Native Block
Insert Beautiful Recent Posts in any post, page or block-theme template. The editor shows a live preview beside the sidebar controls.
Beautiful Recent Posts WidgetRecent Posts Block, Widget and Shortcode
Show your latest posts with thumbnails, excerpts and a choice of list or card layouts. Add them as a native block, the classic sidebar widget or a shortcode. All three share the same settings.
Version 5.0.0 is a full rebuild for current WordPress and PHP. It loads no frontend JavaScript, and the widgets you already set up keep working after the update.
Free and open source. Version 5.0.0 for WordPress 6.6+ and PHP 7.4+. No account or license key.
- Native Block
- Classic Widget
- Shortcode
Rebuilt for Current WordPress
The 2014 release was a sidebar widget and nothing else. It also called create_function(), which PHP 8 removed, so it broke on any current host.
Version 5.0.0 replaces that code with one shared renderer. The block, the widget and the shortcode all produce the same markup from the same settings, so a list looks identical wherever you place it.
- A native block for posts, pages and Site Editor templates.
- Editorial list and responsive card layouts.
- Category filters, three sort orders and current-post exclusion.
- Optional author names, excerpts and thumbnail shapes.
- New teal branding, icons and directory banners.
Release Snapshot
- Version 5.0.0, released September 27, 2026.
- Requires WordPress 6.6 and PHP 7.4 or later.
- Tested with WordPress 7.1 and PHP 7.4 and 8.2 through 8.5.
- No frontend JavaScript, tracking, remote services or external fonts.
- GPLv2 or later, developed in the open on GitHub.
What You Can Do With It
Every option lives where you place the list. There’s no settings dashboard to visit first.
Classic Widget
Classic themes get the same list in any widget area. The widget keeps its original ID, so saved sidebars carry over.
Shortcode
Drop [beautiful_recent_posts] into content or a builder module. It accepts every setting the block has.
Choose the Stories
Show 1 to 20 posts from one category, including its child categories. Sort by newest, recently updated or title, and skip the post being read.
Control the Details
Turn featured images, dates, authors, comment counts and excerpts on or off. Excerpts run from 5 to 60 words.
Stays Light
Lists are server-rendered HTML with one small stylesheet. Images use WordPress’s responsive markup and lazy loading.
Two Layouts That Take Your Theme’s Look
The editorial list fits a sidebar or a narrow column. Cards spread into a responsive grid when the space is wider and stack when it isn’t.
- List thumbnails can be circular, rounded or square.
- Posts without a featured image show no empty placeholder.
- Typography and colors come from your theme, including dark sections.
- Keyboard focus styles and right-to-left layouts are built in.
Use It Anywhere With a Shortcode
The shortcode takes the same settings as the block and the widget. Add only the attributes you want to change.
Examples
Four cards with excerpts:
[beautiful_recent_posts totalnews="4" layout="cards" show_excerpt="true"]One category, skipping the current post and hiding comment counts. Replace 12 with your category ID:
[beautiful_recent_posts category="12" exclude_current="true" show_comments="false"]Adjust the Styling
The list inherits your theme’s type and colors. To change spacing, thumbnail size or the focus color, set these variables under .brpw in your theme’s CSS:
.brpw {
--brpw-gap: 1rem;
--brpw-image-size: 85px;
--brpw-accent: #123f3a;
}Every Setting
| Attribute | Default | Accepted values |
|---|---|---|
title | Empty | Plain text |
totalnews | 3 | 1 to 20 |
category | 0 | Category ID. 0 shows all; child categories are included |
orderby | date | date, modified or title (A to Z) |
layout | list | list or cards |
image_shape | circle | circle, rounded or square (list layout only) |
show_image, show_date, show_comments | true | true or false |
show_author, show_excerpt, exclude_current | false | true or false |
excerpt_length | 20 | 5 to 60 words |
textbutton | Empty | Button label |
pageid | 0 | ID of a published, non-password-protected page |
The date shown is always the publication date, even when you sort by last update.
Upgrading From the Old Widget
Update in place from the Plugins screen. Your widgets stay, but the styling is new, so give the sidebar a quick look afterward.
Update the Plugin
The original filename, widget ID, title, post count, button text and button page are kept. Sites on the GitHub-only 4.x build migrate on activation.
Review the Styling
The CSS was refreshed. If your theme overrides the old widget styles, check those rules on a staging copy first.
Regenerate Thumbnails
New uploads get the 85px and 170px square crops automatically. Regenerate thumbnails if older images need them.
Two things to check: the plugin now needs WordPress 6.6 and PHP 7.4. The translation domain also changed from
brpw to beautiful-recent-posts-widget, so custom translation files need to move to the new name.Download Beautiful Recent Posts
Install it from Plugins > Add New in your dashboard, or download the ZIP from WordPress.org.
- Free and open source under GPLv2 or later
- Native block, classic widget and shortcode
- WordPress 6.6+ and PHP 7.4+
Frequently Asked Questions
Will My Existing Widgets Survive the Update?
Yes. The original widget ID and its saved title, post count, button label and button page carry over. Dates, comment counts and circular thumbnails stay on by default. Only the styling changes, so review any custom CSS on staging first.
Does It Work With Block Themes and the Site Editor?
Yes. Insert the Beautiful Recent Posts block in a post, page or Site Editor template. Classic themes can use the widget in their widget areas. Both use the same renderer and settings.
Does It Load JavaScript on the Frontend?
No. Public lists use HTML and CSS only. JavaScript runs in the block editor and uses the packages WordPress already ships. The stylesheet loads only where a list appears.
What Happens When a Post Has No Featured Image?
The title and the details you enabled still show, without an empty image box. Quote and aside post formats skip thumbnails, as the original widget did.
Does It Show Private or Password-Protected Posts?
No. Lists include only published posts without a password. The optional button also links only to a public, non-password-protected page. Custom post types aren’t included.
What Happens If I Deactivate It?
Blocks and widgets stop displaying. Shortcodes stay in your content and may show as plain text until you reactivate the plugin. Your posts, images and saved widget settings aren’t deleted.
Give Your Next Great Read a Place to Shine
Add a recent posts list to your sidebar, a page or a template in a couple of minutes. Found a bug or want a feature? Open an issue on GitHub.