Writing in the WordPress block editor is frustrating when all you want to do is sit down and draft a simple post. You get toolbars popping up in your face and menus getting in your way. To make matters worse, WordPress loads heavy block stylesheets on every single page of your site even if you don’t use blocks. KO Disable Gutenberg lets you disable Gutenberg in WordPress with one click so you can bring back the fast Classic Editor and drop the extra code.
You can write your articles faster and keep your website clean. This tool is part of my collection of free WordPress plugins built to strip away junk code and keep your site blazing fast.
- Version: 1.0.0
- Requires WP: 6.0+
- PHP: 7.4+
- Frontend Assets: 0 KB
- License: GPLv2
Why I Built KO Disable Gutenberg
The block editor was designed to turn WordPress into a visual page builder. But if you just want to write articles, dealing with nested blocks and endless sidebar panels slows down your drafting.
What’s worse is that WordPress sneaks heavy block styling sheets into your website code on every single visit. Those extra files force your visitors’ browsers to download styles you aren’t even using.
I built this tool to fix both problems at once. It brings back the clean, familiar Classic Editor and strips those heavy block style files off your public pages so your site loads faster.
How to Restore the Classic Editor and Strip Block Styles
Here is what happens the second you toggle the switch on:
- Brings Back the Classic Editor: Restores the clean, familiar TinyMCE writing screen across all your posts, pages, and custom post types.
- Strips Heavy Block Stylesheets: Dumps the extra block library files from your public pages so visitors don’t download files you don’t need.
- Leaves Your Content Untouched: Keeps all your existing articles, HTML formatting, and images completely safe.
- Zero Extra Scripts: Runs on simple WordPress filters with zero frontend CSS or JavaScript added to your site.
- 100% Free & Open Source: Released freely under the GPLv2 license with the full source code available on GitHub.
How to Install and Set Up KO Disable Gutenberg
Restoring the Classic Editor takes less than two minutes:
- Download the ZIP: Grab the
ko-disable-gutenberg.zippackage using the download button above. - Upload & Activate: Click over to Plugins -> Add New Plugin -> Upload Plugin in your dashboard, pick the zip file, and hit Activate.
- Check Your Dashboard: Open up KO Plugins -> Dashboard from your sidebar to confirm the Restore Classic Editor switch is toggled to ON.
Once active, edit any post or page in your dashboard. You’ll see the fast, familiar Classic Editor immediately, and block stylesheets will be gone from your public pages.
Frequently Asked Questions About KO Disable Gutenberg
Will disabling Gutenberg break my existing blog posts or pages?
No. Your published content remains 100% intact. The Classic Editor reads standard HTML cleanly, and all your existing text, images, and custom fields display normally.
Does this plugin remove block editor stylesheets on the front end?
Yes. WordPress core loads block library stylesheets (wp-block-library, wp-block-library-theme, wc-blocks-style) on every public page. This plugin dequeues them to reduce page weight and improve load times.
Does this work with custom post types and landing pages?
Yes. The plugin filters use_block_editor_for_post_type across all standard posts, pages, and custom post types for a consistent Classic Editor experience.
Can I switch back to the Block Editor later if I want to?
Yes. Simply toggle the Restore Classic Editor switch to OFF on your dashboard. WordPress will instantly restore the Block Editor and re-enable block stylesheets.
Can I use this plugin on client websites?
Yes. KO Disable Gutenberg is licensed under GPLv2, which means you can install and use it freely on unlimited personal, business, or client websites.