Have you ever felt frustrated or overwhelmed by the WordPress post editing screen? With so many settings, panels, and options crammed into the interface, it‘s easy for the writing process to feel cluttered and inefficient.
But here‘s the good news: You don‘t have to settle for the default editing experience. WordPress provides a wealth of built-in tools and settings for customizing the post edit screen to your unique needs and preferences.
In this expert guide, I‘ll walk you through simple steps to declutter your editing workspace and take back control of your publishing process. Whether you‘re a blogger, content marketer, or website owner, optimizing your post editor can help you create content faster and more enjoyably.
Why Rearrange Your Post Edit Screen?
Before we dive into the how-to, let‘s talk about the why. What are the benefits of customizing your WordPress edit screen?
1. Efficiency
By hiding settings you rarely use and keeping your most important tools front-and-center, you can streamline your workflow and save valuable time and clicks.
2. Focus
Removing unnecessary distractions from your visual field allows you to focus more deeply on your content. According to a study by RescueTime, a typical knowledge worker is distracted or interrupted every 40 seconds – customizing your editing environment can help you stay in flow.
3. Comfort
Rearranging your tools in a way that feels intuitive to you reduces friction and frustration. You‘ll feel more at home and in control of your creative environment.
4. Flexibility
WordPress powers over 43% of the web, and with that comes a diversity of use cases. Customizing your editor allows you to adapt WordPress to your unique content needs, whether that‘s long-form articles, image-heavy tutorials, or something else entirely.
With these benefits in mind, let‘s look at how to actually implement edit screen customization.
How to Rearrange the Post Edit Screen (Step-by-Step)
Follow these simple steps to take control of your default editing layout:
With a post open in the editor, click the three-dot icon in the upper right corner to open Options.
Step 2: Open the "Panels" settings
From the Options dropdown, select "Preferences". This will open a pop-up window where you can access your editor configurations. Click the "Panels" tab.
Step 3: Select the panels to display
Use the checkboxes to select which setting panels you want visible in the editor sidebar. For example, you might hide the Excerpt box if you never manually write excerpts, or disable Discussion if you don‘t allow comments.
Think about which settings you interact with regularly and which you can hide to reduce visual noise.
Step 4: Reorder the panels
You can change the order in which panels appear by clicking and dragging them into your preferred arrangement. Put your most-used settings at the top for easy access.
Step 5: Save your new configuration
When you‘re happy with your panel selections and order, click "Apply" to save your customized setup. The editor will reload with your new streamlined sidebar!
Here‘s an example of a customized sidebar focused on the SEO settings:
Ahh, doesn‘t that feel better? Your shiny new edit screen is ready to help you create your next masterpiece.
Advanced Customization with Plugins
If you want to go beyond the built-in WordPress settings, plugins open up a world of edit screen customization possibilities. Here are a few of my favorite options as a WordPress expert:
1. Gutenberg Ramp
Gutenberg Ramp allows you to selectively enable or disable the block editor for specific post types, letting you use the classic editor where needed while still leveraging Gutenberg on other content.
2. Yoast SEO
In addition to its powerful suite of SEO tools, Yoast SEO provides options to rearrange the edit screen meta boxes, so you can put the Yoast box in your preferred location. Super handy for content optimization!
3. Adminimize
If you really want to go crazy with decluttering, Adminimize lets you hide almost any element on the edit screen, including built-in fields like tags, author, and revisions. Use with caution, as you can accidentally hide important settings.
4. Slash Admin
For an automatic option, Slash Admin detects which sidebar settings you interact with frequently and dynamically hides the rest. A great set-it-and-forget-it solution!
With these plugins in hand, you can tailor your edit screen to your exact specifications. Mix and match to craft your ideal workflow.
Tips to Maximize Your Rearranged Edit Screen
Now that you have your newly optimized editing layout, here are some tips to get the most out of it:
Create content templates. Use your streamlined editor to set up reusable templates with pre-configured settings and content blocks. This can dramatically speed up your content creation process!
Focus on one setting at a time. With less visual clutter, you can give each configuration your full attention without distractions. Batch similar tasks together to get in the zone.
Adapt as needed. Your ideal edit screen may evolve as your content needs change. Don‘t be afraid to adjust your layout over time – the beauty of customization is flexibility.
Leverage keyboard shortcuts. In addition to streamlining your visual settings, learn the keyboard shortcuts for your most common actions. You can find a full list of block editor shortcuts in the WordPress documentation.
Celebrate your efficiency! Take a moment to appreciate how much smoother and more enjoyable your editing experience has become. You‘ve taken a powerful step to optimize your workflow.
Troubleshooting Edit Screen Customization
While rearranging the post edit screen is generally straightforward, you may occasionally run into issues. Here are some common challenges and how to resolve them:
Panel settings not saving: If your panel configurations aren‘t sticking, try clearing your browser cache and cookies. This often resolves temporary authentication glitches.
Plugin conflicts: If you‘re using multiple plugins that modify the edit screen, they may conflict with each other. Temporarily disable plugins one by one to isolate the problem child.
Accidental settings lockout: If you‘ve hidden a crucial setting and can‘t find it again, you can reset your edit screen to the default state. Go to your WordPress user profile and click "Restore Default Settings" under "Advanced Editing".
If you get stuck, don‘t panic! The WordPress community is full of resources and support to help you troubleshoot. Check the official documentation, post in the support forums, or reach out to a trusted WordPress developer.
Conclusion: Take Control of Your Editing Experience
If you‘ve made it this far, congratulations! You‘re well on your way to a streamlined, productive WordPress editing experience. By taking control of your post edit screen and making it work for you, you‘re investing in your long-term success as a content creator.
Remember: Your editing environment should energize and inspire you, not bog you down. With the steps and tools outlined in this guide, you have the power to craft an interface that fits your unique workflow like a glove.
So go forth and create! Revel in the joys of a clutter-free workspace and enjoy the satisfaction of a publishing process that fits you perfectly. Your best content is just around the corner.
){kind=link}