Disable Block Editor FullScreen mode

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Disable Block Editor FullScreen mode

by Ankit Panchal

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Description

Since WordPress 5.4, the block editor opens in fullscreen mode: the admin menu disappears while you write, and getting back to the rest of the dashboard takes an extra click.

This plugin turns fullscreen mode off, so the block editor opens inside the normal WordPress admin, with the menu on the left, just like every other screen.

Features

  • Opens the block editor with the admin menu in view, every time.
  • Works for every user, and for posts, pages and any post type that uses the block editor.
  • No settings. Activate it and it works.
  • Tiny: one short script in the editor, and nothing at all on your site’s front end.
  • Tested with the latest version of WordPress.

How it works

When the block editor opens, the plugin checks the editor’s “Fullscreen mode” preference and switches it off. To use fullscreen mode again, deactivate the plugin.

More free plugins by the author

  1. In your admin, go to Plugins Add New Plugin and search for “Disable Block Editor FullScreen mode”.
  2. Click Install Now, then Activate.
  3. Open any post or page. The editor now shows the admin menu.
  1. Before and after: in fullscreen mode the editor hides the admin menu; with this plugin it stays in view.

    Before and after: in fullscreen mode the editor hides the admin menu; with this plugin it stays in view.

  2. With the plugin, the block editor opens with the admin menu in view.

    With the plugin, the block editor opens with the admin menu in view.

Does it work on older versions of WordPress?

It needs WordPress 5.4 or later, the version that made fullscreen the default.

Can people still use fullscreen mode?

While the plugin is active, the editor turns fullscreen mode off each time it opens. Deactivate the plugin to use fullscreen mode again.

Does it change anything on my site?

No. It only runs in the block editor, in your admin.

Is there a settings page?

No. There is nothing to set up.

Technically works but now with ads

By Jonathan (jhendricker) on May 23, 2024

First off, the plugin technically works and up to recently I had no issues with it. However, it recently started displaying a giant ad for another of it’s plugins on all of my site dashboards when I logged in. The problem is the ad doesn’t even let you know that it’s associated with this plugin. I had to do a bunch of Googling to figure it out. I thought my sites had been hacked. There is a “Never Show This Again” link in the ad.

This was supposed to be a simple plugin. Essentially it was 4 lines of code to disable the fullscreen editor (83 if you count all the boilerplate WordPress plugin registration and comments). Now it’s bloated up to 280 lines with all the WP UltimaKit ad nonsense.

Lost without it

By jmslbam on May 23, 2024

I and all my clients were lost with this new full editing experience. They didn’t know, where to click to get back to the dashboard, thanks to this plugin, they can manage their website again in a logical way. Ciao!

I edited this to 2 star rating (just works) because it now shows a big unnecessary sales notice on the whole WordPress Dashboard to upsell his other works. Just don’t do this mate, don’t… and the guidelines also say, don’t do it… https://developer.wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-org/detailed-plugin-guidelines/#11-plugins-should-not-hijack-the-admin-dashboard So a 2 star rating is generous.

Amazing plugin

By mich08 on March 9, 2023

Amazing plugin *****

Works fine with WP 5.5.3

By Michael Galli (galliweb) on November 20, 2020

I installed the plugin, activated it and nothing happened. Still all in fullscreen mode. I guess it needs a fix. Edit: It works totally fine. Found some bugs + incompatibility issues with custom code – that´s why it conflicted before and didn´t work.

'Ridiculous' plugin (but good and necessary!)

By Jack (moxie) on August 28, 2020

It’s ridiculous that there should be a plugin like this one, but I’m very happy it exists! No way to turn the full screen editing off by default. Thank you!

Merci !

By jamesdoukaga on April 28, 2020

Excellente Extension

Thanks!

By Jory Hogeveen (keraweb) on April 10, 2020

While it’s insane that this would need a plugin, thank you for making one!

Its so simple

By Hiren (hirendabhi1246) on April 3, 2020

Its so simple

4.3.2 – 25-09-2026

  • The editor script no longer needs jQuery, so it keeps working if WordPress stops loading jQuery Migrate.
  • Messages now use the plugin’s own text domain, so they can be translated.
  • New icon and banners, and a clearer description.

4.3.1 – 24-09-2026

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

4.3.0 – 07-07-2026

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

4.2.0 – 24-02-2026

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

4.1.1 – 31-01-2026

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

4.0.0 – 25-11-2025

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

3.2.4 – 27-08-2025

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version 6.8.

3.2.3 – 11-08-2025

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version 6.8.

3.2.2 – 02-06-2025

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version 6.8.

3.2.1 – 18-04-2025

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version 6.8.

3.2.0 – 02-04-2025

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

3.1.0 – 16-02-2025

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

3.0.0 – 28-12-2024

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.9.2 – 09-11-2024

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.9.1 – 30-10-2024

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.9.0 – 25-09-2024

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.8.3 – 13-08-2024

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.8.2 – 02-07-2024

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.8.1 – 24-05-2024

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.8.0 – 13-05-2024

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version & UltimaKit For WP support added.

2.7.2 – 03-04-2024

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.7.1 – 06-02-2024

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.7.0 – 01-01-2024

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.6.2 – 09-11-2023

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.6.1 – 01-10-2023

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.6.0 – 01-10-2023

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.5.0 – 30-06-2023

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.4.4 – 29-05-2023

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.4.3 – 29-04-2023

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.4.2 – 23-03-2023

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.4.1

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.4.0

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.3.1

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.3.0

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.2.0

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.1.0

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.0.2

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.0.1

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

2.0.0

  • Compatibility tested & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

1.9.0

  • Improvements & Tested with the latest WordPress version.

1.8.0

  • Improvements

1.7.0

  • Improvements

1.6.0

  • Improvements

1.5.0

  • Improvements

1.4.0

  • Improvements

1.3.0

  • Improvements

1.2.0

  • Improvements

1.1.0

  • Improvements

1.0.0

  • First Release