{"id":17019,"date":"2020-12-07T15:00:42","date_gmt":"2020-12-07T14:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/?p=17019"},"modified":"2020-12-07T10:33:44","modified_gmt":"2020-12-07T09:33:44","slug":"how-to-disable-gutenberg-in-wordpress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-disable-gutenberg-in-wordpress\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Disable Gutenberg in WordPress (and Should You Do It?)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It can be hard to get used to a new interface. WordPress has always boasted its accessibility: <strong>anyone could build a website<\/strong>, even without a strong technical background. With the introduction of Gutenberg, WordPress users who had invested time and effort into learning the Classic editor\u2019s set of commands and features are now faced with the prospect of learning the ropes of a completely new environment.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]But is it completely new? <strong>What is Gutenberg, really?<\/strong> Can you disable Gutenberg on your WordPress website, and, more importantly, should you? This is what we will be discussing.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;22px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#what-is-gutenberg\">What is Gutenberg?<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#should-i-disable-gutenberg\">Should I Disable Gutenberg?<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#how-to-disable-gutenberg-using-a-plugin\">How to Disable Gutenberg Using a Plugin<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#how-to-disable-gutenberg-using-code\">How to Disable Gutenberg Using Code<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;80px&#8221;][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=&#8221;new-top-picks-banner&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;81px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"what-is-gutenberg\"><\/a>What is Gutenberg?<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<strong>Gutenberg is the editor WordPress made default in 2018<\/strong>, as of version 5.0.<strong> It uses units called blocks<\/strong> to build the content or layout of a webpage.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]There are multiple kinds of blocks, each of which serves a particular function, which is why we speak of paragraph blocks, image blocks, video blocks, shortcode blocks, and the like. That is not all, though: basic elements of website design, such as buttons and widgets, can be thought of as blocks, too. <strong>Many plugins now provide custom blocks for their own functionalities<\/strong>, in addition to or instead of the usual shortcodes. There are even plugins which are nothing but Gutenberg block libraries. And any content which was created using older versions of WordPress is now converted into \u201cclassic blocks\u201d.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Gutengerg blocks introduce a multitude of new solutions for well-known functionalities. We will not waste your time by going into the nitty-gritty here, especially since we have an in-depth <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/introduction-to-wordpress-gutenberg-block-editor\/\">introduction to the Gutenberg block editor<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The developers maintain that <strong>Gutenberg was designed to be user-friendly<\/strong> and to support, enable, and facilitate media-rich website design, and we agree, to a great extent. <strong>But what if you are used to the old, \u201cclassic editor\u201c?<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"should-i-disable-gutenberg\"><\/a>Should I Disable Gutenberg?<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<strong>If you simply prefer the classic editing tool<\/strong> out of force of habit or personal preference, then you definitely should. But maybe it\u2018s not just you. Maybe you employ staff who contribute to your website who are used to the old editor, and you don\u2019t have the time or the resources to train them to use the new editor. But there are other reasons why you should think about whether you need Gutenberg right now.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You should always <strong>aim to use the newest version of WordPress and the plugins you are using<\/strong>, for security reasons at the very least. However, WordPress is also a community, and relies on third-party developers. <strong>Your website may be using themes, or plugins developed for older versions of WordPress<\/strong> \u2013 maybe even software of your own creation. If you are using software incompatible with the Gutenberg WordPress editor, your website might exhibit bugs or return unexpected errors. This goes double if you are using plugins which are no longer supported.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Until such time as you<strong> find replacements for your out-of-date plugins<\/strong>, or until the developers bring them up to date, you may want to disable Gutenberg on your WordPress website.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]It doesn\u2018t take a lot of effort simply to <strong>switch back to the classic editor and continue with business as usual.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"how-to-disable-gutenberg-using-a-plugin\"><\/a>How to Disable Gutenberg Using a Plugin<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]If you are uncomfortable fiddling with code, you should probably avoid it. Instead, you can disable Gutenberg using a plugin. And the plugin we will be using is <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/disable-gutenberg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Disable Gutenberg<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]First, install and activate the plugin. If you are not sure how to do that, take a look at our <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-install-a-wordpress-plugin\/\">step-by-step guide to plugin installation<\/a>. Once you have done that, you need to find the plugin in your list of<strong> Installed Plugins<\/strong> and click to access its <strong>Settings<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"374\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Disable-Gutenberg-Plugin.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Disable Gutenberg Plugin\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Disable-Gutenberg-Plugin.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Disable-Gutenberg-Plugin-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Disable-Gutenberg-Plugin-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The setup is very simple, and the plugin\u2018s settings are fairly straightforward. First of all, there is the <strong>Complete Disable<\/strong> checkbox, which is checked by default. Checked, it means that Gutenberg is disabled throughout your website. The <strong>More Tools<\/strong> link deals with some advanced options which we will touch upon later. Next, you get the <strong>Disable Nag<\/strong> checkbox. This disables WordPress\u2018s prompt to try the new block editor. Then there\u2018s the<strong> Reset Options<\/strong> link, which will reset the plugin to default settings, and a <strong>Rate Plugin<\/strong> link which you can use to express your opinion of it.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"390\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Disable-Gutenberg-Plugin-Settings.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Disable Gutenberg Plugin Settings\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Disable-Gutenberg-Plugin-Settings.jpg 700w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Disable-Gutenberg-Plugin-Settings-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Disable-Gutenberg-Plugin-Settings-620x345.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]However, if you uncheck the <strong>Complete Disable<\/strong> checkbox, you can choose to disable Gutenberg for certain <strong>roles<\/strong>, such as Administrators, Editors, Contributors and others (depending on the theme or plugins you are using), for <strong>post types<\/strong>, such as posts, pages, products (useful if your staff is trained to use text editors for catalog input), or in other situations: for certain <strong>templates<\/strong> (useful if your theme is not WordPress 5.0-compatible) or for certain <strong>post IDs<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Finally, the <strong>More Tools<\/strong> command will open a set of commands we recommend for advanced users, such as to<strong> Enable Frontend<\/strong> Gutenberg, meaning your visitors may use the new styles, <strong>Whitelist Options<\/strong>, in case you want to enable certain post types to always use Gutenberg, as well as to hide the plugin in the <strong>Menu<\/strong>, or, for WordPress versions older than 5.0, to <strong>Hide Gutenberg<\/strong> in the menu.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]In any case, after installing and configuring this plugin, you have Gutenberg partially or completely disabled. Simply click the <strong>Save Changes<\/strong> button and continue enjoying your classical WordPress experience.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"how-to-disable-gutenberg-using-code\"><\/a>How to Disable Gutenberg Using Code<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]To disable Gutenberg using code, you need to add a line to your functions.php file. If accessing through your WordPress control panel, you will find it in <strong>Appearance\/Theme Editor<\/strong>. The<strong> Theme Files<\/strong> section can be found on the right.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The line you need to add is:<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<pre class=\"EnlighterJSRAW\" data-enlighter-language=\"generic\">add_filter('use_block_editor_for_post', '__return_false', 10);<\/pre>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]In order to avoid it interfering with other code, we suggest you add it immediately under [&lt;?php] at the beginning of the file.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Now, <strong>you need to be careful when editing<\/strong> functions.php (or any other one of your theme files). A single error, and you may end up breaking your website. So, back up your functions.php file before editing it, just in case, and test everything twice.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\">In Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]As we have shown, it takes next to no time at all to disable Gutenberg on your WordPress website. But be mindful of how and why you do it. Visual editors are the new default, and you should invest some time in learning how to use them. Still, if you need some time to adapt, or if you simply prefer working with text-based editors, you are not out of options. If you feel confident, switch Gutenberg off at code level. If not, you can use a plugin which is easily deactivated if and when you want Gutenberg back.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thinking of disabling Gutenberg and going back to the Classic Editor? Hear our whys and take a look at our how-tos!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16990,"featured_media":17158,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[15,4,13],"class_list":["post-17019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tutorials","tag-plugins","tag-tips","tag-wordpress"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16990"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17019"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17019\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}