The release of WordPress 6.2 marks the first major update of 2023.
This version introduces a host of significant enhancements and new features, primarily targeting the block editor and site editing capabilities.
In this article, we will explore the new features of WordPress 6.2 and recommend which ones you should try after updating.
Please Note:WordPress 6.2 is a major update, and if you are not using a managed WordPress hosting service, you will need to update manually. Here’s a guide on how to safely perform the update.
Important Reminder:Make sure to create a full backup of your WordPress site before proceeding with the update.
Now, let’s take a look at all the new features in WordPress 6.2.
- WordPress Site Editor Officially Released
- Enhanced Navigation Menu Block
- Improved Template Browsing Experience
- Template Parts Now Highlighted with Colors
- Customize Your Theme with the Style Book
- Add Custom CSS to Your Theme or Blocks
- Easily Copy and Paste Block Styles
- Improved Pattern Insertion Features
- Integration with Openverse Free Media Library
- New Sub Panels for Block Settings and Styles
- Introducing a New Distraction-Free Mode
- Import Classic Widgets as Template Parts in Block Themes
- Various Enhancements
- Backend Improvements
WordPress Site Editor Exits Beta
The site editor has officially exited beta status.
Although it has been available in previous WordPress releases, removing the beta label encourages more users to explore its features.
This milestone signifies the completion of phase 2 of the WordPress development roadmap, which began with the introduction of the new block editor in WordPress 5.0 (released in late 2018).
WordPress 6.2 introduces several new features to the site editor, including innovative tools that we will discuss later in this article.
Important Note:The full site editor is accessible with block themes that support this functionality. You can experiment with it even if you are using an older classic editor alongside a block-enabled theme.
Enhanced Navigation Menu Block
Navigation menus allow you to structure your website layout for your visitors. However, creating them in the full site editor has been challenging for beginners.
WordPress 6.2 features an upgraded ‘Navigation’ block.
You can now create and manage the Navigation block by editing items directly in the sidebar.
To add a new menu item, click the ‘add (+)’ button. You can also rearrange menu items by dragging and dropping them.
Looking to switch menus? Easily toggle between your previously created menus by clicking the Three-dot menu in the sidebar.
This update significantly enhances the previous Navigation block, which required inline editing and was challenging for beginners.
Enhanced Template Browsing Experience
WordPress 6.2 introduces a revamped template browsing experience.
This feature enables users to explore various templates to identify which one they need to modify for specific areas of their website.
To edit a template or a template part, simply click to load it in the preview window, then click within the preview window to begin editing.
Need to exit the site editor?
Just click on the WordPress logo or your site logo in the top left corner to access the template browser. Click again to exit and return to the WordPress dashboard.
The template browser will now indicate if you have any unsaved changes.
It also provides an improved saving experience, clearly showing the changes you are saving.
Template Parts Highlighted with Colors
A template in the site editor can include various template parts, such as the header and footer.
These are global components that can be utilized across different sections of your WordPress website. Any modifications made to a template part on one page will be reflected throughout your entire site.
In the past, when editing a template part, the only indication was a label at the top that displayed the name of the template part.
Changes made to template parts will impact all templates that incorporate those elements. Therefore, it is crucial to make it clear to users that they are editing a global template part rather than just the current page.
With WordPress 6.2, this distinction is now more apparent, as it introduces colors and an icon to signify that you are editing a template part.
Enhance Your Theme with the Style Book
WordPress 6.2 features a style book option in the site editor.
This serves as a centralized location to view how your theme presents all the blocks. To access it, switch to the Styles panel and click on the Style Book icon, which resembles an eye.
This section displays all available blocks along with their styling as defined by your theme. The blocks are categorized for easy navigation, allowing you to quickly find the one you wish to edit.
Click on a block to begin editing, and you’ll find all the tools available in the sidebar panel. Any changes made here will be applied throughout your theme.
Essentially, you can transform the look of your entire theme by modifying individual blocks here, enabling you to create a unique style tailored to your preferences.
Interested in customizing block styles one by one? No need to worry; there are additional design tools available to help you edit blocks effectively.
Option to Add Custom CSS to Your Theme or Blocks
By default, the site editor conceals the traditional Theme Customizer interface. Many users previously added their custom CSS in the ‘Additional CSS’ section of the legacy customizer.
Before version 6.2, it was challenging to incorporate custom CSS using the standard tools provided.
With WordPress 6.2, you can now easily add custom CSS that affects your entire site. Just click on the Styles panel and select Custom CSS from the three-dot menu.
You can also apply custom CSS to specific blocks as needed.
Switch to the Style panel and then select Blocks.
Next, choose the block you wish to modify.
Next, navigate to the ‘Additional Block CSS’ tab to input your custom CSS code.
WordPress 6.2 simplifies the process of adding custom CSS, but it also offers numerous built-in design tools that are much more user-friendly.
Copy and Paste Block Styles
Another helpful styling feature is the ability to easily copy and paste styles between blocks, reducing the need for custom CSS.
For instance, if you’ve made adjustments to one block and want to apply the same changes to another block,
With WordPress 6.2, you can effortlessly click on ‘Copy styles’ in the block options.
Then, go to the block where you wish to apply the style, click on its options, and select ‘Paste styles.’
Important Note:Your browser may prompt you for permission to allow your website to access the clipboard contents. Click ‘Allow’ to proceed.
Enhanced Pattern Insertion
WordPress block patterns are pre-designed elements that help you create custom content layouts more efficiently.
By default, WordPress includes several built-in patterns, and your theme may offer additional ones. You can also explore more patterns in the WordPress Patterns Directory.
WordPress 6.2 introduces a revamped interface for inserting patterns.
Integration with Openverse Free Media Library
The new version of WordPress 6.2 includes a ‘Media’ tab in the inserter.
You can select media from your own WordPress media library or explore royalty-free images available on Openverse.
Openverse is a collaborative project with WordPress.org that enables users to discover and utilize openly licensed and public domain works.
After selecting an image, it will be inserted into the editor and automatically downloaded to your WordPress media library.
WordPress will also retain the image caption, which may contain a link to the original source. You can remove this caption if the image is in the public domain.
Introduction of New Sub-Panels for Block Settings and Styles
WordPress 6.2 now features sub-panels that distinguish between block settings and styles.
This enhancement makes it easier for users to locate options for modifying the appearance of a block.
New Distraction-Free Mode
Traditionally, WordPress has offered features to conceal formatting buttons and toolbars in the post editor.
This is how it appeared in WordPress 4.1 with the previous classic editor.
The block editor now features a full-screen mode, which was set as the default starting with WordPress 5.4.
This update provides users with a cleaner writing interface, though it did not include a distraction-free mode.
With WordPress 6.2, a new distraction-free mode is introduced, offering a completely uncluttered writing environment.
Users can select this mode from the editor settings, which eliminates all toolbars and editing panels from the display.
Import Classic Widgets as Template Parts in Block Themes
WordPress 6.2 offers an easy way to import classic legacy widgets into block themes when changing themes.
Previously, users who switched to a block theme lost their classic widgets. Now, you can import them as template parts.
To do this, simply create a new template part by clicking the ‘Add New Block’ button (+).
In the template part settings panel, expand the Advanced tab to find the option to import a widget area from your previous theme.
Miscellaneous Enhancements
WordPress 6.2 includes numerous enhancements, integrating 10 Gutenberg releases into the core, resulting in many new features and refinements to discover.
Explore the most valuable enhancements in WordPress 6.2.
1. New Captions Button in Image Block Toolbar
In the past, WordPress automatically inserted the caption area below images and shifted the cursor there.
This often caused users to unknowingly continue typing in the caption area instead of the main text.
With WordPress 6.2, a new captions button has been added to the toolbar, allowing users to add captions only when necessary.
2. Enhanced Calendar Block
The calendar block now features a wider range of color options.
3. Consolidated List, Outline, and Info Panels
The list view, outline, and info panel have been combined into a single, user-friendly location.
4. Customizable Group Block Layout
The ‘Group’ block now offers layout selection options.
5. Download Link for Media Files
The media screen now includes a ‘Download File’ link in the list view.
6. Updated Icon for Settings Panel
The settings panel icon has been updated from a gear icon to a new panels icon.
Significant Under-the-Hood Changes
WordPress 6.2 also introduces numerous updates aimed at developers. Here are some of the key changes:
- Introducing the new HTML API, WP_HTML_Tag_Processor, for enhanced web development. (Details)
- A new client-side filter has been added,
blockEditor.useSetting.beforewhich enables developers to modify block settings prior to rendering the editor. (Details) - The Patterns API has been enhanced to include a template_types property. (Details)
- Experience faster updates by moving directories instead of copying them. (Details)
- A new function, switch_to_user_locale(), has been introduced. (Details)
- Autosave revisions will now only be created when content changes occur. (Details)
- Themes that utilize style variations can now include a style variation tag. (Details)
We hope this article has helped you discover the new features in WordPress 6.2 and inspired you to explore them. We are especially thrilled about the updates to the site editor and the performance enhancements for block themes.
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