Title: Load Combined Core Block Assets Author: Weston Ruter Published: 8 December 2025 Last modified: 18 September 2026 --- Search plugins ![](https://ps.w.org/load-combined-core-block-assets/assets/icon.svg?rev=3413800) # Load Combined Core Block Assets By [Weston Ruter](https://profiles.wordpress.org/westonruter/) [Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/load-combined-core-block-assets.1.1.0.zip) * [Details](https://en-gb.wordpress.org/plugins/load-combined-core-block-assets/#description) * [Reviews](https://en-gb.wordpress.org/plugins/load-combined-core-block-assets/#reviews) * [Installation](https://en-gb.wordpress.org/plugins/load-combined-core-block-assets/#installation) * [Development](https://en-gb.wordpress.org/plugins/load-combined-core-block-assets/#developers) [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/load-combined-core-block-assets/) ## Description This is a workaround for sites experiencing any issues with the ability introduced in WordPress 6.9 to [load block styles on demand in classic themes](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2025/11/18/wordpress-6-9-frontend-performance-field-guide/#load-block-styles-on-demand-in-classic-themes). The known issues have been fixed during the 7.0 release cycle with the following commits: * [r61076](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/61076): Script Loader: Fall back to hoisting late-printed styles to end of HEAD if wp-block-library is not enqueued. * [r61122](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/61122): Script Loader: Load block styles on demand in classic themes even when wp-block-styles support is absent. * [r61174](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/61174): Script Loader: Improve hoisted stylesheet ordering (in classic themes) to preserve CSS cascade. * [r61554](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/61554): Script Loader: Preserve original CSS cascade for classic themes when hoisting late-printed styles. * [r61945](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/61945): Script Loader: Refine hoisted stylesheet ordering to preserve original CSS cascade in classic themes. If running a classic theme (i.e. not a block theme), this plugin filters `should_load_separate_core_block_assets` to be `false`. This has the effect of reverting a change introduced in 6.9 where classic themes now load separate core block assets on demand by default. Note that this plugin should be considered temporary until any issues are resolved in 7.0. At any time, you can test whether any issues remain by adding `?should_load_separate_core_block_assets =true` to any frontend URL; this restores the default behavior in WP 6.9. This workaround should be temporary because there are performance benefits to loading separate core block assets. They can be loaded on demand just when they are used, as opposed to loading the large single combined `wp-block-library` stylesheet. Loading separate block styles on demand reduces the amount of CSS which should improve page load time. Nevertheless, as explained in the [dev note](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2025/11/18/wordpress-6-9-frontend-performance-field-guide/#load-block-styles-on-demand-in-classic-themes), some sites may be built in a way that fundamentally does not work with loading separate block styles on demand. For these sites, this plugin is available to retain the old behavior. ## Installation #### Automatic 1. Visit **Plugins > Add New** in the WordPress Admin. 2. Search for **Load Combined Core Block Assets**. 3. Install and activate the **Load Combined Core Block Assets** plugin. You may also install and update via [Git Updater](https://git-updater.com/) using the [plugin’s GitHub URL](https://github.com/westonruter/load-combined-core-block-assets). #### Manual 1. Download the plugin ZIP either [from WordPress.org](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/load-combined-core-block-assets.zip) or [from GitHub](https://github.com/westonruter/load-combined-core-block-assets/archive/refs/heads/main.zip). Alternatively, if you have a local clone of the repo, run `npm run plugin-zip`. 2. Visit **Plugins > Add New Plugin** in the WordPress Admin. 3. Click **Upload Plugin**. 4. Select the `load-combined-core-block-assets.zip` file on your system from step 1 and click **Install Now**. 5. Click the **Activate Plugin** button. ## Reviews ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/68fbe7ff9342869953e6460a59474f85c1ed7e816070a529bccb68eeed57cac4? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Great plugin, issue still not resolved in 6.9.1](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/great-plugin-issue-still-not-resolved-in-6-9-1/)󠁿 [tlgtimeshare](https://profiles.wordpress.org/tlgtimeshare/) 10 February 2026 2 replies This workaround fixed the issue on my site, kudos to the developer. However, even after 6.9.1 the issue is not resolved without this plugin. Other users report the same, so now not sure how to get a permanent resolution. Surely, WordPress are aware of this?! ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/50e5c6d494e8ad9f915ed5b20829a5426b8185aa7b9d2014b9c8087494fafc51? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[This really helped!](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/this-really-helped/)󠁿 [Senri Miura](https://profiles.wordpress.org/senribb/) 6 February 2026 My website, which was broken due to WordPress 6.9, has now been restored. I'm very grateful to the author. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b7a83d040c462233919dc913adbab903de41af3b1bbdf232a838ed849c232da1? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Saved my layout!](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/saved-my-layout/)󠁿 [CultTVman](https://profiles.wordpress.org/culttvman/) 17 December 2025 Thanks for this workaround! Fixed my site! Steve ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5c1fc26c303cfcc59bf038c364cc1d485581cfda13b3f151d35b3b7e974a70e8? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Works on Genesis sites](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/works-on-genesis-sites/)󠁿 [driven to design](https://profiles.wordpress.org/driven-to-design/) 15 December 2025 Confirming this fixes layouts broken due to WP 6.9 update on several sites running Genesis with Mai Lifestyle Pro. Thanks! ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a4ba14442e9bc8ce267a19dafd4485b71de175f722e194bfeb93eea50bc33e06? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Fixed broken layouts after upgrading to WordPress 6.9](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fixed-broken-layouts-after-upgrading-to-wordpress-6-9/)󠁿 [chrisandrew](https://profiles.wordpress.org/chrisandrew/) 15 December 2025 We built and maintain a hybrid classic/headless WordPress website for a national client. A number of our frontend components (CoreButton, CoreMediaText, etc.) tap into WordPress core editor classnames, props, and critically, CSS rulesets, to provide our client the flexibility they expect when editing blocks and posts.After updating to WordPress 6.9, these components failed to render as expected. Our investigation led us to the post on wordpress-6-9-hotfixes, and subsequently, this plugin. Thankfully, installing this plugin resolved the issue.Thanks to @westonruter for taking the time to publish this hot-fix. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/81604bc8917eef05719b8ba7dafcc600d2d2eb2cc1185eb7e7b31de98021db4c? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Little Life Saver!](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/little-life-saver-3/)󠁿 [Erik Molenaar](https://profiles.wordpress.org/erikmolenaar/) 10 December 2025 This little plugin is a life saver for anyone running classic themes on WordPress 6.9+. In my case it instantly fixed broken layouts caused by the new “block styles on demand” system clashing with a 3rd party WooCommerce plugin on a Genesis site. If your front end suddenly looks off after updating to WordPress 6.9, install this first before you start tearing your frontend apart! [ Read all 6 reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/load-combined-core-block-assets/reviews/) ## Contributors and Developers “Load Combined Core Block Assets” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin. Contributors * [ Weston Ruter ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/westonruter/) “Load Combined Core Block Assets” has been translated into 2 locales. Thank you to [the translators](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/load-combined-core-block-assets/contributors) for their contributions. [Translate “Load Combined Core Block Assets” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/load-combined-core-block-assets) ### Interested in development? [Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/load-combined-core-block-assets/), check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/load-combined-core-block-assets/), or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/load-combined-core-block-assets/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/load-combined-core-block-assets/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss). ## Change Log #### 1.1.0 * Add an inline admin notice in the plugin list table row on WordPress 7.0+ to encourage re-evaluating whether the plugin is still necessary. #### 1.0.0 * Escape translated message in HTML comment for extra hardening. #### 0.1.0 * Initial release. ## Community plugin This plugin is developed and supported by a community. [Contribute to this plugin](https://github.com/westonruter/load-combined-core-block-assets) ## Meta * Version **1.1.0** * Last updated **4 weeks ago** * Active installations **1,000+** * WordPress version ** 6.9 or higher ** * Tested up to **7.1.3** * PHP version ** 7.2 or higher ** * Languages * [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/load-combined-core-block-assets/), [Japanese](https://ja.wordpress.org/plugins/load-combined-core-block-assets/) and [Russian](https://ru.wordpress.org/plugins/load-combined-core-block-assets/). * [Translate into your language](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/load-combined-core-block-assets) * Tag * [performance](https://en-gb.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/performance/) * [Advanced View](https://en-gb.wordpress.org/plugins/load-combined-core-block-assets/advanced/) ## Ratings 5 out of 5 stars. * [ 6 5-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/load-combined-core-block-assets/reviews/?filter=5) * [ 0 4-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/load-combined-core-block-assets/reviews/?filter=4) * [ 0 3-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/load-combined-core-block-assets/reviews/?filter=3) * [ 0 2-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/load-combined-core-block-assets/reviews/?filter=2) * [ 0 1-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/load-combined-core-block-assets/reviews/?filter=1) [Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/load-combined-core-block-assets/reviews/#new-post) [See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/load-combined-core-block-assets/reviews/) ## Contributors * [ Weston Ruter ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/westonruter/) ## Support Issues resolved in last two months: 0 out of 1 [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/load-combined-core-block-assets/)