Rootstuff Block Permissions
Block manager for the WordPress block editor: disable or hide Gutenberg blocks and patterns per user role and post type.
Use with caution
Rootstuff Block Permissions works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. Was last updated 5 months ago, and scores 42/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Rootstuff Block Permissions stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| block manager | >100 |
| block-editor | >100 |
| disable blocks | >100 |
| hide blocks | >100 |
| user roles | >100 |
About Rootstuff Block Permissions
From the official readme · v0.1.1Description
Rootstuff Block Permissions is a lightweight block manager that lets you hide or disable Gutenberg blocks and block patterns per user role and per post type. Tick what you want hidden, save, and your clients only see the blocks they actually need.
Unlike generic block managers, every rule is scoped by role and post type, so editors can have a different toolkit on Pages than on Posts, contributors can be locked down further, and administrators can be exempt entirely (or included for previewing the client experience).
What it does
- Hide any registered block from the inserter — core, theme, plugin, ACF blocks, anything.
- Hide block patterns the same way.
- Optional per-role overrides (Editor, Author, Contributor, custom roles).
- Optional per-post-type overrides (Posts, Pages, custom post types).
- Combine both: e.g. “Editor on Page only” gets a different set than “Editor on Post”.
- Disable the WordPress.org remote pattern directory.
- Disable WordPress core patterns entirely.
Why a separate plugin
Most block-management plugins are global — they hide a block for everyone, everywhere. That breaks down the moment you have multiple client roles or different post types with different needs. Rootstuff Block Permissions lets you say “hide the Cover block for Authors on Pages, but keep it for Editors on Posts” without writing any code.
Mental model
The plugin is a denylist. An empty list means nothing is blocked. You tick what you want to hide. New blocks added to the site later are automatically allowed unless you come back and tick them.
A default rule applies to everyone unless you create an override. Overrides are matched most-specific-first:
- Exact role and exact post type
- That role on any post type
- Any role on that post type
- The default rule
- None of the above — no restrictions
Multi-role users get the least restrictive of their roles’ resolved rules: a block is hidden only if every one of their roles’ rules hides it.
Administrators
By default, administrators bypass all restrictions. There’s an “Apply to administrators” toggle so you can preview the client experience without switching accounts.
Privacy
The plugin stores its configuration in a single WordPress option (rootstuff_bp_settings). It does not connect to any external service, send analytics, or store data about your users.
Development
Source code is available on GitHub: https://github.com/rootstuff/rootstuff-block-permissions
The build/admin.js file is generated from the src/ directory using @wordpress/scripts. To rebuild from source:
- Clone the repository.
- Run
npm install. - Run
npm run build.
Installation
- From your WordPress admin, go to Plugins > Add New.
- Search for Rootstuff Block Permissions.
- Click Install Now, then Activate.
- Go to Settings > Rootstuff Block Permissions to configure.
Or upload manually:
- Download the ZIP.
- Upload the
rootstuff-block-permissionsfolder to/wp-content/plugins/. - Activate Rootstuff Block Permissions through the Plugins menu in WordPress.
- Go to Settings > Rootstuff Block Permissions to configure.
Activating without ticking anything has zero effect on the editor — the plugin only enforces a rule once you actually tick at least one block or pattern.
Frequently asked questions
Does this work with custom blocks (ACF, theme blocks, plugin blocks)?
Yes. Anything registered through register_block_type() shows up in the settings page automatically. ACF blocks register on acf/init, which runs before our settings page renders, so they’re picked up too.
Does it affect what users see on the front end?
No. This plugin filters the block editor’s inserter for non-admin users. Existing content is never modified. Pages built before you add a rule keep working exactly as they did.
Will it slow down my editor?
No. The plugin reads a single option, computes a denylist for the current user, and hands the filtered list to WordPress. There’s no database query per block, no remote calls, and no bundled libraries beyond what WordPress already loads.
How does this differ from other block manager plugins?
Most block managers are global — one allowlist for everyone. Rootstuff Block Permissions scopes every rule by user role and post type, so you can give different toolkits to different roles on different content types. That’s the use case agencies actually face when handing sites off to clients.
Can I lock down administrators too?
Yes. There’s an “Apply to administrators” toggle on the settings page. Useful for previewing the client experience without logging in as a different user.
Does it work with multisite?
The plugin runs per-site. Settings are stored per-site. Network-level configuration is not currently supported.
What happens if I deactivate or delete the plugin?
Deactivating leaves the settings in the database (so reactivating restores your rules). Deleting via the WordPress Plugins screen removes the option entirely.
Does it support block variations or block toolbar controls?
Not in this version. The plugin filters at the block-and-pattern level. Hiding individual block variations and stripping toolbar controls per role are on the roadmap.
Changelog
Metadata refresh only. No action required.
0.1.1
- Refreshed plugin metadata (tags, short description, intro copy) for clearer discovery in the WordPress.org directory. No functional changes.
0.1.0
- Initial release.
Screenshots
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.
FAQ
Rootstuff Block Permissions: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 12, 2026
Is Rootstuff Block Permissions free?
Yes. Rootstuff Block Permissions is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Rootstuff Block Permissions safe to use in 2026?
Rootstuff Block Permissions works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. Was last updated 5 months ago, and scores 42/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Rootstuff Block Permissions?
Rootstuff Block Permissions is active on <10 WordPress websites and has been downloaded 316 times since it launched in May 2026. It was downloaded 51 times in the last 30 days.
Does Rootstuff Block Permissions work with WordPress 7.1?
Rootstuff Block Permissions is officially tested up to WordPress 6.9.10, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does Rootstuff Block Permissions need?
Rootstuff Block Permissions requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Rootstuff Block Permissions last updated?
The latest version, 0.1.1, was released on May 18, 2026 (5 months ago).
Who makes Rootstuff Block Permissions?
Rootstuff Block Permissions is developed and maintained by atomjb.
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