WordPress 6.4: New Features and Improvements

WordPress 6.4 brings exciting new features that improve both user experience and development capabilities. This release represents a significant step in the evolution of the block editor and Full Site Editing, bringing WordPress closer to being a complete design platform without the need for code.

In our WordPress support service, we always recommend staying updated with the latest versions to take advantage of performance and security improvements. Here we explain everything you need to know about WordPress 6.4.

Main New Features

1. Improved Block Editor

The Gutenberg editor receives significant improvements in WordPress 6.4. New customization options allow finer control over your content design:

• Improved toolbar: faster access to the most frequently used formatting options
• New block patterns: predefined layouts you can insert with one click
• Better performance: the editor loads up to 20% faster than in previous versions
• Improved keyboard navigation: more shortcuts and better accessibility
• Real-time preview: see exactly how your content will look without leaving the editor

2. Twenty Twenty-Four Theme

A new default theme completely based on blocks that demonstrates the potential of Full Site Editing. Twenty Twenty-Four is more than a simple theme: it is a design platform that includes:

• Multiple predefined style variations
• Templates for different content types (blog, portfolio, business)
• Carefully selected color palettes and typography
• Fully responsive design with no additional configuration
• Compatibility with the latest web accessibility standards

3. Performance Improvements

WordPress 6.4 includes important under-the-hood optimizations that make the platform faster and more efficient:

• PHP memory usage reduced by 15%
• Optimized database queries for faster page loading
• Better object caching for high-traffic sites
• Improved support for PHP 8.2 and 8.3
• Improved lazy loading for images and embedded content

4. Full Site Editing Improvements

Full Site Editing (FSE) takes another step forward, allowing you to edit not only the content but the entire structure of your site from the visual editor:

• More intuitive template editing
• Better management of template parts (headers, footers, sidebars)
• Export and import of global styles
• Simplified workflow for switching between content and structure editing

Security Improvements

WordPress 6.4 includes multiple security patches and protection improvements:

• Correction of responsibly reported XSS vulnerabilities
• Better input data sanitization
• Improved protection against injection attacks
• Third-party dependency updates

How to Update Safely

Before updating to WordPress 6.4, follow these steps to ensure a smooth transition:

1. Make a full backup: files and database
2. Check compatibility: make sure your theme and plugins are compatible with 6.4
3. Test in staging: if possible, update first in a testing environment
4. Update plugins and themes first: make sure you have the latest versions
5. Update WordPress: from the admin dashboard or via WP-CLI
6. Verify the site: check all main pages and functionality

What's Next? WordPress 6.5 and Beyond

The WordPress team is already working on version 6.5, which promises even more improvements to the block editor, better performance, and new collaboration tools. The roadmap includes improvements to the REST API, better multisite support, and more customization options for FSE.

If you need help updating your site to the latest version of WordPress safely, contact us. Our support plans include managed updates with compatibility testing.