Good news for you WordPress users! On March 29, 2023, the world’s number one Content Management System (CMS) platform launched its latest version, WordPress 6.2.
WordPress 6.2 brings more than 900 improvements and new features to enhance the experience and convenience of using WordPress, especially in managing sites and creating content.
So, what are the new features offered by WordPress 6.2 and how do you update your site to this version?
Immediately, here comes the complete information!
Introducing: Latest WordPress 6.2 ‘Dolphy’
WordPress 6.2 was released on March 29, 2023, local time. This launch was delayed one day from the previous schedule, due to a bug in the date formatting.
In keeping with previous tradition, WordPress 6.2 is also named after a prominent jazz musician. This time, the name “Dolphy” is taken from Eric Allan Dolphy Jr., a jazz instrumentalist who is known for his experimental and innovative works.
Back again to WordPress 6.2., this version is the first release of three major WordPress updates for 2023. It also marked the end of the Gutenberg Phase Two project, which focused on display customization.
At its launch, WordPress 6.2 brings about 900 changes, new features, and bug fixes, to guarantee improved performance over the previous version.
We will review some of them in the following points. Let’s see!
Rows of New WordPress 6.2 Features Must Know!
Of the hundreds of improvements presented, here are some interesting things about WordPress 6.2 for you to know:
1. Complete Overhaul of Site Editor Appearance
The most significant change in WordPress 6.2 lies in the appearance of the Site Editor. Now, the Site Editor is no longer in “Beta” status, so the features and customization options presented are much more mature.
Here, you can explore templates or view details per the template section. Then, edit the view based on the selected part of the template. You can do everything more flexibly.
The Navigation Block is the next aspect to be overhauled in WordPress 6.2. This menu, which is located on the right sidebar, allows you to add, delete, and even rearrange the menu order more quickly.
3. Separation of the Settings and Styles tabs in the Block Sidebar
Not yet moving from the sidebar, Block Settings presents a more organized view than before. Now, the Settings and Styles tabs are separate to make it easier for you to find specific setting options.
4. Added Media Tab to Block Inserter
From Block Settings let’s move on to the Block Inserter. In WordPress 6.2, this menu has a new tab, namely Media. That way, you can add photos or videos from the Media Library by simply dragging and dropping. Very practical, right?
5. OpenVerse Media support on Block Inserter
Confused about looking for illustration images for content? Don’t worry, the latest WordPress 6.2 provides support for OpenVerse, a catalog of over 700 million ready-to-use images that are license-free.
OpenVerse is a much more instantaneous solution, rather than searching for an image on another site, uploading it to the Media Library, and then manually adding it to the content.
Furthermore, Block Themes presents a more varied collection of Headers and Footers. You can use one of the many collections, then edit it as you like so that the appearance of the site looks more personal.
7. Mode Distraction Free Writing Baru
There are times when you just want to focus on writing without being bothered by things related to display customization. That’s why, WordPress 6.2 brings Distraction Free Mode for you to choose from.
When activated, this mode will hide all display panels and controls from your front.
8. WordPress Performance Improvements 6.2
Not only has a polished appearance, but the performance of WordPress 6.2 has also proven to be superior to its predecessor. The following are the results of performance tests conducted by the WordPress internal team:
- Loading Time (Block Theme) – performance increased from 14% to 18%.
- Loading Time (Classic Theme) – Improved performance from 2% to 5%.
- Server-Side Performance (Block Theme) – Improved performance from 17% to 23%.
- Server-Side Performance (Classic Theme) – Improved performance from 3% to 5%.
So, that was a summary of the most prominent changes from WordPress 6.2 Dolphy. You definitely can’t wait to enjoy the features above, right?
Therefore, let’s find out how to update WordPress in the next point!
How to Update to WordPress 6.2?
How to update WordPress to the latest version 6.2 is very easy. To manually update, follow these steps:
First, make sure you are logged in to the WordPress dashboard. Then, click the Updates menu which is located on the left sidebar.
On the Updates page, you will see information that an update is available. Finally, click Update to version 6.2 to start the WordPress update process.
Before Updating WordPress, you Better Read This First!
WordPress 6.2 brings hundreds of improvements and new features to improve your experience in managing WordPress websites while creating the best content.
To try out all the features provided by WordPress 6.2, all you have to do is update the WordPress version on your website. However, we realize that some people are hesitant to update WordPress because they are afraid that the website will look messy.
