Last checked and updated on 09 Jun 2026
What Is New in WordPress 4.8
WordPress 4.8, "Evans," introduces several user-focused enhancements to improve the dashboard experience and content creation. The update brings new default widgets, a visual text widget, and link boundary improvements. It's a solid incremental release that refines the core platform.
| Category | Key Changes |
|---|---|
| New Features | New Image, Audio, Video, and Rich Text widgets; Link boundaries |
| Improvements | Nearby WordPress Events dashboard widget; WYSIWYG controls for Text widget |
| Developer | New editor functions; Press This refactored into a plugin; TinyMCE update |
| Bug Fixes | Various fixes for customizer, accessibility, and the visual editor |
What are the new dashboard widgets?
WordPress 4.8 replaces the old text-based media widgets with new visual ones. You now get Image, Audio, and Video widgets that let you add media directly through the customizer without needing to mess with shortcodes or embed links.
The Text widget has been upgraded to a visual, WYSIWYG editor. This is a huge quality-of-life improvement because you can now format text and add links visually instead of writing HTML by hand. It uses the same TinyMCE editor found in posts.
A new "WordPress Events and News" widget appears on the dashboard. It suggests nearby WordCamps and Meetups based on your site's location, which is great for connecting with the community.
How has link editing been improved?
The editor now has link boundaries. When you select text and create a link, visual indicators show the start and end of the linked area. This makes it much easier to see and edit the exact text that's linked, preventing common mistakes.
In practice, this means you no longer have to guess which words are included in a hyperlink. The clear visual cues help content editors work more accurately and efficiently, especially with complex paragraphs.
What changes affect developers?
The Press This bookmarklet feature has been removed from core and is now available as a separate plugin. This change keeps the core lean while allowing users who need the functionality to install it separately.
TinyMCE has been updated to version 4.6, which includes its own set of bug fixes and improvements. There are also new editor functions like wp_editor() that developers can leverage in their plugins and themes.
The update includes the usual round of bug fixes for the customizer, accessibility, and other core systems. These are minor but important stability improvements that keep everything running smoothly.
FAQ
Does the new visual Text widget break existing HTML content?
No, it handles the transition gracefully. Existing HTML in old Text widgets is preserved and remains fully editable in the new visual interface.
Can I still use the old Press This feature?
Yes, but you'll need to install the "Press This" plugin from the WordPress plugin directory, as it was removed from core.
What TinyMCE version is included?
WordPress 4.8 bundles TinyMCE version 4.6, which includes performance improvements and bug fixes over the previous version.
Are the new media widgets compatible with my theme?
They should work with any properly coded theme. The widgets use standard WordPress media handling and output clean HTML.
How does the Events widget determine my location?
It uses your site's configured timezone string from the General Settings page to suggest relevant nearby WordCamps and Meetups.