WordPress 5.5 Released

WordPress 5.5 is Out

This new version of WordPress is a major release which gets new power in speed, search, and security areas.

We suggest all WordPress website owners do this upgrade. It is not only a security upgrade but because it's a major upgrade, we highly suggest you do this upgrade.

WordPress 5.5 Release (wordpress.org)

Speed:

• Posts and pages feel faster, lazy-loaded images.
• Images give your story a lot of impact, but they can sometimes make your site seem slow.
• In WordPress 5.5, images wait to load until they’re just about to scroll into view. The technical term is ‘lazy loading.’
• On mobile, lazy loading can also keep browsers from loading files meant for other devices. That can save readers money on data — and help preserve battery life.

Search:

• Say hello to your new sitemap.
• WordPress sites work well with search engines.
• Now, by default, WordPress 5.5 includes an XML sitemap that helps search engines discover most important pages from the very minute you go live.
• So more people will find your site sooner, giving you more time to engage, retain and convert them to subscribers, customers or whatever fits your definition of success.

Security:

Now you can choose to update plugins and themes automatically–or pick just a few–from the screens you’ve always used.

Auto-updates for Plugins and Themes

• Now you can set plugins and themes to update automatically — or not! — in the WordPress admin. So you always know your site is running the latest code available.
• You can also turn auto-updates on or off for each plugin or theme you have installed — all on the same screens you’ve always used.

Update by uploading ZIP files

• If updating plugins and themes manually is your thing, now that’s easier too — just upload a ZIP file.

Highlights from the block editor:

Once again, the latest WordPress release packs a long list of exciting new features for the block editor

Block patterns

New block patterns make it simple and fun to create complex, beautiful layouts, using combinations of text and media that you can mix and match to fit your story.

You will also find block patterns in a wide variety of plugins and themes, with more added all the time. Pick any of them from a single place — just click and go!

The new block directory

Now it’s easier than ever to find the block you need. The new block directory is built right into the block editor, so you can install new block types to your site without ever leaving the editor.

Inline image editing

Crop, rotate, and zoom your photos right from the image block. If you spend a lot of time on images, this could save you hours!

Accessibility:

• Every release adds improvements to the accessible publishing experience, and that remains true for WordPress 5.5.
• Now you can copy links in media screens and modal dialogs with a button, instead of trying to highlight a line of text.
• You can also move meta boxes with the keyboard, and edit images in WordPress with your assistive device, as it can read you the instructions in the image editor.

More About the Upgrade…

The previous version of WordPress was 5.4.2 on June 11, 2020. Our Website Maintenance Department will be in contact with you regarding these upgrades. Clients that have signed up for our Automatic WordPress Update Program or Website Care will get their website updated in the next week or so or if a follow-up version of WordPress is released. View the complete list of WordPress versions here and here. Read more about why WordPress updates are important.

What is Website Care?

If you haven’t heard about Website Care, then you’re missing out on savings and peace of mind! There are different levels to choose from but with each level, you get your installation of WordPress checked weekly for updates to the core software, plugins and themes. The benefit is that your website software is kept up to date. This work is done by hand and we test your website after the upgrade to make sure everything works like it should. The program is either by monthly subscription or you can save 10% and pay for a year in advance. When you use this program you save about 40% on updating WordPress. It’s kind of a no-brainer! Sleep better knowing that your website is being taken care of when you enroll in Website Care today! -Webstix Maintenance Team