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Full Site Editing (FSE) is the modern approach to designing and controlling every part of a WordPress site—headers, footers, templates, and all—directly within the block editor, using a theme that supports this capability.
Full Site Editing (FSE) is the WordPress feature set that lets you design and modify your entire website using the block editor (Gutenberg). You can visually build and edit your site's header, footer, sidebar, 404 page, and templates for blog posts or archives without writing code. It works with block themes, which are built for this system. By 2026, FSE is the standard, mature way to build a custom WordPress site.
To use Full Site Editing, your WordPress setup needs to meet a few requirements.
Note
If you don't see the "Editor" link, you're likely using a classic theme. You'll need to switch to a block theme to access FSE tools.
The Site Editor organizes your site into two main building blocks: templates and template parts.
This structure separates global design (handled by template parts) from page-specific layouts, making site-wide changes efficient.
Editing is a visual, block-based process. Here’s a typical workflow for customizing a header.
While FSE works on any standard WordPress host, performance and ease of use are important. A block theme with many complex patterns and styles can increase resource usage.
For a smooth FSE experience, especially on busier sites, a managed WordPress hosting plan is a good choice. These plans are optimized for WordPress performance and often include staging sites. A staging site is a useful tool for safely testing FSE templates before pushing changes live.
Look for hosting that offers:
The best way to learn Full Site Editing is to create a staging site or use a local development environment. Install a default block theme like Twenty Twenty-Four and start exploring the Site Editor. Try editing the header template part and a single post template. The system is designed to be learned by doing. For a straightforward foundation, a WordPress-optimized host can handle server management so you can focus on design.
No. Full Site Editing only works with themes specifically built as "block themes." Classic themes and many older page-builder themes do not support the Site Editor interface. You must install a block theme (like the default Twenty Twenty-Four theme) to access FSE features.
It provides a native alternative. FSE is WordPress's core solution for site-wide design. While advanced page builders still offer unique features and workflows, FSE is becoming powerful enough for many sites, reducing dependency on third-party plugins and keeping your site leaner.
No, that's the primary advantage. FSE is a visual, block-based system. You can create complex headers, footers, and templates by dragging, dropping, and configuring blocks and their style settings—all without writing HTML, CSS, or PHP. However, knowing some CSS can help with advanced customizations.
The Site Editor includes revision history for templates and template parts. Look for the "Revisions" option in the editor's settings or list view. You can also use a staging site to test changes safely. For major issues, having a recent full-site backup from your hosting provider is essential for recovery.
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