Keeping our plugins stable, secure, and continuously improving requires a well-defined release process. This article explains how we deliver updates, what you may experience when a new version is released, and why some updates may not be immediately available to everyone via the WordPress updater.
We use two main strategies to release plugin updates.
Instant Release
In an instant release, the new version becomes immediately available to all users through the WordPress update system as soon as it is published. This approach is typically used for:
Minor improvements
Updates with a very low risk of compatibility issues
When an instant release is performed, all sites will see the update at the same time.
Gradual Rollout
In many cases, we adopt a gradual rollout strategy. With this approach, the update is distributed progressively over a defined period of time, which can span several hours.
You may occasionally see a timeframe mentioned (for example, 24 hours), but this is not a fixed rule. The actual duration of a rollout can vary depending on the nature of the update and ongoing monitoring results.
During a gradual rollout:
Some sites receive the update earlier than others
The update becomes available to increasing percentages of users over time
The rollout can be slowed down, paused, or stopped if unexpected issues are detected
Why We Use Gradual Rollouts
Gradual rollouts are a standard practice in modern software delivery and are widely adopted across the software industry, from SaaS platforms to operating systems and large-scale web applications.
This approach allows teams to release updates in a controlled and observable way, rather than exposing all users to potential risks at once.
Key benefits include:
Early issue detection: if an edge case or unexpected conflict emerges, it can be identified before affecting all users
Risk mitigation: potential problems are limited to a smaller subset of installations
Improved stability: critical fixes or adjustments can be made quickly without requiring a global rollback
Better compatibility assurance: real-world usage provides valuable feedback beyond internal testing
This process helps ensure that updates are safe and stable for the majority of users before being fully released.
Website Downloads vs WordPress Updates
It is important to understand the difference between downloading the plugin from our website and updating it through WordPress.
Website downloads always provide the latest fully released version of the plugin
WordPress updates may be subject to a gradual rollout
This means that if a new version has been announced but is not yet visible in your WordPress dashboard, the rollout may still be in progress. In this case, your site will receive the update automatically once it reaches your rollout group.
What You Should Do
In most cases, no action is required on your part.
If you see the update available, it is safe to install
If you do not see it yet, it will appear automatically once the rollout completes
If you prefer immediate access, you can always download the latest version directly from our website
We strongly recommend keeping automatic updates disabled on staging or critical production environments and testing updates thoroughly before deploying them live.