WordPress 6.7: New Features and Game-Changing Updates

The third and final major new WordPress release of 2024 was released on November 12, bringing with it further improvements and a raft of exciting new features.

From a brand new theme to upgrades for both front-end creation and back-end development alike, WordPress 6.7 presents a plethora of upgrades designed to create what product lead Anne McCarthy calls a ‘more seamless WordPress experience.’

You can test out the new features by using the free WordPress Beta Tester plugin or running a WordPress Playground instance with the 6.7 beta activated.

Don’t have time for that right now? We’ve got you covered.

Below, we recap the key feature highlights in the WordPress 6.7 update and outline what you need to do to prepare your site for the latest version of WordPress.

WordPress 6.7: New features and updates

1. New Default WordPress Theme – 2025

As it does every year, the big WordPress upgrade brings a brand new default theme.

In the WordPress 6.7 roadmap, McCarthy notes that the Twenty Twenty-Five theme ‘seeks to be the ultimate use case for a spectrum of bloggers’, and from what we’ve seen, it does just that.

We tested out the new theme for ourselves and found a host of pre-designed layouts and unique patterns suitable for just about every use case. 

Meanwhile, the typography pairings, color palettes and multilingual features make Twenty Twenty-Five a highly versatile theme that can be adapted for just about any possible use-case. 

2. Support for HEIC Image Uploads

This update is a game-changer for many users. 

With smartphone cameras becoming more sophisticated and capable of taking impressive, professional-quality shots, it’s always been a bugbear of ours that WordPress hasn’t previously supported the HEIC file used by iPhones and other Apple devices. 

With WordPress 6.7, that changes.

The new update requires Imagick to be running on your servers, which shouldn’t be a problem as the majority of top WordPress hosting companies already do. 

Assuming it’s installed, uploaded HEIC files now automatically convert to JPEG.

To see if your updated WordPress version supports HEIC, go to Site Health – Info – Media Handling.

Then, look under ImageMagick support file formats. 

3. Zoom Out Mode 

Another one of the most welcome new  WordPress features comes in the form of ‘Zoom Out’ mode.

If you use a block editor to create your pages, you won’t be the first user to get frustrated by all of the endless scrolling up and down you need to do to see different elements. 

6.7 eliminates that frustration with a new zoom-out button located in the top-right toolbar. Simply click on it, and you’ll have a much smoother time navigating your work-in-progress pages.

4. New Data View Options 

The Data Views feature initially released in WordPress 6.5 gets further fine-tuning with the new update.

One of the highlights here is the ability to customize the Data View interface within the editor, giving you more control over how you view, manage and organize your content.

Elsewhere, the ability to hide and show filters and reorder columns in table view further expands WordPress’s flexibility as a CMS that can be tailored to your precise needs. 

5. Block Editing Enhancements 

Given how much attention block editing has received in the last few years, it shouldn’t come as much surprise to find new enhancements in this area too. 

Headings now have new border options that can be managed within the Typography settings. 

Galleries likewise have border options, while Image Blocks come with revised margin control options, giving you more freedom when it comes to creating pixel-perfect page designs

6. Backend Upgrades 

Away from the block editor, WordPress 6.7 presents a number of useful under-the-hood improvements, including: 

• Improved PHP 8.x support  – Code for unsupported PHP versions has been removed to ensure better compatibility, performance, and security with newer versions. This reduces code clutter, enhances efficiency, and takes full advantage of PHP 8.x’s advanced features, leading to better optimization for websites running on modern PHP environments.

• API enhancements – The new Template Registration API, Preview Options API, and improved stability in the Interactivity API, will help streamline the development process for plugins and themes.
  This makes it easier for developers to add new features, customize post-editor preview options, and create interactive site experiences with improved stability, ultimately resulting in a smoother experience for both back-end users and front-end site visitors alike. 
• Unnecessary Script Dependencies Removed – Polyfills like wp-polyfill are no longer needed for current versions of WordPress. 6.7 removes them to improve performance.

Upgrading to WordPress 6.7: Steps to Take

While most minor maintenance updates are handled automatically in WordPress, major updates like the release of WordPress 6.7 normally require manual activation. 

Here are the steps you need to take to upgrade to the latest WordPress release. 

1. Check for Updates

Login to your WordPress dashboard and head to Updates.

This page tells you which version of WordPress you’re currently running. At the time of writing, this is WordPress 6.6.2.

If you’re reading this before November 12th and you see that message, this means there’s not much you can do except wait for the 6.7 release day. 

If it’s after November 12, the ‘latest version’ notice will be replaced with a message stating *’An updated version of WordPress is available’* with a button that you can click to install the update. 

Before you do that, however, there are a few things you should take care of.

2. Backup Your Site

Even if you have automatically scheduled backups enabled, it’s still worth making a manual backup of your WordPress site before making any changes like installing a new version.

Use a tool like UpDraftPlus to create a working copy of your files and databases so that, if something does go wrong during the update, you can always restore a fully-functioning version of your site.

Not a fan of UpdraftPlus? See our top 8 WordPress backup plugins for our recommended alternatives.  

3. Manage Updates in a Staging Environment 

Consider using a staging environment to minimize the risks of site updates even further. This creates a clone of your site where you can test out changes without affecting your live site. 

If you need a hand with this, you’ll find step-by-step instructions in our guide to mastering the art of WordPress staging. 

4. Install the Update 

Within your staged version of WordPress, return to the Updates page, scroll to the Update to version 6.7 button, and click it. 

5. Test Your Updated Website 

Congratulations, you’re now running WordPress 6.7. Before you celebrate too much, however, it’s important to check that the new version hasn’t caused any issues in terms of performance, functionality, usability, and compatibility with your themes and plugins. 

Run a speed test. Navigate your site from the viewpoint of an average user. 

Does everything look and function as normal on both the front and back end?

If so,  you’re ready to move on to the final step. If not, take the necessary steps to address any issues first.  You can get help with this with our troubleshooting tips for common WordPress errors.

6. Move Your Site From the Staging to Live Environment 

Is your WordPress just as good as it was in version 6.6?

Great. In that case, there’s just one last thing to do: 

Push your newly updated site out of the staging environment and back to your live server. 

Once you’ve done that, you’ve successfully completed the update and can get on with using all those exciting new WordPress features introduced with WordPress 6.7. 

The Final Word on WordPress 6.7 

Now that WordPress 6.7 has officially launched, we can take a closer look at what’s included in this much-anticipated update. While not all of the features outlined in the original roadmap made it to the final release, the updates we’ve received are exciting and impactful.

As expected, the release of Twenty Twenty-Five theme marks a fresh addition to the WordPress default lineup (even though it was practically a given). This new theme brings modern design elements and customization options, setting a high bar for themes in 2025 and beyond.

Elsewhere, we saw significant improvements to the block editor and content management controls as WordPress strives to become the ultimate platform for every type of website. 
Other rumored features, while not all included, highlight the direction WordPress is heading. Regardless, at least it’s nice to put all the recent WordPress drama on the back burner and head toward the end of 2024 on a positive note.