to clear your WordPress cache, both from any caching plugins you use and your server or CDN if applicable.