How to list all blocks in use on a WordPress website?

Managing a WordPress website, especially one with a lot of content, can sometimes make it challenging to keep track of all the different Gutenberg blocks you've used across your posts and pages. Whether you're auditing your content, troubleshooting, or just curious, knowing which blocks are in use can be incredibly helpful.

This article will guide you through using the "Find My Blocks" plugin, a free and powerful tool available on the WordPress plugin directory, to easily list all the blocks currently active on your website.

What is "Find My Blocks"?

"Find My Blocks" is a lightweight WordPress plugin designed to scan your website's content and provide a comprehensive list of all Gutenberg blocks that are currently in use. It helps you quickly identify which core, theme, or third-party blocks are present across your posts, pages, and custom post types. It can be found on the repository here: https://wordpress.org/plugins/find-my-blocks/

Installation

Before you can use "Find My Blocks," you need to install it on your WordPress website.

1. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard: Go to example.com/wp-admin and enter your credentials.
2. Navigate to Plugins: In the left-hand sidebar, hover over "Plugins" and click on "Add New."
3. Search for the Plugin: In the search bar on the top right, type "Find My Blocks" and press Enter.
4. Install the Plugin: Locate "Find My Blocks" by "Ryan Kienstra" in the search results. Click the "Install Now" button.
5. Activate the Plugin: Once installed, the "Install Now" button will change to "Activate." Click "Activate" to enable the plugin on your site.

How to Use "Find My Blocks"

Once activated, "Find My Blocks" is ready to use. It adds a new menu item under the "Tools" section of your WordPress dashboard.

1. Access the Plugin Interface: In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Tools > Find My Blocks.
2. View the Block List: Upon clicking "Find My Blocks," the plugin will automatically scan your content and display a list of all detected blocks.
   • The list typically shows the Block Name (e.g., core/paragraph, core/image, yoast/faq-block).
   • It also indicates the Count of how many times each block appears across your entire site.
   • You might also see the Type (e.g., Core, Theme, Plugin) if the plugin can determine it.
3. Filtering and Searching (if available): Depending on the plugin version, there might be options to filter the list by block type or search for specific blocks. This can be useful for larger sites.
4. Interpreting the Results:
   • Core Blocks: These are the standard blocks that come with WordPress (e.g., Paragraph, Heading, Image, List).
   • Theme Blocks: Some themes include their own custom blocks.
   • Plugin Blocks: Many plugins, especially page builders or SEO plugins, add their own custom blocks (e.g., Yoast SEO blocks, WooCommerce blocks).

The "Count" column is particularly useful for identifying frequently used blocks or, conversely, blocks that might only be used once or twice and could potentially be removed if no longer needed.

Benefits of Using "Find My Blocks"

• Content Audit: Quickly see an overview of your site's content structure.
• Performance Optimization: Identify unused or rarely used blocks that might be loaded by plugins, helping you decide if certain plugins can be deactivated.
• Troubleshooting: Pinpoint if a specific block from a plugin or theme is causing issues.
• Migration Planning: Understand the block landscape before migrating content or redesigning your site.

Conclusion

The "Find My Blocks" plugin offers a simple yet effective way to gain insight into the Gutenberg blocks used across your WordPress website. By following these steps, you can easily install and utilize this tool to better manage and understand your site's content.