Classic Editor

What is Classic Editor?

Classic Editor is an official plugin developed and maintained by the WordPress.org team. It restores the original WordPress editing screen and the classic editor interface, effectively hiding the block editor (Gutenberg). The plugin has been available for 9 years and currently serves over 9.0 million active installations. It holds a 4.9 out of 5 star rating from 1,242 ratings, with 95% of those being five-star reviews.

This plugin was created to provide a familiar editing experience for users who prefer the classic interface. It allows plugins that depend on the old "Edit Post" screen to continue functioning. The description states it will be "fully supported and maintained until 2024, or as long as is necessary," but as of 2026, it remains actively updated (version 1.7.0 was released in May 2026).

Key Features of Classic Editor

• Default Editor Selection – Administrators can set the classic editor as the default for all users via the Settings > Writing screen.
• Per-User Editor Choice – Administrators can allow individual users to change their personal default editor preference.
• Per-Post Editor Switching – When enabled, users can choose which editor to use for each individual post.
• Editor Memory – Each post opens in the last editor used, regardless of who edited it last, ensuring consistency across editing sessions.
• Network-Wide Control – For multisite networks, the plugin can be network-activated to enforce the classic editor across all sites, with settings on the Network Settings screen.
• Plugin and Meta Box Compatibility – Restores support for plugins that add old-style meta boxes or extend the classic editing screen.
• Developer Filters – Provides several filters that let other plugins control the editor settings per post and per post type.
• Classic Theme Support – Works with classic (non-block) themes; it does not function with full site editing or block themes.

Who Should Use Classic Editor?

This plugin is ideal for site owners and content editors who work with classic WordPress themes. It suits users who rely on plugins that add meta boxes to the old post editor, such as custom fields, SEO tools, or page builders that are not compatible with Gutenberg. With 9.0 million active installs, it clearly serves a large audience that values stability and familiarity over the new block-based interface.

It is also a strong choice for administrators managing multisite networks who need to enforce a consistent editing experience across all sites. Beginners will find it straightforward because it restores the interface they may have learned on. The 95% five-star rating suggests high satisfaction among users who prefer the classic workflow.

Installation & Setup

Installation is simple: search for "Classic Editor" in the WordPress plugin directory and activate it. The plugin requires WordPress 4.9 or higher and PHP 5.2.4 or higher, making it compatible with nearly every modern WordPress installation. After activation, the classic editor is restored by default for classic themes. Administrators can adjust settings under Settings > Writing to allow users to switch editors or enforce a single editor.

Support & Community

The support forum shows a mixed picture. In the last 2 months, there were 20 open support threads, but only 1 was resolved, resulting in a 8% resolution rate. This low resolution rate is notable for a plugin with 9.0 million users. However, the rating breakdown tells a different story: 95% of the 1,242 ratings are 5% are one-star. This suggests that most users find the plugin works reliably out of the box and rarely need support. The plugin is developed by WordPress.org, which provides official documentation and community forums. While direct support response times are slow, the plugin's stability and widespread use mean many common questions are answered in existing forum threads or documentation.