A few strange things are happening with WordPress, and we’re here to sift through the details for you!
Many people mistakenly think WordPress and WP Engine are the same company. Recently, a conflict between the two revealed important details. If you’re not a WP Engine user but are using the Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin, this information will be essential for you to know.
Should you be worried?
In short, no, it won’t affect anything.
If you have a free version, all the functionalities are similar. It’s your choice whether to stay with SCF (operated by WordPress) or switch back to ACF (operated by WP Engine) by manually installing the plugin again.
If you’re an ACF PRO, WP Engine or Flywheel user, No Action is required, as WP Engine still supports this.
Fun fact: WordPress is asking ACF developers to join the team if they are interested in managing this plugin.
What’s next?
WP has launched an updated version of SCF and is encouraging users to update it to take advantage of all the benefits.
On a side note, if you want to return to ACF, you need to download the latest plugin from the ACF official site and follow the instructions there.
You can keep using the current free version of SCF, and that is fine, too, but I would update to the latest SCF or ACF rather than have a plugin version taken as hostile and not supported by its original developers.
Read official statements from WordPress and ACF.
For Our Fellow Tech Nerds: What’s The Difference?
WordPress is an open-source platform that doesn’t charge users to build websites. On the other hand, WP Engine (WPE) is a paid hosting provider for WordPress sites. Although they seem connected, they are separate entities.
Many people assume WPE is part of WordPress, which has helped WPE grow its client base. WordPress isn’t happy with this confusion and has repeatedly asked WPE to address it without success.
This Has Led to…
WordPress has taken drastic action. It seized control of the ACF plugin, renaming it Secured Custom Fields (SCF), and did so without WPE’s consent, citing security concerns. This move has raised eyebrows, and it’s important for users to be aware of the ongoing tension between the two companies.
Results of this action
- ACF has automatically switched to SCF for all the WordPress sites.
- ACF is no longer available on the wordpress.org plugin store.
- Upgrade to ACF Pro option and WP Engine branding have been removed.
While there has been conflict between WordPress and WP Engine over the ACF plugin, most users are unaffected. SCF provides similar functionality to ACF’s free version, and ACF Pro users remain supported. You can keep SCF or switch back to ACF if preferred—just ensure you’re using the latest version for optimal security.
