If you want a reliable, repeatable way to configure the wordpress block editor (gutenberg) for your site, this guide walks through practical steps you can follow now. It covers both the basics you need to get started and the more advanced options , global styles, reusable blocks, block patterns, and small code snippets you can drop into your theme or a functionality plugin. Read the sequence as a checklist and pause at any step where you want to make choices for design, performance, or workflow.
Why configure Gutenberg
Gutenberg is not just an editor; it’s the place where content, layout, and design systems meet. Proper configuration improves authoring speed, keeps design consistent across pages, and helps with accessibility and SEO. Out of the box the editor works fine for simple posts, but customizing global styles, enabling or disabling specific blocks, and setting up reusable components saves time for editors and reduces visual drift between pages.
Prerequisites before you start
Before changing configuration, take a full backup of your site , files and database. Make sure you can roll back if a change affects templates or styles. Confirm your WordPress core is updated to a current release (Gutenberg features land in core progressively), and review active plugins and the theme to ensure they support the block editor. If you run a staging environment, apply changes there first to avoid front-end surprises on a live site.
Step-by-step configuration
Step 1 , Update core, theme, and plugins
Start by updating WordPress, the active theme, and plugins. The block editor evolves quickly, and newer versions include UI fixes and important features like theme.json support for global styles. Check your custom plugins for deprecated functions and make sure any plugin that supplies blocks (for example, block collections or ACF blocks) is also up to date.
Step 2 , Decide between core Gutenberg and the plugin
Gutenberg is included in WordPress core, but there’s also a Gutenberg plugin that provides experimental features and earlier access to new block editor capabilities. Use the plugin on a development or staging site if you want to test upcoming features; on production sites prefer the stable core unless a plugin feature is essential.
Step 3 , Configure global styles and templates
WordPress introduced the site editor and theme.json to control global styles (colors, typography, spacing) and templates. Open Appearance → Editor to access global styles, template parts, and patterns for block-based themes. If your theme supports theme.json, configure colors and font sizes there; that makes the editor reflect the front-end design. Use a theme.json snippet to define a palette and font sizes like this:
{
"version": 2,
"settings": {
"color": {
"palette": [
{ "slug": "primary", "color": "#0a62ff", "name": "Primary" },
{ "slug": "muted", "color": "#6b7280", "name": "Muted" }
]
},
"typography": {
"fontSizes": [
{ "slug": "small", "size": "13px" },
{ "slug": "normal", "size": "16px" },
{ "slug": "large", "size": "26px" }
]
}
}
}Place theme.json in your theme folder. When implemented correctly, the editor will show the same colors and type scales as the site frontend and reduce styling mismatches.
Step 4 , Enable or disable blocks (Block Manager)
Reduce clutter by disabling blocks you won’t use. In the editor, open the three-dot menu and select “Preferences” or “Manage Blocks” (the exact label varies with WP versions) to hide blocks your editors won’t need. For larger sites you can programmatically unregister blocks in a simple plugin or your theme’s functions.php to keep the block list concise and consistent.
Step 5 , Create reusable blocks and block patterns
Reusable blocks let you maintain a content snippet centrally and use it in many posts; updating the reusable block updates every instance. Block patterns are saved combinations of blocks with layout and placeholder content that speed up page creation. Create reusable blocks from the block options menu and save patterns in the site editor or register them via code using register_block_pattern(). These building blocks enforce consistent layout without repeated editing.
Step 6 , Register custom blocks when needed
If the built-in blocks don’t meet your needs, build or register custom blocks. You can create custom blocks with the official @wordpress/create-block tool, or use plugins like Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) to create block-like UI quickly. For most cases, a small plugin that registers a custom block or an ACF block type is enough to add structured, repeatable content elements that editors can use without touching code.
Step 7 , Add theme support and editor styles
Make sure your theme declares support for block editor features so the editor behaves like the front end. Typical entries in functions.php look like this:
add_theme_support( 'align-wide' );
add_theme_support( 'editor-styles' );
add_theme_support( 'wp-block-styles' );
add_editor_style( 'assets/css/editor-style.css' );Editor styles let you include a stylesheet that mirrors front-end rules so the editor displays content as it will appear on the live site. Use editor-style.css to load fonts, spacing, and container widths that match your theme.
Step 8 , Control which post types use the block editor
Sometimes you want the block editor for posts but not for a custom post type (like a product or a legacy content type). Use a simple filter in a plugin or theme file to disable the block editor for specific post types:
add_filter('use_block_editor_for_post_type', function($use, $post_type){
if ( $post_type === 'product' ) {
return false;
}
return $use;
}, 10, 2);That keeps the block editor active where it’s useful and avoids forcing it on content that relies on older meta boxes.
Step 9 , Performance and accessibility checks
After you configure blocks and styles, review performance. Extra block collections or heavy editor scripts can slow the dashboard; remove unused block plugins and keep assets minified. Test accessibility across your block patterns and global styles to ensure color contrast and keyboard navigation are maintained. Run an audit with tools like Lighthouse or an accessibility plugin to catch obvious issues before editors begin publishing.
Step 10 , Documentation and editor training
Onboarding is part of configuration. Create short documentation or a template guide that explains which blocks are allowed, how to use reusable blocks and patterns, and where to find global styles. Small notes inside the editor , for example, using placeholder text in patterns as instructions , help editors follow site standards without repeated supervision.
Troubleshooting common issues
If block styles don’t match the front end, confirm theme.json or editor-style.css is loaded and not overridden by a plugin. If a block disappears after an update, check whether the block’s plugin was deactivated or if a block namespace changed. For errors in custom blocks, look at the browser console for js issues and check PHP error logs when server-side registration fails. A staging environment is invaluable for diagnosing these problems without affecting live content.
SEO considerations when configuring Gutenberg
Gutenberg’s block-based layout gives you control over headings, paragraphs, and structured content , use semantic blocks (Heading, List, Paragraph) so search engines can interpret content structure. Optimize images with alt text and use responsive image sizes. Where you add metadata (SEO title, meta description), use an SEO plugin that integrates with the block editor so editors can set or preview meta information directly from the post screen.
Concise summary
Configure Gutenberg by updating core components, choosing between the plugin and core editor, and setting global styles using theme.json or editor styles. Tidy the editor by enabling only needed blocks, create reusable blocks and patterns for consistent layouts, and register custom blocks where necessary. Test on staging, monitor performance, and provide brief documentation for editors to maintain consistency and accessibility.
FAQs
Do I need the Gutenberg plugin to use the block editor?
No. The block editor is included in WordPress core. The Gutenberg plugin provides bleeding-edge and experimental features useful for development or early testing, but it’s optional for production sites unless a specific plugin feature is required.
How do I ensure the editor matches my front-end styles?
Use theme.json for global style settings and add editor styles via add_editor_style() or a block-based theme’s style declarations. Make sure any custom fonts and container widths used on the front end are available in the editor styles so visual parity is preserved.
Can I restrict certain blocks for my editors?
Yes. Use the block manager in the editor’s settings to hide blocks manually or unregister blocks programmatically using PHP for a stricter, repeatable configuration across environments.
What’s the best way to add reusable layout pieces?
Create reusable blocks for frequently used content and register block patterns for complex layouts that combine multiple blocks. Patterns are ideal for page-level layouts; reusable blocks are best for pieces of content that must remain identical across pages.
