6 June 2022
How to Disable the Gutenberg Block Editor in WordPress
Do you want to disable the Gutenberg block editor and use the old classic WordPress editor on your site?
Gutenberg is the WordPress default block editor that has been replaced by the old WordPress classic editor. Many users find it difficult to adapt to and would prefer to continue using the classic editor.
In this post, we’ll show you how to disable the Gutenberg block editor in WordPress.
What is Gutenberg?
Gutenberg is the original name for WordPress’s block editor. The block editor was built to modernize the writing experience in WordPress.
It functions similarly to a page builder plugin, allowing you to drag & drop elements into a post or page. The aim is to provide WordPress users more flexibility and allow them to design customized layouts for their content that include rich multimedia content.
Why Disable the Gutenberg Editor in WordPress?
Many WordPress users who have been using the platform for a long time are more comfortable with the classic editor.
Furthermore, because the block editor is still in its early stages, several plugins are incompatible with it.
Fortunately, the WordPress core team has created a plugin that allows you to use the classic editor even on WordPress 5.0 or later.
Let’s look at how to turn off the Gutenberg block editor and use the old WordPress classic editor instead.
3 Methods to Disable the Gutenberg Block Editor in WordPress
If you want to disable Gutenberg in WordPress, then there are multiple methods to do it. Here, we’ll go over the multiple methods you may use to disable Gutenberg in WordPress. Let’s have a look:
Method 1. Disable Gutenberg with the Classic Editor Plugin
We will use the Classic Editor plugin for this method, which was created and maintained by core WordPress contributors.
First, install and activate the Classic Editor plugin. For more in detail, see our guide on how to install a plugin in WordPress.
The plugin works out of the box and disables the Gutenberg editor upon activation.
The plugin also allows you to use both the Gutenberg and Classic editors simultaneously. You can change this in the plugin’s settings.
Go to the Settings » Writing page in your WordPress admin area. Now, you will see the option default editor for all users settings. Click on the Classic editor. It will disable the Gutenberg and enable the classic editor for all users.
You can also allow users to switch the editor. Check the Yes radio button to enable users to change the editors.
Don’t forget to click on the Save Changes button to save your settings.
Method 2. Use Classic Editor with Disable Gutenberg Plugin
If you want to disable Gutenberg for particular user roles and post types, this method will help you.
First, install and activate the Disable Gutenberg plugin.
After activation, go to the Settings» Disable Gutenberg page to adjust plugin settings.
By default, the plugin turns off Gutenberg for all users on your site. However, if you want to limit it to specific user roles and post types, uncheck the Complete Disable option.
When you uncheck it, you’ll get more options for disabling Gutenberg for specific user roles, post types, theme templates, or individual posts.
This is a good option if you’re using a WordPress plugin that isn’t compatible with Gutenberg but wants to use it for other parts of your site.
WordPress is the most popular website builder on the internet, powering more than 43% of all websites.
It includes thousands of plugins and themes and can power everything from eCommerce stores to membership communities.
However, many third-party tools still use the old WordPress editor and may not be fully compatible with the block editor.
If that’s the case, these options could be hugely helpful.
Don’t forget to click the Save Changes button to save your settings.
Method 3. Disable Gutenberg Editor Without Plugin
You can also disable the Guttenberg editor by adding a code snippet in your functions.php file. The sole reason to use this method is if you want to limit the number of WordPress plugins you have installed.
Note: Before you start editing your functions.php file, we strongly advise that you back up your website first.
There are so many backup plugins available, but the UpdraftPlus plugin allows you to upload your work to different cloud storage sites.
Once you’ve got a recent site backup, you can start editing your functions.php file.
Go and open the functions.php file and copy and paste the following lines of code into it.
/* Disable Gutenberg Block Editor */
add_filter('use_block_editor_for_post', '__return_false', 10);
If you also want to disable the Gutenberg widget editor, add the following code in your functions.php file.
/* Disable Widgets Block Editor */
add_filter( 'use_widgets_block_editor', '__return_false' );
Gutenberg Vs. Classic Editor | Which One Is Best?
It all relies on your needs and what you are looking for in an editor. If the block-based editor isn’t working with your themes or plugins, you can switch back to the classic editor using one of the methods listed above.
We recommend that you learn and use Gutenberg because it is built into core files. If you are not yet ready, WordPress gives you the option to disable it. Until you have time to learn and test properly, you need to disable the Gutenberg WordPress editor.
We hope this post helps you disable the Gutenberg block editor and keep the classic editor in WordPress. For your next steps, you’ll find these resources helpful:
