The beta version of WordPress 6.1 was released recently, with the official launch scheduled for November 1, 2022. This will be the final major update of 2022, introducing numerous new features and enhancements.
We have been actively tracking the development process and testing new features on our staging sites.
In this article, we will provide an exclusive preview of the upcoming features in WordPress 6.1, complete with screenshots.
Important Note:You can explore the beta version on your local machine or a staging environment using the WordPress Beta Tester plugin. Please note that some features in the beta may not be included in the final release.
If you prefer written instructions, just continue reading.
Introducing the New Default Theme: Twenty Twenty-Three
In keeping with WordPress tradition, the final release of the year will feature a new default theme named Twenty Twenty-Three.
With a clean and minimalist design, Twenty Twenty-Three is a block theme that supports full site editing.
It will offer ten style variations for users to choose from within the Site Editor.
Additionally, it will include four different fonts that can be utilized in various styles, which you can also select while composing posts and pages.
The Twenty Twenty-Three theme offers a stunning foundation for building a website, utilizing the design tools available in the site editor.
Enhancements to the Block Editor
WordPress users primarily engage with the block editor to create posts and pages for their websites.
Each new WordPress release introduces numerous enhancements to the editor. Version 6.1 will incorporate updates from the Gutenberg project releases 13.1 to 14.1.
The primary goal of these Gutenberg updates was to ensure a consistent availability of design tools across various blocks.
Here are some of the most notable updates in the block editor:
Expanded Dimensions for More Blocks
WordPress 6.1 will introduce dimension settings for additional blocks, including Paragraph, List, Columns, and Table.
This enhancement will enable users to customize padding and margins for more blocks, allowing for greater control over design and layout.
Users will also be able to see real-time visual changes when adjusting padding and margins for a block.
Enhanced Border Options
With WordPress 6.1, users can apply borders to more blocks and customize the top, right, bottom, and left borders individually.
The image block now allows you to add borders in addition to selecting the border radius.
Featured Image in the Cover Block
Many users often inquire about the distinction between the featured image and the cover block in WordPress. There has been a demand for using the cover block as a featured image for their websites.
With WordPress 6.1, users can now choose a featured image specifically for the cover block. Once set, the featured image will automatically display within the cover.
Utilizing the cover block enables users to showcase featured images in various locations on their site.
Important Note:Depending on your theme, improper use of this option may result in the featured image appearing twice on the screen.
Quote and List Blocks with Inner Blocks
Have you ever wanted to rearrange an item in a bulleted list without editing it?
WordPress 6.1 will introduce inner blocks for both List and Quote blocks.
For example, each item in a list block will function as an individual block, allowing you to easily move them up and down without needing to edit.
Additionally, when using the Quote block, users can apply different styles to quote and cite blocks.
Enhanced Navigation Block
WordPress 6.1 introduces an enhanced navigation block that simplifies the process of creating and selecting menus directly from the block settings.
Users can now utilize design tools for submenus, allowing for distinct styling compared to the main menu item.
Improvements to the Editor Design
WordPress 6.1 features several updates to the design of the Editor screen, enhancing the overall user experience within the block editor.
Here are some of the key enhancements:
Preview Button Renamed to View
The Preview button has been renamed to View.
In the Site Editor, the View button now includes a link that allows you to view your website in a new tab.
Status & Visibility Panel Renamed to Summary
The status and visibility panel found in the Post settings will now be referred to as the Summary.
Permalink and Template Options Consolidated Under Summary Panel
The Permalink and Template options now have their own sections within Post settings, which have been combined under the Summary panel in WordPress 6.1.
Simply click to expand the Summary panel to access options for changing the ‘URL’ (permalink) and selecting a template.
Enhanced Information Panel
In WordPress 6.1, the information popover will now also show the estimated reading time.
Site Icon Will Replace the WordPress Logo
If you have set a site icon for your website, it will now serve as the View Posts button located in the top left corner of the screen.
New Preferences Options
The preferences panel now features two additional options.
The first option, ‘Always Open List View’, allows you to view posts in list format while editing.
The second option, ‘Show Button Text Labels’, enables text labels on buttons instead of just icons.
Create More Templates in the Site Editor
Previously, users of classic WordPress themes could create templates through template hierarchy and coding.
With WordPress 6.1, users can create templates using the block editor without any coding required.
The upcoming release will provide access to the following templates, regardless of the block theme in use.
- Single Page
- Single Post
- Individual Term in a Taxonomy
- Individual Category
- Custom Template (usable for any post or page)
Simply navigate toAppearance » Editorand select templates from the left sidebar. Then click the Add New button to explore the available options.
When you select a template applicable to a specific item, a popup will appear.
From this popup, you can choose the item for which you want to apply the new template.
For example, if you select the Category template, a popup will be displayed.
You can then decide whether to apply the new template to all categories or just a specific one.
Easily Search and Utilize Template Parts
WordPress 6.1 simplifies the process of searching for and using template parts.
If your theme includes multiple header template parts, you can quickly locate and apply one.
Just click on the template part options and choose Replace.
This action will open a modal popup where you can browse available template parts to use.
Under-the-Hood Enhancements
- Classic themes are now able to utilize template parts (Details)
- Fluid typography enables theme developers to dynamically modify font sizes. (Details)
- Post types can now feature their own starter patterns (Details).
- Filters are available to hook into theme.json data (Details)
In total, the WordPress 6.1 beta includes over 350 enhancements and 350 bug fixes for the block editor, along with more than 250 tickets for the core.
We hope this article has given you an exciting preview of the upcoming features in WordPress 6.1.
Share your thoughts in the comments! Let us know which features you find appealing and what you would like to see in future WordPress updates.
If you enjoyed this article, consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel for informative WordPress video tutorials. You can also connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.
