by Emily Journey on February 12, 2019

Why does my WordPress dashboard look different?

Surprise! Your WordPress Dashboard looks different.
Maybe you weren’t ready for this dramatic change in the WordPress editor. Welcome to the club! Instead of the normal post and page editor, you’re seeing a dramatically different editor called the Block editor.

Why does my WordPress dashboard look different?

The change you’re seeing is a result of the dramatic WordPress update in version 5.0 which rolled out in December 2018. It’s not a change that is of much use for websites that have already been built using the Classic editor or another type of page editing plugin.

So, basically, most people are updating to WordPress 5.0 or higher and then taking a couple of steps to basically avoid or turn off the new Block Editor and return life back to normal with the WordPress Classic Editor.

Change WordPress dashboard back to the old version

Fortunately, there’s no need to revert your website back to a pre-5.0 version. Here’s the solution . . . install the plugin called “Classic Editor” and that should do it.
Here is my short video walk-through of the process:

Get the old post editor back

Once you follow these instructions, then your WordPress editor will return to the previous version.
Taking these steps is especially important when your website uses a builder of any type (think Avada, Divi, Elementor, Cornerstone, etc). These steps will allow you to return to using the builder on your page and post editors.

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Emily Journey
Author of Unlocking WordPress, a guide filled with practical tips for WordPress beginners. I travel around the United States delivering customized, on-site training to individuals and small groups. I love helping business owners leverage technology to increase sales and social impact. More ⇒

Rachel Pfanz
WordPress Trainer. SEO Expert. OSU Buckeye. I enjoy helping companies and nonprofits gain confidence with WordPress and get their SEO strategy laser focused. I provide in-person and virtual WordPress training from our office in Columbus, Ohio. Our Team ⇒

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“I’ve been working with Emily Journey & Associates for about six years now. I originally came across their services while looking for someone to train my staff and I to manage our website independently. Emily worked with us and was able to get us successfully trained – to the point that we were easily able to manage the website on our own (with the occasional question emailed to Emily or one of her friendly team members). As the business grew, the time we were able to personally dedicate to management of the website became limited. Emily and her team were there to take over and manage all aspects of the website at that point. They’ve done so ever since and we couldn’t be more satisfied with the results. I always trust that the website is in very good hands. The results have been consistent. Emily and her staff are accessible, knowledgeable, friendly and highly responsive. Year after year, they’ve continued to exceed our expectations. I highly recommend their services.”
–Brian Harmych, MD
Harmych Plastic Surgery

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Ikebana International Rochester Chapter 53

“After some research and reviewing references, we chose Emily Journey to provide WordPress training for our team. Emily was personable, effective and thorough in her approach to instruction. She was able to accommodate the diversity of skill levels and knowledge among our students and keep the classes moving. Since the class we have all been able to function successfully in the WordPress environment – and it’s great to know that follow up assistance was included in our instructional package. Emily will impress and then empower. She is a true professional and knows how to create a great learning moment.”
–Scott Forrest
Senior Vice President, Equity, Inc.

“Rachel was amazing! She has a deep level of knowledge about WordPress and her patience and skill made me far more confident in managing my own website. She was a pleasure to work with, and the remote sessions worked perfectly – it was as if she was sitting next to me throughout. Definitely worthwhile for beginning and intermediate users of WordPress!”
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Budge & Heipt, PLLC

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Having someone like Rachel work with you when you need help is a great way to learn. So now, I can change the website myself, update at will, and insure the commerce side of my website is working properly.
Since taking Rachel’s class, I have updated 4 sites, which allows me to pursue my businesses without any website delays.
–Fred Verd
Verd Guitars

“Thank you so much for helping set up my website and showing me how to use WordPress. Your training turned the intimidating task of website development into something that was well started by the end of the session. After the training, I was able to add content to the site without problems using the techniques you showed me.”
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Sr. Oracle DBA

“Emily, I wanted to let you know that I just booked my first seminar using the SEO technique that you shared with me during our time together. Thank you so much for that wonderful tip”
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Michelle Joyce Speakers

“I kept track of the conversions resulting from my 30 City SEO campaign and thought you would be interested in the results to date. In the past 10 weeks, there have been 48 orders from states and cities we have not served in the past. Orders have come from 14 of the 30 cities I targeted with SEO. That is a 450% return on our investment in your SEO Training. Fingers crossed for an even more successful Christmas!”
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Executive Director of Sales & Marketing, Gluteny Bakery

We connected and within a week we had a 2 hour virtual consultation scheduled. We implemented her training on our site and within 2 days of posting our SEO strategy pages, there we were, on page 1 of Google in #1 position. Thanks Emily!
–Jeremy Cyrier
Mansard Commercial Real Estate

“Rachel was able to take me from someone who knew very little about WordPress to someone who now is very confident in making changes to our company website. She even increased my knowledge on SEO and taught me ways to further benefit our company in the future.”
–Hannah Ballard
Cornett Roofing Systems

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