Seamless rollback of WordPress Core to latest release or any outdated, secure release using the Core Update API and core update methods.
As of April 2026, Core Rollback is a WordPress core plugin with 10K+ active installations and a 4.7/5 rating from 15 reviews. It has been downloaded 154K+ times in total. Requires WordPress 4.1+ and PHP 5.6+. Available on WordPress.org since 2020. Actively maintained — updated within the last month. Downloads are up 812% this week. Support resolution rate: 33%. Top alternative: WP Downgrade | Specific Core Version.
Seamless rollback of WordPress Core to latest release or any outdated, secure release using the Core Update API and core update methods. Only latest release and outdated, secure releases are offered. Refer to https://api.wordpress.org/core/stable-check/1.0/ Logo from a meme generator. Original artwork by Allie Brosh.
From the Tools menu select Rollback Core, select the version you wish to rollback to from the dropdown and click Rollback. You will be directed to the update-core.php page where you should see a button to Re-install your specified version. If you move away from the update-core.php page before clicking the Re-install button you will have 15 seconds to return and complete the process or you will need to start over.
In multisite use the Settings menu.
WARNING: Downgrading…
This is a life saver for when you need to pull a client’s site down into local, but they’re on an older version of WP and they refuse to pay us for updating the sites plugins.
I did my job with it, I downgraded WordPress from 6.9 to 6.8.3.
My theme was not compatible with the automatically installed WP 6.8 and it let to critical errors on the page. I could still access the admin page to download the plugin and trigger the rollback. Unfortunately, the theme has no support from the developer and probably it is not going to receive a patch for WP 6.8.
I followed the re-install steps and everything worked well. Once the installation was finished, I was force-logged out and upon trying to enter the admin area, my password was no longer valid. Small heart attack. (ref. @ndstry had the same issue mentioned in a previous review, it seems there is a hashing logic changed between the versions). Luckily the password reset email was working well and I could reset the admin account.
I have also shut down the website (I am hosting it locally with Local) and then the WP version is also shown correctly.
Thank you for developing this plugin!
Unable to log into site after rollback to 6.7.2 from 6.8.1. Password reset failed to send e-mails. Host provider e-mailed a temporary password which effected a successful log in. Website is otherwise OK.
Was unaware of inherent rollback complications from 6.8 due to core encryption modifications, as I saw no disclaimer in plugin description.
Used on 6.8.1 to 6.7.2 rollback – very nice and easy. I’d performed a simple file and folder rollback which worked perfectly but the DashBoard still showed the original WordPress version. Yes, could have fixed that easily (I believe) but this plugin just did what I wanted in about a minute, with the correct rollback version now displayed in the Dashboard, too. Thanks :o)
| WordPress | 4.1+ requiredTested up to 6.9.4 |
| PHP | 5.6+ required |
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Analysis and metrics by PluginSift.