Table of contents

What is distraction-free mode in WordPress?How to turn off distraction-free mode in WordPressAlternately: Use keyboard shortcuts What’s the difference between Fullscreen Mode and Spotlight Mode?How to keep distraction-free mode turned off by defaultTroubleshooting: Can’t find the setting?Bonus: How to turn off distraction-free mode in the Classic EditorWhen should you keep distraction-free mode on?Getting startedAdditional resources

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WordPress Guide → Post → Distraction Free

Distraction free WordPress (and how to turn it off)

Distraction-free mode in WordPress sounds great—until you’re trying to access your dashboard and menus, and they’re nowhere in sight. If your screen feels too minimal, here’s how to turn it off and get back to the classic WordPress editing experience.

Whether you’re using the block editor or the Classic Editor plugin, you’ll find quick instructions below, plus keyboard shortcuts, troubleshooting tips, and editor settings worth knowing.

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What is distraction-free mode in WordPress?

Distraction-free mode—also called Fullscreen Mode in newer versions of WordPress—hides your dashboard menus, top toolbar, and most on-screen options. It’s designed to let you focus on writing without clutter, sidebars, or settings competing for your attention.

By default, it applies to the block editor (Gutenberg) and activates automatically when creating a new post or page. But many users find this frustrating, especially if they rely on custom fields, categories, or other admin elements that disappear in fullscreen.

How to turn off distraction-free mode in WordPress

You can disable distraction-free (fullscreen) mode in just a few clicks. This restores the normal editing layout, including the WordPress admin menu, top bar, and side panels.

1. Open the WordPress editor

From your WordPress dashboard:

Go to Posts > All Posts or Pages > All Pages
Click Edit on the post or page you want to work on

2. Access the “More tools & options” menu

Look in the top-right corner of the editor for a three-dot icon (⋮). This opens the options panel.

3. Toggle off Fullscreen Mode

In the dropdown, find the item labeled Fullscreen Mode. Click it to uncheck the setting and exit distraction-free mode.

You’ll instantly see your admin menu and WordPress top bar return to the screen.

Alternately: Use keyboard shortcuts

Who doesn’t love a quick shortcut?

Shift + Command + \ (Mac)
Ctrl + Shift + \ (Windows)

This toggles fullscreen mode on or off without touching the menu.

What’s the difference between Fullscreen Mode and Spotlight Mode?

These two features are often confused, but they serve different purposes.

Fullscreen Mode: Hides the WordPress dashboard menu and toolbar. It’s the core of distraction-free writing.
Spotlight Mode: Dims all other blocks except the one you’re actively editing. This helps you focus on a single section of content.

You can enable or disable either one from the same ⋮ More tools & options menu in the editor.

How to keep distraction-free mode turned off by default

Here’s the tricky part: WordPress stores editor display preferences using local browser storage. That means:

Your setting (like disabling fullscreen) is saved only for your browser and user account.
If you clear your browser’s local storage or cookies, it resets.
WordPress doesn’t store this setting in the database—so it’s not permanent.

Workaround tips:

After clearing your cache, manually re-toggle fullscreen mode again.
Log in from the same browser and user account to keep the setting consistent.
Avoid clearing cookies/local storage unless necessary if you want to “lock in” your preference.

Some developer-savvy users create admin scripts or plugins to enforce editor settings, but there’s no built-in way to turn off distraction-free mode sitewide.

Troubleshooting: Can’t find the setting?

If you’re struggling to exit fullscreen mode or the menu just isn’t there, try these common fixes:

On small screens, the ⋮ menu may be collapsed or off-screen. Try resizing the window or zooming out.
Older themes or plugins may override or remove menu items. Temporarily switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
Your screen is zoomed in or your resolution is low. Use your browser’s zoom-out function (Ctrl/Command and -) to bring hidden items into view.
Use the keyboard shortcut (Shift + Command/Ctrl + \) if you can’t find the option visually.

These changes let you keep your design consistent and polished.

Bonus: How to turn off distraction-free mode in the Classic Editor

If you’re using the Classic Editor or an older version of WordPress, the experience is slightly different.

Classic Editor distraction-free toggle:

Open a post or page using the Classic Editor.
In the editor toolbar, click the distraction-free writing mode icon (four arrows pointing outward).
This hides or reveals the surrounding menus while editing content.

No way to disable by default

The Classic Editor doesn’t remember your distraction-free setting across sessions. You’ll need to toggle it off each time if it activates.

Check your user profile settings

In Users > Profile, make sure “Disable the visual editor when writing” is not checked—this sometimes causes confusion about what editor settings are active.

When should you keep distraction-free mode on?

Distraction-free mode isn’t bad—it just doesn’t fit every workflow. If you’re writing long-form content and don’t need to manage SEO, metadata, or templates, fullscreen mode can reduce clutter and improve concentration.

Here are a few scenarios where it shines:

Bloggers and writers who focus on pure content creation
Teams with editorial workflows using blocks and reusable templates
Content-first designers working inside full-page templates without side widgets

But if you’re constantly switching between SEO plugins, adding featured images, or editing custom fields, it can slow you down more than help.

Next steps for managing WordPress editor settings

Distraction-free mode can be helpful—but only if it fits how you work. Now that you know how to toggle it off, you can quickly switch between clean writing and full admin access, depending on what you’re doing.

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