Beta Testing WordPress with Local Blueprints

Damon Cook Avatar

Damon Cook

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A new release is on the horizon! 🌅

As with each release, there are countless hours of testing to ensure the overall experience is bug-free and optimized. WordPress 6.5 is targeted to be released on March 26, 2024. Right now, you can help by testing.

Local is the go-to tool to create a WordPress sandbox and effortlessly develop WordPress sites locally, and with Local you can get testing in seconds. Here are a few options to get you started.

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Check out this video or continue reading to learn about all the ways to get testing.

Option 1: WP-CLI + Local

If you already have an existing site in Local then you can just upgrade it to the latest beta with WP-CLI. Here is how:

  1. Right-click on your site and choose ‘Open site shell’, which will open your system’s terminal application and automatically launch WP-CLI.
  2. Once WP-CLI is launched then just run this command: wp core update --version=6.5-beta-3
Open WP-CLI in Local

Option 2: Local + WordPress Beta Tester plugin

If you already have a Local site then you can install the WordPress Beta Tester plugin and get the latest beta.

  1. Visit your WordPress dashboard’s Appearance > Plugins, and choose ‘Add New‘
  2. Search and install the WordPress Beta Tester plugin
  3. Once activated, visit the Tools > Beta Testing area and update the settings to get the latest beta (select the “Bleeding edge” channel and “Beta/RC Only” stream).
WordPress Beta Tester plugin settings screen

Option 3: Local Blueprint FTW!

Save a few clicks and just import our custom Local Blueprint, which comes with everything installed and ready for testing: WordPress Beta Tester plugin with WP 6.5 Beta 3 already installed and the default Twenty Twenty-Four theme activated.

Just click the download button below and drag and drop the downloaded WordPress-Beta-Tester_6.5-beta-3.zip into your Local app to spin up a new site and get testing!

Drag and drop Blueprint into Local

(Note: the super secret WordPress username and password for the Blueprint is admin.)

Reach out to @WPEBuilders and let us know how you’re using Local and what you’re testing in the latest WordPress 6.5 beta release.

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Damon Cook Avatar
Damon Cook is a Developer Advocate at WP Engine. Previously, he navigated the WordPress agency land for a decade. He is a purveyor and discoverer of musical frisson. He can be found in the realms of WordPress Slack, WooCommerce Slack, and Twitter.