Convert Elementor to Gutenberg: Step by Step

As WordPress evolves, many users are considering the switch from Elementor page builder to the native WordPress editor, Gutenberg. This shift, for various reasons, is becoming more and more common in the WordPress community.

While stats on the frequency of such switches are not readily available, it’s happening among users who want better site performance, simpler content management, or to align more with the core WordPress experience.

In this guide, we will walk you through the process step by step. From preparing your website and content for the switch to rebuilding pages and making sure your SEO and functionality stay intact, each step will be covered to help you make the transition smooth.

Whether you’re a WordPress veteran or new to the platform, this guide will provide you with the knowledge and tools to make the move.

Preparing for the Switch

Switching from Elementor to Gutenberg is a big change and requires careful preparation. To make the process risk-free, several key steps need to be taken before you start the actual conversion.

Backup Your WordPress Site

• Full Backup: Make a full backup of your WordPress site. This includes your database, WordPress files, themes, plugins, and media. Backups can be done using WordPress backup plugins or via your hosting provider’s tools.
• Store: Store the backup in a safe location. It’s recommended to keep multiple copies in different locations (like cloud storage and a local drive).

Evaluate Existing Elementor Content

• Content Audit: Review your website’s content created with Elementor, including any Elementor templates you used. Pay attention to pages with complex layouts, custom CSS, or special widgets that might need special attention during the conversion.
• Functionality Check: Make a note of any Elementor-specific functionalities (like pop-ups or advanced forms), like those imported from the Elementor library, and plan how to replicate or rework these in Gutenberg.
• Design Check: Check the design elements used in Elementor – fonts, colors, spacings – to make sure you can replicate or adapt these in the editor.

Set up a Staging Environment

• Create a Staging Site: Set up a staging site that mirrors your live site. This is a safe place to do the conversion without affecting your live site.* Copy Your Site: Make sure your staging environment is an exact copy of your live site, including all content and settings.
• Test Environment: Verify the staging site is working and accessible, a real environment to test and convert.

By preparing thoroughly for the transition, you ensure the process of converting your site from Elementor to Gutenberg is as smooth as possible. This preparation step is crucial to finding potential issues and planning how to fix them so the impact on your site’s functionality and user experience is minimal.

Step 1: Deactivate Elementor

How to Safely Deactivate Elementor and its Plugins

• Backup: Make sure you have a recent backup of your site.
• Deactivation: Go to the WordPress dashboard, navigate to ‘Plugins’, and deactivate Elementor and any Elementor plugins.
• Check Dependencies: Make sure deactivating Elementor doesn’t break any critical functionality or content.

What to Expect When Deactivating Elementor

• Layout Changes: Expect layout changes as pages built with Elementor will lose styling and structure.
• Fallback to Basic HTML: Elementor content will revert to basic HTML, which might not look good.
• Widget Disappearance: Custom Elementor widgets will not be available.

Step 2: Get Familiar with Gutenberg

Gutenberg Interface

Unlike Elementor’s pixel-perfect layout builder, Gutenberg is an editor where each content element is a block. One of our favourite features of the editor is that it’s embedded within WordPress, so it’s a seamless integration.

Elementor vs Gutenberg

Learning Curve: Users might find Gutenberg easier to learn as it’s the default WordPress editor.

Design Flexibility: Elementor has more design flexibility as a page builder compared to Gutenberg which is more content-focused.

Step 3: Rebuild Pages from Elementor to Gutenberg

Converting Basic Elementor Blocks

• Recreate Layouts: Use Gutenberg blocks to recreate the basic structure of your Elementor pages, paragraphs, headings, and images.
• Custom Blocks: Look for custom blocks that match the complex designs made in Elementor or create custom templates to achieve the layout. Otherwise, you can have any custom block created by a developer.
• CSS Styling: Use custom CSS to achieve specific styling and layout requirements and keep your site design consistent and optimized.

Step 4: Dynamic Content and Widgets

Converting Elementor Widgets to Blocks

• Matching Functionality: Find blocks that have similar functionality to your Elementor widgets.

Dynamic Content

• Custom Post Types: Use support for custom post types for dynamic content like portfolios or testimonials.

Step 5: Performance

Remove Unused Elementor Assets

• Clean Up: After the switch, remove any Elementor assets that are no longer needed to improve site performance.

Gutenberg Performance Tweaks

• Optimization Plugins: Consider using WordPress optimization plugins.

Step 6: Testing and QA

• Content Review: Review all pages and posts to ensure content is displaying as expected.
• Compatibility Checks: Test on various browsers and devices to ensure consistency.
• User Feedback: Collect feedback from users to identify areas to improve.

Step 7: Go Live

How to Push the Gutenberg Version of Your Site from Staging to Live

• Migration Tools: Use WordPress migration tools to transfer your Gutenberg site from staging to live.

Post Launch Checks

• Monitoring: After going live, monitor the site for any issues and be ready to fix.

By following these steps, you can convert your site from Elementor to Gutenberg, switch to simplicity and native WordPress integration, with minimal disruption to your site’s functionality and user experience.

Troubleshooting Common Conversion Issues

You can use Gutenberg and Elementor together or choose one and troubleshoot until everything is perfect. Converting can be tricky especially with layouts and the compatibility of blocks. Here are some tips to address these common problems:

Layout Breaks and Styling Issues

Find the Problem:

• Identify specific elements that are breaking the layout, especially those created with Elementor page builder. This could be due to CSS conflicts, missing styles, or unsupported features in Gutenberg.

Custom CSS:

• Use custom CSS to fix styling issues. Gutenberg allows you to add custom CSS to individual blocks or globally.

Columns and Group Blocks:

• To recreate complex layouts, use Gutenberg’s columns and group blocks to align content as per your original design.

Responsive Design:

• Manually adjust layouts for different screen sizes using Gutenberg’s responsive design options.

Fallback to HTML Blocks:

• For elements that don’t translate well, use the HTML block in Gutenberg to manually code the layout or style, especially for complex designs built with Elementor templates.

Avoid Issues with Compatibility

Update Plugins and Themes:

• Make sure all your plugins and themes are up to date. Issues with compatibility often arise from outdated software.

Replace Incompatible Blocks:

• If certain Elementor widgets don’t have a direct equivalent, look for alternative blocks or third-party block plugins that offer similar functionality.

Test in Staging:

• Test thoroughly in the staging environment to identify and fix block compatibility issues before going live.

Community Support:

• Use WordPress forums and communities to find solutions for specific issues with compatibility.

Gradual Transition for Complex Sites:

• For sites with extensive customizations, consider gradual transition, keep some parts in Elementor, and gradually rebuild others in Gutenberg.

By following these challenges systematically, you can manage the transition and ensure your site remains functional and looks good in Gutenberg.

Best Practices for a Smooth Transition

Migrating from Elementor to Gutenberg requires not only technical effort but also a strategic approach to ensure a smooth switch. Here are some best practices to guide you:

Recommendations for a Smooth Switch

Incremental:

• Instead of a full-scale immediate switch, consider a gradual switch of parts of your site to Gutenberg. This reduces the risk of major disruptions.

Use Staging:

• Do all conversions and testing in the staging environment. This allows you to fix issues without affecting the live site.

Regular Backups:

• Back up your site at different stages of the transition. This will give you a fallback option in case of major issues.

Core Content and Functionality First:

• Focus on core pages and functionalities first. Secondary pages or features can follow.

Get User Feedback:

• Involve end-users early in the process. User feedback can be super helpful in finding issues that might not be apparent.

SEO:

• Make sure the transition doesn’t hurt your SEO. Keep an eye on URL structures, metadata, and overall site performance.

Monitor Site Performance:

• Monitor site performance during and after the transition. This includes load times, responsiveness, and user engagement metrics.

How to Train Your Team on Gutenberg

To ensure your site works well after the switch, you may want to train your team on the platform. Here’s what you can do.

• Training Sessions:
  • Conduct structured training sessions for your team. Cover the basics, interface, block system, and customization options.
• Resources:
  • Provide resources such as tutorials, guides, and articles. WordPress’s own resources are super helpful.
• Hands-On:
  • Encourage your team to use the staging environment for hands-on practice. Learning by doing is the best form of training.
• Feedback and Support:
  • Regularly gather feedback from your team and address the challenges they face. Organize Q&A sessions for ongoing support.
• New Features and Best Practices:
  • The builder is evolving. Keep your team updated with the latest features and best practices.

By following these best practices and investing in proper training, you can ensure a smooth and effective transition from Elementor to Gutenberg and set your team up for success in this new environment.

Conclusion

The transition from Elementor to Gutenberg in WordPress is more than just switching tools; it’s a strategic decision to adapt to the evolving landscape of web development. This guide has provided a comprehensive roadmap for those looking to make this transition, covering the essential steps, best practices, and common challenges.

Gutenberg, with its native integration into WordPress, offers a simplified, performance-oriented approach to content management and site building. While it may not have the extensive design capabilities of Elementor, its ease of use, native WordPress experience, and regular updates make it a good choice for many users.

The transition is not just about adapting to a new tool but also about leveraging the opportunities it presents for a more streamlined, efficient, and future-proof web development process. Gutenberg provides a good set of core blocks, and you can install additional blocks to replicate many design elements. But you need to recognize that a seamless transition may require some adjustments.

For users who want to achieve the same design for their pages, using core Gutenberg blocks or installing blocks from the store will give you good results. But replicating a complex Elementor-designed website may require custom blocks from scratch.