ActivityPub for WordPress

Category: Changelog

  • 7.5.0 — Follow the Feed, Quote the Lead

    We’re back with a fresh release, and this one makes following and sharing smoother than ever—plus gives you more control over how your posts can be quoted.

    A New Way to Follow (For Now)

    Starting today, users on WordPress.com sites and self-hosted sites connected through Jetpack can see the posts of accounts they follow directly in their WordPress.com Reader timeline. The Following UI has been around for a little while, yet hidden, and with this release it will be enabled by default for these sites.

    When you follow an account, ActivityPub checks for a discoverable RSS feed. If one exists, it’s automatically added to your Reader timeline so new posts appear alongside everything else you already follow. Unfollowing works the same way—the feed disappears when you remove the account. And if you’d like to view the feed for an account you’ve followed, just hover over it in the list table and click View Feed.

    WordPress.com Reader page displaying recent posts from subscriptions. Shows a post by Eugen Rochko from 2 hours ago featuring an image of Federation Street with a blue cartoon elephant. The left sidebar contains navigation options including Recent, Discover, Likes, Conversations, Lists, Tags, Automattic, A8C Conversations, and Manage Subscriptions.
    WordPress admin Followings page showing a list of 3 accepted follows: notiz.blog, pfefferle (Matthias Pfefferle), and obenland (Konstantin Obenland). The page includes a Follow form for adding new followers via username or profile link, bulk actions dropdown, and an explanation of the ActivityPub follow request protocol.

    Think of this as a bridge: a simple way to read the posts of accounts you follow today, while we continue building a full, first-class ActivityPub reading experience for tomorrow.

    There are a couple of details to keep in mind. Removing a subscription directly in the Reader won’t update your site’s Following list, and interactions are limited to what RSS allows, which means sharing and reposting rather than the full range of ActivityPub features.

    Running a self-hosted site without Jetpack? You can still enable the Following UI manually—it just won’t connect with the Reader.

    Quote Post Controls

    We’ve also added support for Mastodon’s quote post feature—and given you an easy way to control how others can quote your content.

    A screenshot of a blog post quoted on Mastodon.

    When writing in the Block Editor, you’ll now see a sidebar setting that lets you decide whether everyone can quote your post, only your followers can, or if quoting is reserved for you alone. Once published, Mastodon and other compatible platforms will honor your choice automatically. No extra setup needed—just write, choose, and publish with confidence.

    Full Changelog

    Added

    • Added a setting to control who can quote your posts.
    • Added support for QuoteRequest activities (FEP-044f), enabling proper handling, validation, and policy-based acceptance or rejection of quote requests.
    • Add upgrade routine to enable ActivityPub feeds in WordPress.com Reader
    • Add Yoast SEO integration for author archives site health check.
    • Improved interaction policies with clearer defaults and better Mastodon compatibility.
    • New site health check warns if active Captcha plugins may block ActivityPub comments.
    • Sync following meta to enable RSS feed subscriptions for ActivityPub actors in WordPress.com Reader
    • You can now follow people and see their updates right in the WordPress.com Reader when using Jetpack or WordPress.com.

    Changed

    • Added support for fetching actors by account identifiers and improved reliability of actor retrieval.
    • Clarify error messages in account modal to specify full profile URL format.
    • Improved checks to better identify public Activities.
    • Improved compatibility by making the ‘implements’ field always use multiple entries.
    • Improved recipient handling for clarity and improved visibility handling of activities.
    • Remote reply blocks now sync account info across all blocks on the same page
    • Standardized notification handling with new hooks for better extensibility and consistency.
    • Updated sync allowlist to add support for Jetpack notifications of likes and reposts.

    Fixed

    • Fixed an issue where post metadata in the block editor was missing or failed to update.
    • Fix Flag activity object list processing to preserve URL arrays
    • Fix PHP warning in bulk edit scenario when post_author is missing from $_REQUEST
    • Posts now only fall back to the blog user when blog mode is enabled and no valid author exists, ensuring content negotiation only runs if an Actor is available.

    Downloads

    Thank you!

    Thanks to everyone who contributed code, tested, offered feedback, or lent support along the way. Update to 7.5.0 today and follow, share, and quote to your heart’s content!

  • 7.4.0 – More Control, Less Waiting

    Fediverse life just got a little easier! This release is all about giving you more confidence in how you manage your users — and making your follower, following, and block lists feel lightning fast. Let’s dive in.

    Wapuu, the yellow WordPress mascot, floats in space wearing a gray astronaut suit. In front of Wapuu is a spaceship control panel with the WordPress logo and the Fediverse logo, each with checkboxes. Below them is a large glowing orange ‘CONFIRM’ button. Wapuu points toward the panel, symbolizing making a choice.

    Clean Breaks, Done Right

    Until now, removing someone’s ActivityPub capability in WordPress only affected their local account. Their presence in the Fediverse lingered on. With this release, you’re in charge of what happens next.

    When you remove ActivityPub capabilities from users on your site, you’ll now see a confirmation step:

    A screenshot of the confirmation step that shows after removing the ActivityPub capability from users.

    With this change, you can decide whether you’re simply adjusting roles inside WordPress, or making a complete exit across the network.

    We’ve also expanded delete handling to cover more scenarios:

    • Comment removal: Permanently deleted federated comments now send a Delete activity across the Fediverse.
    • Virtual deletes & restores: You can now remove objects from the Fediverse without deleting them locally — and bring them back if needed.
    • WP-CLI command for Actors: A new command makes it easier to manage and clean up Actors directly from the command line.

    Together, these tools make sure your Fediverse presence stays consistent with the choices you make in WordPress.

    Lists That Load in a Snap

    Managing your Fediverse connections shouldn’t feel slow — and now it doesn’t. The follower, following, and block lists are noticeably faster and more reliable in this release.

    Behind the scenes, we cleaned up and centralized how account information is resolved. Instead of each list handling things in its own way, they now all share a single, streamlined method with built-in caching. That means less duplication, less waiting, and a smoother experience every time you browse your lists — even on larger sites.

    Full Changelog

    Added

    • Add activitypub_json REST field for ap_actor posts to access raw JSON data.
    • Add Delete activity support for permanently deleted federated comments.
    • Added a new WP-CLI command to manage Actors.
    • Added confirmation step for bulk removal of ActivityPub capability, asking whether to also delete users from the Fediverse.
    • Adds support for virtual deletes and restores, allowing objects to be removed from the fediverse without being deleted locally.
    • Add Yoast SEO integration for media pages site health check.
    • Optimized WebFinger lookups by centralizing and caching account resolution for faster, more consistent handling across lists.

    Changed

    • Clarified the ‘attachment’ post type description to explain it refers to media library uploads and recommend disabling federation in most cases.
    • Hide site-wide checkbox in block confirmations when accessed from ActivityPub settings page.
    • Improved ActivityPub compatibility by aligning with Mastodon’s Application Actor.
    • It’s now possible to reply to multiple posts using multiple reply blocks.
    • Refactored Reply block to use WordPress core embed functionality for better compatibility and performance.
    • Use wp_interactivity_config() for static values instead of wp_interactivity_state() to improve performance and code clarity.

    Deprecated

    • ActivityPub now defaults to automated object type selection, with the old manual option moved to Advanced settings for compatibility.

    Fixed

    • Fix content visibility override issue preventing authors from changing visibility on older posts.
    • Fix PHP warning when saving ActivityPub settings.
    • Fix query args preservation in collection pagination links.
    • Fix release script to catch more ‘unreleased’ deprecation patterns that were previously missed during version updates.
    • Fix reply block rendering inconsistency where blocks were always converted to @-mentions in ActivityPub content. Now only first reply blocks become @-mentions, others remain as regular links.
    • Stop sending follow notifications to the Application user, since system-level accounts cannot be followed.

    Downloads

    Thanks

    High-fives to everyone who helped chart the course, whether you coded, tested, spotted bugs, or just cheered from the sidelines. You keep this ship flying! 🚀

    Version 7.4.0 has just landed—jump in and tell us how it feels out there in the Fediverse.

  • 7.3.0 – Ctrl+Fed+Delete

    A cute Wapuu astronaut inside a futuristic space station, sitting at a glowing control desk with holographic message icons floating in front of them. Some messages have a green checkmark for approval, others a red X or trash bin icon for deletion. The Wapuu looks focused, managing which messages can enter from the Fediverse and which should be removed. The background shows the curved windows of the space station with stars and a planet outside, blending sci-fi tech with Wapuu’s cartoon charm.

    Ready for a smoother ride on the Fediverse? ActivityPub for WordPress 7.3.0 is here to make your experience friendlier and more flexible than ever. Whether you’re keeping out unwanted guests, bringing stray conversations home, or just tidying up your digital footprint, this release puts powerful new tools right at your fingertips. Let’s take a look at what’s new!

    Personalized & Site-Wide Moderation

    With this release, Moderation tools are easier to discover and manage, thanks to a revamped two-tiered system that empowers both site admins and individual users with greater control over their Fediverse experience.

    WordPress admin screen showing the Blocked Actors page with a list of blocked ActivityPub accounts and a form to add new blocks.

    Now, site administrators can set up site-wide blocks—covering domains, keywords, and even specific actors—right from the Settings screen or the new Blocked Actors table. These tools work together to keep out unwanted content and spammy actors for everyone on your site.

    But we didn’t stop there! Every user can fine-tune their own experience. Head to your Profile to add personal domain and keyword blocks, or visit the new Blocked Actors submenu under Users to manage who can interact with you. Blocking someone is easier than ever—just paste their profile ID or webfinger, or use the handy new “Block” link right from your Followers list.

    • Followers table in WordPress with options to delete, block, or follow back ActivityPub followers.
      Followers List With Block Option
    • Confirmation screen in WordPress for blocking an ActivityPub account, including options for site-wide blocking.
      Block Account Confirmation
    • Followers page in WordPress showing an empty list and a notification that an account has been blocked.
      Followers After Blocking

    Whenever new ActivityPub content comes in, the plugin checks it against both global and personal blocks. Domains are matched not just to the sender, but also to the activity and object IDs. Keywords are scanned throughout the content, summaries, and even actor names. Site-wide rules always run first, followed by your personal settings—so you’re protected at every level. (For the blog actor, only site-wide blocks apply.)

    For backwards compatibility, the classic comment disallow list is still supported, ensuring your existing moderation rules continue to work seamlessly.

    Saying Goodbye, the Right Way

    Sometimes, a clean break is necessary. Whether you’re retiring a blog, removing a user, or handling old content, this release makes sure your presence in the Fediverse can be removed gracefully and consistently.

    We’ve added a self-destruct feature for sites that want to step away entirely. With a single CLI command (wp activitypub self_destruct), WordPress will send out Delete activities to all followers. Built-in progress tracking and admin notifications let you know when the process has finished, so you can be sure your Fediverse footprint is fully cleared.

    User deletion is now handled with the same care. When a user is removed from WordPress, a corresponding Delete activity is sent to their followers, ensuring that connections across the network are properly closed.

    Bring the Conversation to You

    Sometimes a reply you care about doesn’t make it all the way to your Inbox. Maybe it was posted on a remote server with finicky delivery, or slipped past the usual flow of ActivityPub. With this release, you don’t have to miss out.

    Now you can search for any remote URL directly. If the comment is already in your database, you’ll be taken straight to the matching comment thread on your blog post. If not, the plugin will fetch and import the remote reply to that post, so you can fold scattered conversations back into your site seamlessly.

    This means you’re no longer limited to what arrives automatically. If you’ve got a link to a discussion happening elsewhere in the Fediverse, you can pull it right into your own comment threads and keep the context intact.

    A Persistent Inbox for Better Debugging

    Fediverse interactions can get complex, and sometimes you need deeper insight into what’s really happening under the hood. That’s where the new persistent inbox comes in.

    When enabled in Advanced Settings, the plugin now logs all incoming Create or Update activities. Instead of vanishing once processed, these entries are collected in a dedicated Inbox Collection—giving you a complete trail to reference when debugging.

    Full Changelog

    Added

    • Add actor blocking functionality with list table interface for managing blocked users and site-wide blocks.
    • Add code coverage reporting to GitHub Actions PHPUnit workflow with dedicated coverage job using Xdebug.
    • Add comprehensive blocking and moderation system for ActivityPub with user-specific and site-wide controls for actors, domains, and keywords.
    • Add comprehensive unit tests for Followers and Following table classes with proper ActivityPub icon object handling.
    • Added link and explanation for the existing Starter Kit importer on the help tab of the Following pages.
    • Adds a self-destruct feature to remove a blog from the Fediverse by sending Delete activities to followers.
    • Adds a User Interface to select accounts during Starter Kit import.
    • Adds support for importing Starter Kits from a link (URL).
    • Adds support for searching (remote) URLs similar to Mastodon, redirecting to existing replies or importing them if missing.
    • Adds support for sending Delete activities when a user is removed.
    • Adds support for Starter Kit collections in the ActivityPub API.
    • A global Inbox handler and persistence layer to log incoming Create and Update requests for debugging and verifying Activity handling.
    • Follower lists now include the option to block individual accounts.
    • Improved handling of deleted content with a new unified system for better tracking and compatibility.
    • Moderation now checks blocked keywords across all language variants of the content, summary and name fields.
    • When activated or deactivated network-wide, the plugin now refreshes rewrite rules across all sites.

    Changed

    • Add default avatars for actors without icons in admin tables.
    • Added support for list of Actor IDs in Starter Kits.
    • Improve Following class documentation and optimize count methods for better performance.
    • Refactor actor blocking with unified API for better maintainability.

    Fixed

    • Blocks relying on user selectors no longer error due to a race condition when fetching users.
    • Fix duplicate HTML IDs and missing form labels in modal blocks.
    • Fix malformed ActivityPub handles for users with email-based logins (e.g., from Site Kit Google authentication).
    • Fix PHP 8.4 deprecation warnings by preventing null values from being passed to WordPress core functions.
    • Improves handling of author URLs by converting them to a proper format.
    • Improves REST responses by skipping invalid actors in Followers and Following controllers.
    • More reliable Actor checks during the follow process.
    • Prevents Application users from being followed.
    • Proper implementation of FEP 844e.
    • Switches ActivityPub summaries to plain text for better compatibility.

    Downloads

    Thank you!

    Big thanks to everyone who contributed code, shared feedback, tested, or encouraged us along the way! Together, we’re making the fediverse more connected—one release at a time. ❤️

    We’ve just rolled out version 7.3.0—try it out and let us know what you think!

  • 7.2.0 – Follow ups

    A Wapuu in a spacesuit, equipped with a tool, repairing a spaceship engine.

    We’ve rolled out an update that makes sharing content to the fediverse via ActivityPub even better—especially when it comes to images in comments. Now, when you include an HTML <img> tag that points to a file in your WordPress media library, that image is bundled as a proper attachment in the ActivityStreams payload. This means your followers on other platforms will see both your comment and its image, making conversations more vivid and engaging.

    To protect your privacy and security, only images hosted in your own WordPress media library are supported. Images from external sources are intentionally skipped.

    Smoother Following, Better Interactions

    If you’ve turned on the “Following User Interface” feature in the advanced settings, you’ll see a few nice improvements. The followers list now shows whether you’re already following someone—and if not, you can follow them back with just one click.

    Followers list screenshot showing the "Follow Back" button.

    We’ve also made it easier to follow people from other sites. When you click “Follow” on someone else’s blog, you’ll now be taken to your own site to complete it. It keeps things simple and familiar, even when you start following someone from another site.

    Better Support for Multibyte Text

    Finally, we’ve improved how multibyte characters (like those in Greek and other non-Latin scripts) are handled when generating post summaries for the fediverse. We’ve replaced byte-based string functions with multibyte-safe alternatives and reordered text processing steps to avoid errors.

    Full Changelog

    Added

    • Add image attachment support to federated comments – HTML images in comment content now include proper ActivityStreams attachment fields.
    • Link to the following internal dialog for remote interactions, if the feature is enabled.
    • The followers list now shows follow status and allows quick follow-back actions.
    • Trigger Actor updates on (un)setting a post as sticky.
    • You can now use OrderedCollections as starter packs — just drop in the output from a Follower or Following endpoint.

    Changed

    • Ensure that tests run in production-like conditions, avoiding interference from local development tools.
    • Moved HTTP request signing to a filter instead of calling it directly.

    Fixed

    • Allow non-administrator users to use Follow Me and Followers blocks.
    • Correct linking from followers to the following list.
    • Fix avatar rendering for followers with missing icon property.
    • Fix multibyte character corruption in post summaries, preventing Greek and other non-ASCII text from being garbled during text processing.
    • Informational Fediverse blocks are no longer rendered when posts get added to the Outbox.

    Downloads

    Thank you!

    Huge thanks to everyone who shared code, gave feedback, tested, or simply cheered us on! Together, we’re building a more connected fediverse, one release at a time. ❤️

    We’ve just released version 7.2.0, give it a spin and let us know what you think!

  • 7.1.0 — Polishing Tables

    This release is mostly made up of behind-the-scenes improvements, but one update you’ll notice right away is the refreshed Followers table. It now looks and feels much more like the standard WordPress admin tables: you can customize it with screen options to hide columns or change how many followers are shown per page, and you can now delete individual followers using inline action links. We also polished the layout by increasing information density and improving the readability of date columns.

    We’ve made migrations easier to kick off by automatically resolving account aliases and saving their ID form. That means you can now paste in WebFinger IDs, profile URLs, etc. and the plugin handles the rest, as long as it resolves to an ActivityPub profile.

    This release also fixes a long-time annoyance: unfederated posts (like those published before the plugin was activated or imported later) will no longer be sent out to followers just because they were updated. For now, we use a simple cutoff for posts older than a month, which should cover the majority of those cases.

    Coming Soon: Following Others!

    Most of the work that went into this release is still invisible, hiding behind a feature flag in Advanced Settings (you can find it by opening Screen Options in the ActivityPub settings screen).

    There’s really no functionality around it yet, beyond following accounts from other instances, as we have yet to start processing incoming posts and adding the ability to interact with them. But if you just can’t wait to show your appreciation for other accounts by following them, go wild!

    Behind the same feature flag, we’ve also added initial beta support for Fediverse Starter Kits. This lets new users follow a set of recommended accounts from a predefined list, following the format proposed by @dansup for Pixelfed. For now, only Actor objects are supporteded, but we’re hoping to expand that over time.

    Full Changelog

    Added

    • Added a first version of the Follow form, allowing users to follow other Actors by username or profile link.
    • Added initial support for Fediverse Starter Kits, allowing users to follow recommended accounts from a predefined list.
    • Ensure that all schedulers are registered during every plugin update.
    • Followers and Following list tables now support Columns and Pagination screen options.
    • The featured tags endpoint is now available again for all profiles, showing the most frequently used tags by each user.
    • The following endpoint now returns the actual list of users being followed.

    Changed

    • Follower tables now look closer to what other tables in WordPress look like.
    • Improved Account-Aliases handling by internally normalizing input formats.
    • Minor performance improvement when querying posts of various types, by avoiding double queries.
    • Set older unfederated posts to local visibility by default.
    • Step counts for the Welcome checklist now only take into account steps that are added in the Welcome class.
    • Table actions are now faster by using the Custom Post Type ID instead of the remote user URI, thanks to the unified Actor Model.
    • The following tables now more closely match the appearance of other WordPress tables and can be filtered by status.

    Fixed

    • Ensure correct visibility handling for Undo and Follow requests
    • Ensure that the Actor-ID is always a URL.
    • Fixed a bug in how follow requests were accepted to ensure they work correctly.
    • Fixed an issue where the number of followers shown didn’t always match the actual follower list.
    • Fixed a PHP error that prevented the Follower overview from loading.
    • Fixed missing avatar class so that CSS styles are correctly applied to ActivityPub avatars on the Dashboard.
    • Fixed potential errors when unrelated requests get caught in double-knocking callback.
    • Improved WebFinger fallback to better guess usernames from profile links.
    • Prevent WordPress from loading all admin notices twice on ActivityPub settings pages.
    • Removed follower dates to avoid confusion, as they may not have accurately reflected the actual follow time.
    • Stop purging Follow activities from the Outbox to allow proper Unfollow (Undo) handling.

    Downloads

    Thank you!

    Big thanks to everyone who contributed code, feedback, testing, or encouragement—this community helps make the fediverse more connected with every release. ❤️

    Update to 7.1.0, try it out, and tell us what you think!

  • 7.0.0 – I will follow you!

    Just when you thought things were settling down… boom 💥 — the ActivityPub plugin gets another big upgrade. Say hello to version 7.0.0, a release packed with new features, polish, and under-the-hood improvements to help your WordPress site federate smoother, smarter, and more securely than ever.

    Let’s dive into what’s new.

    Following the Fediverse

    We’ve added the initial building blocks for Following support — both sending and managing follow requests for remote actors. It’s not in the UI just yet (we’re rolling it out carefully), but that’s not far away. A big step toward richer, two-way federation.

    Wapuu that "follows" a Mastodon, Pixelfed and Ghost mascot.

    We’ll work with developers of third-party plugins — including those behind Friends and Event Bridge — to migrate their custom follow implementations to this new core feature. This collaboration helps ensure a consistent, reliable follow experience across the ecosystem.

    This foundational support for following is also the first step toward a full-featured reader experience right inside WordPress — something we’re excited to keep building toward.

    Refined Signature

    This release brings support for RFC-9421-style HTTP signatures, both incoming and (optionally) outgoing. That’s a mouthful, but it basically means supporting the latest standard in how we verify and send activities — including a fallback to good old Draft Cavage when needed.

    Check out the blog post to learn more: HTTP Signature Upgrades Coming Soon

    Full Changelog

    Added

    • Added basic support for handling remote rejections of follow requests.
    • Added basic support for RFC-9421 style signatures for incoming activities.
    • Added initial Following support for Actors, hidden for now until plugins add support.
    • Added missing “Advanced Settings” details to Site Health debug information.
    • Added option to auto-approve reactions like likes and reposts.
    • Added support for namespaced attributes and the dcterms:subject field (FEP-b2b8), as a first step toward phasing out summary-based content warnings.
    • Added support for the WP Rest Cache plugin to help with caching REST API responses.
    • Documented support for FEP-844e.
    • Optional support for RFC-9421 style signatures for outgoing activities, including retry with Draft-Cavage-style signature.
    • Reactions block now supports customizing colors, borders, box-shadows, and typography.
    • Support for sending follow requests to remote actors is now in place, including outbox delivery and status updates—UI integration will follow later.

    Changed

    • Comment feeds now show only comments by default, with a new type filter (e.g., like, all) to customize which reactions appear.
    • Consistent naming of Blog user in Block settings.
    • hs2019 signatures for incoming REST API requests now have their algorithm determined based on their public key.
    • Likes, comments, and reposts from the Fediverse now require either a name or preferredUsername to be set when the Discussion option require_name_email is set to true. It falls back to “Anonymous”, if not.
    • Management of public/private keys for Actors now lives in the Actors collection, in preparation for Signature improvements down the line.
    • Notification emails for new reactions received from the Fediverse now link to the moderation page instead of the edit page, preventing errors and making comment management smoother.
    • Plugins now have full control over which Settings tabs are shown in Settings > Activitypub.
    • Reworked follower structure to simplify handling and enable reuse for following mechanism.
    • Screen options in the Activitypub settings page are now filterable.
    • Setting the blog identifier to empty will no longer trigger an error message about it being the same as an existing user name.
    • Step completion tracking in the Welcome tab now even works when the number of steps gets reduced.
    • The image attachment setting is no longer saved to the database if it matches the default value.
    • The welcome page now links to the correct profile when Blog Only mode was selected in the profile mode step.
    • Unified retrieval of comment avatars and re-used core filters to give access to third-part plugins.

    Fixed

    • Allow interaction redirect URLs that contain an ampersand.
    • Comments received from the Fediverse no longer show an Edit link in the comment list, despite not being editable.
    • Fixed an issue where links to remote likes and boosts could open raw JSON instead of a proper page.
    • Fixed a potential error when getting an Activitypub ID based on a user ID.
    • HTTP signatures using the hs2019 algorithm now get accepted without error.
    • Improved compatibility with older follower data.
    • Inbox requests that are missing an algorithm parameter in their signature no longer create a PHP warning.
    • Interaction attempts that pass a webfinger ID instead of a URL will work again.
    • Names containing HTML entities now get displayed correctly in the Reactions block’s list of users.
    • Prevent storage of empty or default post meta values.
    • The amount of avatars shown in the Reactions block no longer depends on the amount of likes, but is comment type agnostic.
    • The command-line interface extension, accidentally removed in a recent cleanup, has been restored.
    • The image attachment setting now correctly respects a value of 0, instead of falling back to the default.
    • The Welcome screen now loads with proper styling when shown as a fallback.
    • Using categories as hashtags has been removed to prevent conflicts with tags of the same name.
    • When verifying signatures on incoming requests, the digest header now gets checked as expected.

    Downloads

    Thank you!

    Huge thanks to everyone who contributed code, feedback, tests, or moral support. This community makes the fediverse feel a little more federated with every release. ❤️

    Update now, test things out, and let us know how 7.0.0 works for you!

  • 6.0.0 – New Kids on the Block

    Our latest release brings a lot of improvements — especially to our blocks!

    The Follow Me and Followers blocks now have a fresh design, better interactivity, and broader support for ActivityPub-enabled users.

    A screenshot of the new 'Follow Me' Block!

    The Reactions block and “Reply on the Fediverse” feature also now take advantage of the latest Block Editor features and are built on the Interactivity API for a smoother experience.

    We’ll follow up soon with a deeper dive into the new block features — stay tuned!

    Beyond blocks, publishing new blog posts now reliably sends a Create activity to the Fediverse, so your followers won’t miss a thing. We’ve also improved how hashtags and @-mentions appear when posts federate to Mastodon and other platforms.

    Under the hood, we’ve cleaned up and modernized the codebase — and the plugin now requires WordPress 6.5 to take full advantage of the latest WordPress features.

    Meanwhile, we’re kicking off a major rework of the Followers/Following system. Expect more enhancements to roll out over the next few weeks. Plus, we’ll be publishing a blog post with our roadmap plans in the coming days — exciting things ahead! 🚀

    Full Changelog

    Added

    • Enhanced markup of the “follow me” block, for a better Webmention and IndieWeb support.
    • The actor of the replied-to post is now included in cc or to based on the post’s visibility.

    Changed

    • “Reply on the Fediverse” now uses the Interactivity API for display on the frontend.
    • Bumped minimum required WordPress version to 6.5.
    • Default avatar and error handling for the reactions popover list.
    • Ensured that publishing a new blog post always sends a Create to the Fediverse.
    • Followers block has an updated design, new block variations, and uses the Interactivity API for display on the frontend.
    • Follow Me and Followers blocks can now list any user that is Activitypub-enabled, even if they have the Subscriber role.
    • Likes and Reposts for comments to a post are no longer attributed to the post itself.
    • New system to manage followers and followings more consistently using a unified actor type.
    • Re-enabled HTML support in excerpts and summaries to properly display hashtags and @-replies, now that Mastodon supports it.
    • Refactored to use CSS for effects instead of JavaScript, simplifying the code.
    • Refine the plugin’s handling and storage of remote actor data.
    • The Follow Me block now uses the latest Block Editor technology for display on the frontend.
    • The Reactions block now uses the latest Block Editor technology for display on the frontend.

    Removed

    • Cleaned up the codebase and removed deprecated functions.

    Fixed

    • Added forward compatibility for Editor Controls, fixing deprecated warnings in the Editor.
    • Avoid type mismatch when updating activitypub_content_warning meta values.
    • Default number of attachments now works correctly in block editor.
    • Fixed a bug in Site Health that caused a PHP warning and missing details for the WebFinger check.
    • Fixes a bug in WordPress 6.5 where the plugin settings in the Editor would fail to render, due to a backwards compatibility break.
    • Improved automated setup process for the Surge caching plugin.
    • Improved excerpt handling by removing shortcodes from summaries.

    Downloads

  • 5.9.0 – Easier Onboarding for Your Fediverse Experience

    Getting started with ActivityPub on WordPress just got a lot easier. A new guided onboarding experience is now part of the plugin, designed to help you configure key settings and understand how your site connects to the Fediverse—from the moment you activate it.

    Screenshot that shows the onboarding checklist.

    Whether you’re new to ActivityPub or just setting things up again, the onboarding flow helps you make informed choices around visibility, content formatting, and profile setup. It’s built to give you confidence that your content is reaching the right audiences in the right way.

    Screenshot that shows the new help tabs.

    Tailored for You

    The plugin now adapts its behavior based on the caching plugins you have installed. You’ll also find clearer guidance if you’re using Surge, and an option to fine-tune how your content is tailored for browsers versus Fediverse services.

    We’ve moved profile-related settings out of the welcome page and into new dashboard widgets, so they’re easier to find and update. And to make the learning curve smoother, the Help tab now includes a section explaining how ActivityPub works on the users page.

    Media, Previews, and Performance

    Beyond onboarding, this release adds support for audio and video attachments in ActivityPub embeds and previews. Posts shared to the Fediverse can now include up to four images, and you can choose how many to include on a per-post basis. Editor previews have also been improved—they now show media even if the post hasn’t been published yet.

    Screenshot that shows the preview feature.

    For performance, author profiles now return a smaller set of extra fields (up to 20) to avoid bloated responses, and invalid items in the Outbox are skipped gracefully instead of causing errors.

    Designed to Grow With You

    This update also brings better mobile support for settings pages, improved documentation, and more robust error handling for things like missing or misformatted Outbox requests. And for developers, several filters and hooks have been updated or deprecated to make future work smoother and more predictable.

    If you’ve been curious about joining the Fediverse or connecting your blog in a more structured way, now’s a great time to try it. Just activate the plugin and let the onboarding guide you through the rest.

    Tried the new onboarding? Let us know how it worked for you and what you’d like to see improved.

    Full Changelog

    Added

    • ActivityPub embeds now support audios, videos, and up to 4 images.
    • Added a check to make sure we only attempt to embed activity objects, when processing fallback embeds.
    • Add setting to enable or disable how content is tailored for browsers and Fediverse services.
    • Adjusted the plugin’s default behavior based on the caching plugins installed.
    • A guided onboarding flow after plugin activation to help users make key setup decisions and understand Fediverse concepts.
    • Author profiles will cap the amount of extra fields they return to 20, to avoid response size errors in clients.
    • Fediverse Preview in the Editor now also supports video and audio attachments.
    • Guidance for configuring Surge to support ActivityPub caching.
    • Help tab section explaining ActivityPub capabilities on the users page.
    • Profile sections have been moved from the Welcome page to new Dashboard widgets for easier access.
    • The ActivityPub blog news feed to WordPress dashboard.
    • The Outbox now skips invalid items instead of trying to process them for output and encountering an error.

    Changed

    • Batch processing jobs can now be scheduled with individual hooks.
    • Better error handling when other servers request Outbox items in the wrong format, and 404 pages now show correctly.
    • Fediverse Previews in the Block Editor now show media items, even if the post has not been published yet.
    • Hide interaction buttons in emails when the Classic Editor is used.
    • Improve compatibility with third-party caching plugins by sending a Vary header.
    • Much more comprehensive plugin documentation in the Help tab of ActivityPub Settings.
    • NodeInfo endpoint response now correctly formats localPosts values.
    • Reactions block heading now uses Core’s heading block with all its customization options.
    • Settings pages are now more mobile-friendly with more space and easier scrolling.
    • The number of images shared to the Fediverse can now be chosen on a per-post basis.
    • Updated default max attachment count to four, creating better-looking gallery grids for posts with 4 or more images.
    • Use a dedicated hook for the “Dismiss Welcome Page Welcome” link.
    • Use FEP-c180 schema for error responses.
    • Use Audio and Video type for Attachments, instead of the very generic Document type.

    Deprecated

    • Deprecated rest_activitypub_outbox_query filter in favor of activitypub_rest_outbox_query. Deprecated activitypub_outbox_post action in favor of activitypub_rest_outbox_post.

    Fixed

    • Broken avatars in the Reactions and Follower block are now replaced with the default avatar.
    • Email notifications for interactions with Brid.gy actors no longer trigger PHP Warnings.
    • Improved support for users from more Fediverse platforms in email notifications.
    • Improved the handling of Shares and Boosts.
    • Issue preventing “Receive reblogs (boosts)” setting from being properly saved.
    • Mention emails will no longer be sent for reply Activities.
    • Prevent accidental follower removal by resetting errors properly.
    • Properly remove retries schedules, with the invalidation of an Outbox-Item.
    • The blog profile can no longer be queried when the blog actor option is disabled.

    Downloads

  • V5.8.0 – If it’s on the Fediverse, you can embed it.

    This update introduces two exciting improvements: brand-new email templates and personalized notification settings.

    Emails now deliver much richer content—mentions and direct messages include the full post, and the refreshed design feels modern and refined. Additionally, new follower notifications feature a profile card, making it easier to see who’s interacting with your content.

    We’ve made several improvements around Embeds and Importing: Fediverse content embedding now has fallback support, so even if native oEmbed responses are unavailable, embeds will appear consistently. The Mastodon importer has also been significantly enhanced—it now imports all media types, supports user blocks, and automatically embeds replies in imported conversations, making transitions smoother and content richer.

    For Email Notifications, you’ll now receive alerts whenever someone mentions you in the Fediverse. Direct message notification emails have been upgraded with embedded message previews, and follower notification emails received a visual refresh with helpful meta details included.

    We’ve also refined User Interactions and Moderation by integrating WordPress’s disallowed list to prevent unwanted ActivityPub interactions. Notification preferences have become user-specific, allowing more personalized control over alerts and interactions.

    Additionally, we’ve improved Compatibility and Stability, including better support for Multisite Language Switcher, resolving PHP warnings during Mastodon import processes, enhancing user context handling in Global-Inbox actions, and ensuring reply links and popup modals are properly translated for logged-out visitors.

    Full Changelog

    Added

    • An option to receive notification emails when an Actor was mentioned in the Fediverse.
    • Enable direct linking to Help Tabs.
    • Fallback embed support for Fediverse content that lacks native oEmbed responses.
    • Support for all media types in the Mastodon Importer.

    Changed

    • Added WordPress disallowed list filtering to block unwanted ActivityPub interactions.
    • Mastodon imports now support blocks, with automatic reply embedding for conversations.
    • Tested and compatible with the latest version of WordPress.
    • Updated design of new follower notification email and added meta information.
    • Update DM email notification to include an embed display of the DM.
    • Updated notification settings to be user-specific for more personalization.

    Fixed

    • Add support for Multisite Language Switcher
    • Better check for an empty headers array key in the Signature class.
    • Include user context in Global-Inbox actions.
    • No more PHP warning when Mastodon Apps run out of posts to process.
    • Reply links and popup modals are now properly translated for logged-out visitors.

    Downloads