How to Add and Use Widgets in WordPress (Step by Step)

Widgets are powerful tools that provide additional functionality to your WordPress website. You can add them to your sidebars and other widget-ready areas without having to write any code.

At WPBeginner, we use widgets to customize and extend the capabilities of our sites to make them more dynamic and engaging for your visitors. For example, they can be used to display recent posts, social media feeds, special offers, and much more.

In this article, we will show you how to add and use widgets in WordPress to quickly customize your site, improving its aesthetics and user experience.

What Are Widgets & Why Do You Need Them in WordPress?

Widgets are blocks of content that you can add to your WordPress sidebars, footer, and other widget areas of your website.

This can be an easy way to add image galleries, social media feeds, quotes, calendars, popular posts, and other dynamic elements to your WordPress website.

You can find your widget area by going to Appearance » Widgets in your WordPress admin dashboard.

These “widget areas” are specific locations defined by your WordPress theme where widgets can be placed. Common areas include sidebars (left or right), the footer (often divided into multiple columns), and sometimes the header or specific areas within post content.

The modern WordPress experience primarily uses Block Widgets, which integrate the power of the WordPress block editor into your widget areas. It replaces the older “classic widgets” interface with a more visual and flexible content creation tool.

With that said, let’s show you how to easily add widgets to different areas of your WordPress website.

How to Add a Widget to a Sidebar in WordPress

There are multiple ways you can add widgets to your WordPress sidebar area.

Method 1: Using the Widgets Screen (for Classic Themes)

If you are using a classic WordPress theme, the most common way is to navigate to Appearance » Widgets.

On this screen, you’ll see your available widget areas (like ‘Sidebar’ or ‘Footer’). Click on the widget area you want to edit to expand it.

Then, click the ‘+’ icon to bring up the widget block menu.

Here, you can search for a widget by name. Or, click the ‘Browse all’ button to bring up a menu of all the available widgets.

To add a widget to your sidebar, simply click on that widget, and it will automatically be added to your sidebar.

Then, all you have to do is click the ‘Update’ button, and the widget will now be live on your website.

Method 2: Using the Theme Customizer (for Classic Themes)

Another way to add widgets, especially if you want to see a live preview of your changes, is by using the WordPress theme customizer. This method is primarily for classic themes.

First, navigate to Appearance » Customize and then click the ‘Widgets’ option.

This brings you to a page where you can customize your widget options and see the changes in real-time.

To add a widget to your sidebar, simply click the ‘Right Sidebar’ menu option (or whichever widget area you want to edit).

After that, click the ‘+’ add block icon to bring up the widget block menu.

Then, select a widget block, and it will automatically be added to your sidebar.

The process of adding a widget is the same as above.

Once you have finished making changes to your widget area, click the ‘Publish’ button to push your changes live.

Method 3: Using the Site Editor (for Full Site Editing Themes)

If you are using a newer Full Site Editing (FSE) theme, you won’t have the traditional ‘Widgets’ or ‘Customize’ options under Appearance. Instead, you’ll manage blocks (including those that act as widgets) directly within the Site Editor.

Simply navigate to Appearance » Editor. This will open the Site Editor.

In the editor, you can browse your templates (like ‘Single Post’ or ‘Page’) and template parts (like ‘Header’ or ‘Footer’).

To add a widget-like block, select the template part where you want to add it (e.g., a sidebar area within a template).

Click the ‘+’ icon to add a new block. You can search for blocks like ‘Latest Posts’, ‘Search’, ‘Categories’, etc., which function similarly to classic widgets.

Once added and configured, click the ‘Save’ button to apply your changes to the template.

How to Remove a Widget in WordPress

Removing a widget in WordPress is as easy as the process of adding one. Simply navigate to Appearance » Widgets in your WordPress dashboard.

After that, click on the widget block that you want to delete.

Then, at the top of the widget block, click the three dots ‘Options’ button. This brings up a menu that lets you move and delete the widget.

To delete the widget, simply select the ‘Remove block’ option.

Deleting the widget will remove it from your sidebar and delete the widget settings or any options you selected.

Sometimes, you might want to remove a widget but save its settings for the future. This is useful if you plan to use it again later without reconfiguring it.

To do this on the Appearance » Widgets screen (for classic themes), you can drag the widget block down to the ‘Inactive widgets’ section.

Look for the six-dot handle or simply click and hold the widget block to drag it.

Before you exit the page, make sure to click the ‘Update’ button to save your widget settings.

If you want to use that widget again, then simply drag the widget block from the ‘Inactive widgets’ section back to an active widget area.

You may also want to see our guide on how to disable unwanted widgets from WordPress.

What Kinds of Widgets Are Available for WordPress?

A default WordPress installation comes with built-in widgets, including recent posts, tags, a search bar, categories, a calendar, and more.

However, most WordPress plugins and themes also come with their own widget blocks that you can add to your site.

To give you a better idea, here’s a breakdown of common WordPress widgets you’ll encounter, both built-in and frequently added by plugins:

Widget Name	Function & Use Cases
Archives	Displays a monthly archive of your posts, useful for allowing visitors to browse older content.
Audio	Embeds an audio player to play music or podcasts directly on your site.
Calendar	Shows a calendar highlighting days with published posts, aiding navigation.
Categories	Lists your post categories, helping users explore specific topics.
Custom HTML	Allows you to add any custom HTML code, perfect for embedding external content or unique layouts.
Gallery	Displays a selection of images in a gallery format.
Image	Adds a single image with an optional link.
Latest Comments	Shows the most recent comments on your posts, encouraging engagement.
Latest Posts	Lists your most recent blog posts, keeping content fresh and discoverable.
Navigation Menu	Displays a custom menu you’ve created (e.g., primary menu, footer menu).
Pages	Lists all published pages on your site.
RSS	Displays entries from any RSS feed, useful for showing content from other sites.
Search	Adds a search bar, allowing visitors to find specific content on your site.
Shortcode	Allows you to insert shortcodes from plugins or themes.
Social Icons	Displays links to your social media profiles (often provided by themes/plugins).
Tags Cloud	Shows a cloud of your most used tags, making content discovery more visual.
Text	Adds plain text or basic HTML, versatile for welcome messages, disclaimers, etc.
Video	Embeds videos from platforms like YouTube or Vimeo, or self-hosted videos.
WPForms (Example)	Allows you to embed a contact form created with the WPForms plugin directly into a widget area.

You can even create your own widget to add a completely custom widget to WordPress. For more details, see our guide on how to create a custom WordPress widget.

Frequently Asked Questions About Adding and Using Widgets in WordPress

Here are some questions that our readers have frequently asked about adding and using widgets in WordPress:

How do widgets work in WordPress?

Widgets in WordPress work as small content blocks that you can add to areas like sidebars and footers. They help you display extra content such as menus, recent posts, or search bars without editing code.

How do you design a good widget in WordPress?

A good widget in WordPress is simple, useful, and easy to read. It should match your site design and provide quick value without distracting users from the main content.

To get started, you can see our tutorial on creating a custom WordPress widget.

How to use classic widgets in WordPress?

You can use classic widgets in WordPress by installing a plugin that restores the old widget editor. This lets you manage widgets using the traditional interface instead of the block-based system.

For more information, you may like to see our guide on how to disable widget blocks in WordPress (restore classic widgets).

What are the disadvantages of widgets in WordPress?

Widgets can sometimes make layouts feel cluttered if too many are used. They can also slow down performance if heavy or poorly optimized widgets are added.

Are widgets good for SEO in WordPress?

Widgets can support SEO in WordPress by improving navigation and user experience. However, they don’t directly improve rankings unless they help users engage more with your content.

We hope this article helped you learn how to add and use widgets in WordPress. You may also want to see our guide on how to choose a perfect color scheme for your WordPress site and our picks of the best WordPress sidebar tricks to get maximum results.

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