Umbraco 16: What's New and Why It Matters for Your Website

Key Features of Umbraco 16

1. Tiptap Rich Text Editor: A Modern Editing Experience

Umbraco 16 completes the transition from TinyMCE to the Tiptap Rich Text Editor (RTE) as the default out-of-the-box editor. Tiptap, built on an open-source framework, offers a highly customizable and intuitive editing experience. Key highlights include:

• Extensibility: Customize toolbar options, add version history, or integrate advanced features like AI writing assistants or collaborative editing.

• Seamless Migration: Existing TinyMCE content is automatically migrated to Tiptap during the upgrade, minimizing disruption. For those who prefer TinyMCE, a premium package by ProWorks is available via the Umbraco Marketplace.

• Editor-Friendly: Tiptap’s modern interface simplifies content creation while maintaining feature parity with TinyMCE, such as support for links, tables, and semantic HTML.

This shift enhances content creation for editors and provides developers with a flexible foundation to tailor the RTE to specific workflows.

2. Property-Level Permissions: Fine-Grained Control

Umbraco 16 introduces property-level permissions, allowing administrators to control access to specific document properties. This is a game-changer for managing complex websites:

• Granular Access: Set properties as read-only or hidden for specific user groups, reducing the risk of unintended changes.

• Use Case Example: Hide sensitive fields like API keys or make SEO metadata editable only by marketing teams.

• Backoffice Integration: Permissions are manageable directly in the backoffice, with client-side extension points for custom logic.

This feature empowers teams to maintain secure and organized content workflows, especially for personal websites with multiple contributors.

3. Content Segments: Personalized Content Delivery

Content segments make a triumphant return in Umbraco 16, enabling targeted content delivery for different audience groups. Similar to language variants, segments allow you to vary content for specific users, such as VIP members or regional visitors. Key benefits include:

• Marketing Powerhouse: Use segments for personalization or A/B testing, especially when paired with Umbraco Engage (slated for full compatibility by late June 2025).

• API and Backoffice Support: Manage and preview segmented content via the Management API and backoffice, with block-level variation support planned for a future minor release.

• Real-World Application: For a personal website, you could display tailored portfolio content to different visitor types (e.g., clients vs. peers) to boost engagement.

This feature is ideal for creating dynamic, user-focused experiences on your site.

4. Enhanced Content Management Tools

Umbraco 16 streamlines content organization with features like:

• Property Value Presets: Set default values for properties (e.g., auto-populating the current date) to speed up content creation.

• Flexible Document Types: Move properties or entire property groups between tabs in the Document Type editor, making it easier to reorganize content models (e.g., shifting fields to a dedicated “SEO” tab).

• Clipboard and Media Enhancements: Features like clipboard support for blocks, drag-and-drop media uploads, and warnings for referenced content improve the editing experience.

These updates make managing your website’s content more efficient, especially for solo creators or small teams.

5. Webhook Improvements

Umbraco 16 optimizes webhook payloads with three options—Minimal, Extended, or Legacy—allowing you to control data sent and improve performance. This is particularly useful for automating workflows or integrating with external systems, ensuring your personal website remains scalable and future-proof.

6. Performance and Developer Enhancements

Built on .NET 9 (ASP.NET Core 9), Umbraco 16 inherits the performance and security benefits of Umbraco 15 while adding:

• Dependency Updates: Upgraded server-side and client-side libraries, including Examine 3.7.1 and @umbraco-ui/uui 1.14.0, for improved stability.

• Asynchronous Migrations: A new base class for package migrations ensures smoother upgrades, though it may require recompiling package code to avoid “method missing” errors.

• Global Search and UI Tweaks: New extension points like Global Search and UI improvements (e.g., input range style corrections) enhance the developer experience.

These updates ensure your website runs efficiently and remains compatible with modern technologies.

Why Upgrade to Umbraco 16?

Umbraco 16 is a short-term support release, with a support phase until March 2026 and a security phase until June 2026. While it’s not a long-term support (LTS) version like the upcoming Umbraco 17, it’s ideal for those who want to leverage the latest features. Here’s why it matters for your personal website:

• Enhanced User Experience: Tiptap and content segments make content creation and personalization more intuitive and engaging.

• Security and Performance: Built on .NET 9 with optimized caching and dependency updates, your site will be faster and more secure.

• Future-Proofing: Features like webhook improvements and asynchronous migrations prepare your site for scalability and integration with tools like Umbraco Engage.

• Ease of Upgrade: For Umbraco 15 users, the upgrade is straightforward with no .NET version changes, and automated migrations (e.g., for Tiptap) minimize hassle.

However, if you’re on an older version (e.g., Umbraco 8 or 9), upgrading may require a rebuild, so consult with a developer or agency to plan the process.

Unique Use Case: Interactive Personal Blog

To make your personal website stand out, use Umbraco 16’s features to create an interactive personal blog with segmented content. For example:

• Segmented Content: Deliver tailored blog posts to different audiences (e.g., tech enthusiasts vs. casual readers) using content segments and Umbraco Engage for A/B testing.

• Tiptap Customization: Add a custom Tiptap extension for inline polls or interactive annotations to engage readers.

• Property-Level Permissions: Restrict editing of sensitive blog metadata (e.g., publication dates) to specific users if you collaborate with guest writers.