20 Hidden WordPress Features You Probably Didn't Know Existed
Senior WebCoder
Unlock the Full Potential of WordPress
WordPress is a massive ecosystem. While most users are familiar with the basic post editor and theme settings, there are dozens of powerful features hidden in plain sight. These native tools can save you time, reduce your reliance on plugins, and give you more control over your website.
Here are 20 hidden WordPress features that every site owner and developer should know.
1. Screen Options
Hidden at the top-right of almost every dashboard screen (Posts, Pages, Menus) is the Screen Options tab. It allows you to toggle visibility for columns, meta boxes, and other elements like the "slug" editor or custom fields that are often hidden by default.
Posts
2. Paste URL to Create Links
In the Block Editor (Gutenberg) and the Classic Editor, you don't need to click the link button. simply highlight your text and paste a URL (Ctrl+V). WordPress automatically converts the text into a hyperlink.
The Magic of Pasting
3. Markdown Support
The Block Editor supports Markdown-style shortcuts. Type ## to create a Heading 2, * or - for a bullet list, 1. for a numbered list, or > for a quote. It makes writing content significantly faster.
4. Distraction-Free Writing Mode
Need to focus? In the top toolbar of the Block Editor, click the three dots and select Spotlight Mode (highlights the active block) or Fullscreen Mode to hide the admin sidebar.
Just you and the text.
The sidebar is gone. The top bar fades away. It allows you to focus purely on your writing flow without the administrative clutter of the dashboard.
5. Reusable Blocks (Synced Patterns)
If you use a specific layout or snippet often (like a call-to-action or author bio), save it as a Pattern (formerly Reusable Block). Create it once, save it, and insert it into any post instantly.
6. The "More" Tag for Excerpts
If your theme doesn't handle excerpts automatically, you can manually control where the "Read More" cut-off happens by adding the Read More block (or <!--more--> tag in Classic).
This is the introductory text that appears on your blog index page.
This content is hidden from the excerpt but visible in the full post...
7. Post Scheduling
You don't have to publish immediately. In the post settings sidebar, click "Immediately" next to "Publish," set a future date and time, and the button changes to Schedule.
Publish
8. Quick Edit
On the standard "All Posts" screen, hovering over a post title reveals the Quick Edit link. You can change the slug, category, status, date, and author without opening the full editor.
Posts
9. Site Health Check
Go to Tools > Site Health. This native feature scans your site for critical issues, security vulnerabilities, and performance improvements, offering actionable advice.
Site Health Status
Your site is performing well.
1 Recommended Improvement ▼
You should remove inactive plugins.
Passed tests 16 items
10. Native Image Editing
You can perform basic image edits directly in the media library. Click an image, then "Edit Image" to crop, rotate, scale, or flip it without needing Photoshop.
11. Closing Multiple Tabs/Panels
In the admin menu, if you have too many sub-menus open, you can collapse the entire sidebar or use Screen Options to reduce the number of visible dashboard widgets.
Settings
Collapse Menu
Clicking the collapse button at the bottom of the sidebar creates more room for your content.
12. Public Preview for Drafts
Want to show a draft to a client without creating an account for them? This usually requires a plugin, but a "hidden" trick is enabling Public Preview via third-party solutions or temporary token plugins, though native "Preview" only works for logged-in users. Wait, strictly speaking, generic public preview isn't core without a plugin, but the "Preview" button itself generates a unique preview link active for your session.
Public Preview Link
13. Embed Content Instantly (OEmbed)
Just paste a YouTube URL, Tweet, or Spotify link on its own line in the editor. WordPress automatically OEmbeds it into a fully functional player or card.
Check out this cool video I found:
14. Keyboard Shortcuts
Press Shift + Alt + H (Windows) or Ctrl + Option + H (Mac) in the editor to see a full list of available keyboard shortcuts. Learning these can double your editing speed.
15. Change The "From" Name in Emails
While often done with plugins, you can use the wp_mail_from and wp_mail_from_name filters in your functions.php to customize the sender name of WordPress notification emails without bloat.
16. Dashicons
WordPress comes with a built-in font icon library called Dashicons. You can use them in your theme or plugin development without loading an external library like FontAwesome.
Dashicons Library
Native lightweight icons available in core.
17. Typography Support
The Block Editor now supports Drop Caps. Toggle it in the block settings for a paragraph to give your articles a professional, magazine-style look.
W
hen writing long-form content, aesthetics matter. The drop cap feature, toggled easily in the block settings, instantly adds a touch of classic typography elegance to your opening paragraph, inviting readers into the story.
18. Sticky Posts
Want a post to stay at the top of your blog loop regardless of date? In the post settings sidebar, check "Stick to the top of the blog".
Status & Visibility
19. Export Personal Data
Under Tools > Export Personal Data, WordPress provides a GDPR-compliance feature to generate a file containing all data associated with a specific user email.
Export Personal Data
An email will be sent to the user at this email address to verify the request.
20. Version Management (Revisions)
Made a mistake? WordPress saves a history of your changes. In the post settings sidebar, click on Revisions to compare versions and roll back to a previous state.
Compare Revisions of "My Post"
This is the outdated text that I want to remove.
This is the improved fresh content that replaces it.
Conclusion
WordPress is far more than just a blogging tool. It's a robust CMS filled with productivity boosters and "hidden" gems that can make your site management smoother. By mastering these features, you can work smarter, run a cleaner site, and impress your clients.
Want to unlock even more WordPress power? At FUEiNT, we specialize in advanced WordPress development that goes beyond the basics.
Contact our experts today to take your website to the next level.
Gokila Manickam
Senior WebCoder
Gokila Manickam is a Senior WebCoder at FUEiNT, contributing expert insights on technology, development, and digital strategy.