How To Disable The WordPress Gutenberg Editor And Keep Using The Classic Editor
If you haven’t heard already, the way you create content with WordPress is soon going to change with the introduction of the Gutenberg editor completely. Starting in WordPress 5.0, which might be released as soon as November 19, the Gutenberg editor will replace the current TinyMCE editor when you go to create posts, pages, or any other type of WordPress content that uses the default editor.However, not everyone wants to use the new Gutenberg editor (at least not right away). That might have you wondering if it’s possible to disable the Gutenberg editor and keep using the classic TinyMCE editor. The answer to that question is, YES. And in this post, I’ll discuss some of the reasons you might want to consider disabling the Gutenberg editor. Then, I’ll show you exactly how you can disable the Gutenberg editor in WordPress 5.0 and keep using the current TinyMCE editor that you’re already familiar with. Recommended:
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Finally, there’s the situation where you’re building websites for clients. If you’re a freelancer or agency that manages client sites, your clients might understandably be upset with you if their interface suddenly changes. Sure, it’s not actually your fault – but they don’t know that. And to them, it seems like you’re just arbitrarily changing the interface that they’ve already learned…and they might not be happy about that. So to keep things running smoothly and avoid interrupting your clients’ workflows, you might just want to disable the Gutenberg editor and keep their experience the same.
Why You Might Want To Disable The Gutenberg Editor
If you aren’t already familiar with the Gutenberg editor, I recommend that you check out my posts on what the Gutenberg editor is and how to use the Gutenberg editor. In a nutshell, the Gutenberg editor brings block-based editing to WordPress, similar to how the Medium editor works or a lightweight page builder. It offers a lot of benefits in terms of content creation because you can:- Incorporate “blocks” to create more styled content, like a product comparison table, testimonial, or even a simple button…all without needing to use any code.
- Use columns to create more complex layouts. Again, without the need for any custom code.
3 Reasons To Disable The Gutenberg Editor
First, there’s familiarity. If you’ve been using WordPress for years and are already happy with the current editor, you might not want to spend the time to learn a new editor. Second, there’s compatibility. While the Gutenberg team is striving to make it as compatible as possible, you might not want to take any risk on your sites, at least in the beginning. Even if you only disable it for a few months, that will give developers a chance to work out any growing pains.Read Also : Feel Like You Are Stuck With Your Web-Hosting? Here Is What You Can Do
Finally, there’s the situation where you’re building websites for clients. If you’re a freelancer or agency that manages client sites, your clients might understandably be upset with you if their interface suddenly changes. Sure, it’s not actually your fault – but they don’t know that. And to them, it seems like you’re just arbitrarily changing the interface that they’ve already learned…and they might not be happy about that. So to keep things running smoothly and avoid interrupting your clients’ workflows, you might just want to disable the Gutenberg editor and keep their experience the same.
How To Disable The Gutenberg Editor And Keep Using The TinyMCE Editor
The WordPress core team understands that not everyone will want to use the Gutenberg editor, so they’ve actually created an official solution to help you keep using the TinyMCE editor instead of the Gutenberg editor. This solution is the official Classic Editor plugin. Even though WordPress 5.0 hasn’t been released yet, you can configure this plugin today and it will start working as soon as WordPress 5.0 ships. This plugin can do two things. First, you can have it completely disable the Gutenberg editor. In this mode, it will essentially erase all traces of the Gutenberg editor from your interface and keep things exactly as they were before WordPress 5.0. Second, it also includes another mode that lets you use both the TinyMCE editor AND the Gutenberg editor. In this mode, the Gutenberg editor will be active by default. But the interface will also include a link that lets you revert to the TinyMCE editor on a post-by-post basis. Here’s how it works.Step 1: Install And Activate The Classic Editor Plugin
To get started, install and activate the Classic Editor plugin like you would any other plugin from WordPress.org:Step 2: Choose Classic Editor Mode
Once you’ve installed and activated the Classic Editor plugin, you need to configure whether to:- Only use the TinyMCE editor
- Use both the TinyMCE editor and the Gutenberg editor
Step 3: How To Access TinyMCE Editor (If Using Both)
Remember – this step only applies if you choose the option to use both editors.When you go to create a new post or page, you’ll get two options:- The regular Add New button uses the Gutenberg editor
- The new Add New (Classic) button uses the TinyMCE editor
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