How to Use the Default WordPress Editor (Gutenberg): A Complete Guide
WordPress ships with a built-in block-based editor called Gutenberg, which replaced the older Classic Editor as the default in version 5.0. If you've logged into a WordPress site and wondered how to actually use what's in front of you — how to write, format, add images, and publish — this guide walks through exactly that.
What Is the Default WordPress Editor?
The default WordPress editor is Gutenberg, named after the inventor of the printing press. It organizes all content into individual blocks — self-contained units for text, images, videos, buttons, tables, and more.
This is different from a traditional word processor where everything flows in one continuous stream. In Gutenberg, each paragraph, heading, or image is its own block that can be moved, styled, and configured independently.
If your WordPress site still uses the Classic Editor (a plugin that restores the old toolbar-based experience), the interface looks more like a document editor. Whether you're on Gutenberg or Classic depends on your site's plugins and settings.
Getting Into the Editor
To open the editor:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard (typically at
yoursite.com/wp-admin) - Click Posts → Add New or Pages → Add New from the left sidebar
- The editor loads automatically
You can also edit existing content by hovering over any post or page and clicking Edit.
The Basic Layout of the Gutenberg Editor
The editor interface has three main zones:
| Zone | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Top toolbar | Global controls — undo, redo, block inserter, preview, publish |
| Canvas (center) | Where you write and build your content |
| Right sidebar | Settings for the whole document or the selected block |
The Document tab in the sidebar controls publish settings, categories, tags, featured images, and visibility. The Block tab appears when you click on any individual block and shows formatting options specific to that block type.
How to Add and Work With Blocks ✍️
Adding a New Block
- Click the blue + button in the top-left corner to open the full block library
- Or click the + icon that appears when you hover between existing blocks
- Or type
/directly in the canvas to search for a block by name (e.g.,/image,/heading,/table)
The Most Common Block Types
Paragraph — The default block when you start typing. Standard body text.
Heading — Creates H1 through H6 headings. Use the Block settings panel on the right to choose the level.
Image — Upload from your device, select from the Media Library, or insert by URL. After inserting, you can add alt text, captions, and adjust alignment.
List — Creates bulleted or numbered lists. Each item sits in the same block.
Quote — Formats a pull quote with styling.
Table — Lets you define rows and columns directly in the editor.
Buttons — Adds a styled call-to-action button with a linked URL.
Columns — A layout block that lets you place other blocks side by side.
Moving and Rearranging Blocks
Click any block and you'll see a drag handle (six dots) on the left. Drag it to reposition the block. Alternatively, use the up and down arrows next to the drag handle for precise movement.
Writing and Formatting Text
Within a Paragraph or Heading block, highlight any text to see the inline toolbar. This lets you:
- Apply bold or italic
- Add a hyperlink
- Mark text as inline code
- Change text color (if enabled by your theme)
- Drop in an inline image
The formatting options available can vary slightly depending on your active WordPress theme and any active plugins that extend Gutenberg's capabilities.
Document Settings: Categories, Tags, and Featured Images 🖼️
Before publishing, most content needs a few metadata fields filled in. These live in the right sidebar under the Post tab:
- Categories — Assign the post to one or more content categories
- Tags — Add descriptive keywords
- Featured Image — Upload or select the image that represents the post (used in archives, social sharing, and some theme layouts)
- Excerpt — A manually written summary some themes use instead of auto-generating one
- Permalink — The URL slug for the post, editable at the top of the canvas or in the sidebar
Previewing and Publishing
Before publishing, click Preview → Preview in new tab to see how the content looks on the front end of the site. This is important because the editor canvas doesn't always perfectly match your live theme's styling.
When ready:
- Save Draft — Stores progress without making content public
- Schedule — Sets a future date and time for automatic publishing
- Publish — Makes the content live immediately
After publishing, a confirmation panel appears with links to view the post or create a new one.
What Changes Based on Your Setup
The Gutenberg experience isn't identical across all WordPress installations. Several factors shape what you see and what's available:
Your active theme determines which block styles, spacing controls, and full-site editing features are available. Block themes (like Twenty Twenty-Four) unlock a Site Editor for editing headers, footers, and templates — older classic themes do not.
Installed plugins can add entirely new block types — page builders, WooCommerce product blocks, SEO tools, and more all inject their own blocks into the inserter.
WordPress version matters. Gutenberg has evolved significantly. Sites running older WordPress versions may lack features like block patterns, style variations, or the Styles panel.
User role affects what controls appear. An Editor or Author may not see all the same publish settings as an Administrator.
Plugin conflicts can occasionally break the editor's behavior — a JavaScript error from one plugin can cause the entire block editor to fail to load, which is worth keeping in mind when troubleshooting unexpected issues.
How you end up using the default WordPress editor — and how far its built-in features take you — depends heavily on which version of WordPress you're running, what your theme supports, and what your content actually requires.