Title: WordPress 6.8 Release Candidate 4 Author: Jeffrey Paul Published: April 14, 2025 --- [ ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jeffpaul/) [Jeffrey Paul](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jeffpaul/) 5:00 pm _on_ April 14, 2025 Tags: [6-8 ( 91 )](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/6-8/), [development ( 20 )](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/development/), [releases ( 58 )](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/releases/) # WordPress 6.8 Release Candidate 4 The fourth release candidaterelease candidate One of the final stages in the version release cycle, this version signals the potential to be a final release to the public. Also see [alpha (beta)](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2025/04/14/wordpress-6-8-release-candidate-4/?output_format=md#alpha-beta).(“ RC4”) for WordPress 6.8 is ready for download and testing! **This version of the WordPress software is under development**.**  Please do not install, run, or test this version of WordPress on production or mission-critical websites.**  Instead, it’s recommended that you evaluate RC4 on a test server and site. Reaching this phase of the release cycle is an important milestone.  While release candidates are considered ready for release, testing remains crucial to ensure that everything in WordPress 6.8 is the best it can be. You can test WordPress 6.8 RC4 in four ways: | **PluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory [https://wordpress.org/plugins/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/) or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party.** | Install and activate the [WordPress Beta Tester](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-beta-tester/) plugin on a WordPress install.  Select the “Bleeding edgebleeding edge The latest revision of the software, generally in development and often unstable. Also known as [trunk](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2025/04/14/wordpress-6-8-release-candidate-4/?output_format=md#trunk).” channel and “BetaBeta A pre-release of software that is given out to a large group of users to trial under real conditions. Beta versions have gone through alpha testing in-house and are generally fairly close in look, feel and function to the final product; however, design changes often occur as part of the process./RCrelease candidate One of the final stages in the version release cycle, this version signals the potential to be a final release to the public. Also see [alpha (beta)](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2025/04/14/wordpress-6-8-release-candidate-4/?output_format=md#alpha-beta). Only” stream. | | **Direct Download** | Download the [RC4 version (zip)](https://wordpress.org/wordpress-6.8-RC4.zip) and install it on a WordPress website. | | **Command Line** | Use the following [WP-CLI](https://make.wordpress.org/cli/) command: `wp core update --version=6.8-RC4` | | **WordPress Playground** | Use the [6.8 RC4 WordPress Playground instance](https://playground.wordpress.net/?php=8.0&wp=beta&networking=no&language=&multisite=no&random=y4q1rn88xn) (available within 35 minutes after the release is ready) to test the software directly in your browser without the need for a separate site or setup. | The current target for the WordPress 6.8 release is **April 15, 2025**.  Get an overview of the [6.8 release cycle](https://make.wordpress.org/core/6-8/), and check the [Make WordPress Core blog](https://make.wordpress.org/core/) for [6.8-related posts](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/6-8/) leading up to next week’s release for further details. ## **What’s in WordPress 6.8 RC4?** Get a recap of WordPress 6.8’s highlighted features in the [Beta 1 announcement](https://wordpress.org/news/2025/03/wordpress-6-8-beta-1/). The following updates have been addressed since [RC3](https://wordpress.org/news/2025/04/wordpress-6-8-release-candidate-3/): * [#62887](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/62887) – Editor: Restore static properties for deprecated `__experimentalLinkControl`. * [#63248](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/63248) – Docs: Correct the type of the $return parameter in `embed_handler_html` filterFilter Filters are one of the two types of Hooks [https://codex.wordpress.org/Plugin_API/Hooks](https://codex.wordpress.org/Plugin_API/Hooks). They provide a way for functions to modify data of other functions. They are the counterpart to Actions. Unlike Actions, filters are meant to work in an isolated manner, and should never have side effects such as affecting global variables and output.. ## **How you can contribute** WordPress is open sourceOpen Source Open Source denotes software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified. Open Source **must be** delivered via a licensing model, see GPL. software made possible by a passionate community that collaborates and contributes to its development.  The resources below outline various ways you can help the world’s most popular open source web platform, regardless of your technical expertise. ### **Get involved in testing** Testing for issues is critical to ensuring WordPress is performant and stable.  It’s also a meaningful way for anyone to contribute. [This detailed guide](https://make.wordpress.org/test/2025/03/04/help-test-wordpress-6-8/) will walk you through testing features in WordPress 6.8.  For those new to testing, follow [this general testing guide](https://make.wordpress.org/test/handbook/get-setup-for-testing/) for more details on getting set up. If you encounter an issue, please report it to the [Alpha/Beta area](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/alphabeta/) of the support forums or directly to [WordPress Trac](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/newticket) if you are comfortable writing a reproducible bugbug A bug is an error or unexpected result. Performance improvements, code optimization, and are considered enhancements, not defects. After feature freeze, only bugs are dealt with, with regressions (adverse changes from the previous version) being the highest priority. report.  You can also check your issue against a list of [known bugs](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/tickets/major). Curious about testing releases in general?  Follow along with the [testing initiatives in Make Core](https://make.wordpress.org/test/) and join the [#core-test channel](https://wordpress.slack.com/messages/core-test/) on [Making WordPress Slack](https://wordpress.slack.com/). ### **Search for vulnerabilities** From now until the final release of WordPress 6.8 (scheduled for April 15, 2025), the [monetary reward for reporting new, unreleased security vulnerabilities](https://make.wordpress.org/core/handbook/testing/reporting-security-vulnerabilities/#enhanced-bounty-rewards-during-beta-and-release-candidate-phases) is doubled.  Please follow responsible disclosure practices as detailed in the project’s security practices and policies outlined on the [HackerOne page](https://hackerone.com/wordpress) and in the [security white paper](https://wordpress.org/about/security/). ### **Update your theme or plugin** For plugin and theme authors, your products play an integral role in extending the functionality and value of WordPress for all users.  For more details on developer- related changes in 6.8, please review the [WordPress 6.8 Field Guide](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2025/03/28/wordpress-6-8-field-guide/). Thanks for continuing to test your themes and plugins with the WordPress 6.8 beta releases.  With RC4, you’ll want to conclude your testing and update the _“Tested up to”_ version in your [plugin’s readme file](https://developer.wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-org/how-your-readme-txt-works/) to 6.8. If you find compatibility issues, please post detailed information to the [support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/alphabeta/). ### **Help translate WordPress** Do you speak a language other than English?  ¿Español?  Français?  Русский?  日本語? हिन्दी?  मराठी?  বাংলা?  ಕನ್ನಡ?  You can [help translate WordPress into more than 100 languages](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp/dev/). ## **An RC4 haiku** _RC4 steps in,__One last note in six-eight’s song,Soon the last refrain. _Thank you to the following contributors for collaborating on this post: [@joemcgill](https://profiles.wordpress.org/joemcgill/), [@vgnavada](https://profiles.wordpress.org/vgnavada/), [@desrosj](https://profiles.wordpress.org/desrosj/), [@surajswalstar](https://profiles.wordpress.org/surajswalstar/)._ [#6-8](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/6-8/), [#development](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/development/), [#releases](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/releases/) ### Share this: * [ Threads ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2025/04/14/wordpress-6-8-release-candidate-4/?share=threads) * [ Mastodon ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2025/04/14/wordpress-6-8-release-candidate-4/?share=mastodon) * [ Bluesky ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2025/04/14/wordpress-6-8-release-candidate-4/?share=bluesky) * [ X ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2025/04/14/wordpress-6-8-release-candidate-4/?share=x) * [ Facebook ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2025/04/14/wordpress-6-8-release-candidate-4/?share=facebook) * [ LinkedIn ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2025/04/14/wordpress-6-8-release-candidate-4/?share=linkedin) # Post navigation [← Summary, Dev Chat, Apr 9, 2025](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2025/04/09/summary-dev-chat-april-9-2025/) [WordPress 6.8 Release Day Process →](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2025/04/14/wordpress-6-8-release-day-process/)