The first beta version of is finally ready and the WordPress team is inviting everyone to install and test it.
WordPress 6.0 will introduce the new style switcher, block style retention, and list view improvements. You can try the beta version to discover the new features and thus prepare for the next update.
If you don’t know how to get started, we’ll walk you through how to install and test the beta, and list new features and improvements worth trying.
How to Test WordPress 6.0 Beta
First of all, we recommend using a development environment to test the beta version, either in a separate directory or from your website.
This is because the beta version may have bugs and compatibility issues with existing themes and plugins, which can cause problems if you use it on your page.
Once your development environment is ready for beta testing, install the WordPress 6.0 beta using one of these methods:
- Use the WordPress Beta Tester plugin. Install and activate the plugin, then go to Tools -> Beta Testing. Select the channel bleeding edge and transmission Beta/RC Only. Save the changes and go to Dashboard -> Updates to install the beta version.
- Download the .zip file and install it manually. To avoid using it directly on your website, you can install the beta version on a local computer or in a separate directory in the folder public_html. If you want to learn how to install WordPress manually, click here.
- It uses the WordPress command line interface. If you have SSH access and WP-CLI installed, use the wp core update –version= 6.0 -beta1 command on the command line.
You can help the WordPress team develop the major version by reporting any bugs you find in it or if you know how to reproduce them. We recommend reading the to know which features need testing.
What’s New in WordPress 6.0 Beta
We tested this beta version and compared it to the previous version. Let’s take a look at some of its new features and enhancements that enhance the entire site editing experience.
style switch
The style switcher is the new tool that allows users to easily switch between theme variations in the site editor.
You probably won’t see this feature if you just installed the beta, because the Twenty Twenty-Two theme doesn’t have theme variations by default yet.
If you want to add a theme variation to Twenty Twenty-Two to test this feature, create a new theme folder. styles In the address book /wp-content/themes/twentytwentytwo. Then add a file dark.json and paste the code snippet from this .
You can access the global style toggle via browse styles in the global styles panel.
It will display all available style variations. Click on one of them to quickly change the theme style.
Text selection between blocks
In the previous version, you could only select entire blocks. You can now select text in multiple text blocks, like paragraph, header Y date.
This enhancement allows you to remove or replace specific text instead of entire blocks.
However, this feature still has limitations. You cannot copy the selected text. Instead, the editor will copy all the blocks that contain it.
Web Fonts API
The Web Fonts API allows for easier management of local fonts. This new feature helps theme developers to create a consistent theme across different websites.
If done correctly, the new web fonts will appear in the font family dropdown menu. We have tested this feature to add more typography options for global styles.
You can test this function by modifying the files theme.json Y functions.php to register a new web font. Read the detailed instructions and code snippets written by the WordPress developers.
Block Style Retention
The block style retention feature maintains the block’s custom style when you transform it into another block or add a new button to a button block.
For example, if you changed the text and background color of a paragraph block, the style will remain the same if you make it a heading block.
The same goes for the button block. It will use the same custom style for any new buttons you add.
Block Lock UI
WordPress 6.0 introduces the Block Lock UI in the . Now you can prevent any block from being moved or removed.
Let’s look at the two ways to do this.
The first is through the block toolbar. Click on the three dots to open the settings menu and select Block. A popup will appear where you can select specific block lock attributes.
The second method is through the list view. Select a block and click on the three dots to open the settings menu. Choose Block and the same lock attribute popup will appear.
The steps to unlock a block are pretty much the same. Just click on the icon Block in the block toolbar to access the function.
List view improvements
The most significant improvement to the list view is the ability to select multiple blocks using shift + click. This allows you to perform bulk actions like moving, deleting, copying or duplicating multiple blocks.
The next change is the default collapsed view. This setting makes it easier to navigate the list view, especially for a complex page structure with many nested blocks.
If you open the list view while you have a block selected in the editor, the relevant block nest will open to display the active block.
Lastly, the list view will also display the lock icon for locked blocks.
Featured Image Magnification
In WordPress 6.0, there is a new toolbar option that allows you to use the featured image in the front page block.
Enabling this option will connect the cover block to the featured image. For example, if you update the featured image, the cover block image will change accordingly.
block upgrades
Block improvements in WordPress 6.0 include new blocks, more transformation options, and a new preview popup. Let’s see the new blocks available in the beta version:
- The comment loop block replaces the deprecated post comment block. This new block also includes child blocks such as comment author, comment date, comment edit, and comment reply.
- Avatar block. A new dedicated block to display the username avatar image.
- Read more. Use this block to add anchor text that links to a post, page, or other content.
The new beta version also adds six more block transformation options. Along with block style retention, these new features should offer more flexibility when modifying content blocks.
- Logo a Title.
- Extract a Contents.
- Tag cloud a Categories.
- Calendar a Records.
- Paragraph a Code.
- Cluster a Row.
Another improvement is the preview popup for the block style. Instead of showing permanent thumbnails as previews in the layout tools, it will show a small preview popup when you hover over the styling options.
Pattern prioritization
The quick inserter will display relevant pattern options instead of blocks. For example, if you open the quick inserter near the bottom of the template, it will offer footer pattern options.
Enhancements to layout tools
While these enhancements are not as substantial as other features, they offer a better user experience and new customization opportunities.
- Transformation of container blocks. With the new layout transformer, you can easily change the layout of the container block to cluster, row either stack.
- Featured image size selector. In the Featured Image block dimensions control, select a predefined image size using the dropdown menu.
- Layout transformation for multiple blocks. Select several blocks and transform them into blocks in cluster, row either stack with the new UI tool on the toolbar.
- Spaces for the gallery block. This new feature allows you to define a space between images in the gallery block, providing more layout possibilities.
- Custom date format. A new option to use a custom date format for the post date and comment date blocks.
- Column block border. The column block now has a border control to define the style, width, color and radius of the border.
New types of templates
In the previous version, users only had the option to Homepage to create a new template. WordPress 6.0 adds five more types to display posts based on the Author, the category, the date, the label Y the taxonomy. These new options reduce the need for custom page templates.
upcoming releases
WordPress will release two more beta versions and three release candidates every Tuesday until the final release date of May 24, 2022.
Each test release will contain improvements, bug fixes, and new features. So make sure you follow the development process. If you want to get more involved, download the beta versions to test the new improvements and report any issues you find to the WordPress team. 🙂
Stefany is a marketing professional, lover of good grammar. She enjoys writing about technology and SEO. In her free time, she likes to watch movies and make cookies.
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