Classic Widgets
Enables the previous "classic" widgets settings screens in Appearance - Widgets and the Customizer. Disables the block editor from managing widgets.
Use with caution
Classic Widgets works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. It runs on 2M+ sites, is rated 4.9/5 and was last updated 10 months ago, and scores 56/100 on our health check.
- One of the most-used plugins on the web — 2M+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.9/5 from 272 reviews
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Classic Widgets stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| classic widgets | #1 |
| disable | #72 |
| disable gutenberg | #15 |
| editor | >100 |
| gutenberg | #84 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 4.9 from 272 reviews
About Classic Widgets
From the official readme · v0.3Description
Classic Widgets is an official plugin maintained by the WordPress team that restores the previous (“classic”) WordPress widgets settings screens. It will be supported and maintained to 2024, or as long as is necessary.
Once activated and when using a classic (non-block) theme, this plugin restores the previous widgets settings screens and disables the block editor from managing widgets. There is no other configuration, the classic widgets settings screens are enabled or disabled by either enabling or disabling this plugin.
Frequently asked questions
Are there any settings?
No, there are no settings. Once activated, this plugin restores the previous (“classic”) WordPress widgets screen and disables the block editor from managing widgets.
Does this work with full site editing and block themes?
No, as block themes rely on blocks. See Block themes article for more information.
Changelog
0.3
Update for 5.9.
0.2
Update filter name.
0.1
Initial release.
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best Classic Widgets alternatives
All classic widgets plugins →
FAQ
Classic Widgets: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 26, 2026
Is Classic Widgets free?
Yes. Classic Widgets is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Classic Widgets safe to use in 2026?
Classic Widgets works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. It runs on 2M+ sites, is rated 4.9/5 and was last updated 10 months ago, and scores 56/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Classic Widgets?
Classic Widgets is active on 2M+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 7,579,881 times since it launched in May 2021. It was downloaded 55,167 times in the last 30 days.
Does Classic Widgets work with WordPress 7.1?
Classic Widgets is officially tested up to WordPress 6.9.9, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does Classic Widgets need?
Classic Widgets requires PHP 5.6 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Classic Widgets last updated?
The latest version, 0.3, was released on December 8, 2025 (10 months ago).
Who makes Classic Widgets?
Classic Widgets is developed and maintained by Tonya Mork.
What are the best alternatives to Classic Widgets?
The most popular alternatives to Classic Widgets are Widget Options (100K+ installs), Custom Sidebars (100K+ installs) and Classic Editor + (30K+ installs).
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