How to Display Last Updated Date in WordPress Post?

Keeping your WordPress content fresh is one of the most effective ways to build user trust and maintain your website's accuracy. If you regularly update your articles, tutorials, reviews, or documentation, displaying the last updated date instead of only the original publication date helps readers understand that your content is still relevant.

Many website owners focus on publishing new articles, but they often overlook the importance of updating existing content. A visitor who lands on an article that was published several years ago may question whether the information is still accurate. However, if the article clearly shows that it was recently updated, readers are more likely to trust the information and continue reading.

This is especially important for websites covering technology, software, WordPress tutorials, finance, healthcare, legal information, and any niche where information changes frequently.

In this guide, you will learn how to display last updated date in WordPress post using several different methods. Whether you prefer editing your theme files manually or using a WordPress plugin, this tutorial covers everything you need to know.

How to Display Last Updated Date in WordPress Post?

Why Display the Last Updated Date?

Displaying the last updated date offers several benefits for both your visitors and your website.

Improves Reader Trust

When readers see that an article has been updated recently, they gain confidence that the information has been reviewed and remains accurate. This is particularly valuable for tutorial websites where software interfaces, settings, and features change regularly.

For example, a WordPress tutorial published in 2022 may no longer be completely accurate today. Showing that the article was updated last week reassures readers that the instructions reflect the latest version.

Makes Old Content Valuable Again

Many websites have hundreds or even thousands of articles that continue attracting visitors long after publication.

Updating these articles with new information and displaying the latest update date gives them renewed value. Readers know the content has been maintained rather than abandoned.

Better User Experience

Visitors appreciate transparency.

Instead of wondering whether an article is outdated, they can immediately see when it was last reviewed.

This simple addition creates a better overall reading experience.

Encourages Content Maintenance

Knowing that visitors can see the last modification date often motivates website owners to review and improve existing content regularly.

Rather than constantly creating new articles, updating existing content becomes part of the overall content strategy.

Published Date vs Last Updated Date

Many beginners confuse these two dates.

Many successful WordPress websites display both dates together.

Example:

• Published: January 15, 2024
• Last Updated: June 18, 2026

This provides complete transparency to readers.

Method 1: Display Last Updated Date Using WordPress Theme Code

The most flexible solution is adding a small code snippet to your WordPress theme.

This method requires editing your theme files.

Before making any changes, it is highly recommended to use a child theme or create a full website backup.

Step 1: Locate Your Theme Files

Navigate to:

Appearance → Theme File Editor

or use your hosting File Manager.

Locate one of these files:

• single.php
• content.php
• template-parts/content.php
• template-parts/content-single.php

The exact file depends on your WordPress theme.

Step 2: Find the Published Date

Look for code similar to:

the_date();

or

the_time();

or

get_the_date();

Step 3: Replace It

Insert code similar to:

Last Updated:
<?php echo get_the_modified_date(); ?>

You can also include the time:

Last Updated:
<?php echo get_the_modified_date(); ?>
at
<?php echo get_the_modified_time(); ?>

After saving the file, every updated article will display the latest modification date.

Method 2: Show Published and Updated Dates Together

Many websites prefer displaying both dates because they provide more context.

Example code:

Published:
<?php echo get_the_date(); ?>

Updated:
<?php echo get_the_modified_date(); ?>

The result may appear like this:

Published: February 20, 2025

Updated: July 30, 2026

This approach is particularly useful for educational websites and long-form tutorials.

Method 3: Only Show the Updated Date When Necessary

Some website owners do not want every article to display an update date.

Instead, they only want it shown when the article has actually been modified.

Example:

<?php
if (get_the_modified_time() != get_the_time()) {
    echo "Last Updated: ";
    the_modified_date();
}
?>

This prevents unnecessary duplication.

If a post has never been edited, only the publication date appears.

If it has been updated, the last updated date is displayed automatically.

Method 4: Use a WordPress Plugin

If you are uncomfortable editing PHP files, plugins provide an easier alternative.

Popular plugins include:

• WP Last Modified Info
• Last Modified Timestamp
• WP Meta and Date Remover
• PublishPress

Most plugins allow you to:

• Display last updated date automatically
• Customize the display location
• Change date format
• Show update time
• Add labels
• Choose which post types display updates

This approach is beginner-friendly and requires little technical knowledge.

Method 5: Add Last Updated Date Using a Custom Function

Advanced users can add a reusable function inside their child theme.

Example:

function display_last_updated() {
echo 'Last Updated: ' . get_the_modified_date();
}

Then call it wherever needed:

<?php display_last_updated(); ?>

This keeps your code organized and easier to maintain.

Best Date Format for Readers

Choosing the right date format improves readability.

Some popular options include:

For international audiences, "July 30, 2026" is widely recognized and easy to understand.

Displaying Relative Dates

Some websites prefer showing relative time.

Examples include:

• Updated 2 hours ago
• Updated yesterday
• Updated 5 days ago

This creates a more dynamic experience.

However, evergreen articles often benefit more from displaying the exact calendar date.

Where Should You Display the Last Updated Date?

Placement affects visibility.

Common locations include:

Most websites place the updated date directly below the article title.

Should You Replace the Published Date?

Generally, no.

Replacing the publication date entirely may confuse readers regarding when the content was originally created.

A better approach is displaying both dates.

Example:

Published: March 12, 2024

Last Updated: August 1, 2026

This maintains transparency while emphasizing freshness.

SEO Benefits of Displaying Last Updated Dates

Although displaying the updated date alone does not directly improve search rankings, it supports several important SEO factors.

Signals Fresh Content

Search engines favor content that remains relevant and accurate.

Regularly updating articles demonstrates that your website is actively maintained.

Improves Click-Through Rate

Users are more likely to click on content that appears current.

Seeing a recent update date can make your article stand out among older-looking search results.

Reduces Bounce Rate

Visitors who trust your content are more likely to continue reading instead of leaving immediately.

Lower bounce rates can contribute to stronger overall user engagement.

Encourages Regular Content Audits

Displaying update dates naturally encourages website owners to revisit older articles, correct outdated information, and expand content.

This ongoing maintenance often results in higher-quality pages over time.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many WordPress users make avoidable mistakes when implementing updated dates.

Avoiding these issues helps maintain a professional and trustworthy website.

Best Practices

To achieve the best results, consider following these recommendations:

• Update articles with meaningful improvements instead of making minor edits solely to change the date.
• Display both the publication date and the last updated date whenever appropriate.
• Use a child theme when modifying template files to prevent losing changes during theme updates.
• Keep your date format consistent across your entire website.
• Review high-traffic articles regularly to ensure they remain accurate and useful.
• Test any code changes on a staging site before applying them to your live website.
• Combine updated dates with high-quality content revisions to provide genuine value to readers.

Alternative Ways Based On Theme

For this method, simply copy and paste the following code into your theme's functions.php file.

Code 1 - For Universal Theme

If the code above is not working for you, consider using the code below

Code 2 - For Universal Theme

If the code above is still not working for you, consider using the code below

Code 3 - For Universal Theme

Code 4 - For Genesis Theme

Code 5 - For Elegant Theme

Code 6 - For Astra Theme

Conclusion

Learning how to display last updated date in WordPress post is a simple improvement that can significantly enhance your website's credibility, transparency, and user experience. Visitors appreciate knowing that the information they are reading has been reviewed and kept current, especially for tutorials, technical guides, and other content that evolves over time.

Whether you choose to edit your theme files manually, add a reusable custom function, or install a dedicated WordPress plugin, there is a solution suitable for every skill level. For beginners, plugins offer the quickest implementation with minimal effort. For developers and experienced WordPress users, custom code provides greater flexibility and complete control over how the update date is displayed.

Most importantly, remember that displaying a recent update date should reflect genuine improvements to your content rather than superficial edits. Regularly reviewing, expanding, and correcting your articles ensures they remain valuable to readers while strengthening the overall quality of your website. By combining meaningful content updates with a visible last updated date, you create a more trustworthy and professional experience that benefits both your audience and your long-term content strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

References

1. How to Display the “Last Updated” Date on WordPress Posts - jetpack.com
2. Show “Last Updated” or “Published Date” on Blog - wpastra.com