Description
At a glance
Looking for Presence API v0.12.1? It is available here as a free GPL download for WordPress — 10+ active installs · updated September 29, 2026 · requires WordPress 7.0+ & PHP 7.4+.
Presence API gives WordPress a system-wide awareness layer. It tracks which users are logged in, which admin screen they are on, and which posts they are editing.
Data flows through the Heartbeat API and is stored in a dedicated wp_presence table with a 150-second TTL. No writes to wp_postmeta means no post-cache invalidation on every heartbeat.
On a multisite network, Network Admin gets its own view of the same data: a Who’s Online dashboard widget listing the busiest sites and who is on each, an Online column in the Sites list, and an Online view, filter, and column in the Users list. These require the manage_network capability.
Features
- Admin bar indicator showing who’s online and who’s on this page
- Active Posts dashboard widget grouped by post
- Editors column in the post list
- Online filter in the Users list
- AI agents labelled in Who’s Online, the admin bar, and the Editors column, once a plugin such as Agent Users marks them
For Developers
PHP functions, REST endpoints, WP-CLI commands, filters, and room conventions are documented in the GitHub repository.
Background
A feature plugin sponsored by the WordPress Core team, exploring what system-wide presence could look like for a future WordPress release. Follow development on make.wordpress.org/core with the tag #presence-api.
Frequently asked questions
What is Presence API?
Presence API is a free WordPress plugin available under the GPL license. The current version is 0.12.1. It is active on over 10 websites.
Is Presence API free to download?
Yes — Presence API 0.12.1 is a free GPL download with no hidden fees, no account needed, and no feature locked behind a paywall in this package.
How do I install Presence API 0.12.1?
Download the ZIP file from this page, then in your WordPress dashboard go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin, choose the file, click Install Now, then Activate. The plugin works immediately after activation — no license key or extra setup is required for the core features.
What are the requirements for Presence API?
Presence API 0.12.1 requires WordPress 7.0 or higher and PHP 7.4 or higher. Most modern WordPress hosts already meet these versions. Running older versions may cause features to break, so update WordPress and PHP first if your site is behind.
When was Presence API last updated?
Version 0.12.1 was last updated on September 29, 2026. This page is refreshed automatically, so the download here always matches the newest version we have verified.
Is the Presence API download safe?
The file is sourced directly from the official WordPress.org repository — the same file the developer published. It is served unmodified, so what you install here is byte-identical to the official release.
Version: 0.12.1
Updated: October 1, 2026
Technical details
| Version | 0.12.1 |
|---|---|
| Last updated | September 29, 2026 |
| Active installs | 10+ |
| Requires WordPress | 7.0 or higher |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 or higher |
| Author | WordPress.org |
| Tags | awareness, heartbeat, presence, real-time |
Download Presence API
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