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To restore the WordPress dashboard menu while editing, open a post or page in the Block Editor, select the three-dot Options menu in the upper-right corner, and turn off Fullscreen mode. The administration interface should reappear around the editor.
Turn off Fullscreen mode
- Open any post or page in the WordPress Block Editor.
- Click the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner to open Options.
- Click Fullscreen mode to disable it.
Fullscreen mode hides the Administration screens interface; it does not change your content or convert the post into a different editing format. WordPress documents this control in its Block Editor guide.
Use the keyboard shortcut
You can toggle the same setting without opening the menu:
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- Windows: Ctrl + Shift + Alt + F
- Mac: ⇧ + ⌥ + ⌘ + F
The shortcut is listed in WordPress’s Block Editor keyboard-shortcuts documentation.
If the editor controls are still missing
Fullscreen is only one of several display modes in the same Options menu. Check the symptom before changing another setting.
| Mode | What it changes | Where to control it |
|---|---|---|
| Fullscreen mode | Hides the surrounding WordPress Administration screens interface. | Options (three dots) > Fullscreen mode |
| Distraction Free | Reduces or fades editor controls and can close sidebars for focused writing. | Options (three dots) > Distraction Free |
| Spotlight mode | Greys out other blocks so the block being edited stands out. | Options (three dots) > Spotlight mode |
Distraction Free is separate from Fullscreen and can be enabled at the same time. If the dashboard navigation returns but the editor toolbar or sidebars remain hidden, open Options again and turn off Distraction Free. WordPress explains the distinction in its Distraction Free mode documentation.
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What Preferences does—and does not—control
Preferences also opens from the three-dot Options menu, but it is a general dialog for customizing the editing experience. It is not the direct switch for restoring the administration interface. See the Preferences overview for those customization controls.
Why Fullscreen may appear by default
WordPress began enabling the editor’s fullscreen behavior by default in version 5.4 when opening the editor for the first time on a new installation or device, or after WordPress reset user preferences. That historical change does not establish identical persistence behavior for every current WordPress version, browser, or plugin configuration. The original explanation is documented by WordPress Core.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Scope of these instructions
These steps apply to WordPress’s core Block Editor for posts and pages. A plugin-built editor, a page-builder interface, or the Classic Editor may use different controls and may not include this Options-menu item.
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