Introduction
The release of WordPress 6.9 (December 2025) brought significant improvements in security and performance. However, as with every major version, plugin compatibility issues and performance problems have also been reported. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the most common errors, how to mitigate risks, and how long to wait before updating your site.
Reported errors in WordPress 6.9
The main documented problems include:
- Plugins that stop working: users reported that extensions like Aruba HiSpeed Cache block the proper functioning of other plugins.
- WooCommerce: errors in the checkout process and conflicts with the new version.
- Elementor: problems in the visual editor, with crashes and loss of styles.
- Yoast SEO: incompatibilities in metadata generation and interface errors.
- High CPU usage: Some sites experienced slowness and saturation after the update, especially in environments with caching plugins.
👉 These errors do not affect all sites, but they do represent risks for projects in production.
How to update without taking risks
- Full backup: saves files and database before any update.
- Staging environment: Test the update in a test site before applying it to production.
- Check plugin compatibility: see if your extensions have already been tested with WordPress 6.9.
- Monitor performance: After updating, check CPU usage and loading speed.
- Keep PHP updated: WordPress 6.9 works best with PHP 8.2+, but some environments using PHP 8.4 have reported incompatibilities.
How long should I wait for a safe update?
- Advanced users / small sites: can update in the first week, provided they test in staging.
- For business or high-traffic sites: it is recommended to wait 2 to 4 weeks after launch, enough time for the community to report bugs and for official patches to be released.
- Best practices: Follow the WordPress forums and your hosting provider’s notes to confirm stability.
Comparison table: Update now vs wait
| Strategy | Advantages | Risks |
|---|---|---|
| Update immediately | Quick access to new features and security patches | Potential plugin incompatibilities and high CPU usage |
| Wait 2-4 weeks | Greater stability; community has already reported bugs | Delay in receiving improvements and security patches |
Most affected plugins
- WooCommerce: broken checkout and payment gateway errors.
- Elementor: Visual editor glitches and loss of styles.
- Yoast SEO: problems in metadata generation.
- Aruba HiSpeed Cache: blocks the operation of other plugins.
👉 If your site depends on any of these plugins, it is recommended to wait before updating.
Conclusion
Upgrading to WordPress 6.9 is safe if you follow best practices: backups, staging tests, and compatibility checks. For critical sites, it’s best to wait a few weeks before applying the final update.
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