You open a post to edit it and all you see is HTML code, or the Visual and Text tabs are missing from the editor. It looks broken, but it’s almost always a setting. Which one depends on the editor you’re using.
In the block editor
The block editor doesn’t have Visual and Text tabs. It has a Code editor mode that shows the whole post as HTML, and it’s easy to switch on by accident.
- Click the three-dot Options menu at the top right of the editor.
- Under Editor, choose Visual editor.
The keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Alt+M (Cmd+Shift+Option+M on a Mac) toggles between the two, which is how most people end up there without meaning to.
If only one block shows code, that block is set to edit as HTML. Select it, open the block’s three-dot menu, and choose Edit visually.
In the classic editor
If your site uses the Classic Editor plugin and the Visual and Text tabs are gone, check the user’s profile. There’s a setting that turns the visual editor off for that one person, which is why it can look fine for you and broken for someone else.
- Go to Users and edit the user who has the problem (or Profile if it’s you).
- At the top, find Visual Editor: Disable the visual editor when writing.
- Uncheck it and click Update Profile.
If the setting isn’t the cause
- Browser cache or extensions. Try a private window. If the editor works there, clear your cache or turn off extensions one at a time.
- A plugin conflict. A broken script from one plugin can stop the editor from loading its visual mode. Our plugin conflict guide shows how to find it.
- A security or caching plugin minifying or blocking the editor’s scripts. Exclude the admin area from optimization.
Still showing code?
If you’ve tried these and the editor still won’t switch, our $79 one-time fix will find the cause and fix it.