WordPress Directory

Best Classic Widgets WordPress Plugins

4 plugins · 2.3M combined installs · 4.8/5 avg rating

The Classic Widgets plugin restores the original WordPress widget administration screens and disables the block-based widget editor introduced in WordPress 5.8, allowing site administrators to continue managing sidebars and footer widget areas through the familiar drag-and-drop interface they have used for years. Many third-party themes and plugins were built against the legacy widget API and do not yet render correctly inside the block widget editor, making Classic Widgets an essential compatibility shim for sites that cannot yet upgrade their theme or plugin dependencies. WordPress agencies maintaining long-running client sites, theme developers whose products pre-date the block editor, and non-technical site owners who find the block widget interface confusing are the primary users. The plugin is officially maintained by the WordPress core team and serves as a supported migration path rather than a permanent architectural solution.