---
title: update_plugins
description: "## What is the update_plugins permission in WordPress? The update_plugins permission allows update WordPress plugins to a more recent release. The update_plugins permission gives access to the Dashboard > Updates menu link. A user with this permission will also see…"
url: "https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/update-plugins/"
updated: "2026-10-14"
category: WordPress Permissions / WordPress Permissions
---

# update_plugins

## What is the update_plugins permission in WordPress?

The update_plugins permission allows update WordPress plugins to a more recent release.

The update_plugins permission gives access to the Dashboard > Updates menu link. A user with this permission will also see a red update icon in the left menu and a grey icon in the top menu.

![](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/update-plugins-link.png)

Users with the update_plugins permission will be able to see select plugins and click the "Update Plugins" button:

![](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/update-wordpress-plugins-1024x657.png)

If the user has the [activate_plugins](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/activate-plugins/) permission, they will also be able to update plugins via the "Plugins" link shown below.

![](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/extra-plugins-update.png)

---

## Who has the update_plugins permission?

The update_plugins permission is available on single WordPress sites and on multisite networks.

By default, the update_plugins permission is only given to [Super Admins](https://publishpress.com/links/super-admin), and Administrators.

Users not in these roles are not allowed to update plugins.

---

## How can you control who has the update_plugins permission?

You can control who has the update_plugins permission by installing the [PublishPress Capabilities](https://publishpress.com/links/capabilities) plugin.

- Install the [PublishPress Capabilities](https://publishpress.com/links/capabilities) plugin.
- Go to “Capabilities” in your WordPress admin menu.
- Using the dropdown in the top-left corner, choose the role you want to edit.
- Click the "Plugins" tab.
- Check or uncheck the "activate plugins" box.

![](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/activate-plugins-1-1024x527.png)

---

## All plugin permissions in WordPress

- [activate_plugins](https://publishpress.com/docs/activate-plugins/)
- [delete_plugins](https://publishpress.com/docs/delete-plugins/)
- [install_plugins](https://publishpress.com/docs/install_plugins/)
- [edit_plugins](https://publishpress.com/docs/edit_plugins/)
- [update_plugins](https://publishpress.com/docs/update-plugins/)

## All update permissions in WordPress

- [update_core](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/update_core/)
- [update_plugins](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/update-plugins/)
- [update_themes](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/update_themes/)