First of all, a big question:
Do you really need to access the Site Editor?
The simple answer is: Yes — but only when you want to control the overall layout of your website.
For normal content like writing blog posts or creating pages, you don’t need the Site Editor. You’ll use the regular Post and Page Editor for that.
So don’t get confused.
There are two different editors in WordPress:
- Post/Page Editor → Used to write content.
- Site Editor → Used to control the structure and design of the entire website.
What Is the Site Editor? #
The Site Editor is where you control the global structure and design of your website.
Its main purposes are:
- Editing your Header
- Editing your Footer
- Changing overall site layout
- Customizing Single Post layout
- Modifying Archive (blog list) layout
- Editing Page templates
- Managing Template Parts
- Adjusting Global Styles (colors, fonts, spacing)
- Switching Style Variations
- Customizing navigation menus
In simple terms:
The Site Editor controls how your website looks.
The Post Editor controls what your website says.
When Should You Use the Site Editor? #
You should access the Site Editor when you want to:
- Change your site logo
- Update header or footer layout
- Modify blog post structure
- Change global fonts and colors
- Adjust spacing and design settings
- Customize templates
If you’re just writing an article — you don’t need it.
If you’re redesigning layout — you do.
How to Access the Site Editor #
Follow these steps:
- Go to your WordPress Dashboard
- Click on Appearance
- Click on Editor
That’s it.
You will now enter the Site Editor interface.
From here, you can customize your site layout as you wish.
What You’ll See Inside the Site Editor #
Once inside, you’ll typically see:
- Templates – Control layout of specific pages (Homepage, Single Post, Archive, etc.)
- Template Parts – Reusable sections like Header and Footer
- Patterns – Pre-designed layout sections
- Styles – Global typography, colors, spacing
Take your time exploring. You won’t break your website just by clicking around.
Important Reminder #
Always remember:
- Editing a Template affects all pages using that template.
- Editing a Page only affects that specific page.
- Editing Global Styles affects the entire website.
If you’re unsure, duplicate a template first before making major changes.
