Switch to the Latest WordPress Beta Version

On a staging site, you can switch to the most recent beta version of WordPress. This guide will show you how to change your WordPress version to test the latest features coming in future WordPress releases.

How to Switch WordPress Versions

If you have created a staging site, you can switch the staging site from using the latest stable version of WordPress to using the latest beta version available.

Your WordPress.com site will always run the latest stable version of WordPress. We provide the ability to run beta versions on staging sites so that you can test the latest features and updates before your main site receives the update, so that you can become familiar with anything new.

Once your site has a staging site, you can change its WordPress version using these steps:

1. Visit your Sites page.
2. Find and click your staging site.
3. Click the Server Settings tab.
4. Scroll until you see the Web server settings section.
5. Switch WordPress version to “Beta.”
6. Click the Update WordPress version button.

Your staging site will now be running the latest beta version of WordPress. If you have chosen to use the beta version on your staging site, it will always use the latest available beta upon its release. There can sometimes be a delay between the beta version being released for download and it becoming available on WordPress.com. However, we try to keep this delay to a minimum.

Database Update Required

After changing the WordPress version on your staging site, either from the latest to beta or reverting from beta to the latest, you may be asked to update your database with a prompt that says “Database Update Required.”

This means that the version of WordPress that has been selected requires some changes in the database. To make these changes, click the “Database Update Required” button. In most cases, this is entirely safe. In case of any issue, you can always restore a backup of your site.

Switch a Production Site to Beta

It is not recommended (or possible) to use a beta version of WordPress on a live (production) site, only a staging site.

Beta versions of software are released prior to the stable version. They may include bugs and errors that can affect how your site works. Running a beta version on a production site may have adverse effects such as users being unable to register or your site not taking payments correctly.

Revert to the Latest Stable Version of WordPress

You can revert your staging site from beta back to the latest stable version of WordPress. You can revert to the latest stable version using the same dropdown that you used to switch to the beta version. Click the dropdown and select “Latest” followed by the Update WordPress version button.

Report Feedback and Bugs

The WordPress project welcomes feedback and bug reports from all users. If you find a bug or have feedback to share, feel free to create a ticket on the Make WordPress Core site.