Editor Customization

The WordPress Block Editor provides extensive customization capabilities, allowing you to tailor the editing experience to your specific needs. You can control which features are available, modify block behavior, and create a curated editing environment.

Editor Settings

The block_editor_settings_all Filter

The block_editor_settings_all PHP filter is your primary tool for modifying editor settings before the editor initializes:

add_filter( 'block_editor_settings_all', 'example_customize_editor_settings' );

function example_customize_editor_settings( $settings, $context ) {
  // Modify settings here
  return $settings;
}

The filter receives two parameters:

$settings - Array of configurable editor settings
$context - Instance of WP_Block_Editor_Context containing editor information

Common Editor Settings

Disable Code Editor
Set Default Image Size
Disable Font Library
Disable Inspector Tabs

add_filter( 'block_editor_settings_all', 'disable_code_editor_for_non_admins' );

function disable_code_editor_for_non_admins( $settings ) {
  $can_activate_plugins = current_user_can( 'activate_plugins' );

  if ( ! $can_activate_plugins ) {
    $settings['codeEditingEnabled'] = false;
  }

  return $settings;
}

add_filter( 'block_editor_settings_all', 'set_default_image_size' );

function set_default_image_size( $settings ) {
  $settings['imageDefaultSize'] = 'large';
  return $settings;
}

add_filter( 'block_editor_settings_all', 'disable_font_library' );

function disable_font_library( $settings ) {
  $settings['fontLibraryEnabled'] = false;
  return $settings;
}

add_filter( 'block_editor_settings_all', 'disable_inspector_tabs' );

function disable_inspector_tabs( $settings ) {
  $settings['enableBlockInspectorTabs'] = false;
  return $settings;
}

Controlling Available Blocks

Allow/Deny Lists

You can control which blocks are available in the editor:

add_filter( 'allowed_block_types_all', 'example_allowed_blocks', 10, 2 );

function example_allowed_blocks( $allowed_block_types, $editor_context ) {
  // Return array of allowed block names
  return array(
    'core/paragraph',
    'core/heading',
    'core/list',
    'core/image',
  );
}

When unregistering blocks, ensure your code runs after block registration by specifying wp-edit-post as a dependency and using domReady() to avoid race conditions.

Block Categories

Customize block categories in the inserter:

add_filter( 'block_categories_all', 'add_custom_block_category', 10, 2 );

function add_custom_block_category( $categories, $editor_context ) {
  if ( ! empty( $editor_context->post ) ) {
    return array_merge(
      $categories,
      array(
        array(
          'slug'  => 'custom-category',
          'title' => __( 'Custom Blocks', 'textdomain' ),
          'icon'  => 'admin-plugins',
        ),
      )
    );
  }
  return $categories;
}

Client-side Settings Filters

blockEditor.useSetting.before

This powerful filter allows you to modify block-level theme.json settings dynamically:

Restrict by Block Type
Restrict by Parent Block

import { addFilter } from '@wordpress/hooks';

addFilter(
  'blockEditor.useSetting.before',
  'example/limit-column-spacing',
  ( settingValue, settingName, clientId, blockName ) => {
    if ( blockName === 'core/column' && settingName === 'spacing.units' ) {
      return [ 'px' ];
    }
    return settingValue;
  }
);

import { select } from '@wordpress/data';
import { addFilter } from '@wordpress/hooks';

addFilter(
  'blockEditor.useSetting.before',
  'example/disable-heading-color-in-media-text',
  ( settingValue, settingName, clientId, blockName ) => {
    if ( blockName === 'core/heading' ) {
      const { getBlockParents, getBlockName } = select( 'core/block-editor' );
      const blockParents = getBlockParents( clientId, true );
      const inMediaText = blockParents.some(
        ( ancestorId ) => getBlockName( ancestorId ) === 'core/media-text'
      );

      if ( inMediaText && settingName === 'color.text' ) {
        return false;
      }
    }
    return settingValue;
  }
);

User-Based Customization

Tailor the editor experience based on user capabilities:

add_filter( 'block_editor_settings_all', 'customize_by_user_role' );

function customize_by_user_role( $settings ) {
  if ( ! current_user_can( 'edit_theme_options' ) ) {
    // Non-administrators get restricted features
    $settings['codeEditingEnabled'] = false;
    $settings['fontLibraryEnabled'] = false;
    $settings['canLockBlocks'] = false;
  }

  return $settings;
}

Template Locking

Control which parts of a template users can edit:

function register_locked_template() {
  $post_type_object = get_post_type_object( 'page' );
  $post_type_object->template = array(
    array(
      'core/heading',
      array(
        'placeholder' => 'Add title...',
        'lock' => array(
          'move'   => true,
          'remove' => true,
        ),
      ),
    ),
    array(
      'core/paragraph',
      array(
        'placeholder' => 'Add content...',
      ),
    ),
  );
  $post_type_object->template_lock = 'all';
}
add_action( 'init', 'register_locked_template' );

Patterns Management

Control block pattern availability:

// Unregister core patterns
function remove_core_patterns() {
  remove_theme_support( 'core-block-patterns' );
}
add_action( 'after_setup_theme', 'remove_core_patterns' );

// Register custom patterns
function register_custom_pattern() {
  register_block_pattern(
    'my-theme/hero-section',
    array(
      'title'       => __( 'Hero Section', 'textdomain' ),
      'description' => __( 'A hero section with heading and call to action', 'textdomain' ),
      'content'     => '<!-- wp:group --><!-- /wp:group -->',
      'categories'  => array( 'featured' ),
    )
  );
}
add_action( 'init', 'register_custom_pattern' );

Control editor UI elements:

import { registerPlugin } from '@wordpress/plugins';
import { PluginSidebar, PluginSidebarMoreMenuItem } from '@wordpress/edit-post';
import { PanelBody, TextControl } from '@wordpress/components';

const CustomSidebar = () => (
  <>
    <PluginSidebarMoreMenuItem target="custom-sidebar">
      Custom Options
    </PluginSidebarMoreMenuItem>
    <PluginSidebar name="custom-sidebar" title="Custom Options">
      <PanelBody>
        <TextControl
          label="Custom Field"
          help="Enter custom data"
        />
      </PanelBody>
    </PluginSidebar>
  </>
);

registerPlugin( 'custom-sidebar', { render: CustomSidebar } );

Document Settings

Add custom panels to the document settings:

import { registerPlugin } from '@wordpress/plugins';
import { PluginDocumentSettingPanel } from '@wordpress/edit-post';
import { PanelRow, ToggleControl } from '@wordpress/components';

const CustomDocumentSettings = () => (
  <PluginDocumentSettingPanel
    name="custom-settings"
    title="Custom Settings"
    className="custom-settings-panel"
  >
    <PanelRow>
      <ToggleControl
        label="Enable Custom Feature"
        checked={ false }
        onChange={ () => {} }
      />
    </PanelRow>
  </PluginDocumentSettingPanel>
);

registerPlugin( 'custom-document-settings', {
  render: CustomDocumentSettings,
} );

Pre-publish Panel

Add custom checks before publishing:

import { registerPlugin } from '@wordpress/plugins';
import { PluginPrePublishPanel } from '@wordpress/edit-post';

const PrePublishCheckList = () => (
  <PluginPrePublishPanel
    title="Publishing Checklist"
    initialOpen={ true }
  >
    <ul>
      <li>✓ Featured image added</li>
      <li>✓ SEO description completed</li>
      <li>✓ Categories selected</li>
    </ul>
  </PluginPrePublishPanel>
);

registerPlugin( 'pre-publish-checklist', {
  render: PrePublishCheckList,
} );

Color and Typography Controls

Fine-tune design controls:

add_filter( 'block_editor_settings_all', 'customize_color_palette' );

function customize_color_palette( $settings ) {
  $settings['colors'] = array(
    array(
      'name'  => __( 'Primary', 'textdomain' ),
      'slug'  => 'primary',
      'color' => '#007cba',
    ),
    array(
      'name'  => __( 'Secondary', 'textdomain' ),
      'slug'  => 'secondary',
      'color' => '#ff5837',
    ),
  );

  $settings['fontSizes'] = array(
    array(
      'name' => __( 'Small', 'textdomain' ),
      'size' => 14,
      'slug' => 'small',
    ),
    array(
      'name' => __( 'Medium', 'textdomain' ),
      'size' => 18,
      'slug' => 'medium',
    ),
    array(
      'name' => __( 'Large', 'textdomain' ),
      'size' => 24,
      'slug' => 'large',
    ),
  );

  // Disable custom colors and font sizes
  $settings['disableCustomColors'] = true;
  $settings['disableCustomFontSizes'] = true;

  return $settings;
}

Context-Aware Customization

Customize based on post type or template:

add_filter( 'allowed_block_types_all', 'customize_blocks_by_context', 10, 2 );

function customize_blocks_by_context( $allowed_blocks, $editor_context ) {
  // Different blocks for different post types
  if ( ! empty( $editor_context->post ) ) {
    $post_type = $editor_context->post->post_type;

    if ( 'product' === $post_type ) {
      return array(
        'core/paragraph',
        'core/image',
        'core/gallery',
        'woocommerce/product-price',
      );
    }

    if ( 'page' === $post_type ) {
      return array(
        'core/paragraph',
        'core/heading',
        'core/group',
        'core/columns',
      );
    }
  }

  return $allowed_blocks;
}

Best Practices

Test thoroughly: Customizations affect the editing experience - test with different user roles
Document your changes: Explain why certain features are restricted
Consider accessibility: Ensure customizations don’t hinder content creation for users with disabilities
Use progressive enhancement: Start with minimal restrictions and add more as needed
Provide feedback: When restricting features, explain to users why certain options aren’t available
Stay updated: Block editor features evolve - review customizations with each WordPress update

Common Use Cases

Simplified Editor for Contributors

add_filter( 'block_editor_settings_all', 'simplified_editor_for_contributors' );

function simplified_editor_for_contributors( $settings ) {
  if ( ! current_user_can( 'edit_theme_options' ) ) {
    $settings['codeEditingEnabled'] = false;
    $settings['fontLibraryEnabled'] = false;
    $settings['enableBlockInspectorTabs'] = false;
    $settings['canLockBlocks'] = false;
  }
  return $settings;
}

add_filter( 'allowed_block_types_all', 'basic_blocks_for_contributors', 10, 2 );

function basic_blocks_for_contributors( $allowed_blocks, $editor_context ) {
  if ( ! current_user_can( 'edit_theme_options' ) ) {
    return array(
      'core/paragraph',
      'core/heading',
      'core/list',
      'core/image',
    );
  }
  return $allowed_blocks;
}

Landing Page Template

function register_landing_page_template() {
  $post_type_object = get_post_type_object( 'page' );
  $post_type_object->template = array(
    array( 'core/cover', array(
      'align' => 'full',
      'placeholder' => 'Hero section',
    ) ),
    array( 'core/group', array(), array(
      array( 'core/heading', array( 'placeholder' => 'Features section' ) ),
      array( 'core/columns', array(), array(
        array( 'core/column' ),
        array( 'core/column' ),
        array( 'core/column' ),
      ) ),
    ) ),
  );
}
add_action( 'init', 'register_landing_page_template' );

Next Steps

Learn about Filters and Hooks for advanced customization
Explore Theme.json Configuration for design system control
Read about Data Management for dynamic features

Overview

Getting Started

Core Concepts

Block Development

Advanced Guides

Editor Settings

The block_editor_settings_all Filter

Common Editor Settings

Controlling Available Blocks

Allow/Deny Lists

Block Categories

Client-side Settings Filters

blockEditor.useSetting.before

User-Based Customization

Template Locking

Patterns Management

Sidebar and Panel Customization

Document Settings

Pre-publish Panel

Color and Typography Controls

Context-Aware Customization

Best Practices

Common Use Cases

Simplified Editor for Contributors

Landing Page Template

Next Steps

Overview

Getting Started

Core Concepts

Block Development

Advanced Guides

​Editor Settings

​The block_editor_settings_all Filter

​Common Editor Settings

​Controlling Available Blocks

​Allow/Deny Lists

​Block Categories

​Client-side Settings Filters

​blockEditor.useSetting.before

​User-Based Customization

​Template Locking

​Patterns Management

​Sidebar and Panel Customization

​Document Settings

​Pre-publish Panel

​Color and Typography Controls

​Context-Aware Customization

​Best Practices

​Common Use Cases

​Simplified Editor for Contributors

​Landing Page Template

​Next Steps

Editor Settings

The block_editor_settings_all Filter

Common Editor Settings

Controlling Available Blocks

Allow/Deny Lists

Block Categories

Client-side Settings Filters

blockEditor.useSetting.before

User-Based Customization

Template Locking

Patterns Management

Sidebar and Panel Customization

Document Settings

Pre-publish Panel

Color and Typography Controls

Context-Aware Customization

Best Practices

Common Use Cases

Simplified Editor for Contributors

Landing Page Template

Next Steps