We recommend keeping your version of WordPress current, mainly for the security fixes.
There’s a good article on the WordPress site with instructions for Updating WordPress.
There are a few main points in the article that need a little more explanation.
Check Requirements
Most of our wordpress sites are hosted with Bluehost and currently they meet the system requirements for the most current version of Worpdress, and I would imagine they will always meet the system requirements. If you’re not sure check with your web host.
Make a Backup
In the Control Panel of your web host download a backup of both your database and your website files. In Bluehost’s control panel it’s under Files > Site Backup & Restore you’ll want to download “Website Files” and “MySQL Databases (All)”, or alternatively you could just download the “Full cPanel Backup”, although it might take a little while longer.
Disable Plugins
In the wordpress dashboard go to plugins. Select all and disable. You might make note of which are currently disabled already so you don’t inadvertently enable them later.
Ready to Update
After clicking the update button in the wordpress dashboard you’ll see information for upgrading WordPress and down below information on upgrading your plugins. Update the plugins first, and then wordpress. You’ll want to do the automatic update. If you are unable to continue because wordpress is requiring ftp connection information, you can often use your control panel user and password but it would be more secure to first create a new ftp user and password in your host’s control panel and to then use that connection information to upgrade wordpress. Once wordpress is updated go back into plugins and activate those plugins which were previously active.
If You’re Feeling Lucky
You can always just click the “Update” button, and ignore these instructions. We are not recommending this, however we have clients that do it all the time.