{"id":125449,"date":"2026-08-12T15:57:47","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T15:57:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/make.wordpress.org\/core\/?p=125449"},"modified":"2026-08-12T16:11:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T16:11:23","slug":"wordpress-7-1-release-candidate-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/make.wordpress.org\/core\/2026\/08\/12\/wordpress-7-1-release-candidate-3\/","title":{"rendered":"WordPress 7.1 Release Candidate 3"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Note:<\/strong>\u00a0This post has been published on Make\/CoreCore<\/span> Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress.<\/span><\/span><\/span> in light of the WordPress 7.0.4 security release. You can read more about the security release<\/a>.
WordPress 7.1 RC2 was released on August 6, 2026, as part of the WordPress 7.0.3 security release<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The third Release Candidaterelease candidate<\/span> 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)<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span> (\u201cRC3\u201d) for WordPress 7.1 is ready for download and testing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This version of the WordPress software is under development<\/strong>. Please do not install, run, or test this version of WordPress on production or mission-critical websites.<\/strong> Instead, it\u2019s recommended that you evaluate RC3 on a test server and site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 7.1 is the best it can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can test WordPress 7.1 RC3 in four ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PluginPlugin<\/span> 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\/<\/a> or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/td>Install and activate the WordPress Beta Tester<\/a> plugin on a WordPress install. (Select the \u201cBleeding edgebleeding edge<\/span> The latest revision of the software, generally in development and often unstable. Also known as trunk<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201d channel and \u201cBetaBeta<\/span> 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.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\/RCrelease candidate<\/span> 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)<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Only\u201d stream).<\/td><\/tr>
Direct Download<\/strong><\/td>Download the RC3 version (zip)<\/a> and install it on a WordPress website.<\/td><\/tr>
Command Line<\/strong><\/td>Use the following WP-CLI<\/a> command:\u00a0wp core update --version=7.1-RC<\/code>3<\/td><\/tr>
WordPress Playground<\/strong><\/td>Use the 7.1 RC3 WordPress Playground instance<\/a> to test the software directly in your browser without the need for a separate site or setup.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The scheduled final release date for WordPress 7.1 is August 19, 2026<\/strong>. The full release schedule can be found here<\/a>. Your help testing RC versions is vital to making this release as stable and powerful as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please continue checking the Make WordPress Core blog<\/a> for 7.1-related posts<\/a> for more updates and information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s in WordPress 7.1 RC3?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

WordPress 7.1 RC3 contains more than 90 <\/strong>updates\u00a0and fixes since the RC1 release, including\u00a037 in the Editor<\/strong>\u00a0and 57 in Core<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to look deeper into the details and technical notes for this release? Take a look at the WordPress 7.1 Field Guide<\/a>. For technical information related to issues addressed since WordPress 7.1 RC1 release<\/a>, you can browse the following links:<\/p>\n\n\n\n