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In which Instructions Are Provided for Using Dear Old Classic Editor so that the Terror of Block Editor May Be Avoided

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It is unusual for me to post two pieces in the same day, but I came upon such brilliant advice from the blog The Belmont Rooster, that I decided to break with precedent. As the title of this post suggests, the advice involves instructions for continuing with Classic Editor, which is clean and easy to use.

From reading other blogs, I know there has been much consternation with the new Block Editor. I understand. I, too, hate the new system, which I find ugly and clunky. (Some bloggers do like it. After all, it takes all kinds to make the world go round.)

For those, like me, who would rather use Classic Editor, click on the link I provided above with The Belmont Rooster, and you will receive  step-by-step instructions.

Here they are in short:

“Scroll down to “Posts” and click or click on “All Posts”… DO NOT CLICK ON “ADD NEW” OR IT WILL TAKE YOU THE NEW EDITOR.

“After clicking you will see “Add New” with an arrow next to it.

“When you click on the arrow you are given the choice to click on “Block Editor” or “Classic Editor”.

“There it is… The Classic Editor. Without having to upgrade to the business plan.”

And, dear blogging friends, by following those instructions, I was able to do this post in Classic Editor.

Easy peasy.

Hot dog!

 

 

 

47 thoughts on “In which Instructions Are Provided for Using Dear Old Classic Editor so that the Terror of Block Editor May Be Avoided”

  1. Spooky. I just put those same instructions on another blog for somebody today and thought about doing a quick post about it. I wish they wouldn’t try to fix things that are working perfectly well already – I’ve seen so many complaints about the new editor – you’d think somebody would get the message

  2. I always hate when WordPress changes the editor. I also found that if you should happen to click on the “My Site” tab after logging on there is a sidebar with different options (which is probably the new administration page from a previous update). At the bottom of that sidebar is a link for “WP admin”. That link will take you to the old administrator page and you can proceed with the instructions from the Belmont Rooster. Good Luck

  5. Wow! Thank you. I am toying with just learning the new editor…but I also find it ugly. Still, if in 2022 we have to learn it….on the other hand, I could be dead by 2022…well, that sounds too dramtic…but you get my point….that’s at least several months away, maybe they’d make it better by then and I wouldn’t have such a learning curve.

    1. Right! Who the heck knows what’s going to happen in 2022? Could any of us have foreseen all the, ahem, stuff that has happened in 2020? I feel fairly philosophical about it. I will use Classic Editor as long as I can. Then, I will either use Block Editor or turn to another platform.

  6. You have definitely provided your readers with a PSA, Laurie. I figured that option out by fluke the other day and so haven’t had to even try the block editor, but I read complaints from so many bloggers. The classic editor gives you much more control over what you’re doing. Why does nearly every interface update in EVERY domain take more control and info AWAY from the user instead of adding more? Even the updates on the self-serve stations at the grocery stores get worse each time. Grr.

    1. My geek husband explained that Block Editor is good for those “who want to spend more time crafting the look of each post with things such as columns and carefully aligned pictures.” So it does have its value. Me? I’m just happy to regularly write a post and include a few pictures. I suspect a lot of bloggers are in this same category. 😉

      1. Haha. I would guess most! Speaking as a retired computer science prof, I can think of plenty of other ways the few people who want to include columns and careful alignment could do so without the majority of the users having to deal with an editor not made with them in mind. C’est la vie.

  7. Laurie, Thank you! I may continue to play with Gutenberg but immensely dislike it so far. Some features are great but overall it seems just too cumbersome.

    1. I think for bloggers who just want to post regularly and add a few pictures, Classic Editor is the thing. For those who want to do more, the Block Editor might work best. Seems as though both should be offered as equal choices.

  11. I didn’t like it either and planned to stay with the old system. I tried your instructions and misunderstood at first and didn’t get an arrow! OUCH. But then I realized the “add new” is at the top AFTER you click on “all posts,” and that is where you get to choose. Whew! Thank you so much! Maybe I’m just old, but I didn’t like the new setup at all.

    1. Glad you got it. As far as I’m concerned, too much rigmarole for what I want to do. That is, write and post a few pictures with each post. However, some bloggers like being able to extra on their posts. 😉

  13. I will use whatever comes my way, I am using the free version. My next post won’t be out until the end of December, and a lot can happen between now and then. 🙂

  16. I just have not been able to understand the reason for Block editing – I like to try to move with the times, but this has defeated me, mainly because the Block editor seems to take about 4-6 clicks to upload a photo rather than the previous 2.
    It I understood the reasoning behind it it would help but ……
    Thank you for the explanation – very helpful.

    1. I think it’s for people who really want to do a lot of extras in their posts with graphic design. That wouldn’t be me. All I want is a very simple procedure where I can write and post pictures. But I know a few bloggers who do like it.

  17. Hi Laurie, I am visiting from Donna’s blog (Retirement Reflections) and I know we have other mutual friends. I also clicked on the Belmont Rooster’s post. Interesting information. I just jumped in and wrote my last post using the new editor. I know I only scratched the first layer. I did have some issues with photos. Likely, a learning curve. I like to have more creative control. I may toggle between the two editors. Like you say, our goal is “easy peasy.” I look forward to reading more of your posts. Erica

    1. Welcome! I am now following your blog. As for Classic vs. Block…I think it all depends on what you want to do. Blogging is one part of my writing life—I also write novels—So for me easy-peasy is best. 😉

      1. Welcome, Laurie. I know I have seen you and your comments on many blogs. It is as if I was already following your blog. I need to play around more with the new editor. Definitely a few issues with the photos. Thank you for following. Erica

  18. There is a block in block editor itself that lets you use classic editor. I guess it remembers how much I liked classic editor because it offers me that block every time. I do like block editor a lot now because of the way it lets me do photos side by side so easily or, even more exciting, befores and afters (image compare), and it takes me much less time to write a post now that I have the hang of it. I didnt have a computer for awhile ….and I got into the habit of writing all my posts on my iPad. I might feel differently about block editor of I got back to writing on a MacBook.

  19. Thank you, Laurie! I did finally find that on my own, but appreciate you sharing this. It was so good to read comments from others who don’t care for the block editor. I have a private blog and will play with the new editor there for a while since it looks like WP might eventually force us to use it. *sigh*

    1. My pleasure! Most of my blogging friends don’t like block editor, but a few people do. I hope I can go on using the classic editor for quite some time.

  20. Thank you, Laurie! I did finally find that on my own, but appreciate you sharing this. It was so good to read comments from others who don’t care for the block editor. I have a private blog and will play with the new editor there for a while since it looks like WP might eventually force us to use it. *sigh*

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