Last checked and updated on 09 Jun 2026
What Is New in WordPress 4.3
| Category | Key Changes |
|---|---|
| New Features | Menu Customizer, Stronger Passwords, Formatting Shortcuts |
| Improvements | Site Icons, Admin Interface Updates, Comment Moderation |
| Under the Hood | REST API Infrastructure, Taxonomy Term Splitting |
How did WordPress 4.3 improve site management?
The biggest change is the integration of menu management directly into the live Customizer. You can now create and edit menus while previewing how they look on your site in real-time. This eliminates the old back-and-forth between the admin screen and the front end, making the process significantly more intuitive.
In practice, this feels much more like a true WYSIWYG experience. You can drag and drop items, create new pages from the Customizer, and see your changes instantly without publishing them first.
What security enhancements were introduced?
WordPress 4.3 enforces stronger passwords by default. When a user creates or resets their password, the system will now generate a secure, 24-character password for them. They can still choose their own, but it must meet the new strength standards.
This matters because it moves the platform away from relying on users to create strong passwords themselves. The generated passwords are long and complex, which is a more effective barrier against brute-force attacks.
Were there any changes to the writing experience?
Yes, this release added formatting shortcuts for a faster, more fluid writing flow. You can now use Markdown-like syntax directly in the visual editor without switching to the text tab.
For example, typing ## and a space will create an H2 heading, and an asterisk will start a bulleted list. This is a small but impactful quality-of-life improvement for anyone publishing content regularly.
What updates were made to site identity?
The Site Icon feature was added, allowing you to set a favicon for your site directly from the Customizer. This icon represents your site across multiple platforms, including browser tabs, app launchers, and as the default avatar for users without a Gravatar.
It consolidates what was previously handled by themes or manual code edits into a simple, standard admin interface.
What under-the-hood changes should developers know about?
The foundation for the REST API infrastructure was significantly expanded. While not the full API endpoints, this update laid critical groundwork for the future WP-API, changing how WordPress handles internal requests and routing.
Another major backend change is term splitting. When a shared term is reassigned to a new taxonomy, WordPress now automatically splits it to avoid unintended connections between taxonomies. This prevents bugs that could occur when updating a term in one taxonomy and having it change in another.
FAQ
Does the new menu customizer completely replace the old Menus admin screen?
No, the traditional Menus screen under Appearance is still available. The Customizer offers a live-preview alternative, but the original admin page remains for users who prefer it or for more complex menu management tasks.
Can I disable the strong password enforcement?
Yes, but it is not recommended. You can use the wp_is_strong_password() function or filters to modify the behavior, but this weakens the default security stance of your installation.
What happens to my existing shared terms after the term splitting update?
Existing shared terms are not automatically split. The splitting only occurs when a shared term is updated and assigned to a new taxonomy. Your current data remains untouched until such an edit is made.
Are the formatting shortcuts the same as Markdown?
No, they are inspired by Markdown but are a simplified subset. They cover basic formatting like headings, lists, and bold/italic text, but they don't implement the full Markdown specification.
How does the Site Icon differ from a favicon?
The Site Icon is a modern implementation of a favicon. It uses a single, larger image (at least 512x512 pixels) that WordPress automatically resizes into the various smaller sizes needed for different browsers and devices, simplifying the process.