Core Rollback

Seamless rollback of WordPress Core to latest release or any outdated, secure release using the Core Update API and core update methods. Only latest release and outdated, secure releases are offered.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.

1. 

   Tools menu item

2. 

   Rollback Core action dropdown

3. 

   Re-install Now button for rollback

1.4.0 / 2025-11-17

• return rollback offer with update_core transient
• update POT GitHub Action

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