Let’s face it sometimes you just want to get things done in WordPress without all the fancy bells and whistles.
And when that fullscreen editor pops up blocking your view of the familiar WordPress menu and toolbar it can feel like a real roadblock.
But don’t worry you’re not alone and there are ways to tame that beast and regain control over your WordPress editing experience.
Tired of that fullscreen editor hogging all the screen space? 😠 Get your WordPress menu and toolbar back in the spotlight with this easy-peasy guide to disabling the fullscreen editor. You’ll be back to editing like a pro in no time! 🚀
Taking Control: How to Disable the Fullscreen Editor in WordPress
Tired of that fullscreen editor hogging all the screen space? 😠 Get your WordPress menu and toolbar back in the spotlight with this easy-peasy guide to disabling the fullscreen editor. You’ll be back to editing like a pro in no time! 🚀
Here’s the thing about WordPress 5.4 and that full-screen editor: it was a well-intentioned change meant to give writers a distraction-free zone.
But sometimes you need quick access to those tools and having the entire screen dedicated to the editor can feel a little restrictive.
Temporary Solutions: A Quick Fix for Your Workflow
Let’s start with the easy stuff the quick fixes that won’t require any fancy coding or plugin installations.
We’re talking about ways to temporarily disable the fullscreen editor so you can get back to that familiar compact view in just a few clicks.
First things first make sure you’re in the right place.
If you’re editing a page navigate to “Pages > All Pages.” For a post it’s “Posts > All Posts.” Now when you open a new page or post or even edit an existing one you’ll see that fullscreen editor jump right in ready to take over.
But don’t panic! We’ve got your back.
Look for the three-dot icon in the upper right-hand corner of the editor.
Click on that icon and then uncheck “Fullscreen Mode.” Boom! You’re back in the compact view with the WordPress menu and toolbar back in their rightful place.
Now remember this is a temporary solution.
Every time you launch a new browser session switch to a different browser or use a different WordPress account you’ll have to repeat the process.
The Permanent Fix: Coding Your Way to Compact View
Sometimes you just want to ditch the fullscreen editor for good.
We get it that compact view is your go-to editing style.
And for that we’ll need to roll up our sleeves and dive into the world of code.
But before you start messing around with your theme files let’s do something smart – create a full WordPress backup.
You never know when things might go awry and having a backup will save your sanity.
Now head on over to “Appearance > Theme Editor.” You’ll see a text editor where you can make changes to your theme files.
On the right side of the screen you’ll find the “functions.php” file.
Click on that and you’re ready to add some code.
Paste the following code into the bottom of the “functions.php” file:
if (is_admin()) {
function jba_disable_editor_fullscreen_by_default() {
$script = "jQuery( window ).load(function() { const isFullscreenMode = wp.data.select( 'core/edit-post' ).isFeatureActive( 'fullscreenMode' ); if ( isFullscreenMode ) { wp.data.dispatch( 'core/edit-post' ).toggleFeature( 'fullscreenMode' ); } });";
wp_add_inline_script( 'wp-blocks' $script );
}
add_action( 'enqueue_block_editor_assets' 'jba_disable_editor_fullscreen_by_default' );
}Now click on “Update File.” Your changes will be applied immediately.
If you see an error message like “Your PHP code changes were rolled back” check the line mentioned in the error message.
There might be a small mistake that needs to be fixed.
Next time you open a page or post for editing you’ll be greeted with the familiar WordPress compact view.
But you can still switch back to fullscreen mode if you need to simply by clicking on the three-dot icon and selecting “Fullscreen Mode.”
Plugin Power: A Click Away from Control
Maybe you’re not a code-writing wizard or you just want a quicker way to disable the fullscreen editor.
That’s where plugins come in.
They can save you a lot of time and hassle and they often provide additional customization options.
You can use plugins like Code Snippets to add the code we mentioned earlier without directly editing your theme files.
Install and activate the plugin then go to “Snippets > Add New” and paste the code into the editor.
If you want a more dedicated solution there’s a plugin called “Disable Block Editor FullScreen Mode.” Just install and activate it and it will disable the fullscreen editor automatically without requiring any additional configuration.
A Word of Wisdom: The WordPress Toolkit
WordPress is all about customization giving you the power to shape your website to your liking.
Whether you prefer a distraction-free fullscreen mode or a feature-rich compact view WordPress gives you the flexibility to make it work for you.
And if you’re looking to truly take your WordPress website to the next level consider a managed WordPress hosting provider like WP Engine.
They offer a range of plans with features designed to enhance speed security and overall performance.
Remember a well-built WordPress website is like a well-maintained garden.
It needs the right tools the right environment and a little bit of TLC to flourish.
So choose the tools that best suit your needs and let your online presence bloom!
Tired of that fullscreen editor hogging all the screen space? 😠 Get your WordPress menu and toolbar back in the spotlight with this easy-peasy guide to disabling the fullscreen editor. You’ll be back to editing like a pro in no time! 🚀