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=== Desktop Mode === |
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Contributors: automattic, allterraindeveloper, epeicher |
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Tags: desktop, admin, ui, productivity, ai |
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Requires at least: 6.0 |
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Tested up to: 7.0 |
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Requires PHP: 7.4 |
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Stable tag: 0.9.1 |
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License: GPLv2 or later |
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License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html |
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Reimagines the WordPress admin as a desktop OS with draggable windows and a dock. Per-user opt-in. By Automattic. |
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== Description == |
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Desktop Mode renders /wp-admin as a desktop operating system. Admin screens open as draggable, resizable, minimizable windows on a desktop, with a left-edge dock built from the admin menu. The classic admin stays untouched for everyone else, and deactivating the plugin restores vanilla Core exactly. |
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Built and maintained by [Automattic](https://automattic.com) — the company behind WordPress.com, Jetpack, WooCommerce, and Tumblr. Zero Core patches: every feature is wired through public WordPress hooks. |
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= Highlights = |
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* **Per-user opt-in.** An admin-bar toggle flips a user-meta flag; nobody else sees any change. |
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* **Window system.** Iframe windows load admin pages chromelessly. Native windows render directly in the parent DOM via a public registration API. Both share drag, resize, minimize, maximize, fullscreen, and detach-to-new-tab. |
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* **Dock + taskbar.** Left-edge dock for core menus; bottom macOS-style pill taskbar for plugin menus. Letter-badge icon fallback for plugins without icon art. |
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* **Virtual desktops ("Spaces").** Multiple desktops per user, each with its own window set. Overview grid surfaces the Spaces switcher and thumbnails. |
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* **Arrange & snap.** Cascade, Tile, Overview, Snap-to-grid. Plugins contribute custom entries. |
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* **Wallpaper & widget registries.** Server- and client-side registration. CSS presets plus canvas (WebGL/2D) wallpapers with collision-aware surface data for snow/rain/physics effects. |
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* **Desktop icons.** Wallpaper-layer shortcuts that open native windows or admin URLs. |
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* **AI Copilot (optional).** Cmd+K palette backed by an agentic loop with built-in search tools. Disabled until you supply an API key. See "External services" below. |
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* **Slash commands & palettes.** Public registration APIs for plugin authors. |
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* **Cross-frame drag bridge.** Media-library attachments drag across iframe boundaries. |
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* **Session persistence.** Window stack (including desktops, focus, state) restored across reloads. |
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* **i18n.** Full gettext coverage across PHP and TypeScript; Spanish translation shipped. |
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= For plugin authors = |
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Desktop Mode is built to be extended. Every significant behavior is hookable — add a desktop icon, register a dock item, gate desktop mode by role, react to window events, or register a native window, all from your own plugin with zero patches here. |
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Comprehensive PHP and JavaScript hook surface, plus stable `desktop_mode_register_*` functions for windows, widgets, wallpapers, icons, window tabs, commands, settings tabs, and AI tools. See the [developer docs on GitHub](https://github.com/WordPress/desktop-mode/tree/trunk/docs). |
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= External services = |
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This plugin's optional **AI Copilot** sends data to **OpenAI** (`https://api.openai.com/v1/responses`) when, and only when, an administrator configures an OpenAI API key in **Settings → AI**. With no key configured, no external requests are made. |
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When the AI Copilot is enabled and a user invokes it (via Cmd+K or the slash-command palette): |
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* **What is sent:** the user's prompt, the conversation history for the active session, the chosen model identifier (e.g. `gpt-4o-mini`), and tool-call metadata. The plugin's built-in tools (`search_posts`, `search_pages`, `search_comments`) run WordPress's native keyword search and may include excerpts of the matching posts/pages/comments in tool results, which are then sent back to OpenAI as part of the agentic loop. |
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* **When it is sent:** on user-initiated AI requests, and (if enabled) on comment-save hooks for spam analysis. Comment spam analysis runs server-side as part of the comment-insert flow. Posts, pages, and taxonomy terms are not sent automatically. |
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* **Why it is sent:** to obtain model completions and tool-call decisions that drive the AI Copilot. |
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* **Who provides the service:** OpenAI, L.L.C. — see the [OpenAI Terms of Use](https://openai.com/policies/row-terms-of-use/) and the [OpenAI Privacy Policy](https://openai.com/policies/row-privacy-policy/). |
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The AI Copilot's provider layer is also extensible: third-party plugins may register additional providers via `desktop_mode_register_ai_provider()`. Those providers may send data to other endpoints; review each plugin's own privacy disclosure separately. |
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No other external services are contacted by this plugin. |
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== Installation == |
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1. Upload the plugin folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`, or install via **Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin**. |
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2. Activate the plugin through the **Plugins** screen in WordPress. |
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3. Click the **desktop** icon in the admin bar's top-right corner. The admin reloads inside the desktop shell. |
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4. Click the same icon again at any time to return to the classic admin. |
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= Optional: enable the AI Copilot = |
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1. Open **Settings → AI** inside desktop mode. |
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2. Paste an OpenAI API key and pick a model. |
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3. Press **Cmd+K** (or **Ctrl+K**) anywhere in desktop mode to open the AI palette. |
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== Frequently Asked Questions == |
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= Does this change anything for users who don't opt in? = |
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No. The classic admin is untouched until a user toggles desktop mode on for themselves. Deactivating the plugin restores vanilla Core exactly. |
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= Does the plugin require an external service to function? = |
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No. The desktop shell, windowing, dock, taskbar, virtual desktops, widgets, wallpapers, and all extension APIs work entirely on-site. The AI Copilot is the only feature that contacts an external service, and it is disabled until an administrator configures an API key. See "External services" in the description. |
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= Does it patch WordPress core? = |
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No. Every feature is wired through public WordPress actions and filters. |
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= How do I disable desktop mode for my user? = |
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Click the desktop icon in the admin bar a second time to flip the toggle off. The plugin can also be deactivated globally from the Plugins screen. |
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= Where is the developer documentation? = |
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In `docs/` inside the plugin, and on [GitHub](https://github.com/WordPress/desktop-mode/tree/trunk/docs). The hook reference, JavaScript reference, bridge protocol, and copy-paste examples all live there. |
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== Screenshots == |
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1. The desktop shell — wallpaper, dock, taskbar, and a window with the admin loaded inside it. |
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2. Multiple windows open across virtual desktops (Spaces). |
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3. The AI Copilot Cmd+K palette in action. |
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4. Custom wallpapers and widgets registered by a plugin. |
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5. The Arrange menu — Cascade, Tile, Overview, Snap to grid. |
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== Credits == |
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Desktop Mode is brought to you by [Automattic](https://automattic.com). The plugin is open source under GPLv2-or-later; contributions are welcome on [GitHub](https://github.com/WordPress/desktop-mode). |
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= Third-party libraries = |
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The plugin bundles the following third-party JavaScript library, loaded on demand only when a feature that needs it is in use: |
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* **[PixiJS](https://pixijs.com/)** (MIT License) — used by the interactive **OS Settings → About** scene, the **Content Graph** window, and built-in canvas wallpapers (e.g. the animated WordPress logo). PixiJS is loaded from the plugin's own `assets/vendor/` directory; no CDN requests are made. |
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== Changelog == |
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= 0.9.1 = |
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* Make native list windows opt-in (Beta) instead of opt-out |
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* Scope AI to comment spam + native-search assistant |
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* Feat/unfocus window effects |
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* Fix placement, gear/Help, and dock⇄desktop visibility bugs |
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* Fix Guidelines-experiment 404 noise, duplicate welcome dialog, and unused-preload warnings |
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* Add "View activity footprint" row action in Users list |
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= 0.9.0 = |
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* Gate per-user REST routes on desktop mode enabled |
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* Refine recycle bin badge styling and sync on stop |
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* Clear comments selection after applying action |
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* Don't let a failing sync block the agent |
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* Make the AI-disabled error link to AI Settings |
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= 0.8.9 = |
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* Improve drag-and-drop handling in chromeless bridge and iframe bridge |
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* The whole shell loads faster, especially the first time you open wp-admin |
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* Open an app from the wallpaper or from the dock — it's the same window now (no more two copies floating around) |
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* Minimize a window and the dock icon shows it's minimized — even if you opened it from the desktop icon |
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* Click "+ New" twice and you get two editors. Drafting a post and want to start another? Just click again |
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* "Switch to Desktop Mode" always takes you to the dashboard, so you know where you're starting from |
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* Resizing a window and accidentally letting go over the desktop no longer minimizes everything |
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* WooCommerce: the "Add Order" button is back on the Orders page |
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* "Add New" buttons (Add Post, Add Order, Add anything) stay visible inside every plugin page |
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* After we ship a fix, you get it on your next page load — no more "try refreshing twice" |
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= 0.8.8 = |
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* Align dock badge with in-window update count |
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* Make every dock scrollable, keep system tiles pinned |
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* No more flash when you create, move, or delete a file or shortcut on the desktop |
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* Trashing a folder that contained other folders now works (used to silently fail) |
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* Drag an image from the Media Library straight into a Gutenberg post, it now inserts |
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* Edit User screen: the form is centered instead of pinned to the left |
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* Title-bar icons (Help, etc.) are now visually centered |
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* Sticky notes powered by WP Guidelines |
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= 0.8.7 = |
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* Bump Tested up to WordPress 7.0 |
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* Fix plugins window stale-nonce 'Cookie check failed' on long-running sessions |
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* Fix plugin .zip drop routing to Media Library uploader |
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* Add server-side search to entity list views |
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* Rename Browse tab to Add Plugin |
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* Drag and drop improvements |
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= 0.8.6 = |
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* Light indicators for native-window-target dock icons |
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* Additional fixes and polish |
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* Add compatibility layer for Divi script dependencies and tests |
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* Show plugin icons |
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* Open off-site menu items in a new browser tab |
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= 0.8.6-rc1 = |
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* Tag cloud & category mindmap: search, clustering, server cache |
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* Drag & Drop from local desktop |
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* Implement loading skeletons and staggered animations for file tiles |
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* Arrow-key shortcuts + Overview-from-Show-Desktop fix |
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* Shortcuts popover, dock-style tooltips, reorder |
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* Add Featured Plugins View and Ribbon Component |
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* Add "Automatic Updates" column and related functionality to Plugins window |
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* Add window notices feature with persistent dismissal and server sync |
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* Polish four framework surfaces for plugin authors |
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* Disable focus on other window actions |
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* Add Media section to "My WordPress" + uniform preview-pane hook surface |
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* Refactor My WordPress to use `<wpd-tile>` + add post status ribbons |
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* Allow deactivating plugins in CMO desktop & dock |
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* OS-file drop — progress UI, live refresh, cancel cleanup, CMO |
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* Group-by selector + click-to-deselect + focused-icon centering |
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* Test against PHP 8.3 and 8.4 |
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* Enhance minimize/restore behavior to preserve pre-minimize state and add cross-state transition tests |
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= 0.8.5 = |
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* Shared folders, heartbeat widget, and heartbeat-pipeline hardening |
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* Recycle Bin: show item type badges inline next to title |
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* Plugins window: expandable rows with rich plugin details |
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* Remember native window size across opens |
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* Fix blank plugin icons in the Plugins window |
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* Restore "Show desktop on wallpaper click" as an opt-in setting |
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* Fix plugin update refresh, dock badge, and stuck-row failures |
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* Trash bin polish: URL badge, live placement badge, no media auto-trash |
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* Throw on empty REST body to avoid TypeError after self-replace |
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* Hide Media filter tab when MEDIA_TRASH is off |
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* Sequence openCurrentPage after restoreSession to avoid duplicate windows |
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* Fix window refresh issue on new sessions |
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= 0.8.4 = |
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* Faster Desktop Mode, main bundle cut by 59 % |
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* "Edit Post" from the front-end admin bar opens nothing |
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* Cross-page admin-link clicks: state, destructive actions, referer hint |
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* Warn loudly when a `<wpd-*>` tag is used without being imported |
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* Support re-uploading existing plugins, add post-install Activate panel |
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* Restore the full WordPress command palette inside Cmd+K |
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= 0.8.3 = |
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* Feat comments as native windows |
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* Chrome <111 titlebars + duplicate-placement REST 500s |
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* SW navigation interception caused window-in-window after core update |
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* Open each post as its own window from the Posts window |
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* Fix Users window data + live-refresh, plus per-window REST clients |
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* Session-expiry cascade + Plugins window sync |
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* Narrow scope to /wp-admin/ and throttle SW reloads |
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* Plugins window: real updates, not just a phantom badge |
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* Support plain permalinks for REST URL construction |
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* Hide registered icons from desktop instead of trashing |
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= 0.8.2 = |
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* Many fixes and new features |
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* Add unit test to ensure bridge script skips core AJAX update buttons |
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* Native Plugins window + `<wpd-card>` |
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* Appearance window polish + dock-peek fixes |
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* Fix upload theme |
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* Implement favicon resolver and associated tests for desktop mode |
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* Auto-inject X-WP-Nonce for REST API requests |
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* Enhance user management functionality in WordPress REST API |
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* Fix user role updates |
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* Fix plugin native issues |
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* Enhance color scheme preview functionality by adding shell scheme flipping |
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* Fix rearrange icons out of desktop |
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* Open each post in its own window |
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* Add item visibility and dock order settings |
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* Add first-run welcome dialog for Desktop Mode |
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* Fix dock management |
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* Refetch desktop placements on Recycle Bin restore |
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= 0.8.1 = |
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* Framework rework and stability improvements — significant internals refactor, smoother window lifecycle, and more reliable bridging between iframe and native windows. |
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* Drag and drop reworked end-to-end: calmer pointer behavior, more accurate hit-testing, and reliable handoff across windows. |
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* Posts, Pages, and Users now open as native desktop windows — direct DOM rendering inside the shell instead of an iframe, faster open, instant interaction, and UI tailored to the windowing model. |
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* New Content Graph tool — an interactive map of how your content links together. Pan, zoom, and focus a node to explore its neighborhood. |
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* Cross-page admin link routing in the chromeless bridge so links across the admin stay inside the desktop shell. |
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* Many bug fixes across the admin bar, Fullscreen toggle, resize handles over iframes, real-time icon refresh on plugin activation, and the PWA shell. |
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= 0.5.1 = |
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* Code editor and framework improvements. |
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* Enhanced AI provider integration: third-party providers may register through `desktop_mode_register_ai_provider()`. |
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* Title-bar button registry with icon painting for plugin authors. |
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* OS Settings tabs are now extensible via `desktop_mode_register_settings_tab_script()` / `desktop_mode_register_settings_tab()`. |
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* AI Copilot extensibility: server-side tool registry (`desktop_mode_register_ai_tool()`) and client-side `wp.desktop.ai.ask()` programmatic entry point. |
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* UI component kit expansion (~25 `<wpd-*>` web components). |
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* Backtick hotkey to cycle window focus. |
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* Unified command palettes via the palette registry. |
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* OS Settings Help tab. |
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= 0.5.0 = |
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* Command registration APIs (`desktop_mode_register_command_script()` / `desktop_mode_register_command()`) with live install/activate refresh. |
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* Media-library enhancement enabled by default, with opt-out. |
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* Dock CSS selectors updated; overflow handling improved. |
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See the [GitHub releases page](https://github.com/WordPress/desktop-mode/releases) for the full history. |
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== Upgrade Notice == |
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= 0.8.1 = |
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Framework and stability rework, reworked drag and drop, native Posts/Pages/Users windows, and a new Content Graph tool. Backwards-compatible. |
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= 0.5.1 = |
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Adds AI Copilot extensibility (server-side tools, multi-provider support) and a title-bar button registry. Backwards-compatible. |
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