If you want your WordPress site to show the full post content instead of just excerpts, the method you use will depend on whether you’re using a classic theme or a block theme (Full Site Editing/FSE). This guide covers both, updated for the latest WordPress changes in 2025.
How to show full posts for classic themes
Classic themes use PHP templates to control how posts are displayed. To show the full post content, you’ll need to adjust these templates.
To start, you’ll need to find the template file that controls how your posts are shown. In most themes, this will be a file like archive.php (for category, tag, and date archives), home.php or index.php (for your blog listing), or sometimes content.php if the theme uses get_template_part() to organize its templates.
Once you’ve identified the right file, open it up using a code editor or by navigating to Appearance > Theme File Editor inside your WordPress dashboard.
In the template, search for the function the_excerpt(). This is the part that pulls only a short summary of your post.
You’ll want to swap it out for the_content(). This function tells WordPress to display the entire body of the post rather than just a snippet.
After updating the code, save your changes to the file.
When you’re done, head back to your site and refresh the pages where your posts appear, like your blog or category pages. You should now see the full posts being displayed instead of the excerpts.
Tip: If you’re using caching plugins, clear your cache after making changes to see updates properly. This method is quite technical so if you are not sure with anything, consult with a WordPress agency or experience WordPress developer.
Notes
1. Theme Variations
Some themes use extra layers like get_template_part() or have custom code that controls post length.
If you don’t find the_excerpt(), check if the theme splits templates across multiple files like content-archive.php or content-list.php.
2. Reading Settings (Feeds Only)
If you want full posts only for RSS feeds (not on your site pages), you can adjust this:
- Go to Settings > Reading.
- Find “For each post in a feed, include” and choose Full text.
This setting affects RSS feeds, not your site’s blog or category pages.
How to show full posts for block themes (full site editing)
If your website uses a block theme (common with WordPress 6.0 and newer), you don’t edit PHP files. Instead, you adjust blocks in the Site Editor.
First, open the Site Editor by going to Appearance and then clicking on Editor. Once you’re inside, open the template that’s used for displaying your blog or archive pages; it might be named something like “Home,” “Archive,” or “Blog.”
Next, look through the template and locate the Post Excerpt block — this is the block that’s currently displaying a summary of your posts. Delete the Post Excerpt block from the layout.
After that, add a new block called Post Content to replace it. This block will display the full content of your posts instead of just a snippet.
When you’re done making the change, make sure to save and publish the updated template.
Finally, visit your blog page or archive pages on the front end of your site to check that the full posts are now showing properly.
Quick reference table
| Scenario | What You Should Do |
|---|---|
| Classic Theme (PHP templates) | Replace the_excerpt() with the_content() |
| Block Theme (Full Site Editing) | Replace Post Excerpt block with Post Content block |
| Only affecting RSS feeds | Change Settings > Reading > Full text |
| No-code alternative | Use a plugin like Advanced Excerpt |
Final thoughts
Changing your WordPress site to show full posts instead of excerpts can improve the storytelling experience for your readers.
Just be mindful: showing full posts on archive or blog pages may increase page load times, especially if posts are long and contain many images. Consider using “Read More” blocks inside your posts if you want to show part of the post but still keep users engaged.
