15 Gutenberg Block Editor Tricks Every WordPress User Should Know

The Gutenberg Block Editor revolutionized WordPress content creation, but most users only scratch the surface of its powerful features. If you’re still clicking through menus and struggling with basic formatting, you’re missing out on productivity-boosting shortcuts that could save you hours every week.

Studies show that users familiar with Gutenberg Block Editor tricks complete content creation 50% faster than those using only basic features. Yet, according to WordPress.com data, over 70% of users don’t know about essential time-saving shortcuts and hidden features.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover 15 essential Gutenberg Block Editor tricks that will transform how you create content. From keyboard shortcuts to advanced block manipulation, these tips work for beginners and experienced users alike.

Why Master Gutenberg Block Editor Tricks?

Before diving into specific tricks, let’s understand why mastering these features matters for your WordPress workflow.

Increased Productivity

Learning Gutenberg tricks can dramatically improve your content creation speed:

Reduce page building time by 40-60%
Eliminate repetitive clicking and menu navigation
Complete complex layouts in minutes instead of hours
Focus on content instead of fighting with the interface

Better Content Quality

When you’re not struggling with tools, you create better content:

Maintain creative flow without technical interruptions
Experiment with layouts more freely
Implement professional design patterns easily
Spend more time on writing and less on formatting

Professional Results

Advanced Gutenberg tricks enable professional-grade designs:

Create complex layouts without page builders
Maintain consistent styling across pages
Build reusable patterns and templates
Deliver client projects faster

Now let’s explore the 15 essential tricks every WordPress user should master.

1. Use the Slash Command for Instant Block Access

The slash command is the fastest way to add blocks without touching your mouse.

How It Works

Click anywhere in the editor where you want to add content
Type / (forward slash)
Start typing the block name (e.g., /image, /heading, /button)
Press Enter to insert the block

Why It’s Powerful

Speed: 10x faster than clicking the + button
Flow: Keep your hands on the keyboard
Discovery: See all available blocks as you type

Pro tip: Type /columns to quickly create multi-column layouts, or /group to wrap existing content in a container block.

2. Keyboard Shortcuts for Lightning-Fast Editing

Gutenberg includes dozens of keyboard shortcuts that dramatically speed up editing.

Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

Text Formatting:

Ctrl/Cmd + B – Bold text
Ctrl/Cmd + I – Italic text
Ctrl/Cmd + K – Insert link
Ctrl/Cmd + U – Underline text
Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + X – Inline code

Block Manipulation:

Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + D – Duplicate selected block
Ctrl/Cmd + Alt + T – Insert new block before
Ctrl/Cmd + Alt + Y – Insert new block after
Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Z – Remove block
Ctrl/Cmd + Option/Alt + Up/Down – Move block up/down

Selection and Navigation:

Shift + Click – Select multiple blocks
Tab – Navigate between blocks
Esc – Clear selection or exit block

Create Your Shortcut Cheat Sheet

Print or save these shortcuts near your workspace. Within a week, they’ll become muscle memory, and you’ll wonder how you ever worked without them.

3. Multi-Select Blocks for Bulk Actions

One of Gutenberg’s most underused features is multi-block selection.

How to Multi-Select

Method 1: Click + Shift

Click the first block
Hold Shift
Click the last block
All blocks between are selected

Method 2: Drag Selection

Click and hold in empty space
Drag across multiple blocks
Release to select all touched blocks

What You Can Do With Multi-Selection

Bulk delete: Remove multiple blocks at once
Group together: Wrap selected blocks in a Group or Columns block
Copy/paste: Duplicate entire sections
Transform: Convert multiple paragraphs to a list
Move together: Relocate entire content sections

Example use case: Building a pricing table with three columns? Create one column with all content, then duplicate it twice and edit the details. This saves 10+ minutes compared to building each column from scratch.

4. Block Patterns for Instant Professional Layouts

Block patterns are pre-designed block combinations that you can insert with one click.

Accessing Block Patterns

Click the + icon in the top toolbar
Select the Patterns tab
Browse categories like Headers, Call to Action, Columns, etc.
Click any pattern to insert it

Why Use Patterns

Professional design: Created by WordPress design experts
Instant layouts: Complex arrangements in seconds
Customizable: Edit colors, text, images after insertion
Consistency: Maintain design standards across pages

Creating Custom Patterns

Advanced users can save their own frequently-used layouts as reusable patterns:

Select the blocks you want to save
Click the three dots (⋮) in the toolbar
Choose Create Pattern
Name it and make it available across your site

Pro tip: Create patterns for testimonials, pricing tables, team member cards, and feature sections you use repeatedly.

5. Transform Blocks to Change Types Instantly

Need to turn a paragraph into a heading? Or convert a list into separate paragraphs? Block transformation makes it instant.

How to Transform Blocks

Select the block(s) you want to change
Click the block icon in the toolbar (shows current block type)
Choose from available transformation options

Common Transformations

Paragraph ↔ Heading: Change text hierarchy
Paragraph ↔ List: Convert text to/from lists
Image → Gallery: Combine multiple images
List → Paragraph: Split list items into separate paragraphs
Heading → Paragraph: Downgrade heading importance

Use case: Import content from another source with inconsistent formatting? Select all paragraphs that should be headings and bulk-transform them.

6. Drag and Drop for Instant Reordering

The drag-and-drop interface makes content reorganization effortless.

How to Drag Blocks

Hover over any block
Click and hold the ⋮⋮ (six dots) handle on the left
Drag to the desired position
Release to drop

Advanced Dragging Techniques

Into nested containers:

Drag blocks into Group, Column, or Cover blocks
Watch for blue lines indicating valid drop zones

Reorder within lists:

Drag list items to reorder them
Create sub-lists by dragging right

Between pages:

Copy blocks on one page
Paste on another page
Maintains all formatting and settings

Pro tip: Hold Shift while dragging for more precise control over drop positions.

7. Use the List View for Complex Page Navigation

Working on long pages with dozens of blocks? The List View is your navigation command center.

Opening List View

Click the List View icon (☰) in the top toolbar
Or press Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + O

What List View Shows

Hierarchical structure of all blocks
Nested relationships (blocks inside groups/columns)
Block names and types
Current selection

List View Actions

Click to select: Jump to any block instantly
Drag to reorder: Move blocks without scrolling
See structure: Understand complex nested layouts
Rename blocks: Click the three dots to add custom labels

Example: Building a landing page with 50+ blocks? Use List View to instantly jump between header, features, testimonials, and CTA sections without endless scrolling.

8. Copy and Paste Styles Between Blocks

Save time by copying styles from one block to another instead of reconfiguring settings manually.

How to Copy Styles

Select the block with the styling you want to copy
Click the three dots (⋮) in the toolbar
Choose Copy Styles
Select the target block
Click three dots (⋮) and choose Paste Styles

What Gets Copied

Colors (text and background)
Typography (font size, weight, line height)
Spacing (padding and margins)
Border settings
Custom CSS classes

Use case: Created the perfect button design? Copy those styles to all other buttons on your page in seconds instead of manually matching colors, sizes, and spacing.

9. Reusable Blocks for Consistent Elements

Reusable blocks let you create once and use everywhere, with changes syncing across all instances.

Creating Reusable Blocks

Build and style your block (e.g., a call-to-action box)
Click the three dots (⋮) in the toolbar
Select Create Reusable Block
Give it a descriptive name
Use it anywhere by typing / + the block name

Perfect Uses for Reusable Blocks

Calls-to-action: Newsletter signups, contact forms
Disclaimers: Legal notices, affiliate disclosures
Author bios: About sections, contributor info
Social proof: Testimonials, review badges
Navigation: Custom menu sections

Editing Reusable Blocks

When you edit a reusable block, changes appear everywhere it’s used. To edit without affecting other instances, first convert it to a regular block.

Pro tip: Build a library of reusable blocks for common elements. This ensures brand consistency and saves hours on repetitive tasks.

10. Quick Block Navigation with Breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs help you navigate nested block structures without confusion.

Where to Find Breadcrumbs

Look at the bottom of the Block Editor when any block is selected. You’ll see the hierarchy:

Document > Group > Columns > Column > Heading

Using Breadcrumbs Effectively

Click any level: Select that parent container
Navigate up: Move from inner block to outer container
Understand structure: See exactly where you are in nested layouts

Example: Your text is inside a Column inside Columns inside a Group inside a Cover block. Instead of clicking around randomly, use breadcrumbs to quickly select the exact level you need to modify.

11. Full-Height Design Mode for Distraction-Free Editing

Focus mode removes distractions and maximizes your workspace.

Activating Full-Height Mode

Spotlight Mode (Individual Blocks):

Click the three dots (⋮) in the top toolbar
Select Preferences
Enable Spotlight Mode
Now only the selected block is highlighted; others fade out

Fullscreen Mode (Entire Editor):

Click the three dots (⋮) in the top toolbar
Select Fullscreen Mode
The WordPress admin menu disappears, giving maximum space

When to Use Focus Modes

Long articles: Write without distraction
Complex layouts: Focus on one section at a time
Client presentations: Show clean, professional editing environment
Video tutorials: Remove clutter from screen recordings

Pro tip: Combine fullscreen mode with the List View for the ultimate focused editing experience on long-form content.

12. Block Inserter Settings for Customized Workflows

Customize which blocks appear in your inserter to streamline your workflow.

Accessing Block Manager

Click the three dots (⋮) in the top toolbar
Select Preferences
Click Blocks in the sidebar

Customization Options

Disable unused blocks: Hide blocks you never use
Organize favorites: Pin frequently-used blocks to the top
Reduce clutter: Focus on blocks relevant to your workflow

Use case: If you only ever use Paragraph, Heading, Image, and Button blocks, disable everything else. Your / slash command menu becomes much faster to navigate.

13. Document Overview for SEO and Structure Analysis

The Document Overview panel provides instant insights into your content structure.

Opening Document Overview

Click the i (information) icon in the top toolbar
View statistics about your content

What You’ll See

Word count: Track article length
Headings: Outline structure (H2, H3, etc.)
Paragraphs: Count of text blocks
Blocks: Total block count
Characters: Including/excluding spaces

Using Overview for SEO

Verify heading hierarchy: Ensure proper H2 → H3 → H4 structure
Check content length: Meet target word counts
Identify structure issues: Find missing headings or too-long sections

Pro tip: Before publishing, check Document Overview to ensure your headings create a logical outline. Search engines and readers both appreciate clear content structure.

14. Block Locking for Protected Content

Prevent accidental changes to critical content by locking blocks.

How to Lock Blocks

Select the block you want to protect
Click the three dots (⋮) in the toolbar
Select Lock
Choose locking options:
- Disable movement: Block can’t be moved
- Prevent removal: Block can’t be deleted
- Lock all: Complete protection

When to Use Block Locking

Critical disclaimers: Prevent accidental deletion
Client sites: Protect important sections from non-technical users
Templates: Lock structure while allowing content edits
Legal content: Ensure required text stays in place

Use case: Building a site for a client? Lock the header, footer, and important CTA sections so they can edit content without breaking the layout.

15. Add Animations to Blocks for Engaging Content

Make your content stand out with scroll-triggered animations that captivate visitors.

Why Add Block Animations

Increase engagement: Animated content holds attention 40% longer
Guide attention: Direct eyes to important elements
Professional feel: Modern websites use subtle animations
Reduce bounce rate: Dynamic content keeps visitors exploring

How to Add Animations

With the Block Editor Animations plugin:

Select any block you want to animate
Open the Animation panel in the right sidebar
Choose from animation effects:
- Fade effects (fade, fade-up, fade-down)
- Slide effects (slide-up, slide-down, slide-left, slide-right)
- Zoom effects (zoom-in, zoom-out)
- Rotation and flip effects
Adjust timing, delay, and duration
Preview before publishing

Quick Presets for One-Click Animations

The plugin includes professional presets:

Subtle Fade In – Gentle, professional
Attention Bounce – Eye-catching for CTAs
Smooth Slide Up – Modern and clean
Dynamic Zoom In – Bold and engaging
Elegant Rotate – Unique and memorable

Pro tip: Animate 3-5 key elements per page (headlines, CTAs, feature boxes) for maximum impact without overwhelming visitors.

Best Practices for Gutenberg Block Editor Mastery

Now that you know 15 essential tricks, follow these best practices for optimal results.

1. Start Simple, Then Advance

Don’t try to learn all tricks at once. Focus on:

Week 1: Slash commands and basic keyboard shortcuts
Week 2: Multi-select and block transformations
Week 3: Patterns and reusable blocks
Week 4: Advanced features like List View and block locking

2. Customize Your Workflow

Everyone works differently. Experiment to find which tricks save you the most time:

Writers might prioritize focus mode and keyboard shortcuts
Designers might rely on patterns and style copying
Developers might use reusable blocks and custom patterns

3. Create Your Own Shortcuts Reference

Build a personal cheat sheet with:

Your 10 most-used keyboard shortcuts
Names of favorite block patterns
Custom reusable blocks you’ve created

Keep it visible until these become automatic.

4. Combine Tricks for Maximum Efficiency

The real power comes from combining multiple tricks:

Use slash command to quickly add a Group block
Add multiple blocks inside it
Multi-select all inner blocks
Copy styles from another section
Save as reusable block for future use
Add animations to make it engaging

This five-minute workflow creates professional, reusable, animated sections that would take 30+ minutes the old way.

Taking Your Gutenberg Skills to the Next Level

Mastering these 15 tricks puts you ahead of most WordPress users, but there’s always more to learn.

Explore Advanced Block Features

Once comfortable with basics, explore:

Custom CSS classes: Add classes for theme styling
Block variations: Some blocks have multiple layout options
Anchor links: Create jump-to-section navigation
Dynamic blocks: Display recent posts, categories, etc.

Learn Block Development

For developers, the Gutenberg Block Editor offers powerful APIs:

Build custom blocks for specific needs
Create block extensions and controls
Develop commercial block plugins
Contribute to WordPress core development

Join the Gutenberg Community

Stay current with new features and tricks:

Follow Make WordPress blog
Watch Gutenberg release notes
Join WordPress meetups and WordCamps
Participate in WordPress.org forums

Conclusion

Congratulations! You now know 15 essential Gutenberg Block Editor tricks that will transform your WordPress productivity:

Slash commands for instant block access
Keyboard shortcuts for lightning-fast editing
Multi-select for bulk actions
Block patterns for professional layouts
Block transformation for instant type changes
Drag and drop for effortless reordering
List View for complex page navigation
Copy/paste styles between blocks
Reusable blocks for consistent elements
Breadcrumbs for nested navigation
Focus modes for distraction-free editing
Block inserter customization for streamlined workflows
Document overview for structure analysis
Block locking for protected content
Block animations for engaging experiences

Start by implementing 2-3 tricks this week. As they become habits, add more. Within a month, you’ll work faster, create better content, and wonder how you ever managed without these powerful features.

Ready to make your Gutenberg content even more engaging? Install Block Editor Animations to add professional scroll-triggered animations to any block with just a few clicks.

What’s Next?

Now that you’re a Gutenberg power user, explore these related topics:

Creating custom block patterns for your brand
Building reusable block libraries for clients
Advanced animation techniques for landing pages
Gutenberg vs page builders: performance comparison

Have questions about Gutenberg Block Editor tricks? Visit our support page or leave a comment below!