Convert from the Classic to the Block editor

When you transition to using the block editor for the first time, this guide can help you keep the editing process smooth.

When a post or page edited in the Classic Editor is opened in the block editor, the content is automatically displayed in a Classic block with two options:

1. Convert to blocks: Transforms the classic content into individual blocks, such as the Paragraph block for text, the Image block for images, and every other available block.
2. Convert to HTML: Puts the content into a Custom HTML block to preserve the markup code.

Converting to blocks is the recommended option for the best editing experience. Every element of your classic content will be converted into its matching block. After clicking “Convert to blocks“, check through the content to make sure it’s all displayed as you intended.

Don’t forget to click Save to save the changes to your post or page once the conversion is complete.

For more on working with blocks, visit our guide to the WordPress (block) editor:

Converting a Classic block to individual blocks does not delete or alter the underlying content. If something looks wrong after the conversion, click the Undo button (or press Ctrl + Z on Windows or Cmd + Z on Mac) to revert the change before saving. As an extra safeguard, save the post as a draft before converting so you can restore an earlier version from revisions if needed.

If you don’t need to edit a page or post that was created in the Classic Editor, you can leave it untouched. Existing Classic blocks continue to work, and there is no deadline to convert them. Posts and pages that already contain Classic blocks are not changed automatically. Converting is recommended if you need to edit the content.

Converting changes how content is stored in the editor — one Classic block becomes individual blocks — but the published post usually looks the same to visitors. Some elements may shift during conversion, such as image alignment, custom HTML, or complex layouts. Use Preview to check the post’s appearance before saving, and click Undo if anything looks different.

Conversion behavior depends on the content type. Many shortcodes and embeds are converted to a matching block — for example, a YouTube embed becomes a YouTube block, and a recognized shortcode becomes a Shortcode block. HTML code and unusual content may be placed in a Custom HTML block or, in some cases, split across multiple blocks.

If your Classic block contains content that needs to be preserved exactly — complex shortcodes, custom HTML, or third-party plugin output — use Convert to HTML instead of Convert to blocks. This places the entire Classic block content into a single Custom HTML block, keeping the original markup intact.

To keep using the Classic Editor, install the Classic Editor plugin on your site. For step-by-step instructions, see the Classic Editor guide.

Since 2018, the block editor is the default and actively developed editor for WordPress. It offers more layout flexibility, supports modern site features like patterns and full site editing, and includes an extensive library of blocks for text, media, design, embeds, and every other type of content imaginable. The Classic block is deprecated, which means it no longer receives updates and will be removed in a future release. Converting your content to blocks keeps your posts and pages compatible with current and future WordPress.com improvements.