Because the release of WordPress 5.0, numerous websites have actually changed from the WordPress traditional editor to the Gutenberg block editor. While blocks are a core part of the WordPress experience, some may prefer to utilize the classic editor to create and manage a website.

Thankfully, there are several methods to install and configure it, and you can even switch between the traditional and the Gutenberg editor on a case-by-case basis.

In this short article, we’ll discuss why you might prefer to utilize the old WordPress editor. Then, we’ll share a WordPress classic editor setup guide and go over some best practices.

Why Use the WordPress Classic Editor
While the option of editor eventually boils down to individual preference, there are many benefits of WordPress classic editor.

Familiarity and Comfort

WordPress was constructed around the traditional editor. If you’ve been using this material management system (CMS) for a long time, you’re probably familiar with the editor and how it works.

The Classic WordPress Editor
Mastering a new tool can take a while, and if the timeless editor does everything you need it to, it may not be necessary to switch to an option.

The Gutenberg editor is an excellent tool, specifically in regards to visual modifying, however it indicates learning how to utilize an entirely new editor.

Simple Editing Experience

The timeless editor is relatively straightforward to use. If you’re familiar with modern text editors, there should not be much of a learning curve.

On the other hand, learning how to utilize the WordPress block editor can be a more involved experience. Every element is its own block, and each block has various settings.

A modern WordPress website might need dozens of unique blocks. This indicates you’ll require to discover how to set up each element.

The classic editor is just abundant text and HTML code. Even if you don’t understand how to use HTML, you can still create engaging material with the editor.

Compatibility With Themes and Plugins

The classic editor was the default WordPress editor for many years. There’s a considerable number of plugins and themes that were created to work with it.

Sometimes, switching to the block editor implies you will not have the ability to utilize older plugins anymore and will require to look for alternatives.

A lot of popular WordPress plugins and themes have actually been updated to deal with blocks. If there are any plugins that you rely on that are not suitable with the Gutenberg editor, you may need to utilize the classic editor.

Workflow and Productivity

If you have an optimized workflow and are utilized to content management with traditional editor, switching to the block system may disrupt it.

You’ll need to spend some time getting familiarized with the brand-new editor, which can lead to lower preliminary productivity levels.

If you run a simple blog or individual site and have no plans to upgrade it anytime soon, switching to the Gutenberg editor is most likely unnecessary if the classic editor suffices for your needs.

How to Install the WordPress Classic Editor
Newer variations of WordPress do not consist of the timeless editor by default. To re-enable it, you’ll require to set up a plugin. The most popular one is Classic Editor, with over 5 million setups.

To install it, log in to the WordPress control panel and go to Plugins → Add New. Utilize the search function to look for the plugin by typing “traditional editor.”

Setting Up the Classic Editor plugin
Click Install Now → Activate. The plugin will override the new WordPress editor and make the classic editor the default choice when including a new WordPress post or page.

To see if it’s working, go to Posts or Pages on your WordPress dashboard and click Edit next to the desired post or page.

The Classic Editor user interface.
Keep in mind that any posts or pages produced with the Gutenberg block editor will still work as normal. The plugin defaults to the last editor utilized to avoid breaking any of its content.

When you trigger the plugin, we recommend checking the website for compatibility problems. If you count on plugins and themes that add block functionality to the site, using the timeless editor may trigger issues.

How to Configure the Classic Editor in WordPress
The Classic Editor plugin includes a handful of configuration settings. To access them, go to Settings → Writing from the WordPress dashboard.

Look for the options that read Default editor for all users and Allow users to change editors:

Personalizing the classic editor settings.
You can set up the plugin to default to the timeless editor to enhance your content production in WordPress.

Meanwhile, making it possible for users to change editors will show both options below a post or a page’s title before going into the modifying screen:

The edit options for a post in WordPress.
This mixed method can be a great service if you deal with different types of content. The standard WordPress editor can assist you edit text-heavy material without having to handle blocks.

The block editor, on the other hand, can be found in handy for tasks such as full site modifying and utilizing the drag-and-drop visual builder to create particular pages.

In practice, there’s no considerable downside to utilizing both editors side by side. Simply remember that some plugins that deal with the traditional WordPress editor may not be compatible with the block editor– and vice versa.

For that reason, you’ll require to be more selective when it comes to plugins, and the exact same applies to styles.

WordPress Classic Editor Best Practices
If you haven’t used the standard editor before, or it’s been a while considering that you stopped utilizing it, this section will function as a good refresher. Let’s look at some pointers for using WordPress timeless editor listed below.

Use Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard faster ways are a key component of any text editor, and the WordPress classic editor is no exception.

A lot of editors share comparable sets of keyboard shortcuts, like CTRL+C for copying and CTRL+V for pasting.

With the timeless editor, you’ll likewise be dealing with subheadings, links, code tags, and other similar components common in most websites.

There are shortcuts for all of these actions. You can learn more about them by means of WordPress’ main classic editor keyboard shortcuts paperwork page.

Format and Structure Content

With the block editor, WordPress users structure material using the drag-and-drop interface. You can shift aspects around and reorganize them into your preferred order.

Gutenberg blocks supply a more visual technique to page-building. Essentially, what WordPress users see on the back end is the same as what site visitors will see on the front end.

The timeless editor, on the other hand, uses a basic editing technique. The formatting of the page occurs at the theme level.

This suggests you don’t get to see how pages will look while dealing with them, as the editor focuses fully on text and standard media files.

The old editor just allows you to add text with formatting, including alternatives such as links, subheadings, designs, and images:

Formatting in the Classic Editor.
If you’re familiar with any contemporary text editor, the format choices in timeless editor need to be user-friendly.

You can also utilize the preview function at any time to see how the format and structure of each page will take care of publishing.

Usage Distraction-Free Mode

The traditional editor consists of a distraction-free mode. This hides all other components on the dashboard, including menus and the widgets that appear beside the editor.

Here’s what the distraction-free mode appears like in action:

Distraction-free mode in the Classic Editor.
You can access this mode by clicking the Distraction-free writing mode icon in the top-right corner of the editor.

Additionally, utilize the SHIFT+ALT+W shortcut command to enter the mode directly.

When you’re ready to leave the distraction-free mode, struck the ESC secret on your keyboard or click on the very same button once again.

Frequently Save Your Work

Both the WordPress classic and block editors include autosave functions. That implies the editor conserves your work after an interval of time in case you close the tab without conserving the modifications.

The full-screen editor in the Classic WordPress editor
It’s finest to by hand conserve your progress in the editor as you go. You can do this by hitting the Save Draft button every couple of minutes.

This way, if there’s an issue with the internet connection or you unintentionally close the tab, you’ll just lose a small part of your work.

Preview Before Publishing

The WordPress Preview option enables you to see what an article or page will appear like from the site visitor’s viewpoint.

When utilizing the traditional editor, previewing your work lets you get an idea of how the completed product will appear to the audience:

The Save Draft and Preview alternatives in the Classic Editor.
This can help you identify and repair issues with spacing, positioning, and other format issues.

As discussed previously, what you see in the timeless editor may not always be reflected on the front end. When working on a brand-new post, it’s crucial to guarantee the text, images, and other aspects are arranged as planned on the page.