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Troubleshooting Gutenberg Link Problems: Missing Icons, Unclickable Buttons, and More

24 threads Sep 11, 2025 Plugin → Gutenberg

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Links are a fundamental part of any website, but sometimes the Gutenberg editor can make creating them a frustrating experience. Based on common community reports, this guide covers the most frequent link-related issues and how to resolve them.

Common Gutenberg Link Issues and Their Solutions

1. The Link Button or Icon is Missing

Many users report the link button disappearing from the toolbar entirely.

  • Quick Fix: Use the keyboard shortcut. Select your text and press Ctrl+K (or ⌘+K on Mac). To remove a link, use Ctrl+Shift+K (or ⌘+Shift+K).
  • Plugin Conflict: This is the most common cause. Temporarily deactivate all plugins except Gutenberg to see if the button returns. You can use the Health Check plugin's troubleshooting mode to test this without affecting your live site visitors. If the button returns, reactivate your plugins one by one to identify the culprit.
  • Theme Conflict: Test with a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Three to see if the problem is theme-related.

2. Can't Add Links to Specific Blocks (Lists, Buttons, Images)

You might find that you can add links in paragraphs but not in list items, buttons, or image captions.

  • For List Blocks: Ensure your WordPress and Gutenberg plugin versions are up to date, as this was a bug in older versions.
  • For Image Blocks: To add a rel attribute like nofollow to an image link, click the down arrow on the link settings within the Image block.
  • For Button Blocks: The link URL for a button is added in the main block settings sidebar, not in the 'Link rel' field. The 'Link rel' field is for adding attributes like nofollow or sponsored.

3. Buttons or Links Are Not Clickable on the Front End

If your button looks fine in the editor but doesn't work on the published page, check the link.

  • Incorrect URL Field: A common mistake is placing the URL in the 'Link rel' field in the Advanced panel. The URL must be placed in the dedicated 'Link' field in the block toolbar or sidebar.

4. Unwanted 'noreferrer' Attribute Added to Links

Gutenberg automatically adds rel="noreferrer noopener" to links that open in a new tab for security. If you need to remove the noreferrer attribute, it requires custom code, as there is no built-in setting.

5. Link UI is Glitchy or Displayed Incorrectly

Some users see an overly large link icon or a popup that appears off-screen.

  • Large Icons: This is often caused by a conflict with another plugin (e.g., RankMath has been identified in changelogs). Disable other plugins to test.
  • Off-screen Popup: If the link insertion dialog appears outside the viewable area, try adding a few empty paragraphs or a spacer block below your content to give the editor more room to display the popup correctly.

General Troubleshooting Steps

When facing any persistent issue with Gutenberg, follow this process:

  1. Update Everything: Ensure WordPress, your theme, the Gutenberg plugin (if used), and all other plugins are updated to their latest versions.
  2. Conflict Test: Use the Health Check plugin to disable all plugins and switch to a default theme. This is the most reliable way to identify a conflict without disrupting your site's visitors.
  3. Browser Test: Try a different browser or clear your current browser's cache and cookies.

If you've tried all these steps and the issue persists, it may be a bug. You can report it to the Gutenberg team on their GitHub issue tracker, providing details about your environment and steps to reproduce the problem.

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