Configure WordPress web app to allow plugin and theme updates

Charley Blewett 30

Hi,

I was hoping that someone could point me to the documentation detailing how to set up the Azure Web App service so that the WordPress app can allow plugin updates. Right now, the site goes down for extended maintenance after updating a plugin through the WordPress backend. Or, it crashes after same attempt.

I have on plugin that is through the WordPress plugin portal and another that is a premium app from the same developer.

I would also like to learn how to update a WordPress Theme without crashing the app or putting it into an extended maintenance mode. Thank you.

SnehaAgrawal-MSFT 18,286 Reputation points

2023-01-30T06:07:57.0133333+00:00
Thanks for reaching here! Some themes just like plugins can be poorly written and can slow down your site.

Test if your theme is responsible for the long page load times. Steps to be followed:

Revert to the default WordPress template TwentyFourteen and check if the page load time is much better.

If yes, then the Theme could be the culprit.

To resolve this pick another theme. Note: If there is no difference in the page load time after reverting the Theme to an older version, then try some of the tips listed in this blog: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-in/blog/10-ways-to-speed-up-your-wordpress-site-on-azure-websites/

Further if plugins can be the culprit in slowing down your site especially if they are poorly written or configured.

Use a plugin like P3 to understand how much all the plugins used by the application do impact your page load time in order to take necessary actions to speed up your site If there are unused plugins, this can add to you page load time as WordPress tries to load all the activated plugins.

Its suggested to clean up or remove all the plugins that are not being used. Use only the plugins that can improve your website and not drag out the performance of your site.

We have seen atleast two plugins being slow Captcha and Visual composer on the App service platform. You need to find appropriate replacements of these plugins.
Charley Blewett 30 Reputation points

2023-02-01T16:56:26.3466667+00:00

I have removed the two WordPress websites I was trying to host on Azure Web Apps. Here is what happened that led me to remove them from Azure:

When I went to update the Divi Theme on one site, the process crashed, and I never got the website back. I never had a problem with this theme while hosting on a managed WordPress hosting service (Get Flywheel). The site was working on Azure until I used the WordPress backend update service.

Then I could not get into the backend. And, the website was served as a blank page. Like I said, I never had an update issue while using a different hosting platform with the Divi Theme.

I was wondering how to set up the site properly to handle the theme better.