Do you want to learn how to use the WordPress block editor (Gutenberg)?
When WordPress 5.0 was released in 2019, it replaced the old classic editor with a brand new block editor nicknamed “Gutenberg”. The block editor introduced a different way of creating content in WordPress.
In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to use the WordPress block editor and master it to create visually stunning blog posts and pages.
What’s The Difference Between Block Editor (Gutenberg) and Classic Editor?
Before we dive into the block editor, let’s first compare and understand the differences between Gutenberg Block Editor and the Older Classic Editor.
Here is what the classic editor in WordPress looked like:
And this is how the modern WordPress block editor looks like:
As you can see, they are two completely different editors for creating content in WordPress.
The old classic editor was a text editor with formatting buttons very similar to Microsoft Word.
The new editor uses a totally different approach, called ‘Blocks’ (hence, the name Block Editor).
Blocks are content elements that you add to the edit screen to create content layouts. Each item you add to your post or page is a block.
You can add blocks for each paragraph, images, videos, galleries, audio, lists, and more. There are blocks for all common content elements, and more can be added by WordPress plugins.
How is the WordPress block editor better than the classic editor?
The WordPress block editor offers a simple way to add different types of content to your posts and pages.
For example, previously if you wanted to add a table in your content, then you needed a separate table plugin.
With the block editor, you can simply add a table block, select your columns and rows, and start adding content.
You can move content elements up and down, edit them as individual blocks, and easily create media-rich content.
Most importantly, the WordPress block editor is easy to use and learn.
This gives an immense advantage to all WordPress beginners who are just starting their first blog or building a DIY business website.
That being said, let’s take a look at how to use the WordPress block editor like a pro to create great content.
Here is what we will cover in this Gutenberg tutorial:
- Using Gutenberg – The WordPress block editor
- Creating a new blog post or page
- How to add a block in Gutenberg
- Working with blocks in the new editor
- Saving and reusing blocks in Gutenberg
- Publishing and post settings in Gutenberg
- Plugin settings in new editor
- Adding some common blocks in Gutenberg
- Exploring some new content blocks in Gutenberg
- Bonus tips on using Gutenberg like a pro
- Adding more blocks to Gutenberg Block Editor
- FAQs about Gutenberg
Ready? Let’s dive in.
Video Tutorial
If you’d prefer written instructions, then just keep reading.
Using Gutenberg – The WordPress Block Editor
The block editor is designed to be intuitive and flexible. While it looks different than the old WordPress editor, it still does all the things that you were able to do in the classic editor.
Let’s start with covering the basic things that you did in the classic editor, and how they are done in the block editor.
Creating a New Blog Post or Page Using The Block Editor
You will start creating a new blog post or page like you normally would. Simply click on the Posts » Add New menu in your WordPress admin. If you are creating a page, then go to Pages » Add New menu.
This will launch the block editor.
How to Add a Block in Gutenberg
The first block of every post or page is the title.
You can use the mouse to move below the title or press the tab key on your keyboard to move the cursor down and start writing.
By default, the next block is a paragraph block. This allows users to start writing right away.
However, if you want to add something different, then you can click on the add new block button (+) on the top left corner of the editor, below an existing block, or on the right side of a block.
Clicking on the button will show the add block menu with a search bar on top and commonly used blocks below.
You can click on tabs to browse block categories or type in a keyword to quickly search for a block.
If you don’t want to use a mouse to click on the button, then you can use a keyboard shortcut by typing / to search and add a block.
Working with Blocks in The New Editor
Each block comes with its own toolbar which appears on top of the block. The buttons in the toolbar would change depending on the block you are editing.
For example, in this screenshot, we are working in a paragraph block that shows basic formatting buttons like text alignment, bold, italic, insert link, and more.
Apart from the toolbar, each block can also have its own block settings which would appear in the right column of your edit screen.
You can move blocks up and down by simply dragging them or by clicking the up and down buttons next to each block.
Organizing Blocks in Groups and Columns
The block editor comes with handy tools to manage and organize your content layouts.
You can select multiple blocks by clicking on them while pressing the SHIFT key on your keyboard.
After that, click on the block type button in the toolbar to transform the selected blocks into Groups or Columns.
You can then apply styles to the entire group block such as changing their alignment or spacing.
The block editor also allows you to add an empty Group or Columns block. After that, you can fill them with other blocks.
You can then fill in each column with any type of block to create beautiful layouts.
Saving and Reusing Blocks in Gutenberg
One of the best things about blocks is that they can be saved and reused. This is particularly helpful for website owners and bloggers who frequently need to add specific content snippets to their articles or pages.
Simply click on the menu button located at the right corner of each block’s toolbar. From the menu, select the ‘Add to reusable blocks’ option.
You’ll need to provide a name for your reusable block so that you can identify and reuse it later.
The block editor will now save the block as a reusable block.
Now that you have saved a block, let’s see how to add the reusable block into other WordPress posts and pages on your site.
Simply edit the post or page where you want to add the reusable block. From the post edit screen, click on the add block button.
You will find your saved block under the ‘Reusable’ tab. You can also find it by typing its name in the search bar.
You can take your mouse over it to see a quick preview of the block. Simply click on the block to insert it into your post or page.
All reusable blocks are stored in your WordPress database, and you can manage them by clicking on the ‘manage all reusable blocks’ link.
This will bring you to the block manager page. From here, you can edit or delete any of your reusable blocks. You can also export reusable blocks and use them on any other WordPress website.
Note: You can use entire groups and columns as reusable blocks too. This allows you to save entire sections and use them whenever needed.
Publishing and Managing Options in Gutenberg Block Editor
Each WordPress post contains a lot of metadata. This includes information like publish date, categories and tags, featured images, and more.
All these options are neatly placed in the right column on the editor screen.
Plugin Options in Gutenberg
WordPress plugins are able to take advantage of the block editor’s API to integrate their own settings within the edit screen.
Some popular plugins come with their own blocks. For example, WPForms, the best WordPress form builder plugin allows you to add forms into your content using a block.
Here is how All in One SEO for WordPress allows you to edit your SEO settings in the block editor:
WooCommerce also comes with blocks that you can easily add to any of your WordPress posts and pages.
Adding Some Common Blocks in New Editor
Basically, the block editor can do everything the classic editor did. However, you will be doing things more quickly and elegantly than before.
1. Adding an image in the WordPress block editor
There is a ready-to-use image block in the WordPress block editor. Simply add the block and then upload an image file or select from the media library.
You can also drag and drop images from your computer, and the editor will automatically create an image block for it.
Once you have added an image, you will be able to see the block settings where you can add metadata for the image like alt text, size, and add a link to the image.
2. Adding a link in the block editor
The block editor comes with several blocks where you can add text. The most commonly used one is the paragraph block which comes with an insert link button in the toolbar.
All other commonly used text blocks also include a link button in the toolbar.
You can also insert a link using the keyboard shortcut, which is Command + K for Mac and CTRL + K on Windows computers.
3. Adding an image gallery in Gutenberg
The gallery block works like the image block. You add it and then upload or select image files.
4. Adding shortcodes in WordPress posts using Gutenberg
All your shortcodes will work just like they did in the classic editor. You can simply add them to a paragraph block, or you can use the shortcode block.
Exploring Some New Content Blocks in Gutenberg
The Gutenberg editor promises to solve some long-standing usability issues in WordPress by introducing some new blocks.
Following are some of the favorites that we believe users will find immensely helpful.
1. Adding an image next to some text in WordPress
Using the old editor, many of our users were unable to place an image next to the text. You can do this now with the Media & Text block.
This simple block comes with two blocks placed side-by-side allowing you to easily add an image with some text next to it.
2. Adding a button in WordPress posts and pages
Adding a button to your blog posts or pages was another annoyance in the old editor. You either had to use a plugin that created a shortcode for the button, or you had to switch to HTML mode and write code.
Gutenberg comes with a button block that allows you to quickly add a button to any post or page.
You can add a link for your button, change colors, and more. For details, see our article on how to easily add buttons in WordPress.
3. Adding beautiful cover images in blog posts and landing pages
Another cool feature that you may want to try is the ‘Cover’ block, which allows you to add cover images or color background cover to your posts and pages.
A cover image is a wider image often used as a cover for a new section in a page or the beginning of a story. They look beautiful and allow you to create engaging content layouts.
Simply add a cover block and then upload the image you want to use. You can choose an overlay color for the cover or make it a fixed background image to create parallax effect when users scroll down the page.
For more details, see our article on the difference between cover images and features image in WordPress.
4. Creating tables inside articles
The classic editor didn’t have a button to add tables into your WordPress posts. You had to use a plugin or create a table writing custom CSS and HTML.
The Gutenberg editor comes with a default Table block, which makes it super easy to add tables into your posts and pages. Simply add the block and then select the number of columns and rows you want to insert.
You can now go ahead and start adding data to table rows. You can always add more rows and columns if needed. There are also two basic style options available.
5. Creating multi-column content
Creating multi-column content was another issue that the classic editor didn’t handle at all. The block editor allows you to add a Columns block, which basically adds two columns of paragraph blocks.
This columns block is quite flexible. You can add up to 6 columns in a row and even use other blocks inside each column.
Bonus Tips to Use Gutenberg like a Pro
Looking at the block editor, you may be wondering whether you will be spending more time adding and adjusting blocks than creating actual content?
Well, the block editor is incredibly fast and even very basic usage for a few minutes will allow you to instantly add blocks without even thinking.
Pretty soon you will realize how much faster your workflow will become with this approach.
For power users, here are some bonus tips to help you work even faster with the WordPress block editor.
1. Move the block toolbar to the top.
You may have noticed in the screenshots above that there is a toolbar that appears on top of every block. You can move this toolbar to the top of the editor.
Simply click on the three-dot button at the top right corner of the screen and then select the Top Toolbar option.
2. Use keyboard shortcuts
Gutenberg comes with several handy shortcuts that will make your workflow even better. The first one you should start using right away is the /.
Simply enter / and then start typing, and it will show you matching blocks that you can instantly add.
For more shortcuts, click on the three-dot menu on the top-right corner of your screen and then select ‘Keyboard Shortcuts’.
This will bring up a popup with the list of all the keyboard shortcuts that you can use. The list will have different shortcuts for Windows and Mac users.
3. Drag and drop media to automatically create media blocks
Gutenberg allows you to just drag and drop files anywhere on the screen and it will automatically create a block for you.
You can drop a single image or video file, and it will create the block for you. You can also drop multiple image files to create a gallery block.
4. Adding YouTube, Twitter, Vimeo, and other embeds
The block editor makes it easier to embed third-party content into your WordPress content. There are blocks for all popular third-party services.
However, you can just copy and paste the embed URL at any point, and it will automatically create a block for you.
For example, if you added a YouTube video URL, then it will automatically create a YouTube embed block and display the video.
For Facebook and Instagram embeds, see our article on how to embed Facebook and Instagram posts in WordPress.
Adding More Blocks to Gutenberg Block Editor in WordPress
The block editor in WordPress allows developers to create their own blocks. There are some awesome WordPress plugins offering block bundles for the new editor.
Here are a few of them:
1. Ultimate Addons for Gutenberg
Ultimate Addons for Gutenberg is a block library that comes with many advanced blocks that help you add more design elements to your content.
Created by the folks behind the popular Astra WordPress theme, Ultimate Addons help you create beautiful designs without writing any code.
PublishPress Blocks is another powerful block library that comes with additional blocks to extend Gutenberg block editor.
It includes beautiful layout options, sliders, buttons, icons, image galleries, maps, tabs, testimonials, accordions, and more.
3. Stackable – Gutenberg Blocks
Stackable – Gutenberg Blocks is a collection of beautifully designed Gutenberg blocks that you can use on your website. It includes blocks for the container, posts, feature grid, accordion, image box, icon list, call to action, and more.
FAQs about Gutenberg – The Block Editor in WordPress
Since Gutenberg became the default WordPress editor, we have been getting a lot of questions. Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Gutenberg.
1. What happens to my older posts and pages? Can I still edit them?
Your old posts and pages are completely safe and unaffected by the block editor. You can still edit them, and the editor will automatically open them in a block containing the classic editor.
You can edit them inside the old editor, or you can convert older articles into blocks and use the block editor.
2. Can I still keep using the old editor?
Yes, you can still keep using the old editor. Simply install and activate the Classic Editor plugin.
Upon activation, it will disable the block editor, and you will be able to continue using the classic editor.
Please note that the Classic Editor will be supported until 2022. It would be better to start using the block editor so that you get familiar with it.
3. What to do if the block editor doesn’t work with a plugin or theme I am using?
Project Gutenberg was under development for a long time. This gave plugin and theme authors plenty of time to test their code for compatibility.
However, there is still a chance that some plugins and themes may not work well with the block editor. In that case, you can install the classic editor plugin, request the developer to add Gutenberg support, or simply find an alternative plugin or theme.
4. How to learn more Gutenberg tips and tricks?
WPBeginner is the best place to learn about the block editor in WordPress. We are the largest WordPress resource site on the internet.
We will be publishing new articles and updating our old resources to help you master the block editor.
Meanwhile, if you have any questions, then feel free to reach out to us by leaving a comment or by using the contact form on our website.
We hope this Gutenberg tutorial helped you learn how to use the WordPress block editor. You may also want to see our complete WordPress performance guide for improving your website speed, or check out our comparison of the best email marketing services for small business.
If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.
jeff says
I inserted a hyperlink on a phrase and I want to change the font color for that phrase. how do I do that? please help
WPBeginner Support says
If only for that specific phrase, you would need to edit the text as HMTL to add styling to that phrase at the moment
Admin
Anne says
Hello!
I created a column block with 3 columns. Added content and everything was distributed across the page width equally. Then I added a 4th column and now the column block no longer distributes across the entire page width. It’s seems like it has “squooshed” (sorry, can’t think of a better word right now), all 4 columns and shrunk the info as well. I tried various alignments for each individual column and it still would not spread the entire block back out. Hope this makes sense and hope you can help. Thanks!!
WPBeginner Support says
It sounds like what you added to your largest column has a minimum width that is not allowing the content to adjust which would be the root of your problem.
Admin
Mark Watts says
I’m struggling with the Gutenberg block editor. Heres a couple of questions but there will surely be many more to come.
How do I add a pdf document so it opens when I click a link? Used to create and highlight the link text then select “add media” and all worked fine.
When I try to add a link from within the paragraph block I no longer see a list of possible pages and posts so that I can chose. How do I get this list.
WPBeginner Support says
You would manually need to take the link from the document in your media library unless you wanted to embed it. In the paragraph block, there is the link button which is third from the right, as you type into it the dropdown should appear
Admin
Tuan says
This upgrade so stupid. I spent more time to write. Haiz
WPBeginner Support says
Learning a new interface can certainly be troublesome but as the interface improves it should slowly become better to use
Admin
Jennifer says
I’ve searched and can’t find an applicable answer to my issue, so I’m hoping you can help me.
I upgraded to the new block system for our website this past week. I need to find and copy the url for one of our buttons (it’s a redirect to PayPal), but I can’t find the url anywhere.
There’s no “edit button” when I hover over the button in the block. I checked the html and couldn’t find it there, either – the only thing I could see were the image files for the button itself.
Clicking on the button live still redirects correctly, so I know the link is working – I just can’t find it.
Any advice?
Thanks!
Jennifer
WPBeginner Support says
When you select the block there should be the block settings on the right-hand side where you would find the link settings for where the button links to if it was transferred as an image. If it is a button block then there should be the url beneath the button where you can edit it.
Admin
Franklyn Fosu says
Please help me resolve the “Update failed” issue when trying to publish my articles using the Gutenberg.
WPBeginner Support says
To start, you would want to go through the steps in our troubleshooting guide: https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/beginners-guide-to-troubleshooting-wordpress-errors-step-by-step/
For a temporary workaround, you could also enable the classic editor plugin and reach out to the support for Gutenberg.
Admin
Carlos Goncalves says
How to use the new advanced Css option. I Tried to put some code there, but It´s not run.
WPBeginner Support says
That is for adding a class to the object, you would want to take a look at our explanation of CSS to understand classes better: https://www.wpbeginner.com/glossary/css/
Admin
Candi Clark says
On the top right of my block edit page, it doesn’t say publish. The button says update. When I click that button it says page has updated but when I go take a look at it on my website it hasn’t changed. Did something not upgrade correctly to have that button not say publish?
WPBeginner Support says
You may want to check any caching that you have on your site that could be causing the problem.
Admin
Jim Kielbaso says
How do I go back to the old version? There was nothing wrong with it, and this version does not add anything. In fact, it makes it MUCH more confusing. It is NOT user-friendly, and it has been very frustrating. Upgrades should only be made to improve something, not just for the sake of changing.
WPBeginner Support says
The new editor was created to help those new to WordPress have less of a barrier to entry. For those who prefer the old editor, there is the Classic Editor plugin and we explain that plugin in our article here: https://www.wpbeginner.com/plugins/how-to-disable-gutenberg-and-keep-the-classic-editor-in-wordpress/
Admin
Sufyan Shaikh says
Good article.
WPBeginner Support says
Thank you
Admin
AlannaMH says
How do I change the font of text in blocks?
WPBeginner Support says
For setting up your site’s font, you would want to take a look at our article here: https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-themes/how-to-add-custom-fonts-in-wordpress/
Admin
Viktor says
Time consuming, if you go to WP you will see very negative comments
For me the solution was to activate a plugin called “Disable Gutenberg”
I understand there´s a learning curve…but I pass..sorry
WPBeginner Support says
If you’re not ready to use the Gutenberg editor then using a plugin like that is certainly understandable.
Admin
Frank Kinghorn says
I am a complete novice in website writing and decided to use WP because it seemed to have good support. At that time I did not realise WPbeginner existed but wow! now that I’ve found various guides from wpbeginner I am convinced that I made the right choice. Specifically, this guide on the new editor is fantastic. Even its existence helped me out of a deep hole: I have installed WP on my pc so I can play with it before starting my first real website but got stumped because when I got to the stage of trying to edit a page there was no sign of the editor shown in the “Getting Started with WordPress” guide by iThemes. I spent hours trying to see if my download to my pc was corrupted or if I was missing something simple – now I know the classic editor has been replaced! Sorry for the long post but a real thank you for this guide and the several other documents I have found from WPbeginner.
WPBeginner Support says
Thank you, glad our site and articles could help you get up and running with WordPress
Admin
vivek says
everytime i try to publish ..all i get is Auto Draft.
cant understand what is going on
WPBeginner Support says
For a starting point, you may want to go through our troubleshooting article here: https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/beginners-guide-to-troubleshooting-wordpress-errors-step-by-step/
Admin
Aaron P says
Thanks for a great article! This really helped me make the transition. I was hesitant to switch, but now that I’ve played around for a while I like the new block editor.
WPBeginner Support says
You’re welcome, glad our article could ease the transition
Admin
Matthew Pan says
Hi, thanks for this, was really helpful.
May I ask, for adding a button block, I’m currently unable to add one such that it opens up in a new tab. There used to be an easy checkbox for this. Do you know how to do so?
2. Adding a button in WordPress posts and pages
Thanks!
WPBeginner Support says
When adding a link you should have an option with three dots that you can click to have the open in new tab option again.
There is a button block you can use to add a button to your posts and pages
Admin
sally says
How do I use Grammarly app with this new editor, because I cannot see Grammarly popping down there to correct my mistakes or even show me my mistakes? Thank you.
WPBeginner Support says
Once you reach the second line in a paragraph block the Grammarly check should appear in the bottom corner. If it’s not appearing you could reach out to Grammarly’s support and they should be able to help ensure it appears correctly in your editor.
Admin
Linn says
Hi, as a brandnew beginner, I took two courses on WordPress 5 by Morten on Lynd. Gutenberg is easy to use. However, I still don’t know how to build header and footer with Gutenberg. I need a full width color background, onto which I add several buttons such as “about,” “services,” “products,” etc. Can you help?
WPBeginner Support says
Headers and footers styling is normally handled from your theme, you would either need knowledge of HTML, CSS, and PHP or you could take a look at our article here: https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-themes/how-to-easily-create-a-custom-wordpress-theme/
Admin
Ima says
Do you know if they have been able to fix the scrolling issue in the block editor? It is really annoying that you can’t scroll to the bottom of the block section without having to go to the Settings section and scroll there. I have googled and googled some more, and I am not finding a solution. Thanks so much!
WPBeginner Support says
Unless I hear otherwise, the error shouldn’t be an issue but you could reach out to the WordPress.org support for if the specific error you are running into was resolved.
Admin
Steve Briese says
Come on, folks. These are not the people who created WordPress. These are the people who are kind enough to help you adjust to the blocks. How many times do they need to tell you to install the Classic Editor plugin if you don’t like blocks? I don’t know if I like blocks or not, but I feel more confident in testing them after reading this introduction. Thank You!
WPBeginner Support says
Glad our article could help
Admin
Sandeep says
Hi, after I installed WordPress 5.1 , using Gutenberg if go to write text, on top of first word one line will come . I am not getting what’s issue. Can tell how to solve this
WPBeginner Support says
Have you tried disabling all of your plugins to see if this could be a plugin specific issue?
Admin
Denny Gibson says
I’ve found no way to wrap text around images. Am I missing something or is this not as popular as I thought?
WPBeginner Support says
You would want to use the Media&Text block to have your text wrap with the block editor
Admin
Tom Schulte says
Is there a way to still code in html in the block editor?
I ask this because the block editor inserted an extra wide space between 2 lines which I did not want. I could and did use the classic editor’s text option to get rid of the extra space.
WPBeginner Support says
Yes, you can use the ellipses in the top right to swap to HTML or you could use a classic block if you only wanted to edit a specific section in HTML
Admin
Rick Swift says
I grudgingly started using this new block mentality, and I wasn’t happy about it. I am glad I found your article, though, because it has made navigating this new concept much easier.
Wondering if anyone has had this experience though. While adding tags to my Document, I will add the tags, hit enter and the little box doesn’t expand at all. I have NO idea how to see my tags that I have entered.
I use WooThemes – Canvas
Very frustrating experience right now.
WPBeginner Support says
If you have not already, you may want to try disabling your plugins and/or swapping themes to see if it is a conflict with one of those that is preventing the auto-expanding tag section from displaying properly.
Admin
Charles says
Maybe one day I will figure out how to use this, but at the moment it seems impossible. I have used over a dozen word processors, and various web editors, but that experience is not helping me now.
I would like to indent a number of paragraphs. Sounds simple, but I have not found a way to do it. What is the use of having a paragraph block that can’t indent?
Last time I gave up on putting in a table and went back to editing HTML in the old system.
WPBeginner Support says
While the paragraph block does not have an indent option at the moment, should you use the block editor again you could add an indent using the Classic block
Admin
Craig Wallace says
So the concept of allocating a Template to a new page is gone?
As far as I can see, when you are making a new page ‘from blocks’ there is not way to select a template that you may have constructed in the old way? (i.e. the drop down for templates is no where to be seen).
WPBeginner Support says
You would want to check under page attributes to set the template for a page if your current theme has templates.
Admin
Nina Haeringer says
How do you increase font size in a list block? I have looked everywhere. I am new to WordPress and find it not very user friendly but I’m trying to get the hang of it. I need to be able to increase list block font size. Please help.
WPBeginner Support says
You would need to manually add CSS to change that font size or you could use a plugin such as CSS Hero:
https://www.wpbeginner.com/plugins/css-hero-review-wordpress-design-customization-made-easy/
For how to find the CSS you need to change you can use inspect element which we explain how to use in our article here: https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/basics-of-inspect-element-with-your-wordpress-site/
Admin
Mario Garcia says
I just installed the new Word Press (blocks) and I am having trouble because Ido the title block fine, then whatever I type for the second block appears duplicated when I do the preview: I see that block under the title TWICE in the post. What am I doing wrong?
WPBeginner Support says
You may want to check with your theme’s support to ensure that this is not a style of your specific theme
Admin
Ericka says
I’m trying to navigate the new Block editor. I’m simply looking for the “read more” button that you use to be able to simply click a button on the Classic editor and it would place the “read more” button to divide the text on the home page.
WPBeginner Support says
It was renamed into the More block
Admin
TEGA PERKINS ODJEGBA says
How do I increase the size of my block, I have read through the guide several times. You did not address that.
If I want to increase the writings in a block, how do I do that, and is it possible to join two block?
WPBeginner Support says
It would depend on what you’re trying to change. You can copy and paste the content then remove the block you moved the content from but there is not a simple merge button at the moment. If you’re looking for the font size, that is normally governed by your theme’s CSS
Admin
Kelsey says
I can’t figure out how to do a “read more” option so that the first few sentences of a blog show up as a preview on the main blog page. Any insight? Also is there a way to change the colour of the font of hyperlink? Thanks!!
WPBeginner Support says
You would want to add the More block to use the read more function. For the hyperlink color, you would want to modify the CSS, you can test the color changes you want to make using inspect element then copy the custom CSS to your Appearance>Customize>Additional CSS section: https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/basics-of-inspect-element-with-your-wordpress-site/
Admin
Vicky says
Great introduction, thank you!
WPBeginner Support says
You’re welcome
Admin
Curry says
Under the classic edit I could place a picture within a paragraph and keep everything inside the margins. I have not been able to do it with Guttenberg. I have followed the instructions re: media-paragraph block and it appears to work fine. But when I switch to preview it places the picture before the paragraph. If I simple add a new bloick I can only place the picture left or right but then it is outside the margins of the script – which does not look good. Very frustrating. Looking for help.
WPBeginner Support says
Your browser window may not be wide enough for the text to not automatically be placed below, you would want to reach out to the support for your specific theme to see if the styling needs to be updated for it to work with the block editor.
Admin
Curry says
I have followed your instructions for placing an image next to text in the new Gutenberg Editor. It looks fine – until I click on Preview. It then shows up as a large picture prior to the text. I have been unable to get it to transfer into Preview correctly
WPBeginner Support says
If you are on mobile it may be stacking the text and image due to the advanced settings for the image in that block.
Admin
Debra Oakland says
Since this new format will no longer size my Fotolia cover photos as they wereiin the old editor, (I need them wide and narrow) I chose The Cover Block which widened and narrowed the photo. I put the title in the center of the cover block. The article says no title (obviously) so I need to change the permalink. I can’t delete the uncategorized and the number after it to put the proper permalink in. Just trying to work things out without going back to the old editor. Can’t find any info on changing this permalink. Hoping this makes sense. Thank you for this tutorial, it’s very helpful.
WPBeginner Support says
For editing your image’s size you may want to use an image editor such as one in our article: https://www.wpbeginner.com/showcase/tools-to-create-better-images-for-your-blog-posts/
If you have your category in your permalink then you would need to change your category and manually save your draft for the permalink to update to the new category.
Admin
Silke says
Hi, how do I assign a menu to the footer bar wo it appearing underneath as well? Atm I create a custom footer menu. By assigning it to ‘Footer menu’ in Dashboard/Appearance/Menus it automatically appears on the page. If I now assign it to the footer bar I’ll have the menu twice.
Here’s the problem: If I DON’t assign ‘footer menu’ to my custom footer menu it’s not available in the footer bar editor.
WPBeginner Support says
Your theme may have a specific setting that could be causing an issue. If you reach out to your specific theme’s support and let them know about it not appearing/appearing twice
Admin
Mark Braunstein says
I don’t have time to learn a new editor. Nor do I want to. Change is not always good. I have lost days of work. Thanks!
If it was better, then Microsoft Word would operate like Gutenberg. Really doesn’t matter. It needs to operate in a way we all know. Not some fancy theoretical method. Productivity is key, and if we cannot make it work, we have lost productivity. We dont need a better mousetrap, simply one that works. I guess I have to find another site platform.
I and I guess many others find it counter intuitive. There was once a button to use the Classic editor but now I cannot find it. I don’t want to keep adding plugins to my sight. They are fraught with bugs.
WPBeginner Support says
We are not in control of the development of WordPress, we try to help people understand how to use WordPress. Not all plugins are fraught with bugs, you may want to take a look at the plugin here: https://www.wpbeginner.com/plugins/how-to-disable-gutenberg-and-keep-the-classic-editor-in-wordpress/
Admin
Cheryll says
I have been so confused and it already feels time consuming trying to learn this new way if doing things. As someone who is not tech savvy but really enjoys diy, this has set me back. Your article has definitely been helpful though so a huge thank you!
WPBeginner Support says
Glad our guide could help, if you wanted to revert to the old editor for the time being you could also take a look at: https://www.wpbeginner.com/plugins/how-to-disable-gutenberg-and-keep-the-classic-editor-in-wordpress/
Admin
Virginia says
I find this Gutenberg time-consuming and not worth the effort, yet I feel I must make it work.
However, I am not seeing those marks at the left of the blocks, and can’t figure out how to move them.
Also, when I insert a pull quote it messes up the spacing of the other blocks and I can’t figure out how to fix that either.
WPBeginner Support says
For the quote, you may want to check with your theme’s support about the styling. For the icons on the left, they should appear when you hover your mouse near the block’s left side as long as you have more than one block. You may want to expand your browser window to see if that allows you to see them.
Admin
Virginia says
Thank you. I figured out what the issue is. I have to enable Jet Pack for the icons to show. The weird thing is, I have to enable it for each post individually. I still hate this “improvement”.
Kevin says
Thanks for the helpful post. I haven’t tried WP Blocks yet, but it looks like it could be useful. I’ve been using Elementor for the past eight months and Blocks seems similar.
Can I make templates w/ blocks so that I can use the same layout on many pages/posts?
Thanks again.
WPBeginner Support says
The block editor does not have that level of customization at the moment, the closest to what you’re asking would be a reusable block: https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/how-to-create-a-reusable-block-in-wordpress/
Admin
Mike How says
Hi,
I upgraded to WordPress 5 and my updates page tells me I have the latest version. I have no gutenburg block editor, however. I see that the classic editor is activated on my list of plug ins. I’d like to try the block editor, but don’t know if it’s installed as I didn’t reactivate the classic editor after the update. What should I do? Just deactivate the classic editor? or use the prompt to re install WordPress 5? or something else? Goes without saying that I’ll back up first. Please advise
WPBeginner Support says
Hi Mike,
You can deactivate classic editor plugin to start using Gutenberg. You may also want to see our guide on testing your site for updating to Gutenberg.
Admin
Sheriena says
I am trying to learn the new Gutenberg by practicing writing a post. My problem is after so many paragraphs the yoast plugin block is in front of the paragraphs so I can’t see what I am typing.
WPBeginner Support says
You may want to reach out to the support for the Yoast plugin to let them know about that for them to take a look into it.
Admin
Hank Baust says
I have started edit with blocks and after a certain number I also can’t add any more. Is there a max page length for using blocks? The Yoast Plugin is at the bottom of the page but I don’t know it that is stopping additional blocks.
WPBeginner Support says
By default, there is not a max height. If you are being prevented from adding blocks by a plugin, if you reach out to that plugin’s support they should be able to assist in avoiding that issue.
Admin
Janet Donaldson says
Block editing is not working at all on my site. It refuses to update and will not save any of my changes. I’m a little confused, how is this so much better? And there’s this huge tutorial on how to use it? That’s not making my life easier.
WPBeginner Support says
Sadly as it is a new WordPress feature there are bugs that are being worked out for different types of sites. For the time being, you can use the old editor with: https://www.wpbeginner.com/plugins/how-to-disable-gutenberg-and-keep-the-classic-editor-in-wordpress/
Admin
Tim Bolen says
This Gutenberg is a real disappointment. I have 31 writers at who, with WordPress prior, could create superb health care articles, simply, right on the page – letting the content creative juices flow. Now, we have ANGRY writers, stumbling around in some batch of idiot boxes, losing focus – sending me whole articles via e-mail attachment for ME to figure out.
I ran out of swear words in the first 24 hours.
These people remind me of the Coca-Cola “New Coke” debacle.
Want to help? Start with what Gutenberg can ADD to a page or post, then go back and show how to do it using blocks. I am up for new things – but show me WHY I would want to do that, first.
Adnan says
i like your site
WPBeginner Support says
Glad you like our site
Admin
Chris says
Hi
How well tested for responsiveness across various devices is Gutenberg ?
Chris
Ryan says
Really good article. I’m not a fan of this so far.
A couple reasons are:
1. I don’t see how to change the font face.
2. I can’t re-size table cell widths by dragging.
3. I don’t really need blocks.
WPBeginner Support says
WordPress developers will likely start creating tools to expand the block editor and give those controls but to revert to the old editor you could use: https://www.wpbeginner.com/plugins/how-to-disable-gutenberg-and-keep-the-classic-editor-in-wordpress/
Admin
Mathukutty P. V. says
Today I tried to add a giphy gif but error showed could not embed. I tried some blocks and created 3/4 posts. Multi column blocks is a new information. Thanks.
Rama Rao says
Good article.
Editorial Staff says
Thanks Rama, glad you found it helpful
Admin
Archer says
So many things to upgrade on wordpress (ex. Search fuction), but nooooo, lets change something that works and make it harder, more time consuming and confusing. Hey investors, we now have a hipster editor, look how great we are.
Gutenberg should be something optional and not mandatory.
Editorial Staff says
Hi Archer,
You can always install the Classic Editor plugin to keep the old editor
Admin