WordPress 7.0

WordPress 7.0 was officially released on May 20, 2026.

WordPress 7.0 “Armstrong” is a broad release focused on making WordPress feel more modern, more flexible, and more ready for the next generation of editing workflows.

For content editors, the biggest changes are practical: patterns are easier to update without disrupting their structure, revisions are more visual, responsive controls are more direct, and the admin experience feels more polished. This release also introduces several new blocks and design tools, including the Icon block, Breadcrumbs block, expanded Gallery behavior, and block-level CSS controls.

WordPress 7.0 also lays important groundwork for AI-powered workflows through the new AI Client, Abilities API, and Connectors screen. Some AI features may depend on additional plugins or project-specific configuration, but the foundation is now part of WordPress core.

This guide highlights the updates most relevant to content editors and site managers.

Feature updates

Pattern editing experience

  • When adding a Pattern to a page, the pattern is now partially locked. There is a new Content tab in the sidebar that allows editing any “content” block within the pattern (such as Images, Headings, Paragraphs, Lists and Buttons).
  • To fully edit all blocks used within the pattern, you must first click Edit pattern or detach the pattern.

Visual revisions

  • Revisions now offer a more visual comparison experience, making it easier to review changes block by block and restore the version you need.

Responsive editing

  • Blocks can now be hidden or shown based on device size. This makes it easier to create cleaner mobile layouts or simplify content for different screen sizes.
  • Find the settings by selecting a block, go to Options in the block toolbar, and select Hide.

Fonts

  • WordPress 7.0 includes a dedicated font management screen under Appearance → Fonts, allowing fonts to be uploaded or selected from Google Fonts and managed more centrally.

AI connectors

  • WordPress 7.0 introduces foundational AI infrastructure, including a new AI Client and a Connectors screen under: Settings → Connectors. These tools allow WordPress and plugins to connect with AI providers in a more centralized way.
  • Some AI-powered editing features may require an additional plugin or project-specific configuration.

Mobile navigation overlays

  • Mobile menu overlays can now be customized with blocks and patterns in the Site Editor, giving teams more control over mobile navigation experiences.

Block updates

Cover block

  • The Cover block now supports third-party video embeds, including YouTube and Vimeo, as background media.
  • Note: There is currently no option to pause background video, which may raise accessibility concerns.

Breadcrumbs block (new)

  • WordPress 7.0 introduces a Breadcrumbs block for displaying breadcrumb navigation.
  • Options include:
    • Showing “Home”
    • Showing the current page
    • Customizing the separator symbol

Icon block (new)

  • The new Icon block allows editors to add SVG icons from a built-in icon library and adjust their appearance using block settings.
  • The default icon library is currently limited with approximately 88 icons.

Heading block (variations)

  • The Heading block now includes all heading levels (H1–H6) as variations.
  • This allows adding specific heading levels directly from the inserter
  • The UI has also changed — heading level selection now appears in the block settings sidebar instead of the toolbar.

Image block

  • The Image block now uses the Content tab for uploading or selecting media and managing alt text

Gallery block

  • Gallery lightboxes now support slideshow-style navigation, allowing visitors to move between enlarged images without closing and reopening each image.
  • The Gallery block now includes a List View tab in the sidebar for sorting and organizing images.

Grid block

  • The Grid block now supports more flexible responsive layouts by combining a set column count with a minimum column width.

Additional CSS (new)

  • Blocks now include an Additional CSS field in the Advanced section of the block settings sidebar.
  • This allows custom CSS to be applied to a specific block instance.

Custom HTML block

  • The Custom HTML block now offers a more capable editing experience with separate areas for HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Link validation

  • WordPress now provides clearer feedback when an invalid link is added, helping editors catch link issues before publishing.

Block editor keyboard navigation

  • Keyboard navigation within the editor has changed.
    • Up and Down arrow keys now move between content blocks
    • Parent container blocks are skipped
  • This can make keyboard navigation more difficult and increases the importance of using List View for structured navigation.

Other small updates

Refreshed admin experience

  • WordPress 7.0 introduces the new Modern admin color scheme, refreshed buttons and inputs, and smoother transitions between admin screens.

Command palette in admin toolbar

  • The Command Palette is now available from the admin toolbar, making it easier to access common actions from anywhere in the dashboard.
  • The Command Palette is also still available as a keyboard shortcut (Cmd + K / Ctrl + K).

Learn more

For more detail, see the official WordPress resources: