Powerful Tips to How to Disable Gutenberg Widget Block Editor

Do you want to Disable Gutenberg Widget in WordPress? With the release of WordPress 5.8, the platform introduced several new and powerful features — one of the biggest changes being the Widget Block Editor, also known as the Gutenberg Widget Editor.

This new widget system is built using the Gutenberg editor that you already use while adding or editing posts and pages. When you visit the widget area in your WordPress dashboard, you’ll notice a completely different interface — the traditional widget layout has been replaced with a block-based structure.

However, not everyone likes this change. If you think the new Gutenberg Widget Editor is affecting your site design, layout, or performance, don’t worry — you can easily disable the Gutenberg widget and bring back the classic widget interface.

To disable the Gutenberg widget editor and restore the old widget page, simply add one of the following code snippets (Code 1 or Code 2) to your theme’s functions.php file. This will restore the previous widget settings screen and completely disable the block-based widget editor.

Disabling the Gutenberg widget helps keep your WordPress dashboard lightweight, user-friendly, and compatible with classic themes or older plugins that rely on the traditional widget system.

Code 1:

// Disables the block editor from managing widgets in the Gutenberg plugin.
add_filter( 'gutenberg_use_widgets_block_editor', '__return_false', 100 );

// Disables the block editor from managing widgets.
add_filter( 'use_widgets_block_editor', '__return_false' );

Code 2:

if ( ! function_exists( 'codepopular_activate_classic_widgets' ) ) :
function codepopular_activate_classic_widgets() {
    remove_theme_support( 'widgets-block-editor' );
}
endif;
add_action( 'after_setup_theme', 'codepopular_activate_classic_widgets' );

After adding code to functions.php then save the file.

If you’re still confused about how to disable the Gutenberg Widget Editor in WordPress, don’t worry — I’ve created a detailed YouTube tutorial to guide you through the entire process visually. In this video, I explain why WordPress introduced the Gutenberg Widget system, what has changed in version 5.8 and later, and how you can safely revert to the classic widget interface without breaking your theme or affecting your site layout.

You’ll also see a step-by-step demonstration of how to insert the code snippets (Code 1 and Code 2) into your theme’s functions.php file, along with important tips to avoid common errors. By the end of the video, you’ll understand exactly how to disable Gutenberg Widget Editor and restore the old widget system quickly and safely.

Watching the video will help you follow along easily, especially if you’re a beginner or prefer visual guidance while editing WordPress settings.

Disable Gutenberg Widget Full Guide

You can also install our Unlimited Theme Addons plugin to easily disable gutenberg widget Block Editor without any coding knowledge. This plugin not only allows you to bring back the classic widget interface but also provides dozens of free theme addons to enhance your website’s design, layout, and functionality. With Unlimited Theme Addons, you can create beautiful sections such as sliders, testimonials, service boxes, call-to-action banners, pricing tables, and more — all in a few simple steps.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced WordPress user, this plugin saves valuable time and helps you maintain a lightweight, professional-looking website. It’s the perfect solution for users who prefer simplicity over complex Gutenberg blocks but still want access to modern, creative design elements. You’ll also receive regular plugin updates, improved stability, and new feature releases that make your website even more efficient and customizable over time.

If you found this tutorial helpful, make sure to follow our other WordPress blog posts on CodePopular. We regularly share plugin development tips, theme customization tutorials, SEO optimization tricks, and WordPress updates to help you improve your workflow and website performance. Keep learning with CodePopular and make your WordPress site more powerful, optimized, and user-friendly than ever before.Learn more article from codepopualr