Chykalophia Docs

Learn how to add, move, delete, and customize blocks in the WordPress block editor — the building pieces of every page and post.

Every page and post in WordPress is built with blocks. A block is a single piece of content — a paragraph, a heading, an image, a button, or a video. You stack blocks together to build your content. This guide explains how to work with them confidently.

Quick summary

Click the + button anywhere in the editor to add a block. Click a block to select it and edit it. Drag it to move it. Use the three-dot menu on the toolbar above the block for more options like duplicate or delete.

What you'll need

Access to edit a page or post in WordPress. Contributors and Authors can edit their own posts; Editors and Administrators can edit any post or page.
A page or post already open in the block editor. See how to edit a page or how to create a new page.

Understanding the block editor layout

When you open a page or post to edit it, you are in the block editor (also called the Gutenberg editor). The main area is the canvas where your blocks live. A panel on the left (Document Overview) lists your blocks, and a settings panel on the right shows options. Both can be opened and closed from the top toolbar.

The toolbar at the very top of the screen has a + button (to add blocks), undo and redo arrows, and a Publish button. Once a page or post is published, that button reads Save (older versions of WordPress said Update).

Adding a block

There are three ways to add a new block:

Click the + (Add block) icon that appears in the content area on an empty line, or use the + in the top toolbar. A block picker menu opens. You can search for the block you want, or browse by category. Click the block type to insert it.

Selecting and editing a block

Click on any block to select it. When selected, a small toolbar appears floating above the block. This toolbar contains:

Button	What it does
Drag handle (six dots)	Click and drag to reposition the block
Up / Down arrows	Move the block one position up or down
Transform button	Change the block type (e.g., turn a paragraph into a heading)
Alignment button	Align content left, center, or right
Bold / Italic	Text formatting (for text blocks)
Link button	Add a hyperlink to selected text
Three-dot menu (⋮)	More options: duplicate, add before/after, group, delete

Moving a block

You have two options:

Drag and drop. Click the block, then click and hold the six-dot drag handle in the block toolbar and drag the block to its new position.
Use the arrow buttons. Click the block, then use the up and down arrow buttons in the floating toolbar to move it one step at a time. For larger jumps, drag the block instead.

Duplicating a block

Click the block, click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the toolbar, and choose Duplicate. A copy appears directly below the original.

Deleting a block

Click the block, click the three-dot menu (⋮), and choose Delete at the bottom of the menu. The block is gone. You can undo this immediately with Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac).

Deleting is immediate

There is no confirmation dialog when you delete a block. If you delete something by accident, press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) right away to undo. WordPress also saves revisions, so you can recover older versions — see undo mistakes with revisions.

The block settings panel

When you click a block, the right-hand panel switches to show settings for that specific block. The settings vary by block type, and some options sit in the block's toolbar instead of the panel. For example:

A Heading block lets you choose the level (H1 to H6).
An Image block lets you add alt text, link the image, and change the size.
A Button block lets you set the link URL, style, and color.

There are usually two tabs at the top of the right panel: Block (settings for the current block) and Post or Page (settings for the whole post or page). Make sure you are on the Block tab when adjusting a specific block.

Things you can do to any block

Select it with a single click
Edit the content directly (click and type)
Move it up or down
Duplicate it
Delete it
Copy/paste it (Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V or Command+C / Command+V)

Things that vary by block type

Change alignment (left, center, right, wide, full-width)
Add a link (text and button blocks)
Add alt text (image blocks)
Change color or style (many blocks)
Set a caption (image, video blocks)

Grouping blocks together

You can select multiple blocks and group them into a Group block. This makes it easy to move or duplicate a whole section at once.

To select multiple blocks: click the first block, then hold Shift and click the last block in the range. Then click the group icon that appears in the toolbar, or open the three-dot menu (⋮) and choose Group.

Common questions

I can't find the block type I need — where is it?

Click the + button and type the name of the block in the search box. If it still doesn't appear, the block may be provided by a plugin that isn't installed. Ask your project lead if you need a specific block type added to your site.

I accidentally deleted a block — how do I get it back?

Press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) immediately to undo. If you've moved on, see undo mistakes with revisions — WordPress keeps a history of saved versions, called revisions.

My block has moved to the wrong place — how do I fix it?

Click the block to select it, then use the up/down arrows in the toolbar to move it step by step. To move it further, drag it with the six-dot drag handle.

What is the 'List View' and when should I use it?

The List View shows all the blocks on your page in a list. To open it, click the Document Overview button in the top toolbar, then choose the List View tab. It is very helpful on pages with many blocks, because you can click a block in the list to jump to it.

Can I use a classic word-processor layout instead of blocks?

WordPress's older Classic Editor is still available as a separate plugin, but the block editor has been the default since WordPress 5.0 (December 2018). If you find blocks confusing at first, see getting started with the block editor for a gentle introduction.

Need a hand?

If you're stuck, email support@chykalophia.com and we'll help. Include your website address and a screenshot if you can.

Working with blocks