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Good news for WordPress.org users! After a two-week holiday hiatus, essential services are back online. This means you can once again register new accounts, submit plugins, themes, and photos, and leave reviews for plugins. Here’s what happened and what you need to know moving forward.

Why the Pause?
Last month, WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg announced the platform’s first-ever holiday break. His reasoning? To give himself and the dedicated WordPress.org volunteers a well-deserved rest during the festive season. “We’re going to be pausing a few of the free services currently offered,” Mullenweg explained, acknowledging the need for a breather for those who keep the platform running smoothly.

Exceptions and Adjustments
Initially, the holiday pause affected all services except WP Engine, which retained uninterrupted access. However, a request from Joost de Valk of Emilia Capital led to a significant adjustment. De Valk raised a ticket on WordPress’s GitHub, pointing out that users need WordPress.org accounts to purchase tickets for WordCamps, the platform’s community events. As a result, account registrations were reopened during the break to support these events.

When Did Services Resume?
While Mullenweg had initially refrained from committing to a specific date, expressing a desire to reopen services “sometime in the new year,” the break officially ended after two weeks. Automattician Alex Shiels of the Meta team confirmed the return of full functionality, much to the relief of the community.

How to Register a New Account
If you’re new to WordPress.org or need a refresher, creating an account is straightforward. You’ll need to provide:
– A username
– A valid email address

During registration, you’ll see three checkboxes:
1. Accept the Privacy Policy (mandatory to proceed)
2. Subscribe to WordPress Announcements mailing list (optional)
3. A quirky checkbox about pineapple pizza (optional and entirely tongue-in-cheek).

Only the Privacy Policy acceptance is required to complete your registration.

Why This Matters
The WordPress.org ecosystem thrives on its community of developers, designers, and contributors. The holiday pause highlighted the immense effort these individuals invest year-round to keep the platform thriving. Now that services have resumed, it’s a great time to reengage with the community, whether through plugin development, theme submissions, or simply leaving reviews to support your favorite tools.

With a refreshed team and services back online, WordPress.org is ready to tackle 2025 with its usual vigor. So, if you’ve been holding off on projects or registrations, now’s the time to dive back in!

WordPress.org Services Resume After Holiday Break: What You Need to Know

Aaron Fernandes

Aaron Fernandes is a web developer, designer, and WordPress expert with over 11 years of experience.