WordPress has two editors. The Classic Editor is one text box with a toolbar, like email. The block editor builds a post from separate blocks, such as paragraphs, images and headings. Your site admin decides which one you get, and whether you can switch.
Which editor do I have?
- Classic Editor: a title field, one large text box with a toolbar (Bold, Italic, Add Media) and a Publish box on the right.
- Block editor: a clean white page that says Add title, with a + button for adding blocks and a Publish button at the top right.
Which one should I use?
- Classic Editor is quickest to learn. It suits posts that are mostly text with a few images.
- Block editor does more: columns, galleries, embedded video and more control over layout. It is the default in WordPress and where new features arrive.
If your instructor uses one in class, use that one.
Switch editors
If your site allows switching, you can set the editor you prefer:
- In the Dashboard, click Profile.
- Under Default Editor, choose Classic editor or Block editor.
- Scroll down and click Update Profile.
You can also choose for a single post. In Posts, point to a title and click Edit (block editor) or Edit (classic editor). See Editing a post.
Tip: No Default Editor option on your Profile? Your site admin has set one editor for everyone.
For site admins
- In the Dashboard, go to Settings → Writing.
- Set Default editor for all users to Classic editor or Block editor.
- Set Allow users to switch editors to Yes or No.
- Click Save Changes.
Good to know
- Stick with the editor a post was written in. Opening a block editor post in the Classic Editor can mess up its layout.
- Want to go deeper with the block editor? See the block editor documentation on wordpress.org.