Want to show visitors when you last updated your WordPress posts? Many sites, including ours at WPBeginner, regularly refresh older articles with new info, fixes, or media. Displaying the last updated date builds trust and keeps users informed. In this step-by-step guide, we'll show you proven methods to add it easily.
Most WordPress themes show only the original publish date, which works for static blogs. But for dynamic sites—like news outlets or guides that evolve—it’s essential to highlight updates.
News sites often revisit stories with fresh developments. Without the last updated timestamp, readers miss key changes. Popular blogs sometimes omit dates entirely, but that's a mistake: transparency boosts credibility and SEO.
Ready to implement? Let's dive in. These methods are battle-tested on thousands of sites.
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This requires adding code to your theme's functions.php file or a site-specific plugin. New to this? See our beginner's guide on how to copy and paste code safely in WordPress.
Method 1: Show Last Updated Date Before Post Content
Add this code to your theme's functions.php or a custom plugin:
function wpb_last_updated_date( $content ) {
$u_time = get_the_time( 'U' );
$u_modified_time = get_the_modified_time( 'U' );
if ( $u_modified_time >= $u_time + 86400 ) {
$updated_date = get_the_modified_time( 'F jS, Y' );
$updated_time = get_the_modified_time( 'h:i a' );
$custom_content = '<p class="last-updated">Last updated on ' . $updated_date . ' at ' . $updated_time . '</p>';
$custom_content .= $content;
return $custom_content;
}
return $content;
}
add_filter( 'the_content', 'wpb_last_updated_date' );This snippet compares publish and modified times. If updated over 24 hours ago, it prepends the info before content.
Style it with custom CSS:
.last-updated {
font-size: small;
text-transform: uppercase;
background-color: #fffdd4;
}
Method 2: Add Last Updated Date in Theme Templates
For template edits, locate date-display code in single.php, archive.php, or content parts. Replace or append this:
$u_time = get_the_time( 'U' );
$u_modified_time = get_the_modified_time( 'U' );
if ( $u_modified_time >= $u_time + 86400 ) {
echo '<p>Last updated on ';
the_modified_time( 'F jS, Y' );
echo ' at ';
the_modified_time();
echo '</p>';
}
We hope this helped you add last updated dates to your WordPress site. For more efficiency, check our list of the most useful WordPress keyboard shortcuts.
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