Say Hello to WordPress 6.8

WordPress 6.8 “Cecil” has officially arrived—named in tribute to boundary-pushing jazz pianist Cecil Taylor. Like its namesake, this release is all about pushing the creative envelope, not with flashy new features, but through deep refinement of what already works.

Whether you're a site owner, designer, or developer, WordPress 6.8 enhances how you build, edit, and manage your content, quietly making everything faster, easier, and more powerful.

• What’s new?
• Style Book just got better
• Expanded design tools for visual precision
• Query Loop block upgrades
• New: Query Total block
• Cover block enhancements
• Details block: Now with name attributes
• Editor upgrades for streamlined workflow
• Starter Content: Jumpstart your pages
• Upgrading to WordPress 6.8
• Looking forward

What’s new?

Style Book just got better

The Style Book in the Site Editor has been redesigned with a cleaner, more structured layout and clearer labels. You can now easily manage your typography, colours, and block styles from one organized interface, with direct access from the Styles panel in the sidebar. Fewer clicks. Better visibility.

Expanded design tools for visual precision

WordPress 6.8 gives you finer control over block styling and design without needing a developer. That means easier, more professional-looking results for everyone, whether you’re touching code or not.

Query Loop block upgrades

Managing dynamic content just got smarter. The Query Loop block now lets you:

• Include or exclude sticky posts
• Sort results in new ways
• Pull content from nested page hierarchies

This gives you full control over how content displays across archive, category, or custom pages.

New: Query Total block

Say hello to the Query Total block, which displays how many posts or pages match your filters. Think “12 posts found” or “3 results”—great for search results and category pages that need clarity.

Cover block enhancements

The Cover block now includes image and background resolution controls, letting you optimize visuals for quality or speed depending on your needs. More polish, less load time.

Details block: Now with name attributes

Want a sleek FAQ or progressive disclosure section? The Details block now includes a name field, allowing multiple collapsible sections to be styled and grouped more effectively.

Editor upgrades for streamlined workflow

• Inline reset buttons: You can now reset individual design settings—like colors, shadows, and duotone filters—with a single click. Great for experimentation without the mess.

• A ‘Cut’ function for blocks: The Cut option joins Copy and Paste in the block toolbar menu. It’s a small but crucial upgrade that makes moving content easier than ever.
• Command palette enhancements: Two new commands supercharge your workflow:
• Add new page: Instantly create a new page from anywhere.
• Open Site Editor: Jump to the Site Editor from any Post/Page screen.

Starter Content: Jumpstart your pages

The Inserter now includes a Starter Content category, featuring prebuilt page layouts you can use to quickly design new pages. Any time you add a new page, you’ll have these layouts just a click away!

Upgrading to WordPress 6.8

You can upgrade to WordPress 6.8 directly from your dashboard or through cPanel. Need help? See our helpful guide to Manually Update WordPress and WordPress Plugins.

If you’re on a WHC Pro Managed WordPress plan, we strongly recommend testing the update on a staging site first. This creates a copy of your live site where you can experiment without risking any disruptions.

Getting started with WordPress

Starting from scratch? We’ve got you covered with our WordPress installation guide. It’ll take you through the process of getting your new site up and running smoothly.

Looking forward

WordPress 6.8 isn’t about flashy changes—it’s about refinement. Smarter defaults, faster navigation, more control, and smoother creation. Every block, tool, and setting works just a bit better. And when everything works better, your site does too.

Upgrade today and discover how small improvements can make a big difference.

Check out the official release post for a full list of changes. And as always, the WHC team is here to help if you need a hand.