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<p>WordPress 6.8 Beta 3 is now ready for testing!</p>
<p><strong>This beta 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. Instead, it is recommended you evaluate Beta 3 on a test server and site.</p>
<p>You can test WordPress 6.8 Beta 3 in four ways:</p>
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<td><strong>Plugin</strong></td>
<td>Install and activate the<a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-beta-tester/"> WordPress Beta Tester</a> plugin on a WordPress install. (Select the “Bleeding edge” channel and “Beta/RC Only” stream).</td>
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<td><strong>Direct Download</strong></td>
<td>Download the <a href="https://wordpress.org/wordpress-6.8-beta3.zip">Beta 3 version (zip)</a> and install it on a WordPress website.</td>
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<td><strong>Command Line</strong></td>
<td>Use the following<a href="https://make.wordpress.org/cli/"> WP-CLI</a> command: <code>wp core update --version=6.8-beta3</code></td>
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<td><strong>WordPress Playground</strong></td>
<td>Use the <a href="https://playground.wordpress.net/?php=8.0&#038;wp=beta&#038;networking=no&#038;language=&#038;multisite=no&#038;random=y4q1rn88xn">6.8 Beta 3 WordPress Playground instance</a> to test the software directly in your browser without the need for a separate site or setup.</td>
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<p>The current target date for the final release of WordPress 6.8 is <strong>April 15, 2025</strong>. Get an overview of the <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/6-8/">6.8 release cycle</a>, and check the<a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/"> Make WordPress Core blog</a> for <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/6-8/">6.8-related posts</a> in the coming weeks for more information.</p>
<p><strong>Catch up on what’s new in WordPress 6.8</strong>: Read the <a href="https://wordpress.org/news/2025/03/wordpress-6-8-beta-1/">Beta 1</a> and <a href="https://wordpress.org/news/2025/03/wordpress-6-8-beta-2/">Beta 2</a> announcements for details and highlights.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to test this release</h2>
<p>Your help testing the WordPress 6.8 Beta 3 version is key to ensuring everything in the release is the best it can be. While testing the upgrade process is essential, trying out new features is equally important. <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/test/2025/03/04/help-test-wordpress-6-8/">This detailed guide</a> will walk you through testing features in WordPress 6.8.</p>
<p>If you encounter an issue, please report it to the Alpha/Beta area of the support forums or directly to<a href="https://core.trac.wordpress.org/newticket"> WordPress Trac</a> if you are comfortable writing a reproducible bug report. You can also check your issue against a list of<a href="https://core.trac.wordpress.org/tickets/major"> known bugs</a>.</p>
<p>Curious about testing releases in general? Follow along with the<a href="https://make.wordpress.org/test/"> testing initiatives in Make Core</a> and join the<a href="https://wordpress.slack.com/messages/core-test/"> #core-test channel</a> on<a href="https://wordpress.slack.com/"> Making WordPress Slack</a>.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Vulnerability bounty doubles during Beta/RC</h2>
<p>Between Beta 1, released on March 4, 2025, and the final Release Candidate (RC) scheduled for April 8, 2025, the <a href="https://make.wordpress.org/core/handbook/testing/reporting-security-vulnerabilities/#enhanced-bounty-rewards-during-beta-and-release-candidate-phases">monetary reward for reporting new, unreleased security vulnerabilities</a> is doubled. Please follow responsible disclosure practices as detailed in the project’s security practices and policies outlined on the<a href="https://hackerone.com/wordpress"> HackerOne page</a> and in the<a href="https://wordpress.org/about/security/"> security white paper</a>.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Beta 3 updates and highlights</h2>
<p>WordPress 6.8 Beta 3 contains more than 3 Editor updates and fixes since the Beta 2 release, including 16 tickets for WordPress core.</p>
<p>Each beta cycle focuses on bug fixes; more are on the way with your help through testing. You can browse the technical details for all issues addressed since Beta 3 using these links:</p>
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<li><a href="https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/commits/wp/6.8?since=2025-03-12&#038;until=2025-03-17">GitHub commits for 6.8</a> since March 12, 2025</li>
<li><a href="https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?status=closed&#038;changetime=03%2F12%2F2025..03%2F17%2F2025&#038;milestone=6.8&#038;col=id&#038;col=milestone&#038;col=owner&#038;col=type&#038;col=priority&#038;order=id">Closed Trac tickets</a> since March 12, 2025</li>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Beta 3 haiku</h2>
<p>Beta three refines,<br />WordPress shapes with steady hands,<br />Code grows into form.</p>
<p class="has-text-align-right"><em>Props to <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/benjamin_zekavica/" class="mention"><span class="mentions-prefix">@</span>benjamin_zekavica</a> <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/krupajnanda/" class="mention"><span class="mentions-prefix">@</span>krupajnanda</a> <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/ankit-k-gupta/" class="mention"><span class="mentions-prefix">@</span>ankit-k-gupta</a> <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/joemcgill/" class="mention"><span class="mentions-prefix">@</span>joemcgill</a> for proofreading and review.</em></p>
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