On a classic WordPress theme, install and activate the official Classic Widgets plugin to restore the classic widget settings screen and stop managing widgets with the block editor. The plugin has no settings: activation switches to the classic interface, and deactivation returns widget management to the block editor. It does not work with block themes, including full-site-editing themes.
Before you install Classic Widgets, check your theme
Classic Widgets is intended for classic, non-block themes. WordPress’s block-based widget editor can be opened from Appearance → Widgets or Appearance → Customize → Widgets. A block theme relies on blocks for its site structure, and the Classic Widgets plugin FAQ says the plugin does not work with block themes or full-site editing.
If you use a block theme, installing the plugin is not a way to bring back the classic widget screen. Check which theme is active before changing the editor.
Restore the classic widget screen with the plugin
- In the WordPress dashboard, open Plugins → Add New Plugin.
- Search for Classic Widgets, then install and activate the official plugin from the WordPress.org Plugin Directory.
- Open Appearance → Widgets. The classic widget settings interface should be available if the active theme is a classic theme.
There are no plugin settings to configure. If your site does not offer plugin installation or the expected screen does not appear, check your account permissions, active theme, and any theme-specific behavior. The official instructions do not guarantee identical behavior across every host or custom theme.
Choose between the plugin and code-based options
WordPress documents two code-level ways to opt out of block-based widget management. Choose the approach that matches who should control the behavior:
| Route | Where the choice is maintained | Scope and fit |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Widgets plugin | Site administrator activates or deactivates the plugin. | Simple site-wide switch for a classic theme; not compatible with block themes, according to the plugin FAQ. |
remove_theme_support( 'widgets-block-editor' ) |
Theme code, commonly attached to after_setup_theme. |
A theme-level choice made by the theme developer or maintainer. |
use_widgets_block_editor filter |
A must-use plugin can add add_filter( 'use_widgets_block_editor', '__return_false' );. |
A code-based opt-out; WordPress also documents a custom callback for conditional behavior, including an example for a specific user. |
The WordPress Developer Resources guide to restoring the classic Widgets Editor documents these code approaches. Use the plugin if you want an administrator-controlled switch without writing code. Theme support removal belongs in theme code; the filter route belongs in a must-use plugin or other suitable site code. Avoid editing a parent theme unless you have accounted for how theme updates may affect custom changes.
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What happens to existing widgets?
WordPress explains that existing classic widgets can be used in the block editor through the Legacy Widget block. Its widget-editor documentation also says widgets in the block editor are stored using an underlying “Block” widget, and that disabling the Widgets Block Editor can be done without data loss.
These statements describe WordPress’s editor mechanism, not a guarantee for every third-party widget, custom theme, or site configuration. If a particular widget behaves differently after switching editors, check its own documentation and your theme’s behavior.
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Switch back to block-based widget management
Deactivate Classic Widgets to return to block-based widget management. WordPress’s developer guide describes activating and deactivating the plugin as the way to toggle between the classic and block widget editors.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How widely is Classic Widgets used?
The WordPress.org Plugin Directory listing showed more than 2 million active installations on September 30, 2026; that directory figure can change and is not evidence of performance or user satisfaction. The listing also reports version and compatibility details that can change, so check the current plugin page for up-to-date metadata.
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