WordPress Plugin: Disable Gutenberg

Updated December 6, 2019 • 10 comments

[ Disable Gutenberg ] For those still in the dark, WordPress 5.0 will bring HUGE changes to the post editor. Dubbed Gutenberg, the new WP post editor replaces the entire “classic” post editing screen. So as of WordPress 5.0 and beyond, the “Edit Post” screen will be completely replaced by a giant WYSIWYG content builder called “Gutenberg”. So much more is being replaced than just the content editor. The list of things that are replaced by Gutenberg include the RTE/Visual Editor, Plain Text Editor, Custom Fields, Custom Post Status, and much more.

Pro Tip: Missing Custom Fields with Gutenberg? Check out my free WordPress plugin, Custom Fields for Gutenberg »

That means if you are a plugin or theme developer, you may be looking at a LOT of new work required to support Gutenberg, especially if your themes and plugins make use of anything associated with the classic WP post editor (i.e., “Edit Post” screen). And you better know JavaScript. “Deeply”. Or you’re basically in for a battle royale extreme in the coming months. What’s the saying, plan for the worst, hope for the best?

New Plugin: Disable Gutenberg

To help the community with the transition into the Gutenberg (G7G) arena, I’ve written a plugin called Disable Gutenberg. It’s a simple plugin that’s super easy to use, and focused entirely on one thing: disable Gutenberg and restore the Classic Editor.

Disable Gutenberg completely (all post types)
Disable Gutenberg only on specific post types
Disable Gutenberg for specific user roles

So it’s flexible yet simple, and super easy to use. Check out the documentation for more details, and download Disable Gutenberg at the WP Codex.

With Disable Gutenberg, you control when the new editor is rolled out to your clients.

Disable Gutenberg Programmatically

If you are a WordPress developer wanting more information about how to disable Gutenberg via the WP API, check out my DigWP article, How to Disable Gutenberg: Complete Guide. Packed full of juicy infos :)

Download

For more information, list of features, and FREE download, visit Disable Gutenberg at the WP Plugin Directory:

Download Disable Gutenberg »

About the Author

Jeff Starr = Web Developer. Book Author. Secretly Important.

10 responses to “WordPress Plugin: Disable Gutenberg”

MikeD 2018/04/19 1:22 pm

Your a f’n legend Jeff. Thanks mate.

Jeff Starr 2018/04/19 2:06 pm • Post Author

Glad to help, thanks Mike.

xav 2018/05/12 2:01 am

Wow. I looked at your plugins list and ratings.
I knew some and they deserve the very high ratings.
You are kind of a big deal in the wordpress dev world arent you?
I guess you deserve your name Mr Starr.

Thanks for this plugin. I am afraid this is going to be one of the most downloaded when 5.0 will be live…

Jeff Starr 2018/05/12 10:05 am • Post Author

Thanks for the comments xav!

Magda 2018/05/26 2:11 pm

Hi Jeff, I know you’re plugin is pretty simple, but I think I may have made a little error at the time and just caught it now. I can explain better in an email. Can you please take a look sometime next week, if you can, and let me know if it’s okay now? You can reach me at my email above. Thanks. Have a good weekend.

Jeff Starr 2018/05/26 2:36 pm • Post Author

Glad to help. You can reach me anytime via email using my contact form. Thank you.

Terry 2018/06/02 3:33 pm

Thanks Jeff for this awesome email. Is there any chance you may have linked to your demo script for the download? It behaves the same way. It works great to block the blackhole folder, yet I can access any other page on my site.

Jeff Starr 2018/06/03 9:35 am • Post Author

Not sure which “awesome email” you are referring to, but I can tell you that the version of Blackhole used at Perishable Press is highly customized with multiple PHP files. If you examine the current public/download version, you will see that it contains only one PHP file. Let me know if any questions!

Daniel Hendricks 2018/07/04 9:34 am

You might consider adding the ability to disable Gutenberg for certain page templates. Example: https://pastebin.com/472Bxi0u

Cheers,
Daniel

Jeff Starr 2018/07/04 11:30 am • Post Author

Hi Daniel,

That is a great idea! I’ve added to the to-do list, and should have it implemented in the next plugin update.

Thank you!

Comments are closed for this post. Something to add? Let me know.

MikeD 2018/04/19 1:22 pm

Your a f’n legend Jeff. Thanks mate.
- Jeff Starr 2018/04/19 2:06 pm • Post Author
  
  Glad to help, thanks Mike.
xav 2018/05/12 2:01 am

Wow. I looked at your plugins list and ratings.
I knew some and they deserve the very high ratings.
You are kind of a big deal in the wordpress dev world arent you?
I guess you deserve your name Mr Starr.

Thanks for this plugin. I am afraid this is going to be one of the most downloaded when 5.0 will be live…
- Jeff Starr 2018/05/12 10:05 am • Post Author
  
  Thanks for the comments xav!
Magda 2018/05/26 2:11 pm

Hi Jeff, I know you’re plugin is pretty simple, but I think I may have made a little error at the time and just caught it now. I can explain better in an email. Can you please take a look sometime next week, if you can, and let me know if it’s okay now? You can reach me at my email above. Thanks. Have a good weekend.
- Jeff Starr 2018/05/26 2:36 pm • Post Author
  
  Glad to help. You can reach me anytime via email using my contact form. Thank you.
Terry 2018/06/02 3:33 pm

Thanks Jeff for this awesome email. Is there any chance you may have linked to your demo script for the download? It behaves the same way. It works great to block the blackhole folder, yet I can access any other page on my site.
- Jeff Starr 2018/06/03 9:35 am • Post Author
  
  Not sure which “awesome email” you are referring to, but I can tell you that the version of Blackhole used at Perishable Press is highly customized with multiple PHP files. If you examine the current public/download version, you will see that it contains only one PHP file. Let me know if any questions!
Daniel Hendricks 2018/07/04 9:34 am

You might consider adding the ability to disable Gutenberg for certain page templates. Example: https://pastebin.com/472Bxi0u

Cheers,
Daniel
- Jeff Starr 2018/07/04 11:30 am • Post Author
  
  Hi Daniel,
  
  That is a great idea! I’ve added to the to-do list, and should have it implemented in the next plugin update.
  
  Thank you!