WordPress 6.8 Beta 1 Released: New Features, Test Methods and Optimization Highlights

WordPress 6.8 Beta 1 is now available for download and testing!

The Beta version of WordPress is still under development. People should not install, run or test this version on production environments or important sites. It is recommended to explore and experience the new features on a test environment or local site.

How to Test WordPress 6.8 Beta 1

There are several ways to test this Beta:

The final official release of WordPress 6.8 is scheduled to take place on April 15, 2025 Release. Testing the Beta and RC versions over the next six weeks is critical to ensure that the final version is stable, powerful and user-friendly.

What's New in WordPress 6.8 Beta 1

This is an optimized version of the latest Gutenberg The update incorporates a variety of user experience enhancements. 6.8 of WordPress delivers a smooth and polished experience that only an optimized version can deliver.

WordPress 6.8 Beta 1 Includes 370 Multiple enhancements respond in singing 520 Multiple editor-related bug fixesThese include Query Loop Optimization as well as 230+ WordPress 6.8 Core-related Fixes. Here are some of the upcoming features:

Editor improvements

• Data Views provide a more intuitive way of displaying options.
• Optionally, sticky posts can be ignored in the Query Loop.
• There are also many editor details optimized to improve the overall editing experience!

Classic themes are also supported by Style Book

• Style Book now offersStructured LayoutThe site's colors, typography, and block styles can be previewed more easily.
• This can be done in the Classic Themes Style Book, provided that the theme supports the editor-styles maybe theme.json Documentation.
• The feature also comes with clearer labels on the Exterior > Design(Appearance > Design) to find it.

Support for Speculation Browser API

WordPress 6.8 Introduced a review of the Speculation Rules API native support forUtilization Predictive loading technology to improve website performance and achieve near-instantaneous page load speeds:

• This feature prefetches or pre-renders URLs based on user interactions, such as hovering over a link, thus reducing subsequent page load times.
• By default, WordPress 6.8 uses a conservative preloading strategy to balance performance gains with resource utilization.
• Developers can customize predictive loading behavior with the new filters, but the API UI control options not includedThe
• existing Speculative Loading plug-in Will adapt this core functionality for deeper customization.

In supported browsers (currently Chrome 108+ and Edge 108+, other browsers are under evaluation) to test this feature in the #62503 Submit feedback to help optimize its implementation.