WordPress 6.8: Everything You Need to Know About the Latest Core Update

If you are a WordPress user or know someone who is, you’ve probably asked yourself one (or all) of these questions before:

• Should I update to the latest WordPress version immediately or wait?
• Will this update break my site or improve it?
• What’s actually new in WordPress 6.8? Is there anything worth getting excited about?

Well, you’re in the right place!

We at Mavlers, with 13+ years of experience and expertise in the realm of web development, bring to you the tea (freshly brewed!) on WordPress’s latest update, scheduled for release on April 15, 2025. 

Guess what?! WordPress 6.8 ain’t just another regular update! It’s a performance-focused upgrade that optimizes usability, speed, and security without any tough-to-comprehend, overwhelming changes. 

So whether you’re a developer, website owner, or marketer, Ravikumar Patel, our in-house web dev ninja, will help you break down WordPress 6.8’s new features in a way that makes sense. 

Plus, we’ll cover the WordPress 6.8 beta version, the development timeline, and whether it’s the one for you. So, let’s dive in!

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Key features to expect in WordPress 6.8

Unlike some previous updates replete with game-changing features, WordPress 6.8 is more about refinement than reinvention. 

One may think of it as giving your car a high-performance tune-up rather than replacing the engine.

Here’s what you can expect at the playing turf.

1. Optimized page loads with speculative loading

Have you ever wished your website would load instantly when visitors navigate between pages?

That’s exactly what speculative loading in WordPress 6.8 brings to the table.

Wondering how it works? Well, this feature preloads or prerenders pages before users even click on them by leveraging the Speculation Rules API.

Here’s what the benefit looks like. Say a visitor hovers over a blog link on your homepage. Instead of waiting for them to click and then loading the page, WordPress 6.8 will preload it in the background, resulting in near-instant load times.

Also, faster page loads improve user experience, reduce bounce rates, and boost SEO rankings.

Developers can tweak this feature using the new filter: wp_speculation_rules_configuration.

2. Style book enhancements for classic themes

Privy to the offerings of Style book, yup the one introduced for block themes, is now even better.

Here’s what to expect;

• Classic themes with editor-styles support or a theme.json file can now preview typography, colors, and block styles seamlessly.

• Site patterns have moved from Appearance > Patterns to Appearance > Design > Patterns, making theme customization more intuitive.

• Each block example and style group is now labeled for better clarity.

So, if you’re a designer or website owner, this update means better theme consistency and a more visual approach to styling.

3. Persistent rendering mode selection per post type

If you are not a big fan of managing post layouts every time, WordPress 6.8 takes away the headache. 

The persistent rendering mode per post type lets you apply a default layout (full-width, boxed, etc.) that stays consistent across posts.

Here’s why this feature matters;

• Saves you time
• Ensures design uniformity
• Reduces post-formatting hassles

4. Enhanced starter content experience

If you’ve ever set up a new WordPress site, you know how intimidating a blank page can feel.

WordPress 6.8 improves starter content, making it easier for beginners to set up and customize their websites right out of the box.

5. Enhanced security with warning alerts

Security nerds, this is something you would absolutely dig. 

WordPress 6.8 replaces the old phpass portable hashing system with bcrypt, making password storage a lot more secure.

Here are some additional changes:

• Application passwords, reset keys, security keys → Now hashed using the BLAKE2b algorithm via Sodium
• Better encryption equals lesser risk of brute-force attacks

For further details, we suggest reading ~ WordPress Core Security Update.

6. Accessible tooltips & database security improvements

WordPress 6.8 also brings the following to the table:

• Accessible tooltips for better navigation (especially for users with disabilities)
• More robust security alerts to warn users about potential vulnerabilities

These small tweaks can amp up usability and security, making WordPress a lot more reliable CMS.

WordPress 6.8 development timeline

Understanding the development timeline of WordPress 6.8 is essential for developers and site owners to prepare for updates.

WordPress 6.8 Beta 1 was released on March 4, 2025, whereas WordPress 6.8 Beta 2 followed on March 11, 2025.

Developers and testers can use these beta versions to explore WordPress 6.8 beta features before the final WordPress 6.8 release date in April 2025.

Here’s a breakdown of the beta and final release dates:

Should you update to WordPress 6.8?

Let’s be real. 

WordPress updates can prove to be a double-edged sword; they bring improvements but also run the risk of plugin conflicts or site breakage.

• If you want to experience better performance, security, and usability, updating to WordPress 6.8 is a no-brainer.
• If you’re running custom plugins or themes, test the WordPress 6.8 beta version before upgrading.

We recommend always backing up your site before any major update.

The road ahead

Now that you know all the tea about the upcoming WordPress update, you might want to read about WordPress accessibility plugins to make your website a lot more accessible.