Today, WordPress version 3.6, codenamed Oscar, was released to the general public for download. This release brings many changes including, a revamped auto-save and post locking feature, an updated revision browser and native support for audio and video embeds, and improved integration with Spotify, Rdio and SoundCloud cloud music providers.
This brief tutorial is going to show you how to upgrade your current version to the latest version of WordPress so you can take advantage of some of the newest features. If you’ve been using WordPress for a while and you upgrade, you probably wouldn’t notice any change after upgrading because most of the added features are not easily noticeable.
Here are some of the feature that were added.
- A revamped revision feature which lets you save every change with a new interface that allows you to easily scroll to each change made
- Post-locking / Autosave feature that automatically save your work both locally and on the save, which makes it very hard to lose your work
- Built-in HTML5 media player for native audio and video embeds
- Revamped Menu Editor and more
Before upgrading your server, it’s highly recommended to backup your site’s content and database. This can be done in many ways from SSH terminal console to your host backend tool sets which may include file manager and phpMyAdmin.
Upgrading via SSH Terminal console.
To upgrade using an SSH terminal, sign into your server using SSH client, then run the commands below to backup your site’s content.
sudo tar -cvf site-content.tar /var/www/
Next, run the commands below to backup the site’s database content.
mysqldump -u root - p database_name > database_name.sql
When you run the above commands, you may be prompted to enter your password.
After backing up the site’s content, run the commands below to download the latest version of WordPress.
wget http://wordpress.org/latest.zip
Next, run the commands below to extract the zipped file.
unzip latest.zip
Finally, copy the content in the wordpress folder and replace the existing site content.
sudo cp -rf wordpress/* /var/www/
After copying the content, go to your wordpress admin page and upgrade the database and you’re done.
Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How to upgrade Wordpress to version 3.6?
To upgrade Wordpress to version 3.6, download the latest version from the official Wordpress website and follow the upgrade instructions provided.
What are the new features in Wordpress 3.6?
Wordpress 3.6 introduces features such as a revamped auto-save and post locking feature, native support for audio and video embeds, and improved integration with music providers like Spotify, Rdio, and SoundCloud.
How to back up a Wordpress site before upgrading?
Before upgrading Wordpress, it's recommended to back up your site's content and database using tools like SSH terminal console or host backend tool sets like file manager and phpMyAdmin.
What is the Post-locking feature in Wordpress 3.6?
The Post-locking feature in Wordpress 3.6 automatically saves your work locally and on the server, making it difficult to lose your work during the writing process.
How to use the built-in HTML5 media player in Wordpress 3.6?
In Wordpress 3.6, you can easily embed native audio and video files using the built-in HTML5 media player, enhancing your content with multimedia elements.
What is the purpose of the revamped Menu Editor in Wordpress 3.6?
The revamped Menu Editor in Wordpress 3.6 provides users with a more user-friendly interface for customizing and managing menus on their websites.
How to integrate Wordpress 3.6 with music providers like Spotify and SoundCloud?
Wordpress 3.6 offers improved integration with music providers like Spotify and SoundCloud, allowing users to easily embed music from these platforms into their websites.
What precautions should be taken before upgrading Wordpress to version 3.6?
Before upgrading to Wordpress 3.6, ensure to backup your site's content and database, as well as follow the recommended upgrade instructions to avoid any data loss.