The Full Site Editor (FSE) is the interface that turns WordPress from a content platform into a fully visual site design tool. With a block theme active, you can redesign headers, footers, templates, individual page types and global styles from a single unified editor — no CSS, no PHP, no third-party page builder. This is the most significant shift in WordPress since the introduction of the Block Editor in 2018. This guide covers what FSE is, how to access it, the five main areas, how to edit headers and footers, the Global Styles system, creating custom templates, and the patterns and best practices that make the editor pleasant to work with rather than overwhelming.
What the Full Site Editor is · Requirements: you need a block theme · Accessing the Full Site Editor · Key areas of the Site Editor · Editing the header · Editing the footer · Global Styles: site-wide design · Creating custom templates · The Query Loop block for post listings · Tips for working with the Full Site Editor · Frequently asked questions
The Full Site Editor is a built-in WordPress feature that lets you design every part of your website visually using blocks. If you already know the Block Editor for pages and posts, FSE extends the same block-based approach to the entire site — header, footer, templates, navigation, global styles, all in one interface.
Before FSE, changes to site layout typically required editing theme files, writing CSS, or installing a third-party page builder. FSE brings that into native WordPress.
Introduced in WordPress 5.9 (January 2022), FSE has been refined with every major release. On smartxhosting.uk, the Plesk WordPress Toolkit installs the latest WordPress with full FSE support automatically.
FSE is only available with an active block theme. Classic themes continue to use the Customiser at Appearance > Customize; they do not expose the Editor menu item.
Block theme options:
Find more under Appearance > Themes > Add New Theme, filter by "Block Themes".
Appearance > Editor. The editor opens and displays the homepage by default.
A navigation panel on the left gives access to the main areas. Click any section to explore. The editor works in real time — changes appear as you make them, exactly as visitors will see.
If you do not see Editor under Appearance, your active theme is a classic theme. Switch to a block theme to enable FSE.
FSE is organised into five sections.
Layouts for different page types:
Customise any template visually. Changes apply to every post or page rendered with that template.
Reusable sections appearing across multiple templates:
Edit a template part once; the change applies everywhere the part is used.
Global design settings — colours, typography, spacing, layout — for the entire site from one panel. Pre-built style variations let you swap looks in one click.
Edit individual pages directly from within the Site Editor, combining content editing with template-level design in a single workflow.
Pre-designed block layouts. Insert into pages, posts or templates. Manage both synced patterns (update everywhere when edited) and unsynced patterns (independent copies). See patterns guide.
Two ways:
Common header blocks:
Block toolbar and settings panel control alignment, colours, spacing and typography.
Top-right Save button. Header updates on every page that uses this template part.
You can create additional Header template parts (e.g. "Landing Page Header" without navigation). Assign a specific template part to a specific template to vary header per page type.
Either scroll to the bottom of any template view and click the footer, or go to Patterns > Template Parts > Footer.
Three or four columns: logo + tagline; Quick links (pages); Contact details (address, phone, email); Social icons + newsletter. Below, a full-width legal row with Companies House number and VAT registration.
Click the Styles panel (paintbrush icon in the top-right toolbar) to access global design settings.
Set font family, size, weight, line height, letter spacing for Headings, Body, Buttons, Links, Captions separately. Theme fonts appear in the dropdown; add more via Manage Fonts.
Define the theme's colour palette. Set default colours for Background, Text, Headings, Links, Buttons. Changes propagate site-wide.
Content width, wide alignment width, padding, block spacing defaults.
Per-block default styling — how every Image block, every Button block, every Heading block looks by default. Override per-instance as needed.
Most block themes ship with pre-built style variations. Twenty Twenty-Five includes nine: each is a distinct colour and typography combination. Try them from Styles > Browse Styles.
Beyond the default templates, you can create custom templates for specific needs.
The Query Loop block dynamically lists posts based on criteria you set. It replaces the need for custom PHP in most listing scenarios.
Configure:
Inside the Query Loop, add blocks for post title, featured image, excerpt, date, author, read-more link. Design the card layout once; every post in the loop follows that design.
Use cases: featured blog posts on the homepage, category-specific widgets in a sidebar, latest case studies, recent products.
FSE does not autosave as aggressively as the post editor. Save every few major changes to avoid losing work if the browser misbehaves.
Top toolbar > Preview > Mobile. Check template layouts on small screens before saving.
Top toolbar > List View opens an outline of every block and template part on the current screen. Essential on complex layouts.
Changes to templates and styles are versioned. Click the clock icon in the Styles panel to see revisions and restore an earlier version. Life-saving when a well-meaning change breaks something.
For major template restructuring, clone to a staging subdomain via the Plesk WordPress Toolkit. Experiment there. Push to production when satisfied.
A template with 20 nested blocks is harder to debug than one with 8. Use template parts to encapsulate repeated sections (header, footer, call-to-action) rather than pasting the same blocks across every template.
FSE configurations can be exported as a theme JSON file for moving between sites. Appearance > Editor > Options > Export. Imports available on the Tools menu. Handy for agencies setting up client sites from a consistent baseline.
Can I use the Full Site Editor with any theme?
No. You need a block theme. Classic themes use the Customiser. Check under Appearance — if you see Editor, you are on a block theme.
What happens if I break a template?
Click the clock icon in the Styles panel (or use Revisions) to restore a previous version. For more severe breakage, resetting a template via its options returns it to the theme's default.
Can FSE replace my page builder?
For most UK small business sites, yes. FSE plus a block theme covers 80–90% of what Elementor, Divi or Beaver Builder offer. Specialised needs (complex animations, advanced dynamic content) may still justify a page builder.
How do I customise a specific page type?
Create a custom template for that page type, or edit the default template for the type. Assign pages to templates via the page settings sidebar.
Can I share custom templates with other users on the same site?
Yes. Custom templates are stored in the database and visible to all users with permission to edit templates.
Can I export templates to another WordPress site?
Yes. Export via FSE options or the standard WordPress export tool. Import on the target site through the Tools menu or by including theme.json directives.
Does FSE work on mobile?
The editor itself works on tablets and (awkwardly) on phones. For serious editing, use a desktop or laptop with a wide screen.
What is the difference between templates and template parts?
A template is a layout for a whole page type (Single Post, Archive). A template part is a reusable section (Header, Footer, Sidebar) included within templates. Edit a template part once; every template that uses it updates.
Why do some of my blocks disappear after editing the template?
Usually because the page used a page-specific layout that the new template overrides. Switch the page back to the previous template or adjust the new template to include the same blocks.
Should I switch to FSE if my classic theme still works?
Not urgently. If your classic theme setup meets your needs, you can stay on it. For new sites or major redesigns, start with FSE for future-proofness.
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