How to Use WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg) – Beginners Guide + 10 Advanced Tips

WordPress has evolved significantly over the years, and one of its biggest changes came with the introduction of the WordPress Block Editor, commonly known as Gutenberg. 

Released in WordPress 5.0 in December 2018, Gutenberg replaced the Classic Editor, which had been the default for over a decade. The transition completely redefined how users create content in WordPress.

Why Did Gutenberg Replace the Classic Editor?

Before Gutenberg, WordPress users relied on a basic text editor that worked like Microsoft Word. 

While simple, it had many limitations! Users needed plugins for things like creating columns, adding buttons, or designing layouts. 

Gutenberg changed this by introducing a block-based editing system, where every piece of content (text, images, videos, buttons, etc.) is a separate block that can be arranged and customized independently.

With the rise of drag-and-drop page builders like Elementor and Divi, WordPress needed a modern, flexible, and easy-to-use editor that could compete. The WordPress Block Editor now powers over 65% of WordPress sites and continues to improve with each update.

Key Benefits of Using Gutenberg WordPress Editor

1. User-Friendly & Visual Editing – No coding required; you can see changes in real-time.
2. Faster Website Performance – Unlike traditional page builders, Gutenberg loads fewer scripts, improving page speed.
3. Mobile-Responsive Design – The editor adapts to different screen sizes effortlessly.
4. Built-in Block Library – WordPress offers pre-designed blocks for text, images, embeds, and layouts.
5. Full-Site Editing (FSE) Support – Gutenberg is evolving to control entire website layouts, not just posts and pages.

Getting Started with Gutenberg (WordPress Block Editor)

Now that we understand why the WordPress Block Editor was introduced, let’s go step by step on how to access it and start using it.

How to Access Gutenberg in WordPress?

By default, Gutenberg is the standard editor in WordPress. If you have a new WordPress installation (WordPress 5.0 or later), it is enabled automatically. To access it:

• Go to WordPress Dashboard > Posts > Add New or Pages > Add New

• The Gutenberg editor will open, displaying an empty canvas with a placeholder for the post title and the first block.

What If Gutenberg Is Not Available?

If you are still using the Classic Editor, you can enable Gutenberg by:

• Checking WordPress Version – Make sure your site runs WordPress 5.0 or later.
• Disabling the Classic Editor Plugin – If installed, go to Plugins > Installed Plugins, locate Classic Editor, and deactivate it.

• Manually Enabling Gutenberg – Go to Settings > Writing and choose Block Editor as the default editor and Save Changes.

Gutenberg vs. Classic Editor – What’s the Difference?

Feature	Classic Editor	Gutenberg (Block Editor)
Interface	Basic text editor, similar to MS Word	Modern block-based system
Content Layout	No built-in layout options	Flexible layouts with blocks
Media Embeds	Manual shortcode use	One-click media embedding
Customization	Requires HTML/CSS	No coding needed
Performance	Relies on shortcodes & plugins	Faster and lightweight

The Gutenberg WordPress editor is a completely new way to design and manage content.

How to Use Gutenberg If You’re Switching from the Classic Editor?

If you’re used to the Classic Editor, switching to the Gutenberg WordPress editor might initially feel overwhelming, but it’s actually easy to learn.

Basic Steps to Use Gutenberg WordPress Editor:

• Start with a Title – Click on “Add Title” to name your post or page.

• Add Blocks for Content – Click the “+” button to insert text, images, or any other block.

• Customize Blocks – Adjust settings like fonts, colors, and spacing in the right-hand panel.

• Rearrange Blocks – Drag and drop blocks to change the layout.

• Preview and Publish – Click Preview to check the design and Publish to make it live.

Now that you know how to use the WordPress Block Editor, let’s explore its interface and core features in detail.

Understanding the Gutenberg Interface

The WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg) introduced a modern, block-based editing system that simplifies content creation. 

Unlike the Classic Editor, which relied on a single text area, Gutenberg allows users to build pages with individual content blocks.

Let’s take a deep dive into the Gutenberg editing screen and its key components to help you master its interface.

Overview of the Gutenberg Editing Screen

When you open the WordPress Block Editor, you’ll notice a clean and distraction-free layout designed to enhance usability. Below is a breakdown of its key components:

A. Title Field

• The first section of the editor, where you enter your post or page title.
• Automatically converts into a heading (H1) for SEO optimization.
• Supports special characters, emojis, and formatting.

B. Content Area (Block-Based System)

• This is the main workspace, where you create content using blocks.
• Each paragraph, image, video, or button is treated as an individual block that can be rearranged easily.

• Uses a modular approach, making it easier to structure pages without coding.

According to WordPress statistics, over 80% of users prefer Gutenberg’s block-based editing over the old Classic Editor due to its flexibility.

C. Top Toolbar – Quick Editing Actions

The Top Toolbar sits at the top of the editor and includes essential buttons:

• Undo/Redo: Allows you to revert or redo changes.

• Save Draft: Saves your work without publishing.

• Preview: Lets you see how your content appears before publishing.

• Publish: Finalizes and makes your post/page live.

• More Options: Provides extra settings for customizing your editing experience.

D. Settings Panel (Block & Document Settings)

Located on the right side, this panel has two tabs:

• Document Settings:

• Set visibility (Public, Private, or Password-Protected).
• Choose categories and tags.
• Upload a featured image.
• Customize post attributes.
• Block Settings:

• Modify typography, color, padding, and margins for individual blocks.
• Add animations and custom CSS (if supported by your theme).

E. Block Inserter (+ Button) – Adding New Blocks

• Click the “+” button (top left or inline) to add a new block.
• Use the search bar to find specific blocks quickly.

• Drag and drop blocks directly into the content area.

Instead of clicking the “+” button, type “/” followed by a block name (e.g., /image) to insert blocks instantly.

Working with Blocks

At the core of Gutenberg’s functionality are blocks. These self-contained content elements allow users to create dynamic layouts effortlessly.

What Are Blocks & How Do They Work?

Each content piece (text, image, video, button) is a separate block. Blocks can be moved, duplicated, styled, and reused. They eliminate the need for shortcodes and custom HTML for basic formatting.

How to Add, Edit, Duplicate, and Delete Blocks

Now that you have a basic understanding of WordPress blocks, let’s dive into how to add, edit, duplicate, and delete blocks to customize your content effortlessly.

Adding Blocks

• Click the “+” button in the toolbar or inside the content area.

• Select the block you want (e.g., Paragraph, Image, Heading).

• Type content or upload media files.

Editing Blocks

• Click inside a block to edit its text, images, or settings.

• Use the Block Toolbar (appears above the block) for quick formatting.

Duplicating Blocks

• Click on a block, then select “Duplicate” from the More Options menu (three dots).

• Useful for repeating similar content (e.g., call-to-action buttons).

Deleting Blocks

• Click on a block and press Delete/Backspace or use the Remove Block option.

Common Block Types in Gutenberg

Gutenberg offers 90+ default blocks, categorized into different types. Here are the most commonly used ones:

A. Text Blocks (For Writing & Formatting)

• Paragraph: The default block for adding text.

• Heading: Allows you to structure content with H1–H6 headings.

• List: Creates bullet points or numbered lists for better readability.

• Quote: Highlights text as a pull-quote for emphasis.

B. Media Blocks (For Images, Videos, & Galleries)

• Image: Upload images or select from the media library.
• Video: Embed videos from YouTube, Vimeo, or upload your own.
• Gallery: Display multiple images in a grid or carousel format.
• Audio: Add an MP3 file or embed a podcast.

According to a WPBeginner study, articles with images get 94% more views than those without visuals!

C. Layout Blocks (For Page Design & Structure)

• Columns: Create multi-column layouts for better design.
• Buttons: Add interactive buttons for call-to-actions.
• Spacer: Add white space between blocks for better readability.
• Separator: Insert a horizontal line to divide sections.

Use the ZoloBlocks plugin to unlock advanced layout blocks with animations, gradients, and custom effects.

D. Embed Blocks (For External Content & Social Media)

• YouTube: Embed a video with a single click.
• Twitter: Display tweets directly inside your post.
• Instagram: Showcase Instagram posts without plugins.

Customizing Blocks for Better Design

Gutenberg allows extensive block customization to enhance the look and feel of your content.

A. Adjusting Typography, Colors & Alignment

• Change font size, weight, and letter spacing in the Block Settings panel.

• Customize text and background colors for better contrast.
• Align text left, center, or right for readability.

B. Using the Block Toolbar vs. Settings Sidebar

• The Block Toolbar provides quick formatting options like bold, italic, alignment.
• The Settings Sidebar offers advanced styling, including margins, padding, and custom CSS.

C. Understanding Reusable Blocks & Block Patterns

Reusable Blocks (For Frequently Used Content)

• Save any block for repeated use across multiple posts/pages.
• Example: Author bios, Call-to-action buttons, Affiliate disclaimers.

How to create a reusable block:

1. Select a block and click “More Options” (Three dots).
2. Choose “Add to Reusable Blocks” and give it a name.

3. Insert it in future posts without recreating it.

Block Patterns (Pre-Designed Layouts)

• Block Patterns are ready-made design sections that speed up page building.
• WordPress provides built-in patterns, and plugins like ZoloBlocks offer premium ones.

Use Block Patterns to create hero sections, testimonials, and pricing tables instantly!

Managing Content with Gutenberg

A. Moving & Rearranging Blocks

• Use drag-and-drop to reposition blocks.
• Click the Up/Down arrows to shift blocks one position at a time.

B. Grouping Blocks for Better Organization

• Select multiple blocks and choose “Group” to manage them together.

• Apply global styling to grouped blocks for consistency.

C. Using Full-Width & Wide-Width Options

• Some themes (like Astra, GeneratePress, Rooten) support full-width and wide-width blocks.
• Full-width layouts make images and sections span edge-to-edge for modern designs

10 Advanced Tips to Master Gutenberg Block Editor

Gutenberg is already a powerful tool, but mastering its advanced features can significantly enhance your content creation process. 

Below are 10 expert tips to help you make the most of the WordPress Block Editor.

Tip #1: Enable Full-Site Editing (FSE) in Supported Themes

Full-Site Editing (FSE) is a revolutionary feature in WordPress that allows you to edit your entire website from within the Gutenberg editor, including the header, footer, and other structural components. 

With FSE-enabled themes, you can create and customize your entire website layout, not just the content area, making the editing experience more consistent.

How FSE Changes WordPress Customization

• Centralized editing experience: FSE allows you to design every part of your site in one place, including global design elements like site headers, footers, and navigation menus.
• Enhanced control: FSE gives you complete control over your theme’s templates and style without needing to touch any code.

To enable FSE, ensure that you are using a compatible theme (such as the default WordPress themes like Twenty Twenty-Two) and activate it through Appearance > Editor.

Tip #2: Use Keyboard Shortcuts for Faster Editing

Keyboard shortcuts can dramatically speed up your workflow in the Gutenberg editor. Below are some essential shortcuts that will improve your productivity:

• / (Slash): Quickly add any block by typing its name after pressing the slash.
• Ctrl + Z (Cmd + Z on Mac): Undo your last action.
• Ctrl + Y (Cmd + Y on Mac): Redo your last undone action.
• Ctrl + Shift + D (Cmd + Shift + D on Mac): Duplicate the selected block.
• Alt + Shift + T: Add a new Table block.
• Ctrl + Shift + C (Cmd + Shift + C on Mac): Copy a block.

These shortcuts allow you to stay within the editor and make changes quickly, minimizing the need for excessive mouse movements.

Tip #3: Create and Save Reusable Blocks

Reusable blocks are an excellent way to create and store content elements that you use frequently. For example, if you use the same call-to-action button or affiliate links on multiple pages, saving them as reusable blocks can save time and effort.

How to Create, Edit, and Use Reusable Blocks Efficiently

• Create a block, such as a button, and add the desired content or styling.

• Click the three dots in the block’s toolbar and select “Add to Reusable Blocks.”

• Name the block, and it will be available in your block inserter under Reusable.

• To use it again, simply insert the block from the reusable section, and edit as needed.

Reusable blocks are perfect for site-wide elements like banners, testimonials, or disclaimers.

Tip #4: Explore Block Patterns for Faster Page Building

Block patterns are pre-designed layouts that can be inserted with a single click. They are an efficient way to build complex pages quickly, without manually adding and arranging individual blocks. 

ZoloBlocks also offers premium block patterns that help you create professional designs in minutes.

How to Insert and Customize Block Patterns

• Open the block inserter and click on the Patterns tab.
• Browse through the available patterns, such as hero sections, pricing tables, or testimonials.
• Select a pattern, and it will be inserted into your content area.

• Customize the pattern to match your design by editing text, images, and colors.

Block patterns can significantly reduce the time it takes to build a page from scratch, especially for pages with repetitive layouts.

Tip #5: Customize Gutenberg’s UI with Preferences

Gutenberg allows you to tweak the editor’s user interface (UI) for greater efficiency. You can change settings related to how blocks behave, how the editor displays, and the overall user experience.

How to Tweak the Editor Experience for Efficiency

• Disable or enable the block toolbar for a cleaner workspace.
• Show or hide the block settings panel based on your needs.
• Choose between a simple or advanced view for block options.
• Set default fonts and colors to match your site’s branding.

By customizing Gutenberg’s UI, you can streamline your workflow and make content creation even more efficient.

Tip #6: Improve Layouts with Columns and Nested Blocks

Creating complex layouts can be challenging, but Gutenberg offers powerful tools like columns and nested blocks to make this process much easier.

How to Create Grid-Based Layouts

To create grid-based layouts in Gutenberg:

• Use the Columns block to divide your content into two or more columns. You can choose between different column layouts (e.g., 50/50, 70/30, etc.).
• For more complex designs, you can nest blocks inside columns. Simply add a block inside the column, like a text block or an image block, to structure your layout further.
• You can also add Spacer blocks or Group blocks to manage alignment and positioning.

Columns are especially useful for creating multi-column text layouts, image galleries, or complex page designs, all while maintaining the simplicity and flexibility of the Gutenberg editor.

Tip #7: Optimize for Mobile with Responsive Settings

With mobile-first design becoming increasingly important, Gutenberg offers tools that allow you to preview and adjust your content for mobile devices.

How to Preview and Adjust Designs for Different Screen Sizes

• Preview Mode: Gutenberg provides an in-editor Preview Mode where you can switch between desktop, tablet, and mobile views to see how your page will look on different devices.
• Responsive Blocks: Some blocks, including ZoloBlocks, offer responsive settings to ensure content scales correctly on smaller screens. You can adjust block sizes, font sizes, and alignment specifically for mobile views.
• Hide/Show Blocks: ZoloBlocks also provides options to hide or show blocks based on device type, ensuring a clean and optimized mobile experience.

By using these responsive settings, you can ensure your website is mobile-friendly and provides a seamless browsing experience for users on all devices.

Tip #8: Speed Up Content Creation with Templates

Gutenberg’s template feature allows you to create and reuse page layouts, saving time and ensuring consistency across your website.

How to Create and Reuse Page Templates in Gutenberg

• Create your desired page layout, complete with all blocks and settings.
• Save this layout as a template. In the Gutenberg editor, you can click on the three dots in the top-right corner and select Save as Template.
• Once saved, you can access this template for future use by navigating to Template options when creating a new post or page.

This feature is particularly useful for creating consistent layouts across multiple pages or posts, such as landing pages, product pages, or service descriptions.

Tip #9: Optimize Site Performance with Gutenberg

One of the main advantages of using Gutenberg is its lightweight structure. Unlike traditional page builders, Gutenberg doesn’t load heavy scripts or resources, which can slow down your site.

Why Gutenberg is Lightweight Compared to Page Builders

• Native Integration: Since Gutenberg is built into WordPress, it is highly optimized and integrates seamlessly with the WordPress core.
• Minimal Load: Gutenberg adds only the necessary scripts for the blocks used, making it more efficient than page builders that load additional libraries and heavy CSS files.

Avoiding Unnecessary Blocks and Scripts for Speed

To further optimize performance, you can:

• Limit the use of unnecessary blocks and scripts. Only use the blocks you need to avoid bloat.
• Use lazy loading for media blocks (such as images and videos), which delays loading until the user scrolls to that section.
• Disable unused features in Gutenberg and plugins to keep the site fast and responsive.

This optimization can improve your site’s page load time and user experience, positively impacting SEO and conversion rates.

Tip #10: Keep Up with Gutenberg Updates & New Features

Gutenberg is continuously evolving, with regular updates introducing new features and enhancements. Staying up-to-date with these updates ensures that you are using the latest tools available for building websites.

How Gutenberg is Evolving (Latest Updates and Roadmap)

• The Full-Site Editing (FSE) initiative is one of the key areas of development, aiming to make the entire site customizable through the Gutenberg editor.
• New block patterns and design flexibility features are constantly being added.
• Upcoming features include improved performance, better accessibility, and more block options.

By keeping an eye on the official WordPress release notes, you can take full advantage of new capabilities and stay ahead of the curve.

Conclusion

With its constant improvements and features like Full-Site Editing and a wide variety of customization options, Gutenberg has become a powerful tool for all types of users, from beginners to advanced developers.

When you pair with ZoloBlocks, you can take Gutenberg’s capabilities to the next level. ZoloBlocks enhances your design flexibility, allowing you to add advanced elements, animations, and pre built templates, and also provides essential tools for more sophisticated website designs.

We encourage you to explore all the features of Gutenberg and ZoloBlocks, experiment with block patterns, keyboard shortcuts, and advanced tips to create websites that stand out. 

The more you practice, the better you’ll get at leveraging these powerful tools for a better website-building experience.