\u201cIt\u2019s April. What\u2019s the Christmas tree doing in the living room?\u201d<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve spent hours decorating the Christmas tree and basking it in twinkling lights.<\/p>\n
But that was back in December.<\/p>\n
Life got busy, and before you knew it, spring rolled in. And now, the poor tree droops in the corner, shedding needles \u2014 a dusty fire hazard more than a festive centerpiece.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what happens with abandoned WordPress plugins.<\/p>\n
We install them for a reason, but over time, they\u2019re forgotten. Left unchecked, abandoned plugins become security risks, exposing your site to potential threats.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s spot them and remove them.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s an Abandoned Plugin?<\/h2>\n
Oh yes, first, we still need to understand what<\/em> an abandoned plugin exactly <\/em>is.<\/p>\n An abandoned plugin is a <\/strong>WordPress plugin<\/strong><\/a> that its developer no longer maintains or updates. WordPress considers a plugin <\/strong>abandoned<\/em><\/strong> if it hasn\u2019t received updates in over two years.<\/strong><\/p>\n Such plugins can become incompatible with the latest WordPress versions, leading to potential security vulnerabilities and functionality issues.<\/p>\n Abandoned plugins are like ticking time bombs for your WordPress site. In 2023, 97% of all new WordPress vulnerabilities<\/a> originated from plugins, while only 0.2% were found in the WordPress core itself. That means nearly every security issue affecting WordPress sites comes from plugins and themes \u2014 not the core software.<\/p>\n The WordPress vulnerability report<\/a> from SolidWP has daily updates on any new WordPress ecosystem vulnerabilities. You\u2019ll almost always see new vulnerabilities for plugins but rarely for the WordPress core.<\/p>\n That\u2019s thousands of business owners who dealt with:<\/strong><\/p>\n When developers abandon their plugins, they stop patching security holes \u2014 creating perfect entry points for hackers.<\/p>\n Think about it:<\/strong><\/p>\n Now, Wordfence\u2019s WAF blocked 3 million attacks<\/a> from about 14,000 IPs targeting plugin vulnerabilities in just the first half of 2023.<\/p>\n But let\u2019s suppose you got lucky, and the abandoned plugin you have is completely safe to use.<\/p>\n We still have to deal with performance issues.<\/p>\n Every new WordPress update<\/a> improves speed, reduces redundancies in the system, and makes the overall website feel snappy while adding more features.<\/p>\n But if the abandoned plugin bogs the website down, these speed improvements might never get noticed, and it\u2019d be easy to think that WordPress is the culprit here (even though it never is).<\/p>\n There\u2019s also a strong possibility that the plugin causes a conflict with a newer version of WordPress and you\u2019re left with a broken website.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, when that happens with abandoned plugins, you\u2019re completely on your own. No developer to answer questions, no community support, no documentation updates. 15.7% of all vulnerable plugins<\/a> were completely removed from the WordPress plugin repository because of abandonment.<\/p>\n This leaves website owners unknowingly running outdated, unpatched software that hackers can exploit.<\/p>\n Put simply \u2014 move away from such plugins as soon as possible.<\/strong><\/p>\n Subscribe now to receive all the latest updates, delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It\u2019s time to pick up your metaphorical magnifying glasses, and begin searching for clues that reveal plugins that are gathering dust in your WordPress dashboard.<\/p>\n Here are some things that help identify if an abandoned plugin is lying around on our website.<\/p>\n The most obvious red flag is hiding in plain sight.<\/p>\n In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins<\/strong> > Installed Plugins<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Then click View Details<\/strong> to open the plugin details where you\u2019ll see the \u201cLast Updated\u201d date.<\/p>\n UpdraftPlus is a popular plugin and gets updated quite regularly. As of this writing, it was updated just two weeks ago, and it\u2019s safe to retain since there\u2019s active development.<\/p>\n But you could have an older plugin still on your website like the one below, updated NINE years ago:<\/p>\n Any plugin not updated in over a year deserves your attention, while those untouched for two years fall into WordPress\u2019s official \u201cabandoned\u201d category and should be removed from your website as quickly as possible.<\/strong><\/p>\n If there are pages that still use functionality of the plugin (maybe it\u2019s an old form plugin and you still have some forms), replace the functionality with newer plugins as quickly as you can.<\/p>\n Suppose you\u2019re looking to install your next WordPress plugin. You want to check the last updated dates in the search results as well.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s take the same abandoned plugin from the above example here. If you go to Plugins<\/strong> > Add New Plugins <\/strong>and search for it, you\u2019ll see the below screen:<\/p>\n Notice that it displays the last updated date right on the search results so you can choose whether or not to install the plugin.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not on your WordPress dashboard, but are looking up plugins on the WordPress plugin directory<\/a>, you can click through any plugin and see the version and \u201cLast updated\u201d date on the information panel on the right.<\/p>\n That should give you enough information to decide if the plugin is worth considering or not.<\/p>\n Suppose you see a plugin that was updated recently but only has a few active installs. How can you be sure if the plugin is active being developed?<\/p>\n The support tickets can show a clear picture.<\/p>\n On the WordPress plugins directory page, go to any plugin you\u2019re considering, and click the Support<\/strong> link right below the download button.<\/p>\n On this page, you\u2019ll see all the support tickets WordPress users have raised.<\/p>\n If you notice the developer actively responding to, resolving queries, even adding new features on request, you can safely consider trying the plugin out.<\/p>\n But sometimes, you may notice that queries are left unanswered for weeks and there\u2019s no actual development on the plugin. That\u2019s when it\u2019s better to stay away and find something more active.<\/p>\n WordPress is like that smart techie on your team who keeps everything in check.<\/p>\n If the WordPress core, a plugin or theme goes out of date, there\u2019s a new vulnerability, or there\u2019s a possible conflict, it sends you indications, notifications, and error messages to clearly state that.<\/p>\n You can choose to override those and continue with the action you planned to take \u2014 but we \u200cadvise listening to these warnings.<\/p>\n There are many ways to secure your WordPress website<\/a>. The easiest is to install just one security plugin like Wordfence, Patchstack, Sucuri, etc., and let it figure out if something is good for your website or not.<\/p>\n These plugins keep track of every security vulnerability, abandoned or outdated plugins, and any WordPress core issues out there. If your website shows signs that match any of these issues, the plugin will immediately notify you of the same.<\/p>\n They also perform automated background scans to detect malicious actors attempting to exploit outdated or abandoned plugins to gain unauthorized access to your website, or to identify previously safe plugins that have become infected.<\/p>\n And finally, if you don\u2019t want to worry about the technicalities, leave it up to the crowd. The best WordPress plugins<\/a> are also the ones with the most number of active installations.<\/p>\n When searching for plugins on the WordPress plugins directory, click the Advanced View <\/strong>tab under the plugin data (the section where we see the \u201cLast updated\u201d date).<\/p>\n The advanced view shows you stats on which version of the plugins are in use across all the users, and how many downloads the plugin sees on a daily and weekly basis, along with the total installs.<\/p>\n Plugins with dwindling active installations (under 1,000), declining download trends, or consistently poor ratings may be on their way to abandonment \u2014 or already there.<\/p>\n For the most part, if you stick to the top WordPress plugins which are actively used by a lot of people, you\u2019re generally going to be fine. That\u2019s because the developers as well as the technically savvy users are on the lookout for issues in the code and solve them as they appear.<\/p>\n So you\u2019ve discovered the plugin equivalent of that forgotten Christmas tree in your WordPress site. Now what?<\/p>\n Here\u2019s your step-by-step rescue plan to safely eliminate these security risks without breaking your site.<\/p>\n Before you touch anything, find a replacement. Search for active plugins that offer similar functionality to your abandoned ones.<\/p>\n The best replacements will have:<\/p>\n Nerd Note:<\/strong> Sometimes the perfect replacement isn\u2019t a plugin at all! Many features once requiring plugins are now built into WordPress core or your theme<\/a>.<\/p>\n A backup is your website\u2019s safety net. Don\u2019t skip it!<\/p>\n Create a full backup<\/a> of your WordPress site, including files and database.<\/p>\n You can use plugins or your host\u2019s backup tools, but make sure you know how to restore from this backup if needed.<\/p>\n Hopefully, the backup won\u2019t be necessary, but it will be a lifesaver if things go wrong.<\/p>\n For business-critical sites, test before you leap. If available, clone your site to a staging environment<\/a> and replace the abandoned plugins there first.<\/p>\n If the site breaks, you need to investigate what went wrong and how to fix it in staging before <\/em>you start working on the live website.<\/p>\n This environment becomes your consequence-free playground for new plugins to be tested properly with your specific setup.<\/p>\n Now for the main event. Here\u2019s how to swap out those abandoned plugins.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re sure everything is working as it should, get rid of that old WordPress plugin.<\/p>\n After the switch, give your site a thorough examination. Check your site\u2019s front end and back end for any issues.<\/p>\n Look for visual glitches, functionality problems, or error messages. And pay special attention to features that relied on the replaced plugin.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s face it \u2014 sometimes you need an abandoned plugin that your site absolutely depends on.<\/p>\n Maybe it handles a unique function (like a specific checkout recommendation system) <\/em>that no other plugin matches, or perhaps you\u2019ve built custom integrations around it.<\/p>\n So, can you (and should you) keep it? Well\u2026it\u2019s complicated.<\/p>\n Keeping an abandoned plugin is risky. You should only <\/em>consider keeping it if:<\/p>\n If all these elements are satisfied, you can consider<\/em> keeping the plugin. But we\u2019d still recommend finding a way to maintain the code with the help of a developer or getting rid of it as soon as you can.<\/p>\n If you decide to keep that abandoned plugin hanging around, you\u2019ll need to build a fortress around it.<\/p>\n As cliche as it is, prevention beats cure.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how to build a healthy plugin ecosystem that keeps your WordPress site secure and performing at its best.<\/p>\n Think of this as your site\u2019s quarterly checkup.<\/p>\n Mark your calendar for a thorough plugin review every three months. During these audits, evaluate each plugin\u2019s recent update history, compatibility status, and whether you still actually need it.<\/p>\n This routine maintenance prevents plugin problems before they start and keeps your site lean.<\/p>\n Not all plugins are created equal. When adding new tools to your site, look for these healthy indicators:<\/p>\n Your WordPress site isn\u2019t a plugin collection showcase. Every plugin adds code, complexity, and potential security issues.<\/p>\n Ask yourself: \u201cDoes this plugin solve a real problem I have right now?\u201d<\/p>\n If not, it doesn\u2019t belong on your site. Aim for the minimum number of plugins necessary to achieve your goals.<\/p>\n Stay informed without constant dashboard checking. Configure email alerts for available plugin updates through your host\u2019s tools or a management plugin.<\/p>\n These email alerts help you keep track of any critical security patches or compatibility updates, even when you\u2019re busy running your business.<\/p>\n Sometimes, it\u2019s best to just hand things over to a professional so you can work on your business.<\/p>\n Services like DreamPress<\/a> handle most of WordPress maintenance, including security monitoring and updates, and also help out if something breaks.<\/p>\n Like that forgotten Christmas tree, abandoned plugins might have served you well once \u2014 but their time has passed. You cannot risk the security and performance of your WordPress site with these abandoned plugins.<\/p>\n But, not everyone has the time or technical expertise to monitor plugins for signs of abandonment.<\/p>\nWhy Abandoned Plugins Are a Big Problem<\/h2>\n
![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/01_why_abandoned_plugins_are_a_big_problem.webp\")
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Get Content Delivered Straight to Your Inbox<\/h2>\n
How To Spot Abandoned Plugins<\/h2>\n
1. The \u201cLast Updated\u201d Date<\/h3>\n
![\"WordPress](\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/02_installed_plugins.webp\")
<\/figure>\n![\"UpdraftPlus](\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/03_last_updated_plugin.webp\")
<\/figure>\n![\"Content](\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/04_old_plugin_not_updated_in_9_years.webp\")
<\/figure>\n2. Check Updated Date in the Plugin Search<\/h3>\n
![\"WordPress](\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/05_check_updated_date_in_the_plugin_search.webp\")
<\/figure>\n![\"WordPress](\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/06_informaiton_sidebar_version_last_updated.webp\")
<\/figure>\n3. Look at Support Tickets<\/h3>\n
![\"WordPress](\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/07_support_link.webp\")
<\/figure>\n![\"WordPress](\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/08_support_tickets_wordpress.webp\")
<\/figure>\n4. Listen to Your Dashboard\u2019s Warnings<\/h3>\n
![\"WordPress](\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/09_listen_to_your_dashboard_s_warnings.webp\")
<\/figure>\n5. Run Automated Security Checks<\/h3>\n
![\"Wordfence](\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/10_wordfence.webp\")
6. The Popularity Test<\/h3>\n
![\"WordPress](\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/11_the_popularity_test.webp\")
<\/figure>\nFound Abandoned Plugins? Here\u2019s What To Do<\/h2>\n
Step 1: Find an Alternative<\/h3>\n
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Step 2: Create a Complete Backup<\/h3>\n
Step 3: Test in a Staging Environment (When Possible)<\/h3>\n
Step 4: Carefully Replace the Plugin<\/h3>\n
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Step 5: Post-Replacement Check-Up<\/h3>\n
Should You Ever Keep an Abandoned Plugin?<\/h2>\n
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Proactive Steps To Take Control of Plugin Health \ud83d\udcaa<\/h2>\n
Schedule Regular Plugin Audits<\/h3>\n
Choose Plugins With Strong Track Records<\/h3>\n
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Adopt the \u201cLess is More\u201d Philosophy<\/h3>\n
Set Up Automatic Update Notifications<\/h3>\n
Consider a Managed WordPress Hosting Solution<\/h3>\n
Your Site Deserves Better Than Plugin Cobwebs<\/h2>\n
![\"website](\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/product-cta-wordpress-hosting-877x586.webp)
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