Do you often use the same content snippets in your WordPress posts? If you do, then you’ll love the Reusable Block feature in the new WordPress block editor. It allows you to save any content block and reuse them in other posts and pages on your website.
In this article, we will show you how to easily create a reusable block in WordPress Block editor also known as Gutenberg. We will also show you how to add reusable blocks in your WordPress posts and export them to use on your other WordPress websites.
What is a Reusable Block in WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg)?
A reusable block in WordPress editor is a content block saved individually to be used later.
Many bloggers often add the same content snippets in multiple articles such as call-to-actions at the end of the blog post or links to follow the blog in social media.
Most people just save their content snippets as text files on their computers and then copy and paste them when needed.
The Gutenberg WordPress editor solves this problem by introducing reusable blocks.
Basically, you can now save content snippets in your WordPress editor and then reuse them anywhere almost instantly.
Following are just some of the scenarios when a reusable block can help you work more efficiently:
- Asking users to follow you on social media at the end of each article.
- Adding call-to-action buttons in your WordPress posts and pages.
- Saving and reusing tables
- Quickly adding feedback forms to your pages
- Manually adding inline affiliate banners
- and more…
That being said, let’s take a look at how to easily create a reusable block in WordPress block editor.
Video Tutorial
If you don’t like the video or need more instructions, then continue reading.
Creating a Reusable Block in WordPress Editor
All Gutenberg blocks are individual content elements in WordPress editor and they can be saved individually as a reusable block
First, you need to create a new post or edit an existing one. On the post edit screen, click on the add new block button and then choose a block type according to the content you are going to save.
In this example, we are going to save a few lines of text in a paragraph block.
After adding the block, you need to add the content that you want to reuse. You can use the styling and formatting options in the block toolbar and block settings.
Once you are done editing, click on the three-dot menu button in the toolbar and then select ‘Add to Reusable Blocks’ option.
You will be asked to enter a name for the reusable block. We recommend using a name that helps you quickly identify the block and what it does.
Finally, click on the Save button to store your reusable block.
Your block will be saved in the WordPress database with all its settings.
Adding Reusable Block in Other Posts and Pages
Now that we have learned how to create a reusable block in WordPress, let’s see how to add reusable blocks in your WordPress posts and pages.
Once again create a new post or edit a post where you want to add the reusable block. On the post edit screen, click on the add new block button.
Your reusable block is located under the ‘Reusable’ tab. You can also find it by typing its name in the search box.
You can take your mouse over it to see a quick preview of the block. Go ahead and click on the block to insert it into your post.
Your reusable block will appear in the post editor.
You can also edit the reusable block by clicking on the edit button on the block.
However, please keep in mind that changing a reusable block will change it on all locations where you have used it.
If you just want to make a change that only appears on this particular post, then you need to convert it to a regular block first.
Click on the three-dot menu in the block toolbar and then select ‘Convert to Regular Block’ option.
This will convert your reusable block into a regular block, and you will be able to make changes to it without affecting the original reusable block.
Managing All Reusable Blocks in WordPress Editor
After using reusable blocks for a while, you may have some blocks that you don’t use anymore or some blocks that you want to rename.
Gutenberg Editor allows you to easily manage all your reusable blocks from one screen.
To manage your blocks, click on the add block button and then locate the Reusables tab. You’ll see a link to manage your reusable blocks page.
Clicking on the link will bring you to block management page. From here, you can edit, delete, export, and import your blocks.
Exporting / Importing Reusable Blocks
Reusable blocks are not just reusable on the website they were created for. You can also use them on any other WordPress website.
You can export the blocks from the block management screen. Simply click on the export button below a block, and WordPress will send it to you as a JSON file.
You can now switch to another WordPress site’s admin area. Go to the block management screen and then click on the ‘Import from JSON’ button.
This will show a file upload box. Click on the choose file button to select the block you downloaded earlier and then click on the import button.
WordPress will now import your reusable block and save it in the database. You can go ahead and start using it on the new site.
For more detailed instructions, we have created a step by step guide on how to import / export WordPress content blocks (with screenshots).
We hope this article helped you learn how to create a reusable block in WordPress Gutenberg editor. You may also want to see our tips on growing your online business without spending a fortune.
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Johnny Rodriguez says
How can I add a featured image to a reusable block?
WPBeginner Support says
Featured images are for post types and not individual blocks at the moment. You can certainly add an image block if you wanted to add an image in the content.
Admin
Angie says
I’m trying to create a reusable block with several lines of text, however, when I add a new line of text, it creates a new block. I need all of the text in one block. How do I do this?
WPBeginner Support says
If you use shift enter to go to your next line instead of only using enter you should stay within the block.
Admin
Julius Gashumba says
Convert to Regular Block has been changed. It no longer appears where it used to be. Any ideas?
WPBeginner Support says
When hovering over the block, you should see the convert option
Admin
Chika says
All is well here. However, what I need is just the color background on my my reusable block so that I can type whatever I want whenever I use it.
If I change the reusable block back to normal block before making changes, the background color disappears. This is not what I want.
Is there a way to do that?
WPBeginner Support says
For what you’re wanting to do, you would want to take a look at our article below:
https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-create-a-custom-gutenberg-block-in-wordpress/
Admin
Charles Burns says
Is there a way to save just the formatting of a block I can use again?
Say, for instance, I spend time changing the colour and styling options of a particular block and want to reuse those options with different content each time. Is this possible?
Saving it as a reusable block saves all the content as well.
WPBeginner Support says
For something like that you could create a custom block we have an article on this below:
https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-create-a-custom-gutenberg-block-in-wordpress/
Admin
Cartrell says
Ha! I never even noticed that Add To Reuseable blocks feature was there. Thanks, guys.
– C. out.
WPBeginner Support says
Glad we could show you something new
Admin
Sandra says
Thanks for the great information. How would I add a signature block? Not just a typed name, but an actual signature?
WPBeginner Support says
For most sites, an image is used for that type of signature block
Admin
Don says
Thanks for the suggestions and pointing me to your guides.
After some troubleshooting my problem seems to be related to website hosting. Reusable Blocks now do work as expected with new identical fresh WP installs on different host servers. The only discernible difference between servers is the PHP version.
WPBeginner Support says
Thanks for sharing what appears to be the cause of the problem
Admin
Don says
I suddenly lost Reusable Blocks. Other Blocks continue to work but Reusable is no longer a category when creating a new Block. Either is the 3-dot menu option of “Add to Reusable Blocks” from an existing Block.
Any suggestions to restore would be appreciated outside of a complete new install.
WPBeginner Support says
Have you tried disabling your plugins to see if it could be due to a plugin or theme conflict? https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/beginners-guide-to-troubleshooting-wordpress-errors-step-by-step/
Admin
Don says
Thanks for the reply. First thing I tried was disabling Plugins, then changing Themes, and finally resorting to a simple fresh install.
I did post on the WordPress support forum for suggestions.
WPBeginner Support says
You may want to try enabling the error log to see if there is an error being hidden by default that error logging would show. You can set up error logging using the method in our article here: https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-set-up-wordpress-error-logs-in-wp-config/
luca says
Very nice!
WPBeginner Support says
Glad you liked it
Admin
Rintesh Roy says
This is a great feature!
WPBeginner Support says
Glad we could bring it to your attention
Admin
Lee says
Reusable blocks are one of the only good features of the new editor, unfortunately the fact that they can be converted to a regular block negates any positive they have.
Say you have a call to action, that includes a link. You use that reusable block many times but several times convert it to a regular block. A year later you need to change the link that is in that call to action. You edit the reusable block and the link changes across your site EXCEPT where it was converted to a regular block. Not a big deal if it is only a few times. A much BIGGER deal if it is dozens of authors, and hundreds of posts that converted that reusable block to a regular block.
Reusable blocks could have helped solve this data management problem but by allowing them to be converted to regular blocks they just make the problem worse. The better solution, surprise surprise, is a shortcode that is easy to edit in the backend and not have to mess with post content.
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Lee,
Reusable blocks are particularly useful in saving block settings, formatting, and content. Now, if a user changes them to a regular block just so they can edit those things, then they should be aware that it is a ‘regular block’ not a reusable block anymore.
Admin