Craft CMS 5 with Many Helpful Improvements
Craft CMS 5 was released in spring 2024 after a successful beta phase. It is probably the largest and most extensive update in Craft CMS history.
What was already significantly improved with the Craft 4 update is now once again the main focus of Craft 5’s development: a strong emphasis on improving the authoring experience for editors and content creators. The usability of the control panel has taken another major leap forward — something every editor will appreciate.
Alongside many detailed optimizations and refinements, the focus is on simplifying content creation to make editing websites even more seamless. The result is an intuitive, easy-to-navigate, and user-friendly interface.
Here’s a closer look at the key improvements editors can look forward to in Craft 5:
Refined UI
The user interface has been refined and optimized down to the smallest detail. The control panel is now leaner, cleaner, and even more user-friendly. With a new icon set, a collapsible global sidebar, and improved breadcrumb functionality, navigation feels smoother and smarter than ever. Anyone familiar with the backends of Craft CMS 3 or 4 will instantly feel at home in Craft CMS 5.
Element Cards
New element cards display element indexes and relational fields in a more visually appealing format. These cards include large thumbnails and customizable content previews, improving usability and the overall display of elements.
Element Thumbnails
In Craft 5, element thumbnails have their own asset field within field layouts, allowing them to be used as thumbnails for chips and cards throughout the control panel.
Matrix Updates
Matrix fields now support all layout features such as tabs, UI elements, and conditions. This gives editors more flexibility and control since Matrix fields now offer the same capabilities as other field types. Craft CMS 5 also allows Matrix fields to be nested within each other, making content management significantly more flexible.
Inline Bulk Editing
Bulk editing of elements is now supported directly from the table view. Multiple visible elements can be edited simultaneously, speeding up the editing process considerably.
Icons and Colors
The control panel can now be personalized with entry-type icons and colors. Each element type can be assigned its own symbol and color scheme, making chips, cards, and Matrix blocks visually distinct and easier to recognize.
Element Action Menus
Element action menus now offer extended functionality for element chips, cards, and slideouts. These menus include quick-access buttons for common actions such as editing an element or opening it in a new browser tab, improving editing efficiency.
Live Conditions
Live conditions are now available for inline-editable Matrix blocks. Conditions can be applied and updated in real time, giving editors dynamic control over their content.
Security – 2FA and Passkey
Account security has been enhanced with two-factor authentication (2FA), adding an extra layer of protection when logging into the control panel. Additionally, Passkey support is now available, allowing access to the Craft backend via fingerprint or facial recognition.
Accessibility Improvements
Craft CMS 5 introduces major advancements in accessibility (legally required from June 2025) and takes further steps toward WCAG AA compliance within the control panel.
For existing Craft 4 websites, there is no immediate need to upgrade, as Craft 4 will be fully supported until March 30, 2025. However, planning an upgrade early can be beneficial, especially for complex or large websites. Major design or functionality changes can also be conveniently implemented alongside an upgrade to Craft 5.
If you’d like a closer look at the new features in Craft 5 or want to discuss the specific benefits of upgrading from Craft 3 or 4 to Craft 5, we’d be happy to schedule a non-binding online meeting.