# WP Core Update Cleaner

> WP Core Update Cleaner has 800+ active installs, a 4.5/5 rating from 4 reviews and 130 downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 33/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Consider an alternative.** WP Core Update Cleaner shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 800+ sites, is rated 4.5/5 and was last updated 3 years ago, and scores 33/100 on our health check.

**When WordPress is updated, it re-installs wp-config-sample.php, readme files, and license files even though you may have deleted them before. This plugin automatically removes these files when WordPress is manually or…**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** 800+
- **Total downloads:** 9,915
- **Downloads (30 days):** 130 (+8.3% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** 4.5/5 from 4 reviews
- **Health score:** 33/100 (At risk)
- **Version:** 1.2.0
- **Last updated:** Mar 19, 2024
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 6.5.12
- **Requires:** WordPress 3.3+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** Upperdog (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/upperdog/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-core-update-cleaner/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [core](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/core/) | #6 | 37 |
| [update](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/update/) | #26 | 123 |
| [upgrade](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/upgrade/) | #7 | 27 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| core | >100 | 10,000 |
| update | >100 | 10,000 |
| upgrade | >100 | 8,823 |

## Version adoption

- 1.2: 100%

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [WP Downgrade / Specific Core Version](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-downgrade/) | 100K+ | 4.8/5 (169) | May 8, 2023 | 48/100 |
| 2 | [Advanced Automatic Updates](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/automatic-updater/) | 20K+ | 4.7/5 (61) | Jun 4, 2021 | 46/100 |
| 3 | [Core Rollback](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/core-rollback/) | 20K+ | 4.7/5 (16) | Jul 30, 2026 | 77/100 |
| 4 | [WP Sanitize File Name Plus](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-sanitize-file-name-plus/) | 1K+ | 5/5 (8) | Dec 20, 2017 | 39/100 |
| 5 | [WP Updates Settings](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-updates-settings/) | 800+ | 4.4/5 (5) | Dec 20, 2017 | 37/100 |
| 7 | [WP Login Timeout Settings](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-login-timeout-settings/) | 600+ | 3.5/5 (8) | Dec 20, 2017 | 33/100 |
| 8 | [Axio Core](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/axio-core/) | 300+ | — | Jan 19, 2022 | 26/100 |
| 9 | [WP Excerpt Settings](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-excerpt-settings/) | 200+ | 5/5 (2) | Dec 20, 2017 | 33/100 |
| 10 | [Disable Privacy Tools](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/disable-privacy-tools/) | 100+ | 5/5 (3) | Jan 11, 2022 | 32/100 |
| 11 | [Turn Admin Email Verification Off](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-switch-admin-email-verification-off/) | 100+ | — | Dec 11, 2024 | 28/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Is WP Core Update Cleaner free?
Yes. WP Core Update Cleaner is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.

### Is WP Core Update Cleaner safe to use in 2026?
WP Core Update Cleaner shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 800+ sites, is rated 4.5/5 and was last updated 3 years ago, and scores 33/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use WP Core Update Cleaner?
WP Core Update Cleaner is active on 800+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 9,915 times since it launched in December 2014. It was downloaded 130 times in the last 30 days.

### Does WP Core Update Cleaner work with WordPress 7.1?
WP Core Update Cleaner is officially tested up to WordPress 6.5.12, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.

### When was WP Core Update Cleaner last updated?
The latest version, 1.2.0, was released on March 19, 2024 (3 years ago).

### Who makes WP Core Update Cleaner?
WP Core Update Cleaner is developed and maintained by Upperdog.

### What are the best alternatives to WP Core Update Cleaner?
The most popular alternatives to WP Core Update Cleaner are WP Downgrade (100K+ installs), Advanced Automatic Updates (20K+ installs) and Core Rollback (20K+ installs).


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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-core-update-cleaner/ · Generated 2026-10-01 19:54 UTC by PageForge