Exciting updates and several new features are the backbone of the upcoming WordPress 6.7. This will be the third major release for the CMS giant this year. WordPress continues improving its website-building tools while focusing on crucial UX features that will help designers work more efficiently.

The new installment will be up and running on the 12th of November, but until then, you can still test the new product through the Beta Tester plugin. Still, keep in mind that some features in the beta version may be cut from the official release. It all depends on the massive feedback WordPress has been gathering in the past few weeks.

So, let’s have a closer look at the new features we can enjoy pretty soon.

Under The Hood

First and foremost, let’s take the obvious out of the way. In WordPress 6.7, there will be over 500 enhancements and over 200 bug fixes. This massive wave of support will cover both the Core and the editor. As usual, it reflects the feedback WordPress receives from its users. This is perhaps one of the key elements that keep WordPress on top of the CMS food chain. They actually listen to the users, and when there is a problem, they look for a general solution.

Naturally, the most significant push is toward performance and stability. However, the new API feature for developers gets special attention this time around.

Among the hundreds of enhancements, we must point out the refined compatibility with PHP 8.x. This, however, comes with an asterisk. The 6.7 version will no longer support PHP 7.2. Thus, updating to a newer PHP before you install WordPress 6.7 is highly recommended.

Then, there is the Template Registration API and the Preview Options API. This will enhance the user’s experience by allowing plugins to handle custom templates much easier.

Finally, we have to mention the script loader enhancements. Polyfills like regenerator-runtime and wp-polyfill are sent straight to the history books, reducing the script dependencies for all modern browsers.

Still, what happens behind the scenes pales compared to what most of us will see daily – the builder enhancements.

Direct Block Binding Management

The Block Binding API was first introduced in WordPress 6.5. However, users still needed some coding knowledge to bind blocks together. Now, with 6.7 on the way, there is a new, intuitive interface that allows users to link custom metadata directly to block attributes. Previously, to connect block attributes with custom metadata, you often had to dive into the Code Editor or use complex filters. Now, WordPress 6.7 lets you do it visually right in the Block Editor. This is a game-changer for a wide circle of users who are not that comfortable coding but still wish to customize their website’s content dynamically.

In practice, this means you will be able to display custom fields on specific blocks. For example, if you have an “Events” post type and you want the “Featured Event” block to show the date, location, and ticket prices, you can now do that with a few clicks.

For developers, the Block Bindings API improvements drastically reduce the time required to set up and modify custom blocks. It simplifies the process of registering and managing blocks, which means faster turnaround on site updates and prototypes.

Most importantly, this change will reduce the reliance on third-party plugins, drastically reducing the website’s speed.

Block Library And Patterns

Next, we have the Block Library and patterns. WordPress truly made some astounding changes.

Firstly, You will be able to add background images to both quotes and group blocks. This is a gold mine for designers who use visual hierarchy and imagery to draw attention.

The developers also took their time to improve the social icons block. The change is small at first sight – a more user-friendly ‘Add New Icon’ button; however, the ability to add borders around social icons, allowing for better customization and alignment with site aesthetics, will enhance the overall persuasiveness and efficiency of the social media icons. The same goes for buttons, which now support setting a background color. This, of course, is a game-changer for your visual hierarchy, as now you can be much faster and more efficient in driving customers toward the CTA.

However, the best part, by far, is the Image block upgrade. With WordPress 6.,7, you can now simply drag and drop a bulk of images into an image block, and it will instantly convert it into a Gallery block. Needless to say, for users reliant on galleries, this will significantly reduce their work.

Finally, there is the pattern library expansion. In WordPress 6.7, there will be a variety of new pre-designed block patterns, offering users a broader selection of templates to build pages quickly and maintain design consistency across their websites.

Upgraded Font Management

The visual enhancements in WordPress 6.7 don’t end with the blocks. The true MVP of this CMS installment is the font management enhancements.

The focus of the developer’s endeavors was obviously making the typography adjustments easier, more flexible, and more responsive. Their efforts went in several directions.

Enhanced Font Library.

With WordPress 6.7, you can organize your fonts based on their origins. For example, if you use a mix of fonts from different sources like Google, custom-built, and local (theme) fonts, you can easily find them through the new library categories.

However, the highlight of the enhancement is the bulk activation and deactivation ability. Users can activate or deactivate multiple fonts at once, making it quicker to manage typography settings across different website elements.

Custom Font Size Presets

This enhancement is relatively small but will immensely improve user experience. Now, users can create custom font size presets directly from the styles interface. Then, they can apply them site-wide.

Furthermore, the new WordPress version will give you better control over the Typography. Naturally, this allows you to standardize font sizes for headings, paragraphs, and buttons, ensuring consistency without needing to adjust each block manually.

Fluid Typography

While we’re on the topic of typography, let’s discuss the new responsive font scaling options. Fluid typography ensures that font sizes scale fluidly across different screen sizes, from desktops to mobile devices. This feature is invaluable for responsive designs and will immensely enhance your website’s readability on smaller screens.

Better Data View

With each installment, WordPress developers aim to make the user experience as close to perfect as possible. So, there are bound to be some minor changes, which later on have a huge impact on the overall experience. The data view enhancements are the perfect example.

Firstly, with the new 6.7 version, you can now set the density of information displayed in grid layouts. This allows for a more tailored viewing experience. Furthermore, you can now show or hide filters, enabling you to focus on what matters rather than just scrolling through the various options.

Then, there is the customizable column order. In table views, users can rearrange columns to suit their preferences, enhancing data organization and accessibility. This will allow users with different priorities, such as content managers, to stay on top of the work process. Now, you can prioritize any data on your screen. For example, you can set the status and deadline for the forefront.

Of course, there is the grid aspect ratio as well. You can customize it to your liking, giving you more control over how images, thumbnails, and content appear on your screen.

Finally, there is the enhanced design expression. Data view options, which were previously buried in menus, are now more accessible directly within the editing interface, providing greater flexibility in how you display and interact with content.

Site Editor Zoom Out View

This one has been long awaited by designers, who often have to scroll up and down their projects to make everything perfect. Now, with the release of WordPress 6.7, this mindless practice will come to an end. It’s all thanks to the new Site Editor Zoom Out View feature.

Naturally, this new bird’s view of the webpage will give a much clearer picture of the design. In essence, it will allow users to zoom in and out of their project and focus on specific blocks without losing the broader view of the entire project.

Better Media Handling

With each new installment, WordPress introduces even easier ways to manage media files and the overall images on your website. In WordPress 6.7, the focus was on the Apple device image format HEIC. Now, WordPress will automatically convert them to JPEG format, ensuring all browsers will be able to display the image. However, this feature requires the server to install Imagick with HEIC support. Users can verify this by navigating to Tools » Site Health » Info » Media Handling » ImageMagick supported file formats and checking for HEIC support.

Another great enhancement in this direction is the lazy-loaded images. WordPress 6.7 introduces automatic sizing for lazy-loaded images. This will significantly improve page loading time by ensuring images are loaded only when the user gets to them.

Interactivity API Enhancements

In WordPress 6.7, the Interactivity API has undergone significant enhancements to improve the development and user experience. There are several key updates, but perhaps the most exciting among them is the improved asynchronous handling. The API now ensures more reliable performance when dealing with dynamic content. At the same time, directive code splitting allows for more efficient loading of interactive elements by splitting directives, leading to faster page loads and a smoother user experience.

With v.6.7, the interactivity API will support instant search features with Query and Search blocks. This will enable users to receive immediate search results right as they type. Naturally, this will improve your website’s navigation immensely.

Preview Options API

The Preview options API is among the new features that will set the ground for an even better experience in the future. For now, it allows developers to add custom items to the Preview dropdown menu. Naturally, this enables users to preview their content in various formats and environments to test out the look.

For example, you can add a customer item, allowing you to see how your page would look on social media, in AMP format, or even on a specific device type.

The Obligatory New Default Theme

Bringing out a new, enhanced default team with the last release of the year has become a tradition in WordPress. Thus, with WordPress 6.7, the default theme will be Twenty Twenty-Five.

With Twenty Twenty-Five, WordPress dials down on the visual clutter, and content takes center stage. This way, visitors can focus on the message rather than wander around on your webpage. The theme offers a clean, minimal layout that prioritizes content readability. It features a simple typography system that’s easy on the eyes, making it perfect for blogs, news websites, and content-heavy sites. After all, let’s not forget that WordPress was, before everything else, a blogging platform.

Still, the theme includes several pre-built style variations, allowing users to quickly switch between different looks and color schemes with just a few clicks.

This is perfect for users who change their website’s aesthetics often with new seasons or new products. Now, they can do so without the hassle of redesigning the entire website. One can effortlessly adjust colors, fonts, and layouts directly through the Global Styles interface.

Some Final Words

Just like with any other release, WordPress has done everything within its power to address users’ expectations. With the new enhancements, your website will be much easier to build and perform much better. The clean-cut view of the Twenty Twenty-Five theme, powered with the new and enhanced features of WordPress 6.7, will surely improve your website aesthetically. But more importantly, it will become much faster, especially if you combine the new features with top-notch hosting services like ours.

With HostArmada as your hosting provider, you can be sure that your website will take advantage of all WordPress benefits. Our servers integrate with WordPress seamlessly, providing you with lightning-fast loading speed, top-of-the-line security features, and a 99.9% uptime guarantee. That’s the beauty of cloud server technology – it’s immensely fast, secure, and reliable.

So, before you refurbish your website on the outside with WordPress 6.7, make sure your infrastructure is ready for the task with HostArmada. Check out our plans and choose the one that best suits your needs.