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Resolving Conflicts Between Classic Editor and Yoast SEO

23 threads Sep 7, 2025 Plugin → Classic editor

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Many WordPress users rely on the Classic Editor plugin to maintain a familiar writing experience. However, a common and recurring issue reported across various WordPress versions is a conflict with the popular Yoast SEO plugin. This guide will help you understand the nature of this conflict and provide proven steps to resolve it.

Common Symptoms of the Conflict

Based on extensive community reports, the conflict between Classic Editor and Yoast SEO can manifest in several ways:

  • A completely blank or unresponsive post editor window.
  • The Yoast SEO meta box (containing the snippet preview, focus keyphrase, and readability analysis) is missing, blank, or partially hidden.
  • Inability to save or edit slugs, meta descriptions, or focus keyphrases.
  • The slug field in the Yoast widget shows as "undefined" or appears blank after saving.
  • Inability to switch between the Visual and Text tabs in the classic editor.

Why Does This Conflict Happen?

Conflicts between two plugins are rarely one-sided. They often occur due to:

  • JavaScript Incompatibility: Both plugins make extensive use of JavaScript to modify the post editing screen. An update to one plugin can sometimes use a method that is incompatible with the other, leading to broken functionality. One specific instance involved a JavaScript method in Classic Editor that was not supported by older versions of Firefox.
  • Detection Logic: Yoast SEO adjusts its interface based on whether the Block Editor or Classic Editor is active. If its detection logic fails to recognize that the Classic Editor plugin has taken control, it may not load its meta boxes correctly.
  • Third-Party Plugins: In many cases, a third, unrelated plugin is the true root cause of the problem. The conflict only surfaces when Classic Editor and Yoast SEO are active together, making them appear to be the culprits.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

Follow these steps to identify and resolve the conflict on your site.

Step 1: Update Everything

First, ensure all software is up to date. History shows that many conflicts are resolved in subsequent updates. Update WordPress core, the Classic Editor plugin, and the Yoast SEO plugin to their latest versions. Clear your browser's cache and any caching mechanisms on your site after updating.

Step 2: Identify the True Source with a Conflict Test

If updating doesn't work, you need to perform a conflict test. The safest way to do this is by using the Health Check & Troubleshooting plugin. This allows you to deactivate plugins and switch themes without affecting your live site visitors.

  1. Install and activate the Health Check & Troubleshooting plugin.
  2. Go to Tools > Site Health > Troubleshooting and enable troubleshooting mode.
  3. In troubleshooting mode, enable only the Classic Editor and Yoast SEO plugins.
  4. Switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
  5. Check if the problem persists.
  6. If the problem is gone: The conflict is caused by another plugin or your theme. While still in troubleshooting mode, reactivate your other plugins one by one, checking after each activation to find which one causes the issue. Finally, reactivate your theme to test it.
  7. If the problem remains: There is a direct compatibility issue between the current versions of Classic Editor and Yoast SEO. The next step is to report the issue.

Step 3: Report the Issue (If Necessary)

If your conflict test confirms the problem is between Classic Editor and Yoast SEO, the community needs to know. Report your findings on the relevant support forums to help developers investigate.

When reporting, be sure to include details like your WordPress version, PHP version, and the versions of both plugins. Clearly describe the symptoms and the steps you took during your conflict test.

Conclusion

Conflicts between essential plugins like Classic Editor and Yoast SEO can be frustrating, but they are almost always solvable. The process almost always begins with a methodical conflict test to rule out other themes and plugins. By systematically working through these steps, you can identify the cause and find a path to a resolution, restoring full functionality to your WordPress editing experience.

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