WordPress 6.9: New features, AI, and collaboration explained

Key takeaway: WordPress 6.9 professionalizes website editing by introducing two distinct modes to separate pure writing from complex design. This development secures team workflows thanks to the native addition of collaborative notes and refined template management. Its technical maturity is underscored by a historic fact: no new default theme accompanies this version.

The fear of disrupting your site’s appearance with a simple text change or the sometimes chaotic management of team feedback are obstacles that WordPress 6.9 finally removes. This major new version rethinks the editing experience by separating design from writing and integrates native collaborative tools to effectively secure each step of your work. From technical performance gains to the future integration of artificial intelligence via the Abilities API, here we analyze how these concrete features will make your publishing workflow more reliable and faster in the long term.

The redesigned site editor for greater flexibility

The first major change in WordPress 6.9 strikes right at the heart of your daily routine: the site editor.

A dual-purpose editor: simple or advanced

The editor now offers two distinct modes to avoid errors. You can use a “simplified” mode to quickly edit content without affecting the design. The “design” mode is still available for those who need all the tools. Finally, writing and structure are separated.

For content creators, this is a huge gain in peace of mind on a daily basis. Agencies and designers also know that their clients will no longer “break” the site by accident.

This is a direct response to a long-standing request from the community for a more secure workflow.

Template management finally unleashed

Here is one of the most eagerly awaited improvements: the redesign of templates. It is now possible to create multiple templates for the same type of page.

Bloggers will now be able to have one article template for interviews and another for tutorials, without having to fiddle around with categories. This offers real flexibility when it comes to structuring content.

Key point: custom templates will be preserved when changing themes. No more worrying about losing everything when changing designs.

Drafts and template activation: more control

The new template status management is a game changer. You can now work on a template in draft mode without it being applied to the live site.

This allows you to test major changes to a product page template, for example, without affecting sales. You also have the power to enable or disable a template on the fly.

This brings a publishing workflow worthy of major development platforms, directly into WordPress.

New tools for creating and collaborating

Notes: collaboration taken to the next level

The flagship feature for teamwork is finally here: Notes. This is the direct and long-awaited result of what was previously known as “Block Comments.”

The functionality is simple but changes everything. Teams can now leave specific comments on a specific block, whether it’s a paragraph or an image. It’s pure asynchronous collaboration, built into the heart of the editor. The choice of the name “Notes” is the result of a discussion on GitHub aimed at avoiding confusion with public comments on the site.

A toolkit enriched with new blocks

Each new version of WordPress brings a host of new blocks, and 6.9 is no exception.

• Accordion block: For creating expandable sections (such as FAQs) without additional plugins.
• Estimated reading time block: Automatically displays the reading time, particularly useful for online training creators looking to maximize engagement.
• Term Query Block: To dynamically display a list of categories or tags.
• Math block: Allows you to display complex mathematical expressions using LaTeX syntax.

The “Fit Text” option has also been added to Title and Paragraph blocks.

Summary table of new features in WordPress 6.9

For clarity, nothing beats a summary. Here is a table summarizing the major additions.

More refined and intelligent design options

After consolidating the editing tools, this version finally gives designers and pixel-perfect enthusiasts the keys to the truck.

Control over every detail of the design

WordPress 6.9 continues to refine design tools with surgical precision. One of the most notable new features is the arrival of presets for border radius directly in the interface. No more manually entering values each time—now you can select from defined visual standards.

Let’s also talk about the Social Links block, which has often been rigid in the past. It will finally be possible to add custom social icons via a dedicated extension. It’s a small technical detail, but it changes everything when it comes to maintaining a consistent visual identity without having to code.

Hiding blocks: the trick for better testing

Here’s a feature you might not have expected, but which quickly becomes indispensable: the ability to hide a block on the public site (frontend) while keeping it visible in the editor.

This is the perfect tool for preparing a section of a page, such as a promotion, that isn’t ready to be published yet. You can also use it to keep internal notes directly in the content, invisible to your visitors. This helps you avoid embarrassing publishing mistakes.

It’s a simple but powerful management tool for securing your content on a daily basis.

Improved command palette and drag-and-drop

The Command Palette, a super-fast tool for navigating and executing actions, has now been extended to the entire WordPress dashboard. It is no longer limited to the site editor; power users can now control the entire administration system using their keyboard.

Ergonomics are also more fluid with the new drag-and-drop behavior. Now, dragging a block will move it to the desired location by default, instead of creating an unintended copy.

These two adjustments, although subtle, are intended to make the interface more intuitive and faster for regular users.

The change of direction: why there is no default theme

A break with seven years of tradition

This is a first in seven years, and frankly, it’s shaking things up. WordPress 6.9 is arriving without its traditional default theme, breaking a well-established cycle. Forget about waiting for a successor to Twenty Twenty-Five at the end of this year. It’s an abrupt end to a long historical lineage.

This decision, which leaked during discussions about the beta version, is not a simple oversight in the calendar. It signals a major strategic shift. The developers seem to be telling us that internal mechanics now take precedence over the annual packaging we were used to.

What impact will this have on new users?

But what about beginners installing the CMS for the first time? The default theme served as a safety net, providing a sound and immediately functional foundation. Without it, the initial experience may be more challenging.

There is a concern that this will force newbies to grapple directly with the theme directory, which is often uneven. This extra step could complicate the learning curve for those trying to learn WordPress without a guide. It’s a risky bet for initial accessibility.

On the other hand, this constraint has its advantages. It forces users to go beyond the standard and explore the richness of the ecosystem from the outset.

The maturity of full site editing in question

If we scratch beneath the surface, this absence speaks volumes about the confidence of developers. The site editor finally seems to be considered robust enough to do without an annual technical showcase. The “engine” is now self-sufficient.

The cursor is therefore shifting radically. We no longer view the theme as the visual driver, but rather the editor as the structural master. This is the ultimate validation of the Full Site Editing vision.

Under the hood: performance and new APIs for developers

A faster WordPress thanks to targeted optimizations

Performance isn’t an option, it’s an absolute necessity. This version promises significantly improved loading times for all users.

Here are the specific technical adjustments that make all the difference:

• Smarter caching: particularly for RSS caching and a new template output buffer system.
• Minification of style sheets: reduction of CSS loaded on classic themes.
• Optimized script loading: for improved site responsiveness.
• Database optimizations: more efficient queries to reduce server load.

These technical improvements are detailed in the version analyses.

Interactivity, DataViews, HTML: APIs that are gaining momentum

For developers, API updates are often the heart of the engine. The Interactivity API continues to evolve to create dynamic blocks.

Check out the major improvements to the DataViews API. It now includes advanced filters, field grouping, and infinite scrolling, which will enable the creation of much richer admin interfaces.

• Mention that the fields API has been enhanced with new types (email, media, date, password, color, etc.) and improved validation, as detailed in the Gutenberg project tracker.

PHP 8.4 compatibility and enhanced security

It is important to note a key technical point: WordPress 6.9 is designed to be fully compatible with PHP 8.4.

Let’s see what this means for users. It promises potentially faster, more secure websites that benefit from the latest advances in programming language.

It’s a guarantee of sustainability and modernity for the entire WordPress platform.

WordPress 6.9 and AI: the arrival of the Abilities API

What exactly is the Abilities API?

Forget about visual gadgets for a moment. The real change in version 6.9 is hidden under the hood with the Abilities API. It’s not a flashy option that you’ll activate tomorrow morning. It’s the technical architecture that guarantees the survival of the CMS.

Think of it as a universal language for code. This interface allows the core, themes, and extensions to declare their “abilities” according to a standardized and strict protocol.

To put it simply, WordPress is finally learning to express itself. It clearly states: “This is exactly what I know how to do.”

In practical terms, what will this be used for?

The goal is to connect the WordPress engine to external brains. We connect your data to artificial intelligence systems. It’s a gateway to third-party applications.

Imagine an AI asking the site, “Can you summarize this post?” or “List the images without alternative text.” The Abilities API acts as a rigorous interpreter. It translates the request into concrete action without risky tinkering.

This was the missing link for generative tools to drive your site natively. We are finally moving away from tinkering and entering the industrial age.

Paving the way for a smarter ecosystem

WordPress isn’t just jumping on the AI bandwagon. Developers are laying the concrete foundations for an infrastructure capable of supporting it in the long term. It’s a structural vision.

This logic opens the floodgates to a new breed of extensions. Expect to see autonomous writing assistants, automatic SEO proofreaders, and intelligent moderation. It’s a complete solution for modernizing your workflows.

With WordPress 6.9, your CMS goes beyond its status as a manager. It becomes a technology platform ready for tomorrow.

WordPress 6.9 marks an essential milestone in its maturity. By streamlining collaboration with Notes and paving the way for AI, this release goes beyond a simple technical update. It offers creators and developers a more robust, powerful, and forward-looking ecosystem.