What’s New in WordPress 6.3: A Comprehensive Guide (With Screenshots)

As a WordPress expert with over 15 years of experience, I’ve seen firsthand the constant evolution of this powerful platform. And let me tell you, WordPress 6.3 is a game-changer. This latest release isn’t just about adding bells and whistles; it’s about making WordPress more intuitive, powerful, and efficient for both users and developers.

With the introduction of a redesigned Site Editor, improvements to the Pattern system, and a host of new tools and features, WordPress 6.3 makes it easier than ever to build stunning websites and manage your content seamlessly. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll delve into every key aspect of this update, providing you with a detailed understanding of what’s changed and how you can leverage these new features to take your WordPress experience to the next level.

A New Era for the Site Editor

The Site Editor, introduced in WordPress 6.1, has received a significant overhaul in WordPress 6.3. It’s now more streamlined, intuitive, and easier to navigate. Here’s a breakdown of the major changes:

1. Refined Navigation

The left column of the Site Editor now boasts a clearer navigation structure, making it effortless to locate the specific section you want to edit. The main navigation items now include:

• Navigation: Manage and edit your navigation menus directly within the Site Editor.
• Styles: Customize the overall look and feel of your website, including colors, typography, and more.
• Pages: Create and edit individual pages, making it convenient to manage your website’s content directly from the Site Editor.
• Templates: Design and modify custom templates for your website, giving you greater control over the layout and appearance of specific pages.
• Patterns: Access a library of pre-designed patterns, allowing you to quickly add stylish elements and components to your website.

The search bar at the top of the navigation column leads to the new Command Palette (more on that later), making it quick to find specific functions and settings.

2. Enhanced Pattern Management

WordPress 6.3 introduces a more sophisticated Pattern management system. Now you can find a dedicated “Patterns” tab within the Site Editor navigation. This tab offers a clear view of your patterns, categorized as:

• Synced Patterns: These patterns are reusable across your entire website, allowing you to maintain consistent styling and layouts. Any changes you make to a synced pattern are reflected everywhere it’s used.
• Unsynced Patterns: These patterns are unique to the location where you place them. Modifying an unsynced pattern doesn’t affect the original pattern or any other instances of it on your site.
• Template Parts: These are pre-defined sections of content that you can use in various parts of your website, such as headers, footers, and sidebars.

The “+” button within the Patterns tab allows you to effortlessly create new patterns or template parts. You can also access a dedicated page to manage your patterns and template parts by clicking the links at the bottom of the navigation column.

3. Editing Pages Directly

For users coming from other web platforms, the ability to directly add or edit pages within the site editor is a welcome addition. With WordPress 6.3, you can now find a dedicated “Pages” tab in the Site Editor navigation. This tab lists all the pages on your website. Click on a page to start editing it, or click the “+” button to create a new page draft.

4. Seamless Navigation Menu Management

WordPress 6.3 simplifies navigation menu management. You can now create, edit, and manage menus directly within the Site Editor under the “Navigation” tab. This tab displays a list of all the navigation menus you’ve created on your website.

To edit a menu, simply click on it. The menu items are presented as a list in the navigation column, allowing you to easily rearrange them. To edit the content of a menu item, click on the edit button or the editor canvas to begin editing it directly within the Site Editor.

5. Easy Theme Style Switching

Theme styles are now more prominent within the Site Editor navigation. Previously, they were tucked away under the “Styles” panel. This new placement makes it easier for beginners to discover and switch between available theme styles.

You can start editing the theme style you prefer immediately, giving you more control over your website’s appearance.

6. Theme Preview Within the Site Editor

WordPress 6.3 introduces the ability to preview block themes directly within the Site Editor. To give it a try, head over to the “Appearance” page in your WordPress admin area and click the “Live Preview” button below a block theme.

This opens the theme in the Site Editor, showcasing a live preview of how your content would appear in the new theme. You can experiment with different styles, colors, and settings before actually activating the theme. Keep in mind that to save your changes, you will need to activate the theme.

Classic themes that don’t support the Site Editor will continue to use the traditional Theme Customizer for live previews.

7. Style Revisions for Undoing Changes

Just as WordPress saves revisions of your content, WordPress 6.3 now allows you to view revisions for your styles, making it easy to undo any unwanted changes. To see revisions for a style or block, select it within the “Styles” panel, click the “Revisions” button, and then choose “Revision history.”

You’ll see a timeline of changes made to that specific style or block. You can navigate between different revisions to view how the item looked at that point in time. To undo changes, simply click the “Apply” button, and WordPress will revert to the selected revision.

Introducing the Command Palette Tool

Keyboard shortcuts are a productivity powerhouse, allowing you to navigate and complete tasks without lifting your fingers from the keyboard. WordPress 6.3 introduces a new Command Palette tool that expands on this functionality, making it even more convenient to access key features and settings.

To use the Command Palette, simply edit a WordPress post or page or open the Site Editor. Press the CTRL+K or Command+K keys on your keyboard. A search popup will appear, giving you access to numerous keyboard shortcuts. You can use it to toggle panels, create new posts or pages, navigate to the Site Editor, and more.

The Command Palette also has an API that allows third-party developers to add their own commands, further extending its usefulness.

New Blocks for Enhanced Content Creation

The block editor is the heart of WordPress’s modern content creation experience. WordPress 6.3 introduces two brand new blocks that add versatility and functionality to your content creation process:

1. Footnotes Block

Footnotes are a common way to provide citations and references at the bottom of your articles. Previously, WordPress users had to manually create footnotes or rely on separate plugins. With WordPress 6.3, you can now simply use the dedicated “Footnotes” block. To add a footnote, select the “Footnote” option from the three-dot menu within the toolbar.

2. Details Block

The “Details” block allows you to hide content, requiring users to click on an item to reveal the hidden content. Simply add the Details block, provide the content you want users to see initially, and then add the content you wish to hide below it. Users will need to click on the visible content to reveal the hidden content.

You can hide any type of block within the Details block, including paragraphs, images, media, and blocks added by plugins. You can also combine multiple Details blocks to create interactive elements like FAQ sections, trivia questions, and informative panels.

Improved Tools for a Seamless Editing Experience

WordPress 6.3 brings enhancements to several existing tools, making the editing process smoother and more user-friendly.

1. Streamlined Padding and Margin Tools

Previously, the padding and margin tools could occupy significant space, particularly when unlinked. In WordPress 6.3, these tools have been redesigned for a more compact and user-friendly interface, taking up less screen space.

2. Aspect Ratio Selection for Images

WordPress 6.3 empowers users to select the aspect ratio for their images, eliminating the need for manual resizing and cropping. Users can now choose an aspect ratio that looks visually appealing across different devices.

3. Enhanced Top Toolbar

WordPress displays a toolbar above the block you’re editing within the post editor. This toolbar can be moved to the top of the screen for a cleaner editing experience. However, in previous versions, the top toolbar was positioned just below the main toolbar, taking up more space. In WordPress 6.3, the top toolbar has been redesigned for a more streamlined appearance and easier access.

4. Layout and Color Options for the Cover Block

The Cover block, similar to the Group block, now allows you to choose a layout, giving you more control over the arrangement of elements within the Cover block. The block settings panel also provides a wider range of design options for greater customization. You can now apply Duotone filters to Cover blocks just as you would to Image blocks.

Link Control Enhancements

Link control is the tool used by the block editor to add links. WordPress 6.3 introduces improvements to link control settings.

You can now create a page directly from the link control popup. WordPress 6.3 has also relocated the toggle for opening a link in a new tab or window. It is now located under the “Advanced” settings when adding a link.

Under the Hood Changes: Performance and Development

Beyond the visible features, WordPress 6.3 introduces numerous under-the-hood changes aimed at improving performance and providing developers with enhanced tools. Some of the key changes include:

• Image Performance Enhancements: These improvements optimize image loading speeds, addressing common Core Web Vitals issues and ensuring a smoother browsing experience for users.
• Improved Emoji Loader: This change reduces the time spent loading the emoji script, leading to faster page loading times.
• Defer and Async Support for WP Scripts API: Developers now have more control over how scripts are loaded, allowing them to optimize performance for their plugins and themes.
• Fetch Priority Support for Images: This feature prioritizes images within the user’s viewport, improving the initial loading experience.
• Skipping Lazy Loading for Images Outside the Loop in Classic Themes: This optimization improves performance for classic themes that don’t use the block editor.
• Attempt Rollback for Failed Plugin and Theme Updates: This feature helps safeguard your website by attempting to rollback updates that fail, minimizing potential downtime.
• Merged get_posts() and get_pages(): This change simplifies the code for developers working with posts and pages.

Conclusion

WordPress 6.3 represents a significant leap forward for the platform, empowering users and developers with a wealth of new features, improvements, and under-the-hood optimizations. This update streamlines workflows, enhances content creation, and ensures a more robust and efficient website management experience.

From the redesigned Site Editor to the intuitive Command Palette tool, WordPress 6.3 is packed with features that will make your website building and content management journey smoother and more rewarding.

As you explore these new features, remember to back up your website before updating to ensure your data is safe. If you’re interested in learning more about WordPress 6.3 or have any questions, please leave a comment below. I’m always happy to help!

FAQs

What are the major changes in WordPress 6.3?

WordPress 6.3 focuses on enhancing the Site Editor, introducing new blocks, improving performance, and providing developers with enhanced tools. Key changes include a redesigned Site Editor with improved navigation, a new Command Palette tool, the Footnotes and Details blocks, and under-the-hood optimizations for image loading, emoji loading, and script handling.

How do I update to WordPress 6.3?

If you are not using a managed WordPress hosting service, you can manually initiate the update. You’ll find instructions on how to safely update WordPress on the WPBeginner website. Remember to always back up your website before updating to avoid data loss.

What is the Command Palette tool?

The Command Palette tool is a new feature that allows you to access and execute keyboard shortcuts directly within the Site Editor or when editing posts and pages. Simply press CTRL+K or Command+K to open it and use it to search for shortcuts for various actions.

What are the new blocks in WordPress 6.3?

WordPress 6.3 introduces the “Footnotes” and “Details” blocks. The “Footnotes” block makes it easy to add footnotes to your content, while the “Details” block allows you to hide content, requiring users to click to reveal it. This is perfect for creating FAQ sections, interactive elements, and more.

What are the performance improvements in WordPress 6.3?

WordPress 6.3 includes improvements to image loading, emoji loading, and script handling. These changes aim to reduce page load times and enhance the overall browsing experience for your website visitors.

What are the new developer features in WordPress 6.3?

WordPress 6.3 provides developers with enhanced tools for managing scripts, handling images, and simplifying code. Features include defer and async support for the WP Scripts API, fetch priority support for images, and a merging of the “get_posts()” and “get_pages()” functions.

How do I use the new patterns in WordPress 6.3?

You can find the new patterns under the “Patterns” tab within the Site Editor navigation. You can choose from a variety of pre-designed patterns that you can use to add stylish elements and components to your website. You can also create your own patterns, making it easier to maintain a consistent look and feel across your website.

What are style revisions in WordPress 6.3?

Style revisions allow you to see a timeline of changes made to your website’s styles. This feature is similar to the content revisions that WordPress already provides, but it focuses specifically on your styling choices. It makes it easy to undo unwanted changes or revert to a previous version of your website’s design.

Is WordPress 6.3 compatible with my current plugins and themes?

While WordPress 6.3 is generally backward compatible with most plugins and themes, it’s always a good idea to check with your plugin and theme developers to ensure compatibility. They may have updates available to ensure smooth operation with the new version.

How do I preview themes in the Site Editor?

To preview block themes in the Site Editor, go to the “Appearance” page in your WordPress admin area. Look for the “Live Preview” button below a block theme and click on it. This will open the theme in the Site Editor, allowing you to see how your content would appear with that theme.

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