For example, this upcoming release comes with a major security update, including new password hashing using bcrypt. In terms of performance, speculative loading will significantly improve page load times.

There are also important enhancements for major parts of the block editor to improve the site editing experience for all users.

Ready to learn more? Keep reading as we explore these changes and show you how WordPress 6.8 will improve the WordPress experience.

Here’s a quick overview of the changes coming in WordPress 6.8:

Speculative Loading for Improved Performance

Have you ever noticed how some websites load pages almost instantly? That’s often due to a technique called speculative loading.

In WordPress 6.8, this feature will be built right in, making sites feel faster.

So, what is speculative loading?

Imagine you’re reading a blog post and see a link that you might click next. WordPress anticipates this and starts loading that linked page in the background. Then, when you click, the page appears quickly, like magic 🪄.

This is achieved using the Speculation Rules API. It allows WordPress to set rules for which links to load ahead of time. For example, if you hover over a link, then WordPress takes that as a hint and begins preloading the page.

For developers, there are options to customize this behavior. You can adjust which links get preloaded and how early the process starts.

Style Book Accessibility in Classic Themes 🎨

We love how designing in WordPress has become more intuitive with the introduction of the Style Book. Initially available for block themes, WordPress 6.8 will extend this feature to classic themes as well (themes that don’t support the full site editor).

The Style Book offers a comprehensive overview of your site’s design elements, including colors, typography, and block styles. It’s like having a style guide built directly into your WordPress dashboard.

For classic themes that support it, you will be able to find the Style Book by going to Appearance » Design » Styles. This centralized location makes it easier to manage and preview design changes.

Additionally, site patterns will be relocated to Appearance » Design » Patterns. This brings all design-related settings into one place and makes the customization process much easier.

The Style Book enhances the editing experience by providing a clear and organized layout of your site’s design components. It allows you to see how different elements come together, making it easier to maintain a cohesive look and feel.

Enhanced Design and Editing Tools 🖌️

WordPress 6.8 will bring several updates that make designing and editing easier in WordPress. From better global styling options to improved block controls, these changes will help users build and manage content more efficiently.

Global Styles Panel in Site Editor Sidebar

The Styles panel in the full site editor will now offer more control over global design settings. Users can adjust typography, colors, and layouts in one central place, making site-wide changes simpler.

Set Image Blocks as Featured Images

WordPress 6.8 will let you set any image block as the featured image with just one click. This removes extra steps and makes featured images easier to manage.

ℹ️Note: Deleting the image block you used for the featured image will not remove or change the featured image.

Section Styles Selector in Toolbar

A new toolbar option will let users quickly switch between different section styles in zoom-out mode.

This makes it easier to experiment with layouts without digging through menus.

Success Notices for Image Editing with Undo Link

WordPress already comes with some basic image editing features like cropping, rotating, and more.

After editing an image, WordPress will now show a success message with an Undo button. This helps users quickly revert changes if needed.

Introducing the Query Total Block

This new block will let users display the total number of posts in a query loop.

It’s helpful for showing how many articles match a category or search.

Easily Set a Page as the Posts Page

Previously, you were only able to set a page as the homepage in the site editor.

Now, a new option in the page list view will let users assign any page as their blog posts page. This makes site setup faster and more flexible.

Refinements to the Query Loop Block ♾️

The Query Loop block is a powerful tool for dynamically displaying posts. In WordPress 6.8, it will receive a small but important improvement that gives users more control over their post listings.

Option to Ignore Sticky Posts

By default, sticky posts always appear at the top of a Query Loop. This can be useful, but sometimes you want to display posts strictly by date or category.

WordPress 6.8 introduces a new setting that lets users ignore sticky posts when setting up a Query Loop. This gives you more flexibility when designing post layouts.

If you’ve ever struggled with sticky posts disrupting your post order, this update will make it easier to control.

Improved Data Views

WordPress 6.8 brings enhancements to Data Views, making content management more intuitive and efficient.

Unified Layout Behavior

The Data Views will now offer consistent layouts across different views. For instance, you can now set it to show content previews in data views for pages.

Density Options in Table Layouts

Users will be able to adjust the density of table layouts in Data Views. This will allow for more control over how information is displayed.

Security Enhancements

WordPress 6.8 will introduce a major upgrade to password security. The way passwords are stored will be improved, making websites more resistant to attacks.

Transition to bcrypt for Password Hashing

Before this update, WordPress stored passwords using the Portable PHP Password Hashing Framework (phpass). This method relied on multiple rounds of MD5 hashing, which is now considered weak against modern attacks.

With WordPress 6.8, bcrypt will be the default algorithm for password hashing. Bcrypt is stronger because it uses a built-in “work factor”. This makes it harder for attackers to crack passwords, even with advanced hardware.

ℹ️Note: This change will automatically apply itself, and users don’t need to take any action. However, you may also wish to see our complete WordPress security guide to further strengthen your website.

Under the Hood Changes in WordPress 6.8

WordPress 6.8 also includes several behind-the-scenes updates to improve performance and make WordPress more accessible:

• More Efficient Block Type Registration: A new function wp_register_block_types_from_metadata_collection() will allow plugins to register multiple block types with a single call. (Details)
• Internationalization Improvements: WordPress will now properly localize PHPMailer error messages and ensure that plugin update emails are sent in the administrator’s language. (Details)
• Accessibility Improvement: Redundant title attributes will be removed from different elements to improve screen reader compatibility and provide a better experience for visually impaired users. (#24766)
• Block Hooks Enabled for Synced Patterns: Block Hooks will now be applied to synced patterns (i.e., core/block blocks). This will ensure consistent behavior across templates, template parts, patterns, navigation menus, and post content. (#62704)

Overall, WordPress 6.8 includes over 370 enhancements and 520 bug fixes for the editor, and more than 230 tickets have been resolved for WordPress 6.8 Core.

We hope this article helped you discover what’s coming in WordPress 6.8 and which new features you’d like to try out. We are particularly excited about the built-in speculative loading and improved design tools for WordPress users.

If you are exploring the upcoming WordPress release, then you may also be interested in learning how to fix common WordPress errors. Or maybe you would like to explore how you can get involved and contribute to WordPress.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post What’s Coming in WordPress 6.8? (Features and Screenshots) first appeared on WPBeginner.

Here’s a shocking fact: Many WordPress websites are non-compliant with current privacy regulations, and the fine for violating GDPR, for example, can be up to €20 million. That’s not a typo – millions!

If you’re already using a cookie banner tool, ask yourself these questions: Does it actually block third-party scripts before consent? Can you prove when and how your visitors gave consent? If you’re unsure, you’re probably at risk.

Without proper cookie consent management, you’re exposing your business to hefty fines. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Today, I am excited to announce WPConsent, a powerful cookie consent management plugin that ensures your website meets global privacy standards and avoid fines.

We’ve completely reimagined how WordPress websites handle privacy compliance, giving you enterprise-level features without the high price.

Background Story – Why WPConsent?

Privacy compliance has become a real headache for WordPress website owners. As more countries adopt strict data protection laws, managing cookie consent has become more complex.

I noticed many WordPress users struggling with the same issues. Some were using basic cookie notice plugins that weren’t actually making their sites compliant. That’s because those tools DO NOT actually block scripts before user consent.

Others were paying hefty annual fees for cookie solutions that are designed for large corporations.

Sadly, as a small business owner, you could still face penalties even if you didn’t understand the compliance requirements or couldn’t afford proper consent management tools.

I realized there was a crucial gap in the market – WordPress users needed a solution that is both easy to use and comprehensive enough to ensure compliance… and of course, without the high costs.

That’s why I decided to build WPConsent.

WPConsent takes the complexity out of privacy compliance while giving WordPress users all the tools they need to protect their business.

It automatically detects cookies, manages consent preferences, and keeps your site compliant with GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy regulations – all without breaking the bank or requiring technical expertise.

Note: You can also download the free version of WPConsent from WordPress.org

Here are some uses cases of WPConsent:

• Online store: WPConsent takes care of everything – from your shopping cart cookies to payment processing, while also keeping those marketing pixels in check and compliant.
• Blog or content site: The plugin makes privacy compliance simple. Your analytics, social media widgets, commenting system, and even those tricky ad networks – WPConsent manages it all so you can focus on creating great content.
• Membership sites: WPConsent takes care of all your authentication cookies and session tracking, so your members get a seamless experience.

The WPConsent plugin offers a high degree of flexibility, making it a valuable tool for addressing a wide array of cookie laws, data protection, and privacy regulations, such as

• GDPR: The General Data Protection Regulation, ePrivacy Directive, ePrivacy Regulation (European Union)
• CCPA: The California Consumer Privacy Act (California, United States)
• LGPD: The Brazilian General Data Protection Law (Brazil)
• AAP: Australia’s Privacy Principles (Australia)
• PECR: The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (UK)
• PIPEDA: The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (Canada)
• and many other international standards and laws.

You can also try the free version by downloading it from WordPress.org. Try the free version!

Let’s take a look at the top features that make WPConsent stand out from the rest.

Automatically Prevent Third-Party Scripts from Setting Cookies

WPConsent automatically prevents many popular tracking scripts from adding cookies on your website.

With the automatic script blocking feature, it detects and blocks common tracking scripts until the user gives consent like Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, and more.

Plus, WPConsent also automates compliance monitoring with its auto scanning feature.

You don’t need to manually scan your website as you integrate more plugins or third-party services.

Instead, you can schedule automatic scans based on your preferred frequency: daily, weekly, or monthly.

Maximize Privacy with Self-Hosted Data Storage

The location where you store user consent data is just as important as how you collect it.

Unlike other consent management solutions, WPConsent takes a privacy-first approach by keeping all data right where it belongs – on your own server.

That means you have full control over data retention and its security.

To see consent logs, all you have to do is visit WPConsent » Consent Logs and you can see the user’s IP address, consent details, the date when they gave consent, and more.

Create Smart Cookie Consent Banners with a few Clicks

WPConsent comes with multiple layouts including banners, popup modals, and more so you can create a beautiful cookie consent notice in WordPress with just a few clicks.

You can customize the position of your banner as well based on the layout you choose. For example, if you choose ‘Long Banner’ as your layout, you can keep the banner’s position at the top or the bottom of your screen.

If you choose ‘Floating Bar’ instead, then you could display it at left top, right top, left bottom, or right bottom based on your needs.

If you want, you can customize the banner style, buttons, and even the content to match your brand perfectly.

Granular Control Over Every Cookie on Your Site

WPConsent lets you scan and detect every cookie set by your WordPress core, themes, and plugins – even those hidden ones you didn’t know about. As you scan your website, you can find all the cookies your website uses, so you can easily configure them.

Once you’ve configured them, you can view the details in Settings » Cookies.

But that’s not all, with our API integration you can get details about services and cookies used by each service automatically configured on your site.

These are the details included with each service:

• Service Name
• Service Description
• Service Category
• Service Privacy/Data URL (if 3rd party)
• List of Cookies with description and duration

Geo-Location Based Notices

It doesn’t make sense to show the same cookie consent banner to everyone when privacy laws vary by region. To provide the best user experience, WP Consent makes it easy to show or hide cookie notices for visitors based on their location.

You can either show the banner to EU visitors or select the country you want to display the cookie banner.

Generate a Cookie Policy Page Automatically

Stay legally compliant with WPConsent’s automatically generated and always up-to-date cookie policy page. The cookie policy page lists the details of all cookies used on the website, per legal requirements.

WPConsent scans your website continuously, detects all active cookies, and creates a comprehensive policy page that details each cookie’s purpose, duration, and type. 

Keep in mind that privacy regulations aren’t going away – they’re only getting stricter.

With WPConsent, you get everything you need to handle cookie consent the right way, without the complexity or cost that usually comes with it. You can start by installing the free version of the plugin here.

Don’t wait for a privacy complaint or penalty to take action. Here’s how you can ensure your website is compliant with global privacy laws right now.

• Install WPConsent in minutes
• Automatically scan and categorize your cookies
• Set up professional consent banners
• Stay compliant with global privacy laws
• Keep your visitors’ trust (and your peace of mind)

Imagine never worrying about privacy compliance again. Picture yourself confidently expanding into new markets without fear of privacy regulations.

That’s what WPConsent delivers.

We’re truly building something special here. If you have ideas on how we can make the plugin more helpful to you, please send us your suggestions.

As always, thank you for your continued support of WPBeginner. We look forward to serving you for years to come.

Yours Truly,

Syed Balkhi
Founder of WPBeginner

The post Introducing WPConsent – WordPress Privacy Compliance and Cookie Management Made Easy first appeared on WPBeginner.

There are plenty of new developments, including WPForms’ new instant SMS/WhatsApp notifications. We also cover the exciting launch of WPConsent, a plugin for managing cookie consent and compliance with the GDPR and other privacy regulations. Plus, WordCamp Asia brought together over 1400 attendees from 70 countries.

We’ve also got new tools and integrations on the way—AIOSEO is making keyword tracking smarter, and Uncanny Automator is adding even more powerful integrations.

And don’t miss WooCommerce’s fresh rebrand, along with a few other exciting plugin launches.

Let’s dive into all these updates and explore what’s new in the world of WordPress!

WPForms Introduces ⚡ Instant SMS & WhatsApp Notifications to Boost User Engagement

WPForms has just introduced a game-changing update for users with the new WPForms Twilio Addon. It allows you to send instant SMS and WhatsApp notifications directly to people who submit your forms.

This feature is perfect for businesses looking to deliver personalized messages, whether it’s a friendly confirmation, appointment details, or a follow-up message—all with just a few clicks.

Jared Atchison, co-founder of WPForms, shared how simple the process is:

“In the form builder, just choose SMS or WhatsApp and pick your recipient’s phone number from the dropdown. From there, you can type in the message you want to send moments after the form is submitted. It’s that simple.”

The Twilio integration is incredibly easy to set up, allowing you to start sending messages right away without needing any technical expertise.

Once your Twilio account is connected, you can customize the notifications to include personalized details like the user’s name, order summary, appointment time, or booking confirmation. This makes every message feel tailored and meaningful, which can improve the overall user experience.

WPForms takes things even further with conditional logic, giving users the power to choose how they want to receive updates—whether via SMS or WhatsApp.

You can also combine text and email notifications to ensure your message reaches customers no matter where they are.

This new functionality is available for all WPForms Plus, Pro, and Elite users, and it’s an excellent way to increase engagement and keep users informed in real time.

WPConsent Has Launched — A Powerful New Plugin for Managing Cookie Consent and Privacy Compliance

Managing cookie consent has never been easier with WPConsent—a powerful new plugin designed to help WordPress site owners comply with privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA.

What sets WPConsent apart from other cookie plugins is that it automatically detects and blocks scripts that use cookies until the user actually allows cookies. These include scripts from Google Analytics, Google Ads, and Facebook Pixel.

Mircea Sandu, Co-Founder of WPConsent, wrote in his announcement:

“With WPConsent, you can create and manage cookie banners that meet your privacy compliance needs without any technical hassle. It’s simple, intuitive, and ensures full transparency for your users.”

WPConsent’s easy setup means there is no need to manually add cookie data. The plugin handles everything with a single click, and you can manage cookies from a central dashboard.

You can also customize cookie categories and create banners that match your website’s branding—without coding.

WPConsent also provides a geolocation feature, allowing you to display cookie banners only to visitors from specific countries or regions, such as the EU.

The plugin makes it easy to add a cookie policy page to your site using a shortcode, and users can easily access the policy details directly through the consent banner.

WPConsent is now available for download. A free version of the plugin is also available for users who want to try it before upgrading to a paid plan.

Over 1400 Attendees from 71 Countries Gathered for WordCamp Asia 2025 in Manila

WordCamp Asia 2025 brought together over 1,400 attendees from 71 countries, with nearly 15,000 people joining online. The event featured inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, and exciting networking opportunities.

This year’s event introduced new ways to engage:

• Solutions Spotlight: Quick, 10-minute lightning talks on innovative products and strategies.
• YouthCamp: Hands-on workshops for kids and teens (ages 8-17) focused on web basics, design, and development.
• Career and Social Corners: Spaces for networking, professional connections, and informal discussions.

Contributor Day kicked off the event, bringing together nearly 800 contributors to tackle tasks like bug fixes, Gutenberg enhancements, and accessibility improvements. The day highlighted the importance of open-source collaboration.

🔗Related: Contributing to the WordPress Ecosystem (My Thoughts)

During the conference, Matías Ventura delivered a keynote speech on the future of Gutenberg and WordPress, followed by insightful sessions on SEO, performance optimization, and AI workflows.

A panel on WordPress in 2030 explored the expanding open-source community and the future challenges WordPress will face.

The event finished with a look at the next generation of WordPress innovations, which left attendees inspired and connected for the journey ahead.

Awesome Motive’s CEO, Syed Balkhi, Talks Business Strategy, WordPress Growth, and AI at Annual Retreat

At Awesome Motive’s annual retreat, CEO Syed Balkhi shared valuable insights into business strategy, the growth of WordPress, and the future impact of AI.

When talking about business strategy, Syed shared his approach to managing his company’s growing portfolio of brands:

“Our goal is to eliminate roadblocks, provide more resources where we can, but really move out of the way because ultimately, the team that’s there knows the customer base the best.”

On the topic of WordPress growth, Syed expressed his excitement for the platform’s future:

“I see WordPress powering over 50% of websites in the next five years. The ecosystem is evolving, and there’s so much to be excited about.”

He also reflected on the growing importance of AI, particularly in how it will impact the future of work:

“AI is as transformative as electricity and the internet. It’s going to reshape how a lot of things are done, and I’m more excited than concerned about it.”

Additionally, when discussing work-life balance, Syed shared a personal perspective:

“Nobody will remember you working late more than your kids. Prioritizing family is important, but balance comes in stages.”

▶️Watch the full interview on the Thrive Themes YouTube Channel.

Remove Unused Media from Your WordPress Site with Search & Replace Everything

Search & Replace Everything has launched its latest feature, Remove Unused Media. This is designed to help WordPress site owners clean up their media libraries.

The new tool finds and removes media files that are no longer in use, helping users free up valuable space on their sites.

It scans the entire WordPress database, going beyond just posts and pages to ensure all unused media files are identified. Once the scan is complete, users are presented with a list of files, including details like title, path, and size. Files can then be deleted with a simple click, either individually or all at once.

By streamlining the process of managing media libraries, Remove Unused Media helps site owners keep their WordPress sites lean and efficient. This is all without the risk of accidentally deleting important files.

The feature is available for pro users of the Search & Replace Everything plugin.

WordPress.org Shares Noel Tock’s “WordPress in 2025” Report

WordPress.org has published a comprehensive WordPress in 2025 report by Noel Tock, which offers valuable insights into the future of WordPress.

The report highlights the direction the WordPress ecosystem is heading and provides a clear roadmap for its growth and sustainability over the next few years.

Among the key takeaways are predictions about how WordPress will continue to evolve as the most dominant platform for website building.

Tock’s analysis highlights the increasing importance of the block editor, the ongoing efforts to make WordPress more user-friendly, and the larger focus on performance optimization and security.

The report also looks at the future role of AI in WordPress development, as well as the growing need for community contributions to help the open-source WordPress project thrive.

AIOSEO Enhances Keyword Tracking and WooCommerce SEO Features in Latest Update

All in One SEO for WordPress has released a major update, further improving smarter keyword tracking and WooCommerce SEO features.

The update introduces a smarter keyword rank tracker, which offers deeper insights and better control for users looking to optimize their SEO strategies.

Notable features include the ability to track keyword rankings for individual posts, integrate with Google Search Console to import relevant keywords, and see related keywords alongside performance metrics.

Ben Rojas, President of AIOSEO, shared his excitement about the new feature, saying:

“One of the coolest features added to our already powerful Keyword Rank Tracker is the Related Keywords tab. This lets you see suggested terms for the keywords you’re already tracking.”

AIOSEO has also made WooCommerce product attribute management easier because you can now apply global settings, export attribute data, and include product attributes in XML sitemaps. These features can improve consistency and efficiency for online stores, as well as WooCommerce SEO performance.

In Other News

• Smash Balloon, the popular social media plugin suite for WordPress, now integrates with GDPR compliance plugins like GDPR Cookie Compliance and Real Cookie Banner. These integrations allow users to easily manage cookie consent and comply with privacy regulations.
• FunnelKit released Funnel Builder 3.9. This introduces new UTM campaign tracking for detailed traffic analysis, new order bump positions, and better revenue attribution for online stores.
• WordPress 6.7.2 was released as a maintenance update. It contains security patches and 16 bug fixes for WordPress core and the block editor.

WP Simple Pay – Effortless Stripe Payments for WordPress

WP Simple Pay makes it easy to accept Stripe payments in WordPress securely. Easily create payment forms for one-time or recurring payments. Its user-friendly interface lets you start accepting payments immediately without writing any code.

Download WP Simple Pay

Try The Free Version

• Advanced Coupons has released a PushEngage integration, which allows users to send coupons via push notifications. This can help to improve engagement and conversion opportunities directly on WordPress websites.
• WordPress.com has renamed Demo Sites in Studio to Preview Sites. They have also added extra storage and personalized URLs to offer users more flexibility and control over their preview environments.
• Uncanny Automator version 6.2 introduced new integrations for Threads, Duplicator, SeedProd, and Thrive Theme Builder, along with powerful new automation features for WordPress sites.

WPBeginner Maintenance Services 🛠️

Keep your WordPress site secure, optimized, and up-to-date with no effort needed! Our WordPress Site Maintenance service handles everything from regular backups and performance checks to proactive security monitoring. We make sure your site runs smoothly while you focus on growing your business.

Learn More

• WooCommerce introduced a new logo and color palette as part of their rebranding, aiming to better match their visual identity with the growth and future of the platform.
• WordPress.com launched 100-year hosting and domain plans. These plans offer users the unique opportunity to secure their domain names and websites for an entire century, which ensures long-term ownership and peace of mind.
• A2 Hosting was acquired by World Host Group, marking a significant expansion in their hosting services and strengthening their market presence.

New Plugins

• WPConsent – A powerful plugin designed to help WordPress site owners comply with GDPR and other privacy regulations. WPConsent provides customizable cookie banners, script blocking, and an easy-to-use interface for managing cookie consent.
• ScreenGlow Image Editor – This plugin allows users to paste, upload, and edit images and screenshots within the WordPress dashboard. It offers tools to create mockups, add backgrounds, annotate screenshots, and beautify designs.
• Shortcodes Analyzer – A plugin designed to help developers and site owners keep track of and manage shortcodes on their WordPress sites. It allows users to easily identify, optimize, and troubleshoot shortcodes across posts and pages.

That wraps up this edition of WPBeginner Spotlight! We’re always eager to hear your thoughts and suggestions on how we can make this series even better.

If there’s any exciting WordPress news or updates you’d like to see featured in our next issue, feel free to send us a message.

We’ll be back next month with more news, insights, and updates from the WordPress world. Thank you for being such a valued part of our community!

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post WPBeginner Spotlight 09: New WordPress Trends, Plugin Innovations, and Industry News first appeared on WPBeginner.