Background Update Notification Email Address
This plugin changes the email address update notifications are sent to following an automatic background update.
Consider an alternative
Background Update Notification… shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 100+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 11 years ago, and scores 32/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (100+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 10 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.8 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Background Update Notificat… stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| admin | >100 |
| Automatic updates | >100 |
| background updates | >100 |
| manage | >100 |
| updates | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 5 from 3 reviews
About Background Update Notification Email Ad…
From the official readme · v1.1.1Description
This plugin changes the email address update notifications are sent to following an automatic background update.
Automatic background updates were introduced in WordPress 3.7. An email notification is sent following the success or failure. The email is sent to the website administrator specified in WordPress under Settings > General. This may not always be the best recipient.
This plugin is ideal for those who manage WordPress on their clients behalf. The client carries on receiving WordPress emails as before, with automatic background update notifications being redirected to the developers email address specified in this plugins settings.
We originally published a solution following the release of WordPress 3.7.1. This plugin provides a simple interface for setting the email address without having to touch code.
Once installed, navigate to Settings > Update Notifications. From here you can set the email address where background update notifications should be sent to. Background update notifications can be sent to multiple recipients by entering a comma-separated list of email addresses.
Installation
Using The WordPress Dashboard
- Navigate to the ‘Add New’ in the plugins dashboard
- Search for ‘Background Update Notification Email Address’
- Click ‘Install Now’
- Activate the plugin on the Plugin dashboard
- Set email address under Settings > Update Notifications
Using FTP
- Download and extract the plugin
- Upload the
background-update-notification-email-addressfolder to the/wp-content/plugins/directory. - Activate the plugin in the Plugin dashboard
- Set email address under Settings > Update Notifications
Changelog
1.1.1
- Maintain backwards compatibility with previous option format, accept either a string or array of email addresses.
1.1.0
- Add multiple email address support. You can now enter a comma-separated list of email addresses.
- Save default value when we prepare the option.
- Delete settings when the plugin is uninstalled.
1.0.3
- Move localisation functions to admin file as there are no public facing strings.
1.0.2
- Prepare option if it does’t exist.
1.0.1
- Improved configuration instructions.
1.0.0
- Initial release.
Screenshots
For developers
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FAQ
Background Update Notification Emai…: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 6, 2026
Is Background Update Notification… free?
Yes. Background Update Notification… is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Background Update Notification… safe to use in 2026?
Background Update Notification… shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 100+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 11 years ago, and scores 32/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Background Update Notification…?
Background Update Notification… is active on 100+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 3,833 times since it launched in February 2014. It was downloaded 73 times in the last 30 days.
Does Background Update Notification… work with WordPress 7.1?
Background Update Notification… is officially tested up to WordPress 4.8.32, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
When was Background Update Notification… last updated?
The latest version, 1.1.1, was released on December 11, 2015 (11 years ago).
Who makes Background Update Notification…?
Background Update Notification… is developed and maintained by Kanuka Digital.
What are the best alternatives to Background Update Notification…?
The most popular alternatives to Background Update Notification… are Loginizer (1M+ installs), Redux Framework (900K+ installs) and Admin Menu Editor (300K+ installs).
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