Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsYou can add a plugin-free blogroll with WordPress’s built-in navigation tools. On a block theme, use Appearance > Editor > Navigation and add each site as a Custom Link. On a classic theme, use Appearance > Menus (or the Customizer) and add Custom Link items. For a longer or categorized list, create a dedicated Blogroll page and link site names with the standard Link control.
Choose the format that fits your blogroll
| Format | Best for | Where visitors see it | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navigation menu | A short list that should be visible on every page | Header, footer, or another navigation location | Edit one menu and its Custom Link items |
| Dedicated Blogroll page | A long, categorized or annotated list | A page visitors open from your site | Edit the page content and links manually |
A navigation menu is more prominent but can crowd a header or footer. A page gives you room for categories, descriptions and a larger number of recommendations.
Add a blogroll with a block theme
The Site Editor navigation interface is available when a block theme is active.
- Open the navigation editor. In the dashboard, go to Appearance > Editor > Navigation.
- Select or create a menu. Choose an existing navigation menu or start a blank one. If the first Navigation block contains a Page List, choose Edit before changing individual entries; WordPress converts the list into individual Page Link blocks that you can customize.
- Add the first external site. Select the + inserter, choose Custom Link, paste the complete
https://address, and enter a short visible label such as the publication’s name. - Repeat for every recommendation. Use the Navigation block’s move controls or List View to arrange the sites in a useful order.
- Set link behavior when appropriate. Navigation options can open a link in a new tab and can expose rel attributes. A new tab is optional, not a requirement; use it only when it improves the experience.
- Place and save the menu. Add the Navigation block to the header, footer or another template part. Save the changes, then preview the result on both desktop and mobile layouts.
Add a blogroll with a classic theme
- Go to Appearance > Menus. Depending on the theme, menu editing may instead be exposed through the Customizer.
- Create a new menu or select the menu assigned to the location where the blogroll should appear.
- Open Custom Links, enter the site’s full
https://URL and type the label visitors should see. - Click Add to Menu, repeat for each site, and drag items into the desired order.
- Assign the menu to a display location such as the primary navigation or footer, then save it.
Theme interfaces differ, so the exact menu location and available display slots can vary. The essential operation is the same: each external recommendation is a Custom Link item in a saved menu.
Create a dedicated Blogroll page instead
A page is often easier to scan when you have many links or want to group them by subject.
- Create a new page and give it a clear title such as Blogroll or Sites We Read.
- Add headings for categories if needed, then insert a paragraph, list or another supported block.
- Type each site name, select it, and use the toolbar’s link button. You can also open the Link control with Ctrl+K on Windows or ⌘+K on macOS.
- Paste the external URL, apply the link, and publish or update the page.
- Add the page itself to your site navigation so visitors can find it.
This approach does not require a special blogroll widget or plugin; it uses ordinary WordPress content blocks and the built-in Link control.
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Why the Links or Blogroll menu is missing
The old Links Manager and blogroll interface was hidden for new installations, and for existing installations with no links, starting with WordPress 3.5. That is why a tutorial showing a separate Links menu may not match your dashboard.
WordPress’s historical documentation describes restoring that panel with the Links Manager plugin. That route does not meet a no-plugin requirement and is not necessary for a current site: use Custom Links in Navigation or Menus, or build a normal Blogroll page.
Quick Recap
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Keep the list useful over time
- Use descriptive labels rather than vague text such as “Click here.”
- Enter and periodically recheck the complete HTTPS address for every recommendation.
- Remove dead, redirected or no-longer-relevant sites.
- Keep a menu short enough for its header or footer; move a larger collection to a categorized page.
- Check the blogroll after theme changes, especially if a menu location or template part has changed.
- Preview on a phone as well as a desktop so long labels do not make the navigation unwieldy.
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