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Troubleshooting Common Issues in WordPress Release Candidates

24 threads Sep 16, 2025 Core → Alpha/beta/rc

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Testing a WordPress Release Candidate (RC) is a great way to ensure your site and its components will be compatible with the next major release. However, as these are pre-release versions, you might encounter unexpected behavior. This guide covers some of the most common issues reported by users testing RCs and how to resolve them.

1. Plugin and Theme Compatibility

One of the most frequent issues when testing a new RC is that existing plugins or themes may not yet be compatible. This can manifest in various ways, from broken functionality to fatal errors.

  • Example: A user found their plugin settings were wiped after updating to 4.2 RC1 due to changes in how options were handled.
  • Example: The Editorial Calendar plugin lost its drag-and-drop functionality in WordPress 3.1 RC5.

Solution: The first step is always to deactivate all plugins and switch to a default theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four). If the problem disappears, reactivate your plugins and theme one by one to identify the culprit. Check the plugin's support forum or change log to see if an update is available that adds compatibility. For themes, the same process applies; contact the theme author if you suspect an issue.

2. Unexpected Deprecations and API Changes

While major development happens in the alpha and beta phases, sometimes important changes, especially security-related ones, are introduced in later release candidates.

  • Example: The wpdb::escape() function was deprecated and replaced with esc_sql() in WordPress 3.6 RC2 for security reasons.

Solution: If you are a developer, carefully read the official WordPress Core Development blog for dev notes on changes. Enable WP_DEBUG in your wp-config.php file to see deprecation notices and other warnings that can help you identify code that needs updating.

3. Update and Installation Problems

The process of updating to or from an RC can sometimes hit snags, especially when moving between development branches or dealing with file permissions.

  • Example: A user running a nightly build could not upgrade to 3.6 RC2 using the Beta Tester plugin because the configuration pointed to the wrong branch.
  • Example: Another user encountered a "Briefly unavailable for maintenance" error when deleting pre-installed plugins in 4.2 RC1, likely due to a server timing issue.

Solution: For update path issues, you may need to manually update your site by downloading the RC version and uploading the files via FTP/SFTP. For persistent maintenance mode errors, ensure your server meets WordPress's requirements and that file permissions are correctly set.

4. Changes in User Interface and Behavior

New versions often include UI refinements that can be mistaken for bugs if you're not aware of the change.

  • Example: In WordPress 3.6, the Revisions meta box was removed; revisions were moved to a link within the Publish meta box.
  • Example: The remote publishing setting (XML-RPC) was turned on by default in 3.5, making it appear to be removed from the Settings screen.

Solution: Before reporting an issue, consult the official release announcements and field guides on the WordPress News blog to understand intended new features and changes.

5. How to Report a Valid Bug

If you've ruled out plugin/theme conflicts and confirmed the behavior is unintended, you can help by reporting it properly.

  1. Search First: Check if a bug has already been reported on the WordPress Core Trac.
  2. Create a Ticket: If it's a new issue, create a new ticket. Provide a clear, descriptive title and detailed steps to reproduce the problem.
  3. Include Details: Always specify the WordPress version (e.g., 6.3 RC1), your PHP version, and your database version. If relevant, note the browser you are using.

Testing release candidates is a valuable contribution to the WordPress project. By following these troubleshooting steps, you can solve most issues you encounter and provide effective feedback to the development team.

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