WordPress Real-Time Collaboration: Early Access Preview and Setup Guide

WordPress teams can now collaborate directly in the block editor without leaving WordPress. With the release of WordPress 6.9 “Gene” on December 2, 2025, the Notes feature brings block-level commenting to the editor, and experimental real-time editing is available for those ready to test what’s coming next.

This guide walks you through setting up WordPress real-time collaboration features available today, implementing agency workflow patterns, and preparing for full simultaneous editing in WordPress 7.0.

What’s Available Now: Notes in WordPress 6.9

Notes represent WordPress’s first native collaboration feature in the block editor. Unlike traditional post comments that appear below published content, Notes attach directly to individual blocks during the editing process. This distinction matters: Notes are internal team communication, not public discussion.

Here’s how Notes differ from what you’re used to:

• Block-level targeting: Attach feedback to specific paragraphs, images, or any block rather than commenting on the entire post
• Threaded conversations: Reply to notes, creating focused discussions around specific content decisions
• Resolution workflow: Mark notes as resolved when addressed, keeping your editor clean without losing history

Notes work with a permission model based on WordPress user roles. Administrators and Editors can view all notes across the site. Authors and Contributors see notes only on their own posts. Subscribers have no access to Notes functionality.

When someone adds a note to content you’re working on, you’ll receive an email notification. This asynchronous approach means your team doesn’t need to be online simultaneously to collaborate effectively.

Setting Up Notes for Your Team

Getting started with Notes requires minimal configuration. Here’s the setup process:

Step 1: Verify your WordPress version

Notes require WordPress 6.9 or later. Check your version in the Dashboard under Updates, or look at the bottom-right corner of any admin screen.

Step 2: Open any post or page in the block editor

Navigate to an existing post or create a new one. The Notes feature works in the standard block editor interface.

Step 3: Select a block and access Notes

Click on any block in your content. In the block toolbar, you’ll see a Notes icon (speech bubble). Click it to open the Notes panel.

Step 4: Add your comment

Type your feedback in the notes field. Be specific about what needs attention. If your WordPress installation supports it, you can @mention team members to notify them directly.

Step 5: Configure email notifications

Navigate to Settings > Discussion to manage how your team receives note notifications. Adjust frequency based on your workflow needs.

For teams using custom post types, you can enable Notes by adding the feature to your post type registration:

register_post_type( 'book', array(
    'supports' => array(
        'editor' => array( 'notes' => true ),
    ),
) );

Agency Workflow Pattern: Async Review

Notes unlock a structured feedback loop that replaces scattered email threads and external tools. Here’s a practical workflow for content teams:

The Writer-Editor Feedback Loop

1. Writer creates draft: Complete the initial content in the block editor
2. Editor reviews with Notes: Add block-level notes identifying issues, questions, or suggestions
3. Writer addresses feedback: Work through each note, making revisions to the relevant blocks
4. Editor resolves notes: Mark notes as resolved once satisfied with changes
5. Publish: Move content live with a clear record of the review process

When to resolve vs. create new notes: Resolve a note when the original issue is addressed. If revision sparks a new question, create a fresh note rather than reopening resolved threads. This keeps your collaboration history coherent.

Benefits over email and external tools: Notes keep feedback attached to the exact content it references. No more screenshots in Slack or paragraph numbers in email chains. Context stays with the content.

Early Access: Testing Real-Time Editing

Want to experience Google Docs-style simultaneous editing in WordPress? The experimental real-time collaboration feature is available through the Gutenberg plugin.

How to enable experimental real-time editing:

1. Install the latest Gutenberg plugin
2. Navigate to Gutenberg > Experiments in your WordPress admin
3. Enable “Collaboration: add real-time editing”
4. Create a second test account to see collaboration in action

What you’ll experience: When multiple users open the same content, you’ll see live cursors showing where others are working. User avatars appear in the editor, and changes sync instantly. The underlying Yjs CRDT technology handles conflicts automatically.

Current limitations to understand:

• This is experimental and may change before WordPress 7.0
• The beta testing with 45 VIP organizations revealed that accessibility standards are not yet met
• Best results occur in the Site Editor; the Post/Page editor experience varies
• Legacy metaboxes and older custom blocks may cause synchronization issues

Testing now helps you understand the technology and identify potential compatibility issues before wider rollout.

What’s Coming in WordPress 7.0

Full real-time simultaneous editing is targeted for WordPress 7.0, proposed for April 9, 2026. This timeline is proposed, not confirmed, and features may adjust based on development progress.

Planned enhancements include:

• Fragment notes: Add comments to specific text within blocks, not just entire blocks
• @mentions: Tag team members directly in notes for targeted notifications
• Notes and real-time integration: Use asynchronous notes alongside simultaneous editing

How to prepare: Start using Notes now to establish collaboration habits. Test experimental features on staging sites. Audit your custom blocks and plugins for modern block attribute patterns, which work best with the synchronization engine.

Start Collaborating Today

WordPress real-time collaboration setup starts with Notes in WordPress 6.9, available now. The asynchronous commenting workflow serves teams immediately, while experimental real-time editing offers a preview of deeper collaboration coming in WordPress 7.0.

Test Notes with your team this week. Establish your feedback workflow. If you’re technically adventurous, enable the Gutenberg experiment to understand what simultaneous editing will bring.