WordPress Beta Tester
WordPress Beta Tester
Description
This plugin provides an easy way to get involved with beta testing WordPress.
Once installed it will enable you to upgrade your website to the latest Nightly, Beta, or Release Candidate at the click of a button using the built in upgrader.
By default once enabled it switches your website onto the point release update channel.
For the more adventurous there is the option to switch to the bleeding edge (trunk) of development.
Don’t forget to backup before you start!
Please enable auto-updates for this plugin to ensure future changes are properly handled with core updates.
Extra Settings
There is a setting to Skip successful autoupdate emails. It functions to disable sending emails to the admin user for successful autoupdates. Only emails indicating failures of the autoupdate process are sent.
There is a setting to Skip bundled plugins and themes. It functions to disable the installation of any plugins or themes that are bundled with the Core update.
PRs are welcome on GitHub.
Installation
- Upload to your plugins folder, usually
wp-content/plugins/ - Activate the plugin on the plugin screen.
- Navigate to Tools … Beta Testing to configure the plugin.
- Under Mulitsite, navigate to Settings … Beta Testing to configure the plugin.
- Visit Dashboard … Upgrade (Or Tools … Upgrade in versions before 3.0) and update to the latest Beta Release.
Reviews
Working great
By Stefano Lissa (satollo) on October 24, 2025
Perfect for developers to test plugins with new versions of WP.
Great tool
By NETT.PRO (nettpro) on April 8, 2025
Seems to work as expected. Great tool to test plugins before release and ensure they are compatible with the next WordPress release. So thank you for the plugin.
Mandatory for a plugin developer!
By Georges (georgesmc) on November 8, 2024
As a plugin developer, I need this extension to be able to test my plugin against future versions before the officiale release.
What a fantastic facility!
By Andrew Palmer (thisisandrewpalmer) on October 8, 2024
This is just brilliant. It allows anyone to test out the beta and see if everything works - Nice work here! I only found out about this from the WPBUILDS podcast - needs more promotion - its fantastic!
DIEGO HJ JACOBO
By JUAN DIEGO JACOBO HERNANDEZ (contoso) on October 26, 2023
- `
Effortlessly Test and Review WordPress Updates with the Beta Tester Plugin
By Mir Monoarul Alam (mirmpro) on August 7, 2023
I have been using the WordPress Beta Tester plugin for a few months now, and I am blown away by its performance. This plugin has revolutionized the way I test and review WordPress updates, making it easy and hassle-free.
One of the best things about this plugin is its simplicity. The interface is straightforward and easy to navigate, making it simple to install and configure. I love how I can easily manage which updates I want to test and review, and how the plugin keeps me informed of the status of each update.
Another great feature of the plugin is its reliability. I have yet to experience any issues or bugs with the plugin, and I know that it is constantly being updated and improved by the WordPress team.
Overall, I highly recommend the WordPress Beta Tester plugin to any WordPress user who wants to stay ahead of the game and test the latest updates before they are released to the public. It is a must-have plugin for anyone who values the security and stability of their plugin/theme/website.
Easy plug-in to install and join the WP betas!
By Toine Rademacher (toineenzo) on March 19, 2023
Great and easy plug-in!
Great for testing
By Josh Journey (ljosh) on August 4, 2020
My site crashed because of the plugin.
By kvkkvk on July 9, 2020
Nice update
By Steven Stern (sterndata) (sterndata) on February 19, 2020
Changelog
4.0.0 / 2025-11-07
- refactor to use
core_version_check_query_argsfilter for simplicity and compatibility - remove checks on
WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE - update to require WordPress 4.9
3.6.4 / 2025-07-10
- update readme
- fixed incorrect path to
delete_plugins() - check for
require_filesystem_credentials()as missing during update.
3.6.3 / 2025-03-25
- update workflow
- add extra setting to remove auto-installed plugin(s)
3.6.2 / 2024-12-02
- Plugin Check and i18n updates
3.6.1 / 2024-10-23
- fix if
get_preferred_from_update_core()continues to return less than a complete response
3.6.0 / 2024-10-09
- remove Report a Bug in favor of using the standalone Test Reports plugin
3.5.6 / 2024-07-06
- string update
- no need to skip debug email
3.5.5 / 2023-10-19
- add
Settingsto action links, thanks @0aveRyan
3.5.4 / 2023-09-09
- use
automatic_updates_send_debug_emailfilter to turn off sending debug email mysql_get_client_info()no longer in PHP 7.0, switch tomysqli_get_client_info()- make anonymous functions static
3.5.3 / 2023-08-10
- update for changed standalone afragen/test-reports plugin
- set actual next beta/RC in messaging
3.5.2 / 2023-07-12
- fix dev-notes URL
3.5.1 / 2023-07-06
- add setting in
Extra Settingsto hideReport a Bug - add filter
wpbt_hide_report_a_bug - update if
Report a Bugplugin active - link to settings if
Report a Bugis hidden - update for latest WP API responses, thanks @dd32
3.5.0 / 2023-06-30
- update dashboard widget for MarComm publishing of posts
- update to correctly identify Opera browser in
Report a Bug - update API query when channel set to beta or RC and version is non-current
- fix
WP_Beta_Tester::switch_update_offer()to correctly display ‘Update’ or ‘Re-install’ buttons on update-core.php - remove unused item from Extra Settings tab
3.4.1 / 2023-05-26
- Report a Bug only for logged in users
3.4.0 / 2023-05-21
- update to point release if set for development beta/rc and new point release occurs
3.3.8 / 2023-05-18
- update composer.json
- update GitHub Actions
- update to correctly return ‘upgrade’ or ‘latest’ offer when set to ‘beta’ or ‘rc’ stream
3.3.7 / 2023-03-28
- better fix for spacing of bug report copy
Report a Bug: update database data for SQLite
3.3.6 / 2023-02-25
- fix spacing of bug report copy
3.3.5 / 2023-02-22
- updated dashboard widget with some better dynamic information
Report a Bug: introduce search button- updated strings
Report a Bug: Truncate the value of mysqli::$client_info
3.3.4 / 2023-03-20
- PHP 5.6 and
EOD, why we can’t have nice looking code in the editor
3.3.3 / 2023-03-20
- add an icon 🐞
- improved environment data and display
- improve clipboard text for insertion
- lots of other stuff for Colin to do
3.3.2 / 2023-03-17 🇮🇪☘️
- more fixes for ‘Report a Bug’
- updated/added strings
- some developery stuff
3.3.1 / 2023-03-17 ☘️
- update readme
- sort listed plugins in ‘Report a Bug’
- add mu-plugins in ‘Report a Bug’
- fix for multisite
- initiate plugin in
plugins_loaded
3.3.0 / 2023-03-16
- added
Report a Bugfeature, thanks @costdev, @ironprogrammer
3.2.9 / 2023-02-27
- mitigate some issues/possible issues with PHP 8.1/8.2
3.2.8 / 2023-02-07
- Composer 2.5.2 is fixed.
3.2.7 / 2023-02-07
- revert to Composer v2.2.x locally for autoloader compatibility
3.2.6 / 2023-01-30
- revert to Composer v2.5.0 as v2.5.1 has bug causing fatal, fixed in next version of Composer
3.2.5 / 2023-01-29
- added auto display relative fields immediately bleeding edge option is selected, thanks @Preciousomonze
- fixes for PHP8.1
3.2.4 / 2022-11-07
- return empty array for 8.1 compatibility
3.2.3 / 2022-09-29
- update for PHP 8.1 compatibility
3.2.2 / 2022-06-23
- correctly use
sanitize_url()andesc_url() - fix
WP_Config_Transformerto get anchor if wp-config.php has been modified
3.2.1 / 2022-04-13
- update composer to work with PHP 5.6
3.2.0 / 2022-04-12
- use
sanitize_key()for nonces - fix for transition from WP x.9 to WP x.0 to display correct next versions
3.1.5 / 2022-01-28
- use
sanitize_title_with_dashes()assanitize_file_name()maybe have attached filter that changes output - fix variable docblocks
- update nonce checks
3.1.4 / 2021-09-24 Hotfix
- don’t load
pluggable.phpforwp_create_nonce(), load inplugins_loadedhook
3.1.3 / 2021-09-23
- nonce, escape, and sanitize all the things
3.1.2 / 2021-09-04
- only use
esc_attr_efor translating strings
3.1.1 / 2021-07-11
- add @10up GitHub Actions WordPress SVN integration
- update Codex links for HelpHub links @audrasjb
3.1.0 / 2021-02-08
- update for working correctly if new
WP_AUTO_UPDATE_COREconstant is used. - update
WP_Beta_Tester::channel_switching_modification()to update past current release if appropriate - tweak next versions when coming from point release to bleeding edge
3.0.10 / 2021-01-11
- re-write
WP_Beta_Tester::get_current_wp_release()to check https://api.wordpress.org/core/stable-check/1.0/ - fix
WPBT_Core::get_next_versions()if user on current release - tweak
WP_Beta_Tester::channel_switching_modification()to work correctly with $wp_version <= $current_release and if on current release
3.0.9 / 2020-12-01
- add conditional for filter to fix
core_update_footer(), fixed in r49708 - simplify some
preg_match()calls - fix PHP warning
3.0.8 / 2020-11-28
- fix some PHP errors when using older versions of WP, for testing updates directly from these older versions like when using Core Rollback plugin
3.0.7 / 2020-11-24
- tweak to
channel_switching_modification()
3.0.6 / 2020-11-21
- improved flow between Bleeding edge and Point release
3.0.5 / 2020-11-18
- don’t show beta as a next version when on RC
3.0.4 / 2020-11-17
- fix to correctly downgrade from Bleeding edge to Point release nightlies.
- hide stream options other than Nightlies for Point release channel until new Updates API changes
- add settings for future Updates API above
- added
channel_settings_migrator()for switching betweenBleeding edgeandPoint releasechannels
3.0.1 – 3.0.3 / 2020-10-27
- fixed regex to get next versions
- really didn’t need to use
ReflectionClass🤦♂️, thanks @pbiron - use
ReflectionClassto get static variable$core_update_constantfromclass WP_Beta_Testerintoclass WPBT_Core
3.0.0 / 2020-10-23
- major refactor for new core update API, thanks @dd32!
- now requires PHP >5.6
- allows for overrides when using the
WP_AUTO_UPDATE_COREconstant - update on-screen help
2.2.13 / 2020-09-05
- enclose
WPConfigTransformerin try/catch
2.2.12 / 2020-08-10
- fix intermittent PHP warning #21
- deactivate and die if user attempting to run with
wordpress-develop
2.2.11 / 2020-08-01
- minor cleanup
2.2.10 / 2020-05-01
- sanitize, escape & ignore
- move multiline boolean operator to front of line, new guidelines in WPCS
- fix
correct_versions_for_downgrade()for being on current release version
2.2.9 / 2020-03-24
- delete development RSS feed transient after core upgrade
2.2.8 / 2020-03-17 🍀
- add Dev Notes and Field Guide links to dashboard
- add text/link for bug reporting to trac
- add help tabs to screen
- arbitrarily changed settings page id from
wp_beta_testertowp-beta-tester😏
2.2.7 / 2020-03-02
- update trac link in callout for closed or reopened tickets on the milestone
- only show Beta Tester Settings page link in callout with appropriate privileges, using
manage_network_optionsandmanage_options - menu to Settings page also checks privileges as above
2.2.6 / 2020-02-25
- removed extra
</li>in dashboard callout, 4th time’s the charm 😭
2.2.5 / 2020-02-25
- less greedy regex for matching release posts in RSS for dashboard callout
2.2.4 / 2020-02-25 🤦♂️
- added dashboard widget for network dashboard
2.2.3 / 2020-02-25
- add dashboard widget callout for testing
2.2.2 / 2020-02-22
- fix for strange Core API response where preferred version response contained the word ‘version’. We now grab the last word of that response
2.2.1 / 2020-02-20
- fix some i18n strings, thanks @pedro-mendonca
2.2.0 / 2020-02-19
- added support for updating to the beta/RC offer. Based on and with tons of help from @pbrion, thanks Paul 👏🏻
- fixed so a downgrade from ‘unstable’ to ‘point’ serves the correct download
- test and exit from Extra Settings if
wp-config.phpis not writeable
2.1.0 / 2019-09-17
- add extra setting to skip successful autoupdate emails
- add description to checkbox settings
- composer update
2.0.4
- add update version information to settings page text
2.0.3
- a11y fixes for settings tabs
- update
wp-cli/wp-config-transformer
2.0.2
- a11y fixes for checkbox, thanks @audrasjb
2.0.1
- fix for incorrect last updated message
2.0.0
- near complete re-write to use more OOPy practices
- put distinct process into separate classes
- allows for multiple settings tabs for addtional settings
1.2.6
- remove extraneous code
- add GitHub Plugin URI header
1.2.5
- fixed error message for downgrading version, thanks @andreas-andersson
1.2.4
- don’t use $GLOBALS
1.2.3
- updated a few strings and correct typos
- run through WPCS linter
- fixed translation strings to include HTML in context and properly escape with
wp_kses_post() - fixed link to settings page under Multisite
1.2.2
- change wording from blog to website
1.2.0
- Escape output
- Indicate that Bleeding edge nightlies are trunk
- new screenshot
- code improvements from linter
1.1.2
- Remove anonymous function for PHP 5.2 compatibility.
1.1.1
- fixed PHP notice for PHP 7.1
- made URL scheme agnostic
1.1.0
- Fixed to work properly under Multisite.
1.0.2
- Update tested up to version to 4.7.
- Fix the location of the settings screen in Multisite (moved under Settings in Network Admin).
- Minor text fixes.
1.0.1
- Update tested up to version to 4.5.
- Fix PHP7 deprecated constructor notice.
- Change text domain to match the plugin slug.
- Update WordPress.org links to use HTTPS.
- Remove outdated bundled translations in favor of language packs.
1.0
- Update tested up to version to 4.2.
- Update screenshot.
- Fix a couple typos.


