Hotfix
Provides unofficial fixes for selected WordPress bugs, so you don't have to wait for the next WordPress core release.
Use with caution
Hotfix works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. It runs on 4K+ sites, is rated 4.7/5 and was last updated 4 months ago, and scores 61/100 on our health check.
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Hotfix stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| bugs | #7 |
| hotfix | #1 |
| update | #81 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 4.7 from 18 reviews
About Hotfix
From the official readme · v1.4Description
This unofficial plugin provides fixes for selected WordPress bugs, so you don’t have to wait for the next WordPress core release. This does not mean you can stop updating WordPress! It just means that you’ll get a few selected fixes more quickly.
Recent fixes:
-
WordPress 7.0
- Add css to post.php and post-new.php to add
flex-wrap: wrap;to#major-publishing-actions. See WP#65286.
- Add css to post.php and post-new.php to add
-
WordPress 6.9
- Set sender as blank to workaround Sendmail issue when sendmail_from and -f are both used, see WP#64368.
Fixes are specific to your version of WordPress. It may be that your version of WordPress has no fixes. That’s fine. Keep the plugin activated and updated, in case you need it for a subsequent version of WordPress!
Complete Hotfix List
- WordPress 7.0
- Add css to post.php and post-new.php to add
flex-wrap: wrap;to#major-publishing-actions. See WP#65286.
- Add css to post.php and post-new.php to add
-
WordPress 6.9
- Works around issue where Sendmail fails due to
sendmail_fromand-fboth being used.
- Works around issue where Sendmail fails due to
-
WordPress 3.5
- Lets you update Twenty Twelve if it is shown as “broken” after installing 3.5
- Lets you update WordPress and install or update plugins and themes. (Only some Windows servers running IIS were affected.) You’ll need to install this plugin manually.
-
WordPress 3.4.2
- Fix adding and updating Custom Fields
-
WordPress 3.3
- Prevent plugin and theme styles from bleeding into the dashboard
- Work around a bug for people without built-in JSON support
-
WordPress 3.2
- Include JSON support for people with funky PHP setups
-
WordPress 3.1.3
- Fix a bug that caused
post_statusto malfunction if passed an array
- Fix a bug that caused
-
WordPress 3.1
- Fix a bug that caused some taxonomy query manipulations (like excluding categories) to not work like they did before.
-
WordPress 3.0.5
- Prevent KSES from overzealously stripping images and other advanced HTML from Administrator/Editor comments on display.
Installation
-
Click here to install and activate.
-
Done! Just remember to keep the plugin up to date!
Or, you can do a manual installation using FTP, which may be necessary on certain Windows servers running IIS (WordPress 3.5 only).
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which hotfixes are being applied to my version?
Read the “Complete Hotfix List” section in the description. A later version of the plugin may list the hotfixes in a special WordPress admin page.
Changelog
Upgrade if your major post actions are overflowing.
1.4
- Add css so #major-publishing-actions uses
flex-wrap: wrap;.
1.3
- Set sender as blank to workaround a Sendmail bug.
1.2
- Lets themes enqueue
comment-reply.jsin the HTML header without JavaScript errors.
1.1
- Lets you update WordPress and install or update plugins and themes. (Only some Windows servers running IIS were affected.) You’ll need to install this plugin manually.
1.0
- Lets you update Twenty Twelve if it is shown as “broken” after installing 3.5.
0.9
- Fix adding and updating Custom Fields.
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best Hotfix alternatives
All bugs plugins →FAQ
Hotfix: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 27, 2026
Is Hotfix free?
Yes. Hotfix is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Hotfix safe to use in 2026?
Hotfix works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. It runs on 4K+ sites, is rated 4.7/5 and was last updated 4 months ago, and scores 61/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Hotfix?
Hotfix is active on 4K+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 445,595 times since it launched in February 2011. It was downloaded 356 times in the last 30 days.
Does Hotfix work with WordPress 7.1?
Hotfix is officially tested up to WordPress 6.9.9, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
When was Hotfix last updated?
The latest version, 1.4, was released on May 28, 2026 (4 months ago).
Who makes Hotfix?
Hotfix is developed and maintained by Mark Jaquith.
What are the best alternatives to Hotfix?
The most popular alternatives to Hotfix are WH Tweaks (100+ installs), Browsee (30+ installs) and Project Tasks (10+ installs).
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