As some of you have already noticed, we rolled out a significant update to our user interface over the weekend!
The updated interface is the latest release in a larger project to bring the experience on WordPress.com much closer to a “core” WordPress experience. You’ll have already seen big changes to our navigation and settings experience recently, and this interface update is an extension of that work.
This is just the beginning of a gradual process that will continue over the next few months as we continue to create a more unified and familiar experience across our products.
The times are a-changin’
Over the years, we’ve maintained a custom interface for logged-in WordPress.com users known as “Calypso” in addition to supporting the standard wp-admin WordPress interface. While Calypso served our users well for a while, it was developed for a different era of WordPress.com.
You’ve probably noticed how much time and effort we’ve poured into enhancing the experience of hosting a website on WordPress.com recently. From new developer tools to features that help you speed up your site, there’s never been a better time to host your sites on WordPress.com.
Given these enhancements, supporting two different interfaces—Calypso and the standard wp-admin interface—has become increasingly challenging. It meant duplicating efforts, diverging from standard WordPress advancements, and creating unnecessary complexity for our users.
By transitioning all WordPress.com users to the standard wp-admin WordPress interface, we aim to:
- Offer Familiarity: Many of you use other WordPress products and services. With this change, you’ll enjoy a consistent and intuitive experience no matter where you WordPress.
- Improve Support: This update allows you to take full advantage of WordPress resources. You can now seamlessly follow external guides and tutorials and benefit from a wealth of existing documentation.
- Innovate into the Future: Our team can now dedicate more time delivering innovative tools and enhancements rather than maintaining a separate, second user interface.
We understand that change can take some getting used to, but we’re confident this update will make your WordPress.com experience better than ever. Our support docs and team are here to assist with any questions or feedback you might have.
If you’re not already building, blogging, or running a business with us, we’d love to have you! Check out our WordPress hosting plans and request a free migration today.
