Disable Gutenberg

Disable Gutenberg is a simple WordPress plugin that allows you to disable the Gutenberg editor and restore the classic editor. This plugin includes features such as auto-updates, global disable, and more.

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Disable Gutenberg: A Comprehensive Review

The WordPress content editor, Gutenberg, is a powerful tool that has impacted the way many people create content online. With the ability to personalize and format complex content layouts, developers and website owners have more freedom than ever to make their site shine. But, not everyone is a fan of the Gutenberg Editor. That’s why many people will use the ‘Disable Gutenberg’ WordPress plugin. This handy plugin allows users to leverage the classic WordPress editor without any of the distraction and confusion that can come with the Gutenberg interface. Here we’ll take a look at what this plugin can do.

Disable Gutenberg: Breakdown

Plugin Settings screen (showing default options)

The ‘Disable Gutenberg’ WordPress plugin is an easy, one-click solution for users who don’t want to use Gutenberg. When activated, any existing Gutenberg blocks on a post or page are converted into regular WordPress HTML and rendered as static content. This plugin also adds an option to the ‘Screen Options’ drop-down menu, so users can edit posts and pages with the classic WordPress editor, no matter what. Additionally, the plugin adds a checkbox option in the post and page editing screens to disable Gutenberg on an individual basis. By checking the box, users can save themselves from the hassle of dealing with Gutenberg for that particular post or page.

For those who can’t manually install the ‘Disable Gutenberg’ plugin, an even simpler solution is available. The ‘Classic Editor’ plugin, which is maintained by WordPress themselves, can be installed and activated from within the WordPress library. This plugin, too, will disable the Gutenberg editor with just one click but will also reduce distractions as it stops the notification from appearing in the WordPress dashboard.

For developers, the ‘Disable Gutenberg’ plugin also contains a set of filters. These filters allow developers to disable Gutenberg on certain post types or even for all existing databases. These filters can also be used to modify the list of Gutenberg blocks that are available when fields are added. A developer could also, for example, modify the way that the editor is presented in the WordPress dashboard and control how the post types are seen in the ‘New Post’ menu.

Pros of Using Disable Gutenberg

Robust Editing Options: The “Disable Gutenberg” WordPress plugin provides users with an innovative way to maintain and customize their website’s content. With the plugin, users can instantly switch over to the classic WordPress editor with just a click of a button. This helps eliminate any confusion and frustration that users may have with the newer Gutenberg editor. With the classic editor, users have more control over margins, sizes, and layouts as compared to the less robust Gutenberg editor.

Improved Website Performance: Another great benefit of the “Disable Gutenberg” WordPress plugin is improved website performance. The Gutenberg editor has a tendency to use a lot of resources, including memory, which can cause a website to become slow and unresponsive. The classic editor, on the other hand, is much more lightweight and doesn’t consume nearly as much memory. By disabling the Gutenberg editor, users can keep their websites running faster and more reliably.

Easier Accessibility: Disabling the Gutenberg editor also makes websites more accessible. Since the classic editor is simpler and less complex, it is easier for people with disabilities—such as vision impairments, difficulty using a mouse, etc.—to access and make use of the content on a website. By switching to the classic mode of editing, users can make sure that all of their visitors can access and enjoy their content on any device or platform.

No Hassles With Updating: The “Disable Gutenberg” plugin also eliminates the need for users to constantly update their WordPress websites. Since the plugin disables the Gutenberg editor and replaces it with the classic one, users won’t need to worry about new updates and patches to stay up-to-date on WordPress standards. That way, users have one less worry to deal with when managing the content of their website.

Simpler Error Troubleshooting: Finally, the “Disable Gutenberg” WordPress plugin helps make it easier to troubleshoot errors. Since the plugin keeps track of the changes made to the website, users have an easier time tracking down the source of any errors or bugs in their website. This saves both time and effort for the user, as they don’t need to look through complicated code in order to locate the problem in their website.

Cons of Using Disable Gutenberg

Easy to Disable, Hard to Re-Enable: The 'Disable Gutenberg' WordPress plugin is extremely easy to install and use if you want to quickly disable the Block editor. Unfortunately, it can be hard to figure out how to re-enable it, since there are multiple settings configurations and users could find themselves in a never-ending loop of settings changes and page refreshes.

Not Compatible with Other WordPress Plugins: The 'Disable Gutenberg' WordPress plugin is not compatible with all other WordPress-related plugins and, in some cases, it can affect how these plugins work. As a result, users can experience unexpected problems that the plugin might not be able to fix.

No Support for Older Versions: The 'Disable Gutenberg' WordPress plugin is only officially supported for version 5.0+ of the popular CMS, meaning users may have problems installing and using the plugin if they’re running an older version of the system. Additionally, since the plugin is tied to the CMS version, users could be stuck with an outdated version when the plugin support ceases.

Not Really Necessary: The 'Disable Gutenberg' WordPress plugin is really unnecessary, since users can manually disable the Block editor by navigating to the Settings > Writing menu in the WordPress dashboard. As a result, users don’t really need the plugin to get the job done.

Performance Impact: The 'Disable Gutenberg' WordPress plugin does add an extra layer of complexity to a website’s code, as it interacts with the WordPress backend. This additional complexity can impact the performance of a website, negatively impacting page loading times and user experience. As such, users should consider the performance implications of the plugin before installing it.

100% Very highly recommended!

In conclusion

The ‘Disable Gutenberg’ WordPress plugin is the answer to those who don’t want to use the Gutenberg Editor in creating content for their website. This powerful plugin enables users to quickly revert any Gutenberg blocks into static content, while allowing developers to modify how the editor works. As a result, users don’t have to worry about affecting their site during the transition process. Even if users have no experience with development, they can install the ‘Classic Editor’ plugin and have a one-click solution to disable Gutenberg. With the ‘Disable Gutenberg’ plugin, everyone can get back to the classic WordPress editor.

Plugin Specifications

Version: 3.1
Last Updated: 1 year ago
Installs: 700,000+
WP Version: 4.9+
Tested Until: 6.4.2
PHP Version: 5.6.20 or higher

Use Case Examples

Resolving Loading Issues
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Disable Gutenberg can help resolve loading issues in WordPress that occur due to the addition of the new post editing interface. The plugin makes it easy to disable the feature, allowing users to quickly fix any loading issues without needing to dive into the technical details of the codebase.
Reinforcing Existing Plugins
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Maintaining a Consistent User Interface
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Protecting Plugin Ecosystems
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Sticking with Classic Editor
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