{"id":144262,"date":"2021-07-16T20:31:35","date_gmt":"2021-07-16T20:31:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/restore-classic-widgets\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T16:48:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T16:48:38","slug":"restore-classic-widgets","status":"closed","type":"plugin","link":"https:\/\/en-gb.wordpress.org\/plugins\/restore-classic-widgets\/","author":13090985,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","version":"5.00","stable_tag":"5.00","tested":"6.9.4","requires":"6.2","requires_php":"5.6.20","requires_plugins":null,"header_name":"Restore and Enable Classic Widgets No Expiration","header_author":"Bill Minozzi","header_description":"Restore and enable the previous classic widgets settings screens.","assets_banners_color":"","last_updated":"2026-01-21 16:48:38","external_support_url":"","external_repository_url":"","donate_link":"","header_plugin_uri":"","header_author_uri":"http:\/\/billminozzi.com","rating":4.2,"author_block_rating":0,"active_installs":9000,"downloads":396085,"num_ratings":20,"support_threads":2,"support_threads_resolved":1,"author_block_count":0,"sections":["description","installation","faq","changelog"],"tags":{"1.0":{"tag":"1.0","author":"sminozzi","date":"2021-07-16 20:46:31"},"1.1":{"tag":"1.1","author":"sminozzi","date":"2021-07-30 07:22:55"},"1.15":{"tag":"1.15","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-02-14 10:47:20"},"1.2":{"tag":"1.2","author":"sminozzi","date":"2021-07-30 07:55:26"},"1.3":{"tag":"1.3","author":"sminozzi","date":"2021-11-14 11:12:16"},"1.4":{"tag":"1.4","author":"sminozzi","date":"2022-02-27 09:34:47"},"1.5":{"tag":"1.5","author":"sminozzi","date":"2022-05-06 13:14:47"},"1.6":{"tag":"1.6","author":"sminozzi","date":"2022-06-10 16:00:17"},"1.7":{"tag":"1.7","author":"sminozzi","date":"2022-08-10 08:21:48"},"1.8":{"tag":"1.8","author":"sminozzi","date":"2022-11-29 09:13:47"},"1.9":{"tag":"1.9","author":"sminozzi","date":"2022-11-29 11:53:31"},"2.0":{"tag":"2.0","author":"sminozzi","date":"2022-11-30 08:28:31"},"2.02":{"tag":"2.02","author":"sminozzi","date":"2023-03-06 11:51:24"},"2.1":{"tag":"2.1","author":"sminozzi","date":"2022-12-05 16:18:20"},"2.5":{"tag":"2.5","author":"sminozzi","date":"2023-08-28 14:34:21"},"2.6":{"tag":"2.6","author":"sminozzi","date":"2023-08-28 16:56:59"},"2.7":{"tag":"2.7","author":"sminozzi","date":"2023-08-29 06:22:12"},"3.0":{"tag":"3.0","author":"sminozzi","date":"2023-08-30 17:33:56"},"3.05":{"tag":"3.05","author":"sminozzi","date":"2023-10-17 09:38:50"},"3.2":{"tag":"3.2","author":"sminozzi","date":"2023-09-02 09:40:27"},"3.3":{"tag":"3.3","author":"sminozzi","date":"2023-09-02 21:13:45"},"3.4":{"tag":"3.4","author":"sminozzi","date":"2023-09-05 16:56:32"},"3.5":{"tag":"3.5","author":"sminozzi","date":"2023-11-03 17:00:11"},"3.6":{"tag":"3.6","author":"sminozzi","date":"2023-12-04 10:40:40"},"3.7":{"tag":"3.7","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-03-13 10:49:50"},"4.02":{"tag":"4.02","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-05-17 13:04:07"},"4.04":{"tag":"4.04","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-05-18 10:20:59"},"4.05":{"tag":"4.05","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-05-18 10:58:35"},"4.06":{"tag":"4.06","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-05-18 11:35:22"},"4.07":{"tag":"4.07","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-05-27 12:28:08"},"4.08":{"tag":"4.08","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-06-13 15:40:10"},"4.09":{"tag":"4.09","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-06-16 11:19:35"},"4.10":{"tag":"4.10","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-06-16 11:38:18"},"4.12":{"tag":"4.12","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-06-18 13:19:55"},"4.13":{"tag":"4.13","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-06-19 11:51:48"},"4.14":{"tag":"4.14","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-06-19 18:11:03"},"4.15":{"tag":"4.15","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-06-20 15:28:56"},"4.17":{"tag":"4.17","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-06-22 08:21:18"},"4.18":{"tag":"4.18","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-06-22 08:43:58"},"4.19":{"tag":"4.19","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-06-22 09:27:02"},"4.20":{"tag":"4.20","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-06-22 12:43:12"},"4.21":{"tag":"4.21","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-06-22 13:48:31"},"4.22":{"tag":"4.22","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-06-23 18:51:10"},"4.24":{"tag":"4.24","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-07-18 12:19:26"},"4.25":{"tag":"4.25","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-07-30 08:43:30"},"4.26":{"tag":"4.26","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-07-31 08:10:17"},"4.27":{"tag":"4.27","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-07-31 10:52:11"},"4.28":{"tag":"4.28","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-07-31 11:27:40"},"4.29":{"tag":"4.29","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-07-31 13:21:19"},"4.30":{"tag":"4.30","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-08-02 06:42:04"},"4.31":{"tag":"4.31","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-09-18 08:24:53"},"4.32":{"tag":"4.32","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-11-14 18:36:35"},"4.34":{"tag":"4.34","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-12-19 17:08:17"},"4.35":{"tag":"4.35","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-12-20 15:16:32"},"4.36":{"tag":"4.36","author":"sminozzi","date":"2024-12-27 17:41:33"},"4.37":{"tag":"4.37","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-01-06 12:16:21"},"4.38":{"tag":"4.38","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-01-06 12:32:46"},"4.39":{"tag":"4.39","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-01-06 18:41:06"},"4.40":{"tag":"4.40","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-01-08 11:59:08"},"4.41":{"tag":"4.41","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-01-08 12:12:03"},"4.42":{"tag":"4.42","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-01-08 12:21:08"},"4.44":{"tag":"4.44","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-01-09 12:45:29"},"4.45":{"tag":"4.45","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-02-07 12:30:38"},"4.46":{"tag":"4.46","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-02-07 15:21:09"},"4.47":{"tag":"4.47","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-02-07 20:34:21"},"4.48":{"tag":"4.48","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-02-07 20:44:02"},"4.49":{"tag":"4.49","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-02-09 12:13:25"},"4.52":{"tag":"4.52","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-02-13 14:04:16"},"4.53":{"tag":"4.53","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-02-14 12:20:32"},"4.55":{"tag":"4.55","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-02-22 09:22:27"},"4.56":{"tag":"4.56","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-02-28 15:14:00"},"4.57":{"tag":"4.57","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-02-28 18:23:59"},"4.58":{"tag":"4.58","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-02-28 18:36:55"},"4.59":{"tag":"4.59","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-03-24 12:21:10"},"4.60":{"tag":"4.60","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-04-15 10:42:28"},"4.61":{"tag":"4.61","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-04-23 09:53:25"},"4.62":{"tag":"4.62","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-04-30 14:11:26"},"4.64":{"tag":"4.64","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-05-08 13:37:18"},"4.65":{"tag":"4.65","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-06-09 11:50:42"},"4.66":{"tag":"4.66","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-06-11 09:15:03"},"4.67":{"tag":"4.67","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-06-11 09:29:20"},"4.68":{"tag":"4.68","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-06-15 06:47:52"},"4.69":{"tag":"4.69","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-06-17 07:08:34"},"4.70":{"tag":"4.70","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-06-28 08:15:29"},"4.71":{"tag":"4.71","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-07-04 09:35:54"},"4.72":{"tag":"4.72","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-07-07 12:22:21"},"4.73":{"tag":"4.73","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-07-23 17:42:01"},"4.74":{"tag":"4.74","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-07-24 13:28:55"},"4.75":{"tag":"4.75","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-07-29 12:44:29"},"4.76":{"tag":"4.76","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-07-30 08:01:50"},"4.77":{"tag":"4.77","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-08-09 17:29:07"},"4.78":{"tag":"4.78","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-08-14 11:11:34"},"4.79":{"tag":"4.79","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-08-15 12:22:35"},"4.80":{"tag":"4.80","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-08-22 12:27:17"},"4.81":{"tag":"4.81","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-09-24 08:18:39"},"4.83":{"tag":"4.83","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-10-04 07:38:03"},"4.84":{"tag":"4.84","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-10-19 07:05:12"},"4.85":{"tag":"4.85","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-10-21 08:48:07"},"4.86":{"tag":"4.86","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-12-03 13:23:40"},"4.87":{"tag":"4.87","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-12-17 12:29:26"},"4.88":{"tag":"4.88","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-12-26 17:09:10"},"4.89":{"tag":"4.89","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-12-30 19:03:27"},"4.90":{"tag":"4.90","author":"sminozzi","date":"2025-12-31 13:09:16"},"4.91":{"tag":"4.91","author":"sminozzi","date":"2026-01-02 19:15:43"},"4.92":{"tag":"4.92","author":"sminozzi","date":"2026-01-05 12:25:09"},"4.93":{"tag":"4.93","author":"sminozzi","date":"2026-01-12 16:05:46"},"5.00":{"tag":"5.00","author":"sminozzi","date":"2026-01-21 16:48:38"}},"upgrade_notice":[],"ratings":{"1":4,"2":0,"3":0,"4":1,"5":15},"assets_icons":{"icon-128x128.gif":{"filename":"icon-128x128.gif","revision":2566202,"resolution":"128x128","location":"assets","locale":""},"icon-256x256.gif":{"filename":"icon-256x256.gif","revision":2566202,"resolution":"256x256","location":"assets","locale":""}},"assets_banners":[],"assets_blueprints":{"blueprint.json":{"filename":"blueprint.json","revision":3444276,"resolution":false,"location":"assets","locale":"","contents":"{\"landingPage\":\"\\\/wp-admin\\\/plugins.php\",\"preferredVersions\":{\"php\":\"8.0\",\"wp\":\"latest\"},\"phpExtensionBundles\":[\"kitchen-sink\"],\"features\":{\"networking\":true},\"steps\":[{\"step\":\"installPlugin\",\"options\":{\"activate\":true},\"pluginData\":{\"resource\":\"wordpress.org\\\/plugins\",\"slug\":\"restore-classic-widgets\"}},{\"step\":\"login\",\"username\":\"admin\",\"password\":\"password\"}]}"}},"all_blocks":[],"tagged_versions":["1.0","1.1","1.15","1.2","1.3","1.4","1.5","1.6","1.7","1.8","1.9","2.0","2.02","2.1","2.5","2.6","2.7","3.0","3.05","3.2","3.3","3.4","3.5","3.6","3.7","4.02","4.04","4.05","4.06","4.07","4.08","4.09","4.10","4.12","4.13","4.14","4.15","4.17","4.18","4.19","4.20","4.21","4.22","4.24","4.25","4.26","4.27","4.28","4.29","4.30","4.31","4.32","4.34","4.35","4.36","4.37","4.38","4.39","4.40","4.41","4.42","4.44","4.45","4.46","4.47","4.48","4.49","4.52","4.53","4.55","4.56","4.57","4.58","4.59","4.60","4.61","4.62","4.64","4.65","4.66","4.67","4.68","4.69","4.70","4.71","4.72","4.73","4.74","4.75","4.76","4.77","4.78","4.79","4.80","4.81","4.83","4.84","4.85","4.86","4.87","4.88","4.89","4.90","4.91","4.92","4.93","5.00"],"block_files":[],"assets_screenshots":{"screenshot-1.jpg":{"filename":"screenshot-1.jpg","revision":3444276,"resolution":"1","location":"plugin"}},"screenshots":{"1":"Classic Widgets Screen"},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"plugin_section":[],"plugin_tags":[248246,199184,248243,248245,248244],"plugin_category":[],"plugin_contributors":[85072],"plugin_business_model":[],"class_list":["post-144262","plugin","type-plugin","status-closed","hentry","plugin_tags-appearance-widgets-customizer","plugin_tags-classic-widgets","plugin_tags-enable-classic-widgets","plugin_tags-miss-the-old-widgets","plugin_tags-oldmiss-the-old-widgets","plugin_contributors-sminozzi","plugin_committers-sminozzi"],"banners":[],"icons":{"svg":false,"icon":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/plugins\/geopattern-icon\/restore-classic-widgets.svg","icon_2x":false,"generated":true},"screenshots":[{"src":"https:\/\/ps.w.org\/restore-classic-widgets\/trunk\/screenshot-1.jpg?rev=3444276","caption":"Classic Widgets Screen"}],"raw_content":"\n

Enable Classic Widgets<\/strong>\n\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605
<\/p>\n\n

\ud83d\ude80 In a Hurry? Restore the previous WordPress classic widgets<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n
\n

Bring back the classic widgets screens in Appearance \u2013 Widgets and the Customizer. Once activated and when using a classic (non-block) theme, restore and enable the previous WordPress classic widgets settings screens and disables the Gutenberg block editor from managing widgets. No expiration!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

\ud83d\udd0e Want All the Details? Read the Full Explanation Below<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

WordPress 5.8 brought a significant change by turning the classic widget screen into a block-based widget screen. This means that Widgets are now blocks, immediately available to all users. While this update introduces new possibilities, it also creates compatibility issues for many websites.<\/p>\n\n

Our plugin, WordPress Classic Widgets Plugin, becomes essential in several scenarios:<\/h3>\n\n

Broken themes or quirky output that may not display widgets correctly with the new block-based system.\nUsers who prefer the old system and are looking to maintain the familiar interface they are comfortable with.\nRestore WordPress classic widget interface with our plugin. It offers a simple solution to bring back old WordPress widget settings with just one click. The plugin effectively enables previous widget system configurations, reverting WordPress to classic widget dashboard without the need for complex setup.<\/p>\n\n

By undoing WordPress widget block editor update, our plugin ensures that users can disable WordPress block-based widget management and reinstall WordPress traditional widget controls seamlessly. It effectively reverses WordPress 5.8 widget changes, restoring the WordPress widget area classic view for those who rely on the legacy system.<\/p>\n\n

Whether your issue is legacy widget missing or you're wondering how to find an old widget in WordPress, our plugin provides the answers. It resolves common problems like why are my widgets not showing up in WordPress and offers straightforward steps to restore classic widgets to WordPress. For those asking how do I restore a widget in WordPress or facing widgets not showing up, our plugin ensures a quick and reliable solution.<\/p>\n\n

In summary, our WordPress plugin to switch back to classic widgets addresses the needs of users who value simplicity, compatibility, and reliability in managing their WordPress widgets. Install it today to get old WordPress widget interface back and maintain the functionality you prefer.<\/p>\n\n

Important<\/h3>\n\n

If you start using the new block-based widgets system, you will lose all of your widget blocks upon activating our plugin. \nThere is no going back, so be sure this is what you want. The former blocks will not reappear if you change your mind and deactivate our plugin.<\/p>\n\n

Demo Video<\/h3>\n\n

[youtube https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rul3UlJy2B8]<\/p>\n\n

Privacy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

This plugin does not collect or store any user data. It does not set any cookies, and it does not connect to any third-party locations. Thus, this plugin does not affect user privacy in any way.<\/p>\n\n\n

1) Install via wordpress.org<\/p>\n\n

2) Activate the plugin through the 'Plugins' menu in WordPress<\/p>\n\n

or<\/p>\n\n

Extract the zip file and just drop the contents in the wp-content\/plugins\/ directory of your WordPress installation and then activate the Plugin from Plugins page.<\/p>\n\n

Uninstalling<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

To uninstall\/remove the plugin, visit the Plugins screen, deactivate and delete the plugin. This plugin makes no changes to the WP database.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n

What does the \"Restore Classic Widgets\" plugin do?<\/h3><\/dt>\n

The \"Restore Classic Widgets\" plugin reverts the WordPress widgets interface to the classic settings screen and disables the Gutenberg block editor for widgets.<\/p><\/dd>\n

Is there an \"Undo\" to reverse the disable?<\/h3><\/dt>\n

Yes just deactivate the plugin. When the plugin is not active, WordPress will return to its default widgets behavior.\nIf you start using the new block-based widgets system, you will lose all of your widget blocks upon activating our plugin. \nThere is no going back, so be sure this is what you want. The former blocks will not reappear if you change your mind and deactivate our plugin.<\/p><\/dd>\n

How do I retrieve my widgets?<\/h3><\/dt>\n

To switch to classic widgets, install and activate our plugin. This will restore the old widget settings screen.<\/p><\/dd>\n

My classic widgets not working, After install this plugin, is there any configuration required?<\/h3><\/dt>\n

No additional configuration is required. The classic widgets settings screen is enabled or disabled simply by activating or deactivating the plugin.<\/p><\/dd>\n

Is this feature \"switch to classic widgets\" available in any other plugins?<\/h3><\/dt>\n

Yes, the feature to restore classic widgets is also available in our WP Tools free plugin<\/a>, which includes 47 other useful tools.<\/p><\/dd>\n\n<\/dl>\n\n\n

** 5.0 2026-02-20 - Improved version ** \n** 1.0 2021-07-14 - Initial release **<\/p>","raw_excerpt":"Miss the old widgets? Activate this plugin to restore and enable the previous classic widgets settings screens. No expiration date.","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en-gb.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin\/144262","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en-gb.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en-gb.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/plugin"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en-gb.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=144262"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en-gb.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wporg\/v1\/users\/sminozzi"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en-gb.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=144262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"plugin_section","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en-gb.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin_section?post=144262"},{"taxonomy":"plugin_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en-gb.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin_tags?post=144262"},{"taxonomy":"plugin_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en-gb.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin_category?post=144262"},{"taxonomy":"plugin_contributors","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en-gb.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin_contributors?post=144262"},{"taxonomy":"plugin_business_model","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en-gb.wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/plugin_business_model?post=144262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}