The much-anticipated WordPress 6.2 released on March 29, 2023, four months after WordPress 6.1 came out.
As of writing, the WordPress team has since released five beta versions — with the fifth beta version released on March 7, 2023. Three release candidates followed each week after that before the final version came out on March 29.
Community members were encouraged to test beta versions and release candidates so developers can address any issues.
On the Roadmap to 6.2, the WordPress development team gave users a sneak peek of features to watch out for. By the looks of it, WordPress 6.2 promises to be a game-changer in the website builder market.
In this guide, we give you a glimpse at features you can expect from WordPress 6.2.
Site Editor comes out of beta
One of the most significant updates you’ll notice in WordPress 6.2 is that when you go to Appearance > Site Editor,the beta label won’t be there anymore.
WordPress 6.2 marks the end of the Full Site Editor feature in the beta phase, meaning the Site Editor is now stable enough for WordPress users to use and create block-based themes and websites.
Template previews
Another change WordPress 6.2 is bringing is Template previews.
In earlier versions, the Site Editor loaded the template’s homepage, leaving users confused about which template or part of the template to edit.
With the update, the Site Editor loads template previews first, so you can see what the templates look like when you browse.
Template Parts and color-coded labels
Besides template previews, version 6.2 introduces a feature that instantly converts widgets compatible with the Classic Editor into Template Parts in the Block theme.
With limited support for the Classic Editor after 2022, classic widget themes lost their legacy widgets when users shifted to block themes. WordPress 6.2 makes transitioning easier by converting Classic theme widgets into block-based Template Parts.
WordPress 6.2 also highlights Reusable Blocks and Template Parts you’re editing to help users differentiate whether they’re editing for a template, block, page, or post.
Compared to other elements, template edits affect other pages on the website.
A colored border with a Template Part icon attached will surround the element. You can find these color-coded labels in List View, the Block toolbar, and Canvas.
Improved Navigation menus
WordPress 6.2 also improves how users create and manage menus using the Full Site Editor.
In previous versions, you’d have to edit inline menu items manually. In version 6.2, you can add, remove, and edit menu items using the Navigation block.
Clicking on the three-dot menu creates a new blank menu or loads an older one, while clicking the Add Block (+) button adds a new menu item. You can also drag menu items to rearrange them.
Simplified pattern insertion
WordPress 6.2 simplifies the pattern insertion panel by arranging all patterns in a drop-down list of categories instead of pattern previews.
The drop-down list makes it easier to view the designs, switch between pattern categories, and explore all available patterns. The new categories also include patterns for Header and Footer sections.
Changes to Global Styles
The Global Styles feature gets many updates in WordPress 6.2.
The changes introduced include:
- A Style Book to preview all styles
- Global block style changes
- The ability to copy and paste block styles
Style Book to preview all styles
In WordPress 6.2, the Site Editor will introduce a Style Book that lets you preview all your styles in one place. By offering a complete overview of your website’s design details, you can find and edit blocks more quickly.
Global block style changes
After introducing the Global Styles feature, it’s been much easier to edit blocks.
With WordPress 6.2, you can easily update and customize blocks globally using the Apply globally button under the Advanced section of the Block Settings panel.
Copy-paste block styles
In WordPress 6.2, you can now copy and paste block styles. To copy a block, click block options and select Copy styles.
From there, click on the block you want to edit and select Paste styles.
New distraction-free mode
WordPress 6.2 also introduces a “Distraction-free” mode for focused writing on Gutenberg.
The WordPress post editor once let users hide formatting buttons and toolbars, but WordPress 5.4 made the editor’s full-screen its default setting. It gave users a wider writing surface, but it wasn’t distraction-free.
But with 6.2, you can enjoy a blank screen by choosing the distraction-free mode from the editor settings.
Openverse integration
WordPress 6.2 includes an Openverse integration, empowering you to insert free, open-licensed media from within the editor. You’ll find the feature on the Media tab in the block inserter.
The team ran into a few hiccups regarding hotlinking during image insertion, which they resolved after a few discussions. Upload images to the media library before adding them to the content.
Additional updates
Other WordPress 6.2 updates worth mentioning include:
- Download link for media files. You can now download media files. Media files under the list view now show a Download file link.
- New Settings icon. The Settings icon is also getting a makeover. Originally a gears icon, the Settings icon is now represented by a panel.
- Separate subpanels for blocks and styles. In WordPress 6.2, the Site Editor will show separate subpanels for block settings and styles, making it easy for users to navigate when they change the appearance of a block.
Final thoughts: What to expect in WordPress 6.2
The WordPress community eagerly anticipates the release of WordPress 6.2, which brings numerous changes to the Site Editor, template, block, and pattern features, Openverse integrations, and a new distraction-free mode.
Check out the rest of WordPress 6.2 features in this demo video, and watch out as WordPress 6.2 drops on March 28, 2023.
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