How to Check the WordPress Version?

15 minutes read

To check the WordPress version, you can follow these steps:

  1. Log in to the WordPress admin area by visiting the login URL (usually http://example.com/wp-admin).
  2. Enter your username and password to log in.
  3. Once logged in, you will be directed to the WordPress admin dashboard.
  4. In the admin dashboard, look for the "At a Glance" box. This box provides basic information about your WordPress installation, including the WordPress version.
  5. The WordPress version will be displayed next to "You are using WordPress " followed by the version number.


Alternatively, you can also find the WordPress version in the source code of your website. Here's how:

  1. Open your website in a web browser.
  2. Right-click on an empty area of the web page and select "View Page Source" or "Inspect".
  3. This will open the browser's developer tools, displaying the source code of the website.
  4. In the source code, search for the keyword "generator", which is typically followed by the WordPress version number.
  5. The WordPress version will be indicated after the "generator" tag, typically in the format "content="WordPress x.x.x".


By following these steps, you can easily check the WordPress version of your website, either through the admin dashboard or by inspecting the source code.

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Can the WordPress version be disguised or hidden by website owners?

Yes, it is possible for website owners to disguise or hide the WordPress version used on their website. This can be done through various methods such as editing the theme's code, using security plugins, or using website firewalls. It is often done to prevent potential attackers from exploiting known vulnerabilities in older versions of WordPress. However, it is generally recommended to keep WordPress and its plugins/themes updated to the latest versions for security and performance reasons.

What is the recommended PHP function to check the WordPress version?

The recommended PHP function to check the WordPress version is get_bloginfo('version').

How can I disable the ability for others to check my WordPress version?

To disable the ability for others to check your WordPress version, you can follow these steps:

  1. Create a backup of your WordPress site: Before making any changes, it's always recommended to create a backup of your website for safety purposes.
  2. Update your WordPress version: Keeping your WordPress installation up to date is essential for security reasons. Ensure that you have the latest version installed. You can check for updates under the "Dashboard" menu in your WordPress admin area.
  3. Remove version information from your site's source code: a. Access your WordPress site's root directory using an FTP client or File Manager provided by your hosting service. b. Locate the wp-includes folder within your root directory. c. Look for a file called version.php inside the wp-includes folder and download it to your computer. d. Open the version.php file using a text editor. e. Locate the following line: $wp_version = 'x.x.x'; (where x.x.x represents your WordPress version). f. Comment out or delete that line by adding two forward slashes at the beginning like this: //$wp_version = 'x.x.x'; g. Save the changes and upload the modified version.php file back to your wp-includes folder, overwriting the original file.
  4. Remove WordPress version number from your site's HTML source: a. Locate your theme's functions.php file. You can find it under wp-content/themes/your-theme-name/. b. Open the functions.php file using a text editor. c. Add the following code at the end of the file, just before the closing PHP tag ?>: function remove_version_info() { return ''; } add_filter('the_generator', 'remove_version_info'); d. Save the changes and upload the modified functions.php file back to your theme's folder.
  5. Verify the changes: Go to your WordPress site and inspect the page source (right-click -> "View Page Source" or similar) to ensure that the version information is no longer visible. Additionally, you can use online tools or browser extensions like "BuiltWith" or "Wappalyzer" to double-check whether your WordPress version is hidden.


By following these steps, you can help mitigate potential security risks associated with exposing your WordPress version to others.

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Are there any security implications if I frequently check the WordPress version?

Frequently checking the WordPress version can indeed have security implications. The main issue is that by publicly exposing your WordPress version, potential attackers can exploit known vulnerabilities in that specific version. When new vulnerabilities are discovered, hackers can easily target outdated websites.


To enhance security, it is recommended to remove the version information from the public-facing parts of your WordPress site. This can be done by editing the theme's template files or by using security plugins that handle this for you. Additionally, it is crucial to keep your WordPress installation, themes, and plugins up to date. Regular updates often come with security fixes that address known vulnerabilities.

How frequently should I check the WordPress version?

It is recommended to check the WordPress version regularly, especially when updates are released. The frequency may depend on your specific needs and level of involvement with your website. However, a general guideline would be to check for updates at least once a month or whenever you receive a notification about a new version. Regularly updating your WordPress installation helps ensure your website's security, stability, and compatibility with the latest features and plugins.

Is there a specific URL or file path I need to access to check the WordPress version?

Yes, you can check the WordPress version by accessing the readme.html file on your WordPress installation. The URL or file path to access it is generally:


For the root WordPress directory: your-domain.com/readme.html For a specific installation folder: your-domain.com/subfolder/readme.html


Simply replace "your-domain.com" with your actual domain name and "subfolder" with the name of a specific installation folder if applicable.

What is the earliest version of WordPress that can be checked?

The earliest version of WordPress that can be checked is WordPress 0.7, released on May 27, 2003.

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