Yoast SEO 28.7 introduces changes in two areas: it expands the capabilities of Yoast SEO Abilities for use with AI tools and removes code that had become obsolete in previous versions. The first improvement makes it easier to update the metadata related to how posts appear in search results and on social media. The second change primarily affects those who develop their own themes or plugins, or who run custom code alongside Yoast SEO.
If you're only using Yoast SEO's standard features, you probably won't need to take any special action. However, if you have a custom integration, it's a good idea to check whether the code references any of the removed elements.
Updating SEO Metadata Using an AI Tool
Yoast SEO Abilities allows you to access certain SEO data and actions using a compatible AI tool. Previous updates already supported checking SEO, readability, and language scores, as well as querying certain post data and modifying technical settings. Version 28.7 further expands this capability: from now on, titles and descriptions that appear in search results and social media shares can also be updated.
A yoast-seo/update-post-seo-data This feature supports six additional fields:
- SEO Title, which may appear in search results.
- Meta description, which can briefly summarize the page's content in search results.
- Open Graph Title and Description, which Facebook or LinkedIn, for example, may use in the preview of shared content.
- X Title and Description, which is associated with the share preview displayed on X.
Practical example: product name change
Suppose a company renames a product, but the associated SEO title and social media preview still contain the previous name. A compatible AI tool can retrieve the post’s SEO data, allowing you to check which fields need to be updated before making the change. You can then update the outdated titles and descriptions within the same workflow.
The AI tool assists in implementing these changes during this process. It is still advisable for a human to verify the accuracy of the content and metadata. This is particularly important when the product name, offer, or page content appears in multiple locations.
What will remain the same?
The "Focus" field remains read-only. The AI tool cannot set it; this is managed by the user. Access follows WordPress's built-in permission controls, so the available actions also depend on user permissions.
To use Yoast SEO Abilities, you need a compatible AI tool and the necessary WordPress integration. The new fields will be available to users who have already set up Abilities after installing version 28.7. For the initial setup, Yoast’s developer documentation explains how to connect the LLM and the WordPress MCP Adapter, as well as the list of capabilities and their schemas.
Annual Removal of Obsolete Code
Yoast SEO 28.7 removes some of the code marked as deprecated in version 26.1 or earlier. Developers may have already received a warning about the affected elements. Therefore, for most sites using the plugin as intended, there will be no visible changes. The risk primarily affects sites whose theme, plugin, or custom code still relies on these elements.
Removed or Modified Elements
WPSEO_Frontendclass: It has already been marked as deprecated in Yoast SEO 14.0, and version 28.7 will remove it.wpseo_opengraphandwpseo_twitteroperations: instead of these, thewpseo_frontend_presentersIts use is recommended. Code that references legacy operations may still trigger a warning.wpseo_robots_arrayfilter: The filter must return an array. Returning any other type of value may cause a fatal error.WPSEO_Database_Proxy::upsert()method: the$whereand the$ formatThe argument is outdated. According to the announcement, these will be removed during a future annual cleanup.
What should you check before updating?
If you are using a custom theme or plugin, look for references to the classes, actions, filters, and arguments listed above. Test your changes in an isolated test environment before updating the live site. If you do not have access to the code, ask the developer or website administrator to check it.
The Yoast SEO announcement also includes a complete list of the removed elements. When maintaining a custom integration, use this list and the developer documentation as a guide; do not assume that all old links will behave the same way.
What does this update mean for website operators?
Release 28.7 offers both usability improvements and maintenance changes. AI capabilities can simplify metadata updates within a supported workflow. Removing outdated code provides a cleaner foundation for further development of the extension, but it may also reveal custom integrations that rely on components that are no longer supported.
Before updating, it’s therefore worth clarifying two questions: Does the website use an AI tool compatible with Yoast SEO Abilities, and does it run any custom code that references the listed legacy elements? The first question concerns the use of the feature. The second concerns compatibility and testing before the update.
Digiösvény from a professional perspective
Plugin updates alone do not guarantee better search visibility. Metadata must accurately reflect the page’s content, and custom integrations must work seamlessly with the installed software versions. It is therefore advisable to treat updates as a controlled process: review the changes, test the affected features, and then verify that the site is functioning properly after installation.
Source: The original announcement regarding the release of Yoast SEO 28.7. This article was based on the source material provided.