In case you haven’t heard about the latest buzz that’s trending in the WordPress community right now, it is the WordPress 5.6 new release alongside its new features.

Whether you are curious to see what the new version of WordPress looks like, or you’re skeptical about upgrading your WordPress core software, this article will give you an insight into the WordPress 5.6 new features (for non-Geeks) so you can know what to expect 🙂

WordPress 5.6 Release and New Features

Below are some of the new features that came with the latest release of WordPress core software.

WordPress 5.6 Theme – Twenty Twenty-One Theme

WordPress comes with a default theme to display the front-end of the WordPress website and also sort of a fallback theme just in case you had issues with another theme that you might installed. Since 2010, WordPress had been renaming their theme after the year.

For instance; If you install WordPress prior to now (before the WordPress 5.6 version), your Dashboard will likely come by default with the Twenty Nineteen theme and the Twenty Twenty default theme. And now for this newer version; there’s the Twenty Twenty-One default theme!

The new Twenty Twenty-One default theme is built for the block editor and allows you to try different layouts in a matter of seconds. If you are already familiar with how to use the Gutenberg block editor, you’ll find this new default theme more easier and awesome to use as it this theme sleek design would make your work shine.

• How To Use the Gutenberg Block Editor (Video Tutorial)
• Best Places to Learn About the WordPress Gutenberg Block Editor
• What are WordPress Default Themes (WPBeginner)
• How To Switch to WordPress Classic Editor and Disable Block Editor

Video Subtitles, Captions, metadata, etc in the block editor

If you use your WordPress blog majorly for sharing videos, the new WordPress version now allows you to upload subtitles directly to your Video within your post or page. See screenshot below;

To help you add subtitles or captions to your videos, you can now upload them within your post or page. Adding subtitles or captions to your videos makes it easier to make your videos accessible for anyone who needs or prefers to use subtitles.

More Block Patterns for using the Block Editor

In some selected themes ( for instance; the Twenty Twenty-one default theme), there are already configured block patterns that helps to make your post stand out. These preconfigured block patterns can make setting up normal standard pages on your site more awesome. See the screenshot below to see an example from Twenty Twenty-One theme;

You can easily access the block patterns by going to New Post/page >> the Plus sign (to add a block in post editor) >> Patterns.

Improvements with Auto-updates

Although Auto-updates had been around the corner for a while but this newer version of WordPress comes with an improvement for the Auto Updates functionality. With the auto-updates ready to go, you can have your plugins automatically schedule to auto update all by themselves.

NOTE: I would recommend you keep an up-to-date backup of your site before deciding to go the Auto-update way. This is just in case an update goes wrong and break down your site.

ON A FINAL NOTE;
There are more features that come with the newer version of WordPress such as the Different Column Mix, pre-selected color palettes in pastel, application passwords, and other technical bits. However, this article is meant to give you a non-geek view of the update.

You can find all of the information about the newer releae via WordPress 5.6 “Simone” News