Diagnosing “Update Amnesia Syndrome” and How to Cure It
If you’ve been dabbling in WordPress for any length of time, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced a mild, creeping temptation—one that whispers, “Just tweak this little thing directly in the theme files or plugin code. What’s the harm?” This urge is the beginning stage of what we, as your Website Psychiatrists, like to call “Update Amnesia Syndrome” (UAS). It’s a condition that leads many well-intentioned website creators into a cycle of frustration, regret, and, dare I say, despair. But don’t worry—treatment is available!
Here’s the part that blows our minds: It’s 2025, and we can’t believe we still need to explain this to people. And yet, in the past week alone, we’ve come across two websites—both developed by so-called “professionals”—where critical modifications were made directly to theme files. Yes, in 2025! It’s like hearing about a doctor prescribing leeches for a cold. We shouldn’t have to say it, but here we are: never, ever modify theme or plugin files directly.
Let’s dig into the symptoms, causes, and the best prescription to ensure your WordPress site stays healthy.
What Is “Update Amnesia Syndrome”?
Update Amnesia Syndrome (UAS) occurs when a WordPress user makes direct changes to theme files, plugin code, or even WordPress core files, only to discover those changes get wiped out during the next update. It’s like painstakingly decorating your house, only for a construction crew to come by the next week and repaint everything the original color. Frustrating, right? That’s UAS in a nutshell.
Symptoms of UAS include:
- Sudden loss of custom code or styling after an update.
- Panicked Googling of “Why did my changes disappear WordPress?”
- Frantically digging through old backups, trying to figure out which file you edited—and what changes you made in the first place..
What Causes UAS?
The primary cause is well-meaning curiosity paired with a lack of awareness about how WordPress works. To better understand, let’s break it down:
- Theme Updates: WordPress themes (like Twenty Twenty-Three or Astra) get updates to fix bugs, improve security, or add features. If you’ve modified your theme files directly (like editing
style.cssorfunctions.php), those changes will be overwritten during an update. No exceptions. - Plugin Updates: Plugins are designed to work independently of your code. If you dive into a plugin’s files to make a tweak (like modifying its PHP or JavaScript), your changes will vanish the moment the plugin is updated.
- Core WordPress Updates: Editing WordPress core files (like
wp-config.phpor other core functionality) is akin to playing doctor with the internal organs of a healthy patient—it’s risky, and it rarely ends well.
How Do We Treat UAS?
The good news is that there’s a highly effective treatment plan for Update Amnesia Syndrome, and it starts with embracing WordPress best practices. Here’s your prescription:
1. Use a Child Theme for Customizations
A child theme is your protective shield when you want to modify a theme. It inherits the functionality of the parent theme but allows you to add customizations in a separate space. When the parent theme updates, your customizations in the child theme remain untouched.
How to start:
- Create a new folder in your
wp-content/themesdirectory for your child theme. - Add a
style.cssandfunctions.phpfile to that folder. - Link your child theme to the parent theme by including a reference in the
style.cssfile.
Don’t worry—there are plenty of tutorials (or plugins!) that can walk you through this process.
2. Use Custom CSS (or the WordPress Customizer)
For small tweaks to styles—like changing fonts, colors, or layouts—you don’t need to dive into theme files. Instead, go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS in your WordPress dashboard. This is a safe place to add CSS that won’t disappear during updates. Bonus: you can see your changes live as you make them.
3. Extend Plugins with Hooks or Add-ons
If you want to alter the functionality of a plugin, don’t crack it open like a mad scientist’s lab experiment. Instead, check if the plugin provides hooks (actions or filters) that allow you to modify its behavior safely.
Some plugins also offer add-ons or pro versions that include the features you’re looking for. If those options don’t exist, consider consulting a developer to build a custom solution for your needs.
4. Avoid Core File Edits at All Costs
Tampering with WordPress core files is the ultimate no-no. If you find yourself itching to do this, stop and ask yourself: “Is there a better way?” (Spoiler: There always is.) Use WordPress hooks, filters, and functions instead.
Preventing Relapses: A Long-Term Maintenance Plan
Once you’ve taken the steps above, how do you ensure you don’t relapse into UAS?
- Keep Backups: Always back up your site before making significant changes, even when following best practices. If something goes wrong, you can restore a previous version of your site.
- Educate Yourself: WordPress has a robust community with countless tutorials, forums, and resources. Learn about hooks, child themes, and proper customization methods.
- Resist Temptation: Remember, the convenience of editing files directly is a short-term gain that leads to long-term pain. Write that mantra down if you need to!
Final Thoughts: Breaking Free from UAS
The first rule of WordPress is simple: never directly modify themes, plugins, or core files. It’s a rule that exists for your own good, even if it feels restrictive at first. Like a caring psychiatrist, WordPress is here to help you build a stable, functional, and long-lasting site—so long as you work with it, not against it.
Remember, with the right tools and mindset, Update Amnesia Syndrome is completely curable. So, take a deep breath, make a child theme, and let’s leave those core files alone for good.
Your website’s health will thank you.
What do you think? Ready to break the cycle of UAS? Leave a comment below, and let me know what WordPress struggles I can help you overcome next!