WordPress 5.0 is a big Jump comparing with recent major updates of WordPress. And we are so eager for playing with new features in WordPress 5.0 which launch a big change in content editing, default theme, and other remarkable features.

However, any new update will cause you some unexpected issues when updating without careful consideration. Don’t be afraid, the article will help you absolutely ready to upgrade your WordPress site to the voluntary version.

What’s new in WordPress 5.0?

To keep you steadily stand in the market share, you need to get 100% ready with WordPress 5.0. Before coming with the stuff you need to see what’s new in WordPress 5.0.

WordPress 5.0 has been launched on December 6. 2018, named “Bebo” – Jazz musician. WordPress 5.0 is a big revolution regarding content editing with offering new block editor and using the new default theme – The Twenty Nineteen. We will find out the main feature of the new version to get the best understanding of that.

Get an overview about WordPress 5.0 with this informative video

#1. New Block Editor – Gutenberg Editor

Gutenberg is a block-based editor which is the upcoming replacement to the WordPress TinyMCE editor. The new WordPress editor is going to completely change the editing experience by moving to a block-based approach to content.

The first new experience comes from the editing change by the integration of Gutenberg editor. The new editor does not change the content looks to visitors. It just changes the way you build up the content now with convenient blocks. Gutenberg replaces the single edit field of the current WordPress TinyMCE editor with lots of individual “blocks”. A block can include (text, images, video embeds, buttons, widgets, tables, etc.). The screenshot will give you a clear view for that.

Though Gutenberg gets not very good feedback, we cannot refuse new features the editor plugin create:

• More flexibility in content displaying
• Insert any type of multimedia and be embed automatically
• Each piece of content is in its own block and easily using with mouse or keyboard

Tons of blocks available by default with more to come: paragraph, heading, preformatted text, quote, image, gallery, cover image, video, audio, columns with nested blocks, files, code, and more

#2. New Default Theme: Twenty Nineteen

WordPress 5.0 ships with the default theme named Twenty Nineteen which means the theme will be fully compatible with the new WordPress editor. Getting more details about the new default theme.

• Designed for the block editor
• Simple, type-driven layout
• Versatile design for all sites

#3. Classic Editor

If you cannot stand or temporally not fit with the new WordPress editor – Gutenberg, you are able to work with the Classic editor which you can use until 2021. You simply install WordPress Classic editor which allows you to restore the previous WordPress editor and the edit post screen,

The classic editor will:

• Keep using plugins that extend it
• Keeps old-style Meta boxes
• Allows you to continue using functionality otherwise dependent on the legacy editing experience

How to get 100% ready with WordPress 5.0

#1. Back up Always

Though we are so eager for playing with a new feature at WordPress version 5.0. You must be calm and back up your WordPress site first to avoid unexpected lost after updating and you are impossible to be back your previous site again.

There are tons of WordPress plugins for your backup to be easier. You can get your choice from our suggested WordPress backup plugins post.

#2. Staging your WordPress site

That means you should copy your site and launch the update on the copy version to see how the update changes your site. There are many ways to launch your stage, we will recommend you three main ways in staging (Stage on the test server, stage the site using a plugin, Stage on Local). We will explain these types of staging in another article. And you can get the references on this post.

#3. Make sure PHP is updated to the latest version.

PHP is the scripting language that empowers WordPress themes and Plugins. If you using an outdated version, your site can be conflicted. The latest version of PHP is 5.6, so please sure that mots of themes and plugins are compatible with PHP 5.6. Furthermore, upgrading to the latest PHP version, your site will run smoothly and quickly.

#4. Update all plugins to the latest version

The next step, you need to update all your site plugin to the latest version which is a good start for a smooth update. Most of theme and plugin are willing to update their product to the latest version of WordPress. So, if you update all plugins, you might avoid any after-updating issue.

#5. Classic Editor or Gutenberg Editor

You should make a good comparison between Classic Editor and Gutenberg Editor. As I have mentioned above about the Gutenberg and Classic editor.

You can check the reviews of users to Gutenberg to make the right decision. Anyway, you also should try using the new editor – Gutenberg, we sure that finally, you will find what features makes Gutenberg be powerful and are selected in WordPress 5.0.

#6. Check Cache and performance plugins

There are some issues relating cache and performance after updating, so you should consider emptying your cache and minifying all JavaScript.

Final Thoughts,

All new version is worthy to honor and appreciated and there is no exception with WordPress 5.0. WordPress 5.0 is a breakthrough version made with love and effort from the WordPress team. We need to take time to explore and get the best understanding about this to take advantages of powerful features to develop your WordPress site more smoothly and successfully. Notably, you must carefully consider and make a smart updating plan to update without any regret.

*Notably, YoloTheme is willing to update all our premium WordPress themes to WordPress 5.0!