When experiencing slow performance or lag with the WordPress block editor (Gutenberg), there are several systematic troubleshooting steps you can take to identify and resolve the issues.
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Hardware-related issues
First, determine if your computer’s performance is the root cause. If you experience similar performance issues with other websites, your computer’s specifications might be the limiting factor. However, if the problem is specific to WordPress, you’ll need to investigate other potential causes.
Browser extensions
One common culprit for editor performance issues is browser extensions. To test this:
- Load the site in incognito mode and access the editor
- If the performance improves in incognito mode, review your browser extensions
- Identify and remove the problematic extension
- Restart your browser after making changes
Theme and plugin conflicts
If the above steps don’t resolve the issue, the problem may lie with your theme or plugins. Some themes and plugins inject additional CSS or JavaScript code to enhance the editing experience or match the frontend appearance. While well-intentioned, these modifications can conflict with existing scripts.
To troubleshoot theme and plugin conflicts:
Testing plugins
- Temporarily rename your plugins folder or deactivate all plugins
- Test the editor’s performance
- Ideally, perform these tests on a staging website rather than your live site. Or at the very least with some robust backups in place.
Theme testing
- Switch to a neutral theme
- Free themes that are performant such as 2025 Theme will help you test.
- Test the editor’s performance again
- Ideally conduct these tests on a staging copy of your website. Or at the very least with some robust backups in place.
Final notes
The WordPress block editor is generally well-optimized, with the core WordPress team consistently working on performance improvements. However, since each WordPress installation is unique, issues can arise. By following these troubleshooting steps systematically, you can identify the source of performance problems and restore a smooth editing experience.
Remember to always test major changes on a staging environment first to avoid disrupting your live website’s functionality.
