{"id":74919,"date":"2025-08-29T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhblog.dream.press\/blog\/?p=74919"},"modified":"2025-11-26T10:23:55","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T18:23:55","slug":"whats-coming-in-wordpress-6-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/whats-coming-in-wordpress-6-9\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s Coming in WordPress 6.9: Smarter Editing, Collaboration, and Performance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Ever felt like the WordPress editor is almost\u2026getting in the way?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s great to have many ways to customize your site. That\u2019s partly what we love about WordPress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But when you\u2019re just tweaking text or inserting images, you don\u2019t need a million choices. It\u2019s also quite confusing for new site owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress 6.9 is designed to address this exact issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scheduled for release on December 2nd, the new version is putting content in the spotlight \u2014 with new editing modes and enhanced collaboration features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s not all. The latest WordPress release is set to introduce improved APIs, upgraded performance, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a closer look at all the major updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"What is coming in WordPress 6.9\" width=\"422\" height=\"750\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/C4PpBZfQJRc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-1-content-takes-centre-stage-in-the-simplified-editor-mode\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Content Takes Centre Stage in the Simplified Editor Mode<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"611\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/07-Accordion-block-1024x611.webp\" alt=\"A WordPress editor screen shows an accordion block with panels for three instruments and an expanded panel displaying a piano image.\" class=\"wp-image-77834 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/07-Accordion-block-1024x611.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/07-Accordion-block-300x179.webp 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/07-Accordion-block-768x458.webp 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/07-Accordion-block-1536x917.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/07-Accordion-block-600x358.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/07-Accordion-block-1200x716.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/07-Accordion-block-730x436.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/07-Accordion-block-1460x871.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/07-Accordion-block-784x468.webp 784w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/07-Accordion-block-1568x936.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/07-Accordion-block-877x523.webp 877w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/07-Accordion-block.webp 1600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/611;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress used to be a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-start-a-blog\/\">blogging<\/a> platform. Somewhere to write your thoughts and share them with the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Things are a little different now. WordPress powers a wide range of sites, from <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-build-online-store-become-boss\/\">e-commerce stores<\/a> to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/design-portfolio-examples\/\">design portfolios<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To cover all bases, WordPress added loads of customization options. The current editor allows you to change every detail of your posts and pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what if you <em>just<\/em> want to write and share? That\u2019s where the new simplified editor will make a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udc49From WordPress 7.0 onwards, you\u2019ll have a simplified editing experience<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"558\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/08-content-only-patterns-1-1024x558.webp\" alt=\"A WordPress editor screen shows a page titled \u201ccontent only + patterns\u201d with text about a flower business and a large flower image below it.\" class=\"wp-image-77836 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/08-content-only-patterns-1-1024x558.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/08-content-only-patterns-1-300x164.webp 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/08-content-only-patterns-1-768x419.webp 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/08-content-only-patterns-1-1536x837.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/08-content-only-patterns-1-600x327.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/08-content-only-patterns-1-1200x654.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/08-content-only-patterns-1-730x398.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/08-content-only-patterns-1-1460x796.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/08-content-only-patterns-1-784x427.webp 784w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/08-content-only-patterns-1-1568x855.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/08-content-only-patterns-1-877x478.webp 877w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/08-content-only-patterns-1.webp 1600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/558;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While WordPress 6.9 sets the stage for this approach, the simplified pattern-editing experience isn\u2019t arriving just yet. The \u201ccontent-only\u201d option for patterns is still tucked behind a Gutenberg experiment. To try it, you\u2019ll need to activate Gutenberg and turn on &#8220;content only,&#8221; which makes patterns drop in with a cleaner, content-focused editing view.<br><br>When this features in WordPress itself, it\u2019ll be modified and take an even simpler form. Instead of switching modes, you\u2019ll get an easy \u201cEdit contents\u201d button in the sidebar, giving you a more efficient way to work with patterns without the extra clutter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"611\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/01_write_design_options-1-1024x611.webp\" alt=\"WordPress editor interface showing a dropdown menu with two modes: \u201cWrite\u201d (focus on content) and \u201cDesign\u201d (edit layout and styles), highlighting options for block editing.\" class=\"wp-image-77837 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/01_write_design_options-1-1024x611.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/01_write_design_options-1-300x179.webp 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/01_write_design_options-1-768x458.webp 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/01_write_design_options-1-1536x917.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/01_write_design_options-1-600x358.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/01_write_design_options-1-1200x716.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/01_write_design_options-1-730x436.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/01_write_design_options-1-1460x871.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/01_write_design_options-1-784x468.webp 784w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/01_write_design_options-1-1568x936.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/01_write_design_options-1-877x523.webp 877w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/01_write_design_options-1.webp 1600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/611;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201cWrite\u201d mode keeps things really simple, like a basic text editor. Yes, you can add other media (images, videos, embeds, etc.), but it\u2019s essentially a click-and-type experience, with formatting options in the side menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"677\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image-2-1024x677.jpeg\" alt=\"WordPress editor showing a page titled &quot;A passion for creating spaces&quot; with six service blocks.\" class=\"wp-image-77838 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image-2-1024x677.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image-2-300x198.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image-2-768x508.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image-2-1536x1016.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/08\/image-2-600x397.jpeg.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/08\/image-2-1200x794.jpeg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/08\/image-2-730x483.jpeg.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/08\/image-2-1460x965.jpeg.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/08\/image-2-784x518.jpeg.webp 784w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/08\/image-2-1568x1037.jpeg.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/08\/image-2-877x580.jpeg.webp 877w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/08\/image-2.jpeg.webp 1600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/677;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When you want to move things around, change font sizes, and introduce some color, that\u2019s when you switch to \u201cDesign\u201d mode. This feels more like the current block editor, with the full range of options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What this means for you<\/strong>: You\u2019re going to waste less time swatting away menus while you\u2019re creating content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advanced Editing Features<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another new feature is the option to hide blocks on your live site, but keep them editable behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can already achieve this using third-party plugins, like <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/block-visibility\/\">Block Visibility<\/a>, but soon, it\u2019ll be part of the core platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We think this could be the start of a new trend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adding more features to the current editor would make things <em>way<\/em> too complicated, but when you can switch between modes, it\u2019s possible to group related tools together. We could even see an \u201cAdvanced mode\u201d at some point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Exciting stuff!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Then there\u2019s the drag-and-drop block experience.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can now VISIBLY drag your blocks while editing the site, seeing what the end result will be. At the time, you only see a copy of the block and where it would land, and the rest of the page isn&#8217;t rearranged.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But this new change moves <em>everything<\/em> to its new target while you\u2019re dragging objects about, allowing you to see if it aligns with your expected results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image-3-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"Comparison graphic showing how block dragging works before and after WordPress 6.9, with the new version offering a clearer, more intuitive drop target.\" class=\"wp-image-77839 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image-3-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image-3-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image-3-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/image-3-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/08\/image-3-600x450.jpeg.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/08\/image-3-1200x900.jpeg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/08\/image-3-730x548.jpeg.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/08\/image-3-1460x1095.jpeg.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/08\/image-3-784x588.jpeg.webp 784w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/08\/image-3-1568x1176.jpeg.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/08\/image-3-877x658.jpeg.webp 877w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/08\/image-3.jpeg.webp 1600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/768;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What this means for you<\/strong>: Along with the new hiding block capabilities, you no longer have to create separate draft pages or full staging sites. Just easily drag or hide the blocks that are work-in-progress, and keep the rest live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"article-newsletter article-newsletter--gradient\">\n\n\n<h2>Get Content Delivered Straight to Your Inbox<\/h2><p>Subscribe now to receive all the latest updates, delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p><form class=\"nwsl-form\" id=\"newsletter_block_\" novalidate><div class=\"messages\"><\/div><div class=\"form-group\"><label for=\"input_newsletter_block_\"><input type=\"email\"name=\"email\"id=\"input_newsletter_block_\"placeholder=\"Enter your email address\"novalidatedisabled=\"disabled\"\/><\/label><button type=\"submit\"class=\"btn btn--brand\"disabled=\"disabled\"><span>Sign Me Up!<\/span><svg width=\"21\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 14\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M13.8523 0.42524L12.9323 1.34521C12.7095 1.56801 12.7132 1.9304 12.9404 2.14865L16.7241 5.7823H0.5625C0.251859 5.7823 0 6.03416 0 6.3448V7.6573C0 7.96794 0.251859 8.2198 0.5625 8.2198H16.7241L12.9405 11.8535C12.7132 12.0717 12.7095 12.4341 12.9323 12.6569L13.8523 13.5769C14.072 13.7965 14.4281 13.7965 14.6478 13.5769L20.8259 7.39879C21.0456 7.17913 21.0456 6.82298 20.8259 6.60327L14.6477 0.42524C14.4281 0.205584 14.0719 0.205584 13.8523 0.42524Z\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/button><\/div><\/form><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h2_2-you-can-now-collaborate-via-block-level-commenting\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. You Can Now Collaborate via Block-Level Commenting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress has a useful review system, allowing site admins to check changes before they go live. And what if you want to work together on a new page or piece of content?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enter block-level commenting, another major addition in WordPress 6.9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1022\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/03_comments_to_each_block.webp\" alt=\"Comments panel in WordPress editor showing note to shorten sidebar text on a page with headline \u201cComments to each block\u201d and mountain image\" class=\"wp-image-74923 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/03_comments_to_each_block.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/03_comments_to_each_block-300x192.webp 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/03_comments_to_each_block-1024x654.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/03_comments_to_each_block-768x491.webp 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/03_comments_to_each_block-1536x981.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/03_comments_to_each_block-600x383.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/03_comments_to_each_block-1200x767.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/03_comments_to_each_block-730x466.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/03_comments_to_each_block-1460x933.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/03_comments_to_each_block-784x501.webp 784w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/03_comments_to_each_block-1568x1002.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/03_comments_to_each_block-877x560.webp 877w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1022;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Aimed at teams, agencies, and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-create-freelance-writer-website\/\">freelancers<\/a>, this feature allows you to leave a note for fellow users. That could mean ideas, feedback, your preferred takeout orders\u2026anything you like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Click on any paragraph, image, or section and add a comment that stays attached to that exact element. Your colleagues or clients can see these comments in context while editing, eliminating any guesswork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1022\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/04_comments_to_each_block.webp\" alt=\"WordPress editor with a page draft open. Sidebar comment says \u201cReplace the image\u201d referring to the mountain photo below the text block.\" class=\"wp-image-74924 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/04_comments_to_each_block.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/04_comments_to_each_block-300x192.webp 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/04_comments_to_each_block-1024x654.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/04_comments_to_each_block-768x491.webp 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/04_comments_to_each_block-1536x981.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/04_comments_to_each_block-600x383.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/04_comments_to_each_block-1200x767.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/04_comments_to_each_block-730x466.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/04_comments_to_each_block-1460x933.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/04_comments_to_each_block-784x501.webp 784w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/04_comments_to_each_block-1568x1002.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/04_comments_to_each_block-877x560.webp 877w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1022;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The system tracks comment resolution, so you know when feedback has been addressed. Oh, and don\u2019t worry \u2014 comments won\u2019t appear on your live site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, this addition should make the WordPress editor feel more like Google Docs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What this means for you: <\/strong>Getting feedback on your work should be much easier. Instead of going back and forth via other platforms, you can drop a note in the original context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h2_3-developers-can-add-interactive-features-without-complex-code\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Developers Can Add Interactive Features Without Complex Code<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/custom-wp-theme-hire-a-developer\/\">WordPress developers<\/a> have long faced a tricky choice: stick with basic WordPress functionality or mess with complex JavaScript frameworks to access interactive features. Neither option felt ideal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>WordPress 6.9 bridges this gap with two powerful new APIs:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Interactivity API Updates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The newly enhanced Interactivity API improves the way WordPress handles interactive features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of only updating HTML content when users move between pages, WordPress can now automatically update the design (<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/learn-css\/\">CSS<\/a>) and load any scripts (<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/learn-javascript\/\">JavaScript<\/a>) requested by blocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s a pretty huge upgrade. It opens up cool stuff like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Letting users submit comments without the page reloading<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Instantly showing a \u201cNo results found\u201d message when filtering or searching<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Letting the \u201cPost Content\u201d block work in more flexible layouts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Only loading the exact styles and scripts needed for specific blocks, based on what they contain or how they\u2019re used<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What this means for you:<\/strong> Interactive features on your site should feel much smoother and more responsive \u2014 like using an app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New Abilities API<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Abilities API introduces a standardized way to list the features of plugins, themes, and custom functions. The register includes a brief description, input and output formats, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That sounds very nice but\u2026what\u2019s the point?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s all about AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having a neat <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/schema-markup-beginners-guide\/\">schema<\/a> makes it much easier for AI models to understand the various components of your website. That means you can build complex workflows that reference specific features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"glossary-term\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"glossary-term__above-title\"\n\t\thref=\"\"\n\t\ttarget=\"_blank\"\n\t\trel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n\t>\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\"><path d=\"M320 32c-8.1 0-16.1 1.4-23.7 4.1L15.8 137.4C6.3 140.9 0 149.9 0 160s6.3 19.1 15.8 22.6l57.9 20.9C57.3 229.3 48 259.8 48 291.9v28.1c0 28.4-10.8 57.7-22.3 80.8c-6.5 13-13.9 25.8-22.5 37.6C0 442.7-.9 448.3 .9 453.4s6 8.9 11.2 10.2l64 16c4.2 1.1 8.7 .3 12.4-2s6.3-6.1 7.1-10.4c8.6-42.8 4.3-81.2-2.1-108.7C90.3 344.3 86 329.8 80 316.5V291.9c0-30.2 10.2-58.7 27.9-81.5c12.9-15.5 29.6-28 49.2-35.7l157-61.7c8.2-3.2 17.5 .8 20.7 9s-.8 17.5-9 20.7l-157 61.7c-12.4 4.9-23.3 12.4-32.2 21.6l159.6 57.6c7.6 2.7 15.6 4.1 23.7 4.1s16.1-1.4 23.7-4.1L624.2 182.6c9.5-3.4 15.8-12.5 15.8-22.6s-6.3-19.1-15.8-22.6L343.7 36.1C336.1 33.4 328.1 32 320 32zM128 408c0 35.3 86 72 192 72s192-36.7 192-72L496.7 262.6 354.5 314c-11.1 4-22.8 6-34.5 6s-23.5-2-34.5-6L143.3 262.6 128 408z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\"><path d=\"M342.6 233.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-192 192c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3L274.7 256 105.4 86.6c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0l192 192z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n    <h3>Schema<\/h3>\n    <p>Schema refers to a collaborative markup strategy used by the major search engines. It enables webmasters to include helpful information about their web page content that can be used by search engines to enhance search appearance.<\/p>\n            <a\n            href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/glossary\/seo\/schema\/\"\n                        class=\"btn btn--white-outline btn--sm btn--round\"\n                                    target=\"_blank\"\n            rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n            >\n                            Read More                    <\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, the API describes what your <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/best-seo-tools\/\">SEO plugin<\/a> does (\u201cAnalyzes post content for SEO improvements.\u201d) and the type of outputs it produces:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>'output_schema' =&gt; ]\n        'type' =&gt; 'number',\n        'description' =&gt; __( 'The score for the content in percentage.', 'my-seo-plugin' ),\n        'required' =&gt; true,\n    ],<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1Nerd note: <\/strong>If you fancy taking these APIs for a spin, take advantage of our <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/help.dreamhost.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/360001231463-Logging-into-your-DreamPress-site-via-SSH\">SSH access<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/website-staging-beginners-guide\/\">staging environments<\/a>. These features allow you to experiment with interactive features safely before deploying to production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What this means for you: <\/strong>It\u2019s now <em>way<\/em> easier to construct reliable AI workflows that hook into your WordPress site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alongside the 6.9 release, \u201cMCP Adapter\u201d and \u201cPHP AI Client\u201d are launching as canonical packages and plugins, but will not be currently integrated as part of WordPress&#8217;s core, which may change in future releases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The MCP Adapter turns WordPress Abilities into MCP Tools that can be used by AI agents. The PHP AI Client allows WordPress to connect to large language models (LLMs) for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/ai-content-creation\/\">AI-powered content creation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What will be included with this core release is the Command Palette, which you can access both through the editor and the dashboard itself, by hitting <strong>Ctrl + K<\/strong> or <strong>Command + K<\/strong>. This lets you search for and quickly access specific screens or to trigger specific actions on your site.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Basically, it\u2019s the framework for future integrations with the new Abilities API we just discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h2_4-page-loading-is-even-faster\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Page Loading Is Even Faster<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you feel the need\u2026the need <em>for speed?<\/em> Well then, you\u2019re going to like WordPress 6.9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new release delivers major performance improvements, thanks to some tweaks under the hood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To be more specific, WordPress\u2019 navigation handling has been optimized to speed up page transitions. The system now preloads more resources, so there\u2019s less to load when visitors jump to the next view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"618\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/02_how_preloading_speeds_up_your_site-1024x618.webp\" alt=\"Comparison graphic showing traditional page loading versus WordPress 6.9 preloading, with preloading loading resources in advance for faster page transitions.\" class=\"wp-image-77840 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/02_how_preloading_speeds_up_your_site-1024x618.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/02_how_preloading_speeds_up_your_site-300x181.webp 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/02_how_preloading_speeds_up_your_site-768x463.webp 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/02_how_preloading_speeds_up_your_site-1536x926.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/02_how_preloading_speeds_up_your_site-600x362.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/02_how_preloading_speeds_up_your_site-1200x724.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/02_how_preloading_speeds_up_your_site-730x440.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/02_how_preloading_speeds_up_your_site-1460x881.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/02_how_preloading_speeds_up_your_site-784x473.webp 784w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/02_how_preloading_speeds_up_your_site-1568x946.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/02_how_preloading_speeds_up_your_site-877x529.webp 877w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/02_how_preloading_speeds_up_your_site.webp 1600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/618;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The upgrades should also result in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wordpress-site-speed\/\">faster overall loading times<\/a>. Some of the key changes that power these performance boosts are:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Minification of stylesheets in core block themes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Database query optimizations and caching.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cron spawned at shutdown instead of init to reduce impact on Time to First Byte (TTFB).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improvements to RSS feed caching.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What this means for you<\/strong>: A smoother user experience for anyone checking out your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h2_5-theres-no-default-theme-this-time\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. There\u2019s No Default Theme This Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Since as far back as we can remember (well, 2005 to be exact), WordPress has always come with a default theme. It\u2018s usually something pretty bland, with a title to match the year of release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But this time, there\u2019s no default theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/make.wordpress.org\/core\/2025\/07\/28\/roadmap-to-6-9\/\">According to the WordPress development team<\/a>, the reason is, \u201cThe pace of this release and the maturity of block themes over recent years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Translation: they\u2019ve been prioritizing upgrades to the CMS and haven\u2019t had time to make a new theme. Plus, there are now many great themes that support block editing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What this means for you:<\/strong> Probably not a <em>lot<\/em>. Even if you\u2019re building a new site from scratch, you can just install a theme like <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/wpastra.com\/pricing\/?campaign=DHblog&amp;bsf=10463\">Astra<\/a> or build your site with <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/features\/ai-website-builder\/\">Liftoff AI<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As part of this release, WordPress 6.9 also adds powerful new template management features in the Site Editor \u2014 including the ability to duplicate and deactivate individual templates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how the new <strong>Deactivate<\/strong> and <strong>Duplicate<\/strong> options appear for active templates in the Site Editor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1022\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/05_deactivate_and_duplicate_options.webp\" alt=\"WordPress Templates screen showing options to duplicate a template for separate editing or deactivate a template without deleting it.\" class=\"wp-image-74925 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/05_deactivate_and_duplicate_options.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/05_deactivate_and_duplicate_options-300x192.webp 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/05_deactivate_and_duplicate_options-1024x654.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/05_deactivate_and_duplicate_options-768x491.webp 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/05_deactivate_and_duplicate_options-1536x981.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/05_deactivate_and_duplicate_options-600x383.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/05_deactivate_and_duplicate_options-1200x767.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/05_deactivate_and_duplicate_options-730x466.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/05_deactivate_and_duplicate_options-1460x933.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/05_deactivate_and_duplicate_options-784x501.webp 784w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/05_deactivate_and_duplicate_options-1568x1002.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/05_deactivate_and_duplicate_options-877x560.webp 877w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1022;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>That means you can keep multiple versions of a template, switch between them, or temporarily turn one off without deleting it entirely. It\u2019s especially handy if you\u2019re experimenting with layouts or running seasonal designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also <strong>Activate<\/strong> custom templates directly from the Custom Templates view:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1022\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06_activate_custom_templates_directly_from_the_custom_templates_.webp\" alt=\"WordPress editor \u201cTemplates\u201d screen showing a custom template with context menu open. \u201cActivate\u201d option is highlighted.\" class=\"wp-image-74926 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06_activate_custom_templates_directly_from_the_custom_templates_.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06_activate_custom_templates_directly_from_the_custom_templates_-300x192.webp 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06_activate_custom_templates_directly_from_the_custom_templates_-1024x654.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06_activate_custom_templates_directly_from_the_custom_templates_-768x491.webp 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06_activate_custom_templates_directly_from_the_custom_templates_-1536x981.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06_activate_custom_templates_directly_from_the_custom_templates_-600x383.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06_activate_custom_templates_directly_from_the_custom_templates_-1200x767.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06_activate_custom_templates_directly_from_the_custom_templates_-730x466.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06_activate_custom_templates_directly_from_the_custom_templates_-1460x933.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06_activate_custom_templates_directly_from_the_custom_templates_-784x501.webp 784w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06_activate_custom_templates_directly_from_the_custom_templates_-1568x1002.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/06_activate_custom_templates_directly_from_the_custom_templates_-877x560.webp 877w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1022;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h2_what-does-wordpress-6-9-mean-for-your-website\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Does WordPress 6.9 Mean for Your Website?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress 6.9 won\u2019t radically change how you manage your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, there are some new features \u2014 inline commenting and the Abilities API are notable upgrades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall though, this update is more about fine-tuning; like a performance package for your car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new editor modes help to reduce clutter, simplifying the work of site owners. The new API options allow developers to create powerful tools without time-consuming workarounds. And the upgrades to performance should improve the user experience for everyone who interacts with your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re keen to try it, you can get early access to WordPress 6.9 via the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/help.dreamhost.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/6109053154964-Prepare-your-WordPress-site-for-an-upgrade\">WordPress Beta Tester<\/a> program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We would recommend using a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/help.dreamhost.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/360003838631-Creating-a-staging-WordPress-site\">staging site<\/a> for this pre-release version \u2014 you can set one up in minutes with our <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/wordpress\/managed\/\">managed WordPress hosting plans<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for a full breakdown when the final release drops!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"article-cta-shared article-cta-small article-cta--product\">\n\t<div class=\"tr-img-wrap-outer jsLoading\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-img-lazy \" src=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/blog2018\/assets\/img\/lazy-loading-transparent.webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/product-cta-wordpress-hosting-877x586.webp 1x, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/product-cta-wordpress-hosting.webp 2x\"  alt=\"website management by DreamHost\" \/><\/div>\n\n\t<a href='https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/wordpress\/managed-wp-hosting\/' class='link-top' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'>\n\t\t<span>WordPress Hosting<\/span>\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\" width=\"15\"><path d=\"M342.6 233.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-192 192c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3L274.7 256 105.4 86.6c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0l192 192z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t<div class=\"content-btm\">\n\t\t<h2 class=\"h2--md\">\n\t\t\tUnbeatable WordPress Hosting\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t<p class=\"p--md\">\n\t\t\tReliable, lightning-fast hosting solutions specifically optimized for WordPress.\n\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t        <a\n            href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/wordpress\/managed-wp-hosting\/\"\n                        class=\"btn btn--white-outline btn--sm btn--round\"\n                                    target=\"_blank\"\n            rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n            >\n                            See More                    <\/a>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This page contains affiliate links. This means we may earn a commission if you purchase services through our link without any extra cost to you.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover what\u2019s new in WordPress 6.9 \u2014 from simplified editing modes and block-level commenting to faster performance and powerful developer APIs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1077,"featured_media":74920,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Discover what\u2019s new in WordPress 6.9 \u2014 from simplified editing modes and block-level commenting to faster performance and powerful developer APIs.","toc_headlines":"[[\"h-1-content-takes-centre-stage-in-the-simplified-editor-mode\",\"1. Content Takes Centre Stage in the Simplified Editor Mode\"],[\"h2_2-you-can-now-collaborate-via-block-level-commenting\",\"2. You Can Now Collaborate via Block-Level Commenting\"],[\"h2_3-developers-can-add-interactive-features-without-complex-code\",\"3. Developers Can Add Interactive Features Without Complex Code\"],[\"h2_4-page-loading-is-even-faster\",\"4. Page Loading Is Even Faster\"],[\"h2_5-theres-no-default-theme-this-time\",\"5. There\u2019s No Default Theme This Time\"],[\"h2_what-does-wordpress-6-9-mean-for-your-website\",\"What Does WordPress 6.9 Mean for Your Website?\"]]","hide_toc":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13123,696],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-74919","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-release-news","category-wordpress"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.3 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What\u2019s Coming in WordPress 6.9: Smarter Editing, Collaboration, and Performance - DreamHost<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover what\u2019s new in WordPress 6.9 \u2014 from simplified editing modes and block-level commenting to faster performance and powerful developer APIs.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/whats-coming-in-wordpress-6-9\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What\u2019s New in WordPress 6.9: Editing, Collaboration, and Performance\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Explore the latest WordPress 6.9 updates \u2014 including streamlined editing, new collaboration tools, and speed boosts for your site.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/whats-coming-in-wordpress-6-9\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"DreamHost Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DreamHost\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-08-29T14:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-26T18:23:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1220x628_ogimage_wordpress_6_9_update.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"628\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jos Velasco\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"What\u2019s New in WordPress 6.9: Editing, Collaboration, and Performance\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Explore the latest WordPress 6.9 updates \u2014 including streamlined editing, new collaboration tools, and speed boosts for your site.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@dreamhost\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@dreamhost\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jos Velasco\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What\u2019s Coming in WordPress 6.9: Smarter Editing, Collaboration, and Performance - 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