> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.digitalfyre.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Auto-Updates

PanelAlpha can automatically update your plugins and themes whenever new versions are released. Auto-updates are configured per instance under **Advanced → Auto Updates**.

## Configuring Auto-Updates

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Your Instance">
    From **My Instances**, click on your instance.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Go to Advanced → Auto Updates">
    Click the **Advanced** tab, then select **Auto Updates** from the left sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable Auto-Updates">
    Toggle on the options you want:

    * **Auto Upgrade Plugins** — plugins are updated automatically when new versions are available
    * **Auto Upgrade Themes** — themes are updated automatically when new versions are available
  </Step>
</Steps>

WordPress core updates are handled automatically by WP Cloud at the platform level.

<Warning>
  Auto-updates can occasionally cause compatibility issues between plugins and themes. If your site runs production workloads, consider testing updates on a [staging environment](/wordpress-hosting/managing-instances/staging) before enabling auto-updates on the live instance.
</Warning>

## Manual Updates

To apply updates manually at any time, click the **Update** button in the top action bar of your instance. This applies all pending core, plugin, and theme updates in one action.

You can also update individual plugins from the [Plugins](/wordpress-hosting/managing-instances/plugins) tab.