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’ve created a staging site, you can switch it from the latest stable version of WordPress to the latest available beta version.

Your live WordPress.com site will always use the latest stable release. Beta versions are only available on staging sites, allowing you to test new features and updates in advance. This helps you get familiar with changes before they appear on your live site.

To change the WordPress version used on your staging site, follow these steps:

1. Visit your Sites page.
2. Find and click your staging site.
3. Click the Settings tab.
4. Click the Server option in the sidebar.
5. Under “Server configuration” switch the WordPress version to Beta.
6. Click the Save button.

Your staging site will now run the latest beta version of WordPress. If you’ve chosen to use the beta, your site will automatically update to each new beta release as it becomes available. There may occasionally be a short delay between a beta release being published and its availability on WordPress.com, but we aim to keep that delay as brief as possible.

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

Beta versions of WordPress are intended for testing and should only be used on staging sites, not on live (production) sites. Because beta versions are released before the final stable version, they may contain bugs or issues that can affect your site’s functionality. Using a beta version on a live site could lead to problems like broken features, failed payments, or users being unable to register.

For this reason, on WordPress.com, you can only install the beta version of WordPress on staging sites.

Revert to the latest stable version of WordPress

You can switch your staging site from the beta version back to the latest stable release of WordPress at any time. To do this, use the same dropdown menu you used to enable the beta version. Click the dropdown and select Latest, followed by the Save button.

Report feedback and bugs

The WordPress project encourages all users to share feedback and report bugs. If you encounter an issue or have suggestions, you can submit a ticket on the Make WordPress Core site.