To edit a WordPress site, first decide whether you are changing one post or page, or changing the design shared across the site. Use Posts or Pages and the Block Editor for individual content; use Appearance > Editor for site-wide styles, templates, template parts, and navigation when a block theme is active. Save your work, then preview the affected page.
Choose the right WordPress editor
WordPress has separate tools for page content and overall site design. Picking the right one helps prevent a small content change from altering a reusable layout—or a design change from being mistaken for a page edit.
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| What you want to change | Where to work | Scope of the change |
|---|---|---|
| Text, images, or other content in one post or page | Posts or Pages, then open the item in the Block Editor | That individual post or page |
| Global colors, typography, layout, or block appearance | Appearance > Editor > Styles | Site-wide visual rules |
| Structure used by a page type or site view | Appearance > Editor > Templates | Pages or views using that template |
| A repeated area such as the header or footer | Appearance > Editor > Template Parts | Pages using that template part |
| A site navigation menu | Appearance > Editor > Navigation, plus a Navigation block in the relevant template part | Where that block and menu are displayed |
The Site Editor and these site-wide tools require an active block theme. Available screens and features can also vary with WordPress version and your account’s permissions. The official Site Editor documentation explains its tools, while the block themes guide describes the theme requirement.
Edit a post or page
The Block Editor is WordPress’s standard workspace for creating and editing post and page content. It represents content as blocks, including paragraphs, headings, images, and lists. Use the settings sidebar and the selected block’s tools to make changes. See the WordPress Block Editor guide for the editor overview.
- In the dashboard, open Posts or Pages.
- Select the item you want to change, or choose Add New to create one.
- Edit its content in the Block Editor. Add, remove, or arrange blocks as needed.
- Save or publish the change, then preview the resulting page to check its appearance.
For a page managed through the Site Editor, WordPress also documents page management separately in its Site Editor Pages guide. Keep the distinction clear: changing page content affects that page, while changing its template can affect other pages that use the same layout.
Change the site-wide design
If your active theme is a block theme, open Appearance > Editor to work with site-wide design tools. If that menu item is absent, check the active theme and your account’s permissions before concluding that the site is broken.
Adjust global styles
Open Styles in the Site Editor to change global colors, typography, layout, or block appearance. These are visual rules intended to apply across the site. Preview pages that use the affected styles and blocks before publishing.
Change a template
Use Templates to edit the structure associated with a page type or another site view. A template edit may affect multiple pages, so preview representative pages that use it rather than checking only the page where you started.
Change a template part
Use Template Parts for repeated regions such as a header or footer. Because a template part can appear in multiple places, verify the pages that rely on it after saving.
The official Site Editor overview describes styles, templates, and template parts. The pages guide also helps distinguish page editing from template editing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Make a navigation menu appear
Creating or editing a saved menu alone does not ensure visitors will see it. The menu must be assigned to a Navigation block placed in the part of the site where it should display, commonly the header.
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- With a block theme active, go to Appearance > Editor > Navigation and create or edit the intended menu.
- Open the relevant template part, such as the header, and add a Navigation block if one is not already there.
- In the Navigation block settings, select the saved menu you want displayed.
- Save the changes and preview the site to confirm the menu appears in the intended location.
If the Navigation block appears empty, confirm that the menu was saved and assigned to that block. WordPress also advises checking the cache where applicable. Its Site Editor navigation guide documents the menu workflow and was updated on June 30, 2026.
When an editing option is missing
A missing screen can reflect the active theme or the capabilities assigned to your account. WordPress identifies edit_posts, edit_pages, and edit_theme_options among capabilities relevant to content and Site Editor access. If you cannot reach an option needed for your task, ask the site administrator to check your role and capabilities. The official Roles and Capabilities reference explains these permissions.
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