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ClassicPress Frequently Asked Questions

What is ClassicPress?
ClassicPress is a community-led fork of WordPress that maintains the classic editing experience without the Gutenberg block editor. It focuses on stability, simplicity, and backward compatibility.
How does ClassicPress differ from WordPress?
ClassicPress removes the Gutenberg block editor and retains the Classic Editor as the default writing experience. It also has its own plugin directory and governance model driven entirely by the community.
What is WPSandbox for ClassicPress?
WPSandbox for ClassicPress lets you instantly spin up a temporary ClassicPress site with full admin access. Use it to test plugin compatibility with ClassicPress, preview themes, evaluate ClassicPress before migrating a production site, or simply learn how ClassicPress works. No signup or account is needed — just pick your options and launch a sandbox.
How do I create a ClassicPress sandbox site?
Visit the WPSandbox ClassicPress page, choose your desired PHP version and options, then click Create Sandbox. Your site will be ready in seconds.
Is WPSandbox free for ClassicPress?
Yes, you can create ClassicPress sandbox sites for free. Free sandboxes have a limited lifespan, but Pro plans offer extended durations and additional features.
Why was ClassicPress created?
ClassicPress was created in response to WordPress adopting the Gutenberg block editor. Many users and developers preferred the traditional editing experience, so the community forked WordPress to preserve it.
Does ClassicPress include the Gutenberg editor?
No. ClassicPress completely removes Gutenberg and all block-editor related code. The classic TinyMCE editor is the only built-in content editor.
What editor does ClassicPress use?
ClassicPress uses the Classic Editor powered by TinyMCE. This is the same familiar editor that WordPress used before the introduction of Gutenberg.
Are WordPress plugins compatible with ClassicPress?
Most WordPress plugins that do not depend on the Gutenberg block editor work with ClassicPress. However, plugins that require block-editor functionality will not be compatible.
Are WordPress themes compatible with ClassicPress?
Classic PHP-based WordPress themes generally work with ClassicPress. Block-based themes (FSE themes) that rely on Gutenberg and theme.json are not compatible.
What ClassicPress versions are available on WPSandbox?
WPSandbox provides the latest stable ClassicPress release (currently 2.x). New versions are added as the ClassicPress team releases them, so you can always test against the most up-to-date stable build.
Can I install plugins on my ClassicPress sandbox?
Yes. You have full admin access and can install plugins from the ClassicPress Directory, upload ZIP files, or install by slug directly from the admin dashboard.
Can I install themes on my ClassicPress sandbox?
Yes. You can browse and install themes from the admin panel or upload a theme ZIP file. Classic PHP-based themes work best with ClassicPress.
How do I install a ClassicPress plugin by slug?
During sandbox creation, enter the plugin slug in the Plugin Slug field. The plugin will be automatically installed and activated when your ClassicPress site is created.
Can I upload a plugin ZIP file to ClassicPress?
Yes. Navigate to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin in the ClassicPress admin, select your ZIP file, and click Install Now.
Can I upload a theme ZIP file to ClassicPress?
Yes. Go to Appearance > Themes > Add New > Upload Theme in the ClassicPress admin dashboard, choose your ZIP file, and install it.
Do I get full admin access to ClassicPress?
Yes. Every ClassicPress sandbox comes with full administrator-level access, allowing you to install plugins, change themes, modify settings, and configure everything.
How long do ClassicPress sandbox sites last?
Free ClassicPress sandboxes last several hours depending on the expiration you select during creation. You can also get extra hours by subscribing to our newsletter or sharing feedback.
Can I extend my ClassicPress site's expiration?
Yes, you can get extra hours added to your sandbox by subscribing to our newsletter or sharing feedback and ideas during site creation. Pro plans offer even longer durations.
What PHP versions are supported for ClassicPress?
WPSandbox currently offers PHP 7.4, 8.1, and 8.4 for ClassicPress sandboxes. Testing across multiple PHP versions helps catch deprecation warnings and compatibility issues before upgrading PHP on your production server.
How do I enable debugging on ClassicPress?
Toggle the debugging options during sandbox creation — there are checkboxes for display errors, enable debugging, and script debugging. This turns on WP_DEBUG so PHP errors and warnings are logged, helping you identify plugin and theme issues.
Can I test ClassicPress with different PHP versions?
Yes. On free sandboxes, create a new site and select a different PHP version from the dropdown. Pro plans will allow changing the PHP version after a site is set up.
Does ClassicPress support Multisite?
ClassicPress retains the WordPress Multisite functionality. However, WPSandbox currently provides single-site ClassicPress installations for sandbox testing.
Can I migrate from WordPress to ClassicPress?
Yes. The official ClassicPress migration plugin handles the conversion from WordPress to ClassicPress in place. WPSandbox is a great place to test the migration first — create a WordPress sandbox, install the migration plugin, run it, and verify everything works before touching your live site.
What is the ClassicPress Directory?
The ClassicPress Directory is the official repository of plugins and themes reviewed and approved specifically for ClassicPress compatibility.
How do I find ClassicPress-compatible plugins?
Browse the ClassicPress Directory for plugins reviewed for compatibility. Many classic WordPress plugins also work, but block-editor-dependent plugins do not.
Can I test WordPress plugin compatibility with ClassicPress?
Yes. Create a ClassicPress sandbox, install the WordPress plugin via ZIP upload, and verify it works correctly. This is especially useful for plugins you rely on in production — install them on a ClassicPress sandbox and check for errors, broken features, or missing functionality before committing to a migration.
Is ClassicPress secure?
Yes. ClassicPress receives regular security patches from its development team. By removing the block editor, it also reduces the overall attack surface compared to modern WordPress.
Does ClassicPress receive security updates?
Yes. The ClassicPress team actively backports relevant WordPress security fixes and releases updates to address vulnerabilities promptly.
What is the ClassicPress community like?
ClassicPress has an active community of developers and users who collaborate via forums, GitHub, and Slack. Decisions are made through community petitions and voting.
How can I contribute to ClassicPress?
You can contribute by submitting code on GitHub, reporting bugs, writing documentation, developing plugins, or participating in community discussions.
Does ClassicPress support the REST API?
Yes. ClassicPress fully supports the WordPress REST API, so headless setups, mobile apps, and third-party integrations work the same way they do with WordPress.
Can I use WP-CLI with ClassicPress?
ClassicPress is fully compatible with WP-CLI. However, direct SSH access is not available on WPSandbox, so WP-CLI cannot be used on sandbox sites. You can manage your ClassicPress sandbox through the admin dashboard.
What database does ClassicPress use?
ClassicPress uses MySQL or MariaDB, the same database engines supported by WordPress. The database schema is fully compatible with WordPress.
Can I upload files to my ClassicPress sandbox?
Yes. You can upload images, documents, and other media files through the ClassicPress Media Library just like you would on a regular site.
Are there file upload size limits on ClassicPress?
Yes. Uploads are sized for typical development and testing, so standard images, plugin ZIPs, and theme files work fine. Large media files or database imports may hit the limit. The maximum upload size is displayed on the Media > Add New page in the admin.
Is my ClassicPress sandbox publicly accessible?
Yes. Your ClassicPress sandbox has a public URL that anyone can visit. However, the admin credentials are only shared with you. Sandbox sites also include noindex headers so search engines do not index them.
Can I share my ClassicPress sandbox URL?
Yes. You can share the sandbox URL with clients, team members, or collaborators so they can preview your ClassicPress site or test functionality.
What happens when my ClassicPress sandbox expires?
When a sandbox expires, the site and all its data are permanently deleted. Make sure to export any important content before the expiration time.
Can I export data from my ClassicPress sandbox?
Yes. Use the built-in Tools > Export feature in the ClassicPress admin to download your posts, pages, and other content as an XML file before your sandbox expires.
Can I test WooCommerce on ClassicPress?
Older WooCommerce versions (before the heavy Gutenberg dependency) may work on ClassicPress, but recent releases rely on the block editor and may not be fully compatible. For e-commerce on ClassicPress, also look into ClassicPress-specific alternatives listed in the ClassicPress Directory.
Can I test contact form plugins on ClassicPress?
Yes. Classic contact form plugins like Contact Form 7 and WPForms Lite work well on ClassicPress since they do not require the block editor.
Are there pre-installed plugins on ClassicPress sandboxes?
ClassicPress sandboxes come with a clean default installation. You can optionally specify plugins to pre-install during sandbox creation using the plugin slug field.
Can I edit theme code on my ClassicPress sandbox?
Yes. You can use the built-in Appearance > Theme Editor in the ClassicPress admin to edit theme PHP, CSS, and template files directly.
Are there bandwidth limits on ClassicPress sandboxes?
Sandboxes are sized for development and testing, not production traffic or load testing. Reasonable usage limits apply to ensure fair resource sharing across all users. If you need a production-grade environment, check the Pro plans for higher limits.
Can I access the database on ClassicPress?
Direct database access is not provided on free sandbox sites. You can manage your data through the ClassicPress admin or by installing a database management plugin. A web-based database manager is coming soon to Pro plans.
How fast are ClassicPress sandbox sites?
Every ClassicPress sandbox runs on a carefully configured and optimized tech stack — from the web server and PHP runtime to the database and caching layers. Combined with ClassicPress's lighter footprint, pages render fast out of the box.
Is ClassicPress faster than WordPress?
ClassicPress is generally lighter than modern WordPress because it removes the block editor and its associated JavaScript. This results in smaller page sizes and faster admin load times.
What Pro features are available for ClassicPress?
Pro plans offer longer site lifespans (days instead of hours), more concurrent sandbox sites, higher storage and upload limits, a web-based database manager, and priority site provisioning. Visit the WPSandbox pricing page for details.
How do I report a bug or give feedback?
You can report bugs or provide feedback through the WPSandbox contact page. For ClassicPress core issues, submit reports on the ClassicPress GitHub repository.