How To Disable The WordPress Gutenberg Editor And Keep Using The Classic Editor

By WP Saviour •  Updated: 09/27/20 •  7 min read

In case you haven’t heard already, the best way you create content material with WordPress is quickly going to alter with the introduction of the Gutenberg editor fully.

Beginning in WordPress 5.0, which is perhaps launched as quickly as November 19, the Gutenberg editor will change the present TinyMCE editor while you go to create posts, pages, or another kind of WordPress content material that makes use of the default editor.

Learn: How To Use The WordPress Gutenberg Editor – A Full Information For Newcomers

Nevertheless, not everybody desires to make use of the brand new Gutenberg editor (a minimum of not immediately). Which may have you ever questioning if it’s potential to disable the Gutenberg editor and maintain utilizing the basic TinyMCE editor.

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The reply to that query is, YES.

And on this submit, I’ll talk about a number of the causes you would possibly wish to think about disabling the Gutenberg editor.

Then, I’ll present you precisely how one can disable the Gutenberg editor in WordPress 5.Zero and maintain utilizing the present TinyMCE editor that you simply’re already aware of.

Really useful:

In case you aren’t already aware of the Gutenberg editor, I like to recommend that you simply take a look at my posts on what the Gutenberg editor is and the way to use the Gutenberg editor.

In a nutshell, the Gutenberg editor brings block-based modifying to WordPress, just like how the Medium editor works or a light-weight web page builder. It provides a number of advantages by way of content material creation as a result of you’ll be able to:

If you wish to attempt Gutenberg for your self, go to this web page.

So with advantages like that, why would anybody wish to disable the Gutenberg editor? Effectively, I believe there are a number of totally different causes.

Three Causes To Disable The Gutenberg Editor

First, there’s familiarity. In case you’ve been utilizing WordPress for years and are already pleased with the present editor, you may not wish to spend the time to study a brand new editor.

Second, there’s compatibility. Whereas the Gutenberg crew is striving to make it as appropriate as potential, you may not wish to take any threat in your websites, a minimum of at first. Even in case you solely disable it for a number of months, that can give builders an opportunity to work out any rising pains.

Lastly, there’s the state of affairs the place you’re constructing web sites for purchasers. In case you’re a freelancer or company that manages consumer websites, your purchasers would possibly understandably be upset with you if their interface out of the blue modifications.

Certain, it’s not really your fault – however they don’t know that. And to them, it looks as if you’re simply arbitrarily altering the interface that they’ve already realized…and they may not be pleased about that. So to maintain issues operating easily and keep away from interrupting your purchasers’ workflows, you would possibly simply wish to disable the Gutenberg editor and maintain their expertise the identical.

How To Disable The Gutenberg Editor And Hold Utilizing The TinyMCE Editor

The WordPress core crew understands that not everybody will wish to use the Gutenberg editor, in order that they’ve really created an official answer that can assist you maintain utilizing the TinyMCE editor as a substitute of the Gutenberg editor.

This answer is the official Basic Editor plugin.

Regardless that WordPress 5.Zero hasn’t been launched but, you’ll be able to configure this plugin as we speak and it’ll begin working as quickly as WordPress 5.Zero ships.

This plugin can do two issues.

First, you’ll be able to have it fully disable the Gutenberg editor. On this mode, it can basically erase all traces of the Gutenberg editor out of your interface and maintain issues precisely as they had been earlier than WordPress 5.0.

Second, it additionally contains one other mode that allows you to use each the TinyMCE editor AND the Gutenberg editor. On this mode, the Gutenberg editor will probably be energetic by default. However the interface may also embody a hyperlink that allows you to revert to the TinyMCE editor on a post-by-post foundation.

Right here’s the way it works.

Step 1: Set up And Activate The Basic Editor Plugin

To get began, set up and activate the Basic Editor plugin such as you would another plugin from WordPress.org:

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Step 2: Select Basic Editor Mode

When you’ve put in and activated the Basic Editor plugin, it is advisable to configure whether or not to:

To do this, go to Settings → Writing in your WordPress dashboard. Then, search for the Basic editor settings choices:

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In case you select to Exchange the Block editor with the Basic editor’, then you definitely’re completed! Nothing about your editor expertise will change when WordPress 5.Zero ships – you’ll simply maintain utilizing the identical acquainted TinyMCE editor.

Alternatively, in case you select to Use the Block editor by default and embody elective hyperlinks again to the Basic Editor, you’ll wish to proceed to Step Three to discover ways to entry the TinyMCE editor on a post-by-post foundation.

Step 3: How To Entry TinyMCE Editor (If Utilizing Each)

Bear in mind – this step solely applies in case you select the choice to make use of each editors.

If you go to create a brand new submit or web page, you’ll get two choices:

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And if you wish to work with an current submit or web page, you’ll have a number of choices to entry the TinyMCE editor.

First, you’ll get a brand new Basic Editor possibility while you hover over an current submit or web page:

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Second, you’ll additionally have the ability to swap from the Gutenberg editor to the TinyMCE editor from the precise edit submit interface through the WordPress toolbar:

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And that’s all there may be to it!

Last Ideas – Is It A Good Concept To Disable The Gutenberg Editor?

Within the short-term, there isn’t any drawback with disabling the Gutenberg editor, so be at liberty to do it in case you’re not fairly able to cease utilizing the TinyMCE editor. The truth is, disabling it can prevent from any short-term rising pains and provides the WordPress group time to work out any bugs earlier than you begin utilizing it.

Nevertheless, in case you’re contemplating disabling Gutenberg within the long-term, I believe there’s one essential factor to recollect.

As a result of the Gutenberg editor would be the default editor, the individuals who construct plugins and themes will begin creating their new merchandise and options solely with Gutenberg in thoughts.

Within the short-term, I’m certain most builders will proceed to assist each editors. However years from now, you would possibly begin to miss out on performance in case you maintain utilizing the TinyMCE editor as a substitute of the Gutenberg editor. That’s one thing it is best to positively have in mind going ahead.

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WP Saviour

I am a WordPress specialist. My mission is to help you create beautiful websites with ease!