WordPress 7.1, codenamed “Mary Lou,” was released on August 19, 2026. Its announced changes span responsive design controls, editor navigation, media editing, collaboration, new blocks, and a developer API. “Mary Lou” is a jazz namesake, not a music album; the track-by-track framing below is a tour of the software release.
What is WordPress 7.1 Mary Lou?
WordPress.org names major releases after jazz musicians it admires. The project’s version history identifies 7.1 as “Mary Lou,” honoring pianist, arranger, and composer Mary Lou Williams. The release documentation records database version 61833 and Trac revision 62516. WordPress 7.1 version documentation · WordPress version history
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The release documentation names Anne McCarthy as release lead and links the announcement, Field Guide, Dev Notes, feature showcase, update instructions, and release archive. Those are the best places to check the precise behavior and developer implications of individual features. WordPress 7.1 version documentation
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The feature overview touches several parts of a WordPress workflow. The most visible changes for site editors concern layout, navigation, media, collaboration, and content blocks; developers also get an icon-registration API.
Responsive styling controls: adjust designs for different screens
The announcement describes responsive options in the Site Editor through Global Styles and block settings, alongside viewport previews. These controls are intended to help editors adjust how blocks appear at different screen sizes without relying only on a desktop view. The available options may vary by block and theme; consult the official feature notes for the exact controls in your setup. WordPress 7.1 version documentation
Admin bar in every editor: keep navigation close
The admin bar now follows users across editors, according to the announcement. This is a workflow change: familiar WordPress navigation remains available while working in an editor, rather than being tied to a separate screen. WordPress 7.1 version documentation
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Media editing: bring common changes together
The announcement describes a consolidated media editor for cropping, flipping, rotating, and editing metadata, while retaining the Crop entry point. That brings several routine image adjustments into a single editing flow. The feature overview does not establish supported file types or every detail of its behavior, so check the release’s feature notes before relying on a particular format or workflow. WordPress 7.1 version documentation
Notes: collaborate beyond a whole block
Notes can be placed anywhere in content rather than being limited to block-level comments. The announcement also calls out rich text support and @mentions. It does not specify notification or permission behavior, so those details should not be assumed from the feature summary. WordPress 7.1 version documentation
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Playlist and Tabs blocks: two new content options
WordPress 7.1 adds Playlist and Tabs blocks. Playlist is a block name, not a sign that WordPress has become a music player. For exact block structure, configuration, and accessibility guidance, use the release Field Guide and feature showcase linked from the version documentation. WordPress 7.1 version documentation
Icon block API: a developer-focused addition
For developers, the release adds an API to register a set of icons for the Icon block. This is distinct from the editor-facing changes: it concerns extending the icons available to the block, not a new general-purpose design control for every site owner. Check the Dev Notes linked from the version page for implementation details. WordPress 7.1 version documentation
Which WordPress 7.1 changes matter most to you?
| Workflow | Relevant feature | Primary audience |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Responsive styling controls and viewport previews | Site editors |
| Navigation | Admin bar available across editors | Site editors |
| Media | Combined cropping, flipping, rotation, and metadata editing | Site editors |
| Collaboration | Content-level notes, rich text, and @mentions | People working together in the editor |
| Content layout | Playlist and Tabs blocks | Site editors |
| Development | Icon block API for registering icon sets | Developers |
This is a feature-based guide to who may find each change useful, not a performance comparison. If you primarily build or manage pages, start with the editor and block changes; if you extend WordPress, look at the API and Dev Notes.
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How do I update to WordPress 7.1?
WordPress.org lists three routes: download the release, update through the dashboard, or use the release archive. The dashboard route is available at Dashboard > Updates. The version page links step-by-step update instructions; consult those instructions for the procedure appropriate to your site. WordPress 7.1 version documentation
- Dashboard: Open Dashboard > Updates and follow the WordPress update flow.
- Download: Use the download link on the version documentation page.
- Archive: Visit the release archive through the same version page if you need an archived release.
An update is a site-specific operation. The version documentation provides the official steps, but it does not establish that an update is safe for every site or configuration.
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