Have you noticed the new WordPress ‘Screen Options’ button on the dashboard of your blog?
At first, it wasn’t very noticeable to me, but I now find myself using it everyday because it has some great features.
Where can I find the ‘Screen Options’ button?
You’ll find the ‘Screen Options‘ button in the top righthand corner of your screen when viewing ‘Posts,’ ‘Pages’, ‘Media’ or ‘Comments’ on the dashboard of your blog. Please note that It doesn’t yet seem to be available on the WordPress App.
I am able to see the button when using WordPress on my desktop computer, laptop, iPad and iPhone using Safari and Chrome.
What does the ‘Screen Options’ button do?
It’s a quick way to switch between the new WordPress ‘Default’ view and the old ‘Classic’ view of your blog’s dashboard.
Clicking on the button gives users two choices when viewing information on the ‘Posts’, ‘Pages’ and ‘Comments’ section on their blog’s dashboard.
‘Default’ view is the one I’ve been using for the last couple of months. Here are two screenshots of what my blog’s ‘posts’ page looks like with the ‘Default’ view and the ‘Classic’ view.
Many users may recognise the old-style ‘Classic’ view. However, did you know that it now contains more options? Clicking on the ‘Screen Options’ button again will disclose the options. I’ve highlighted some of them on the following image.
Not only can you choose which columns to display under ‘posts,’ but you can also choose how many of your posts you want to see on the dashboard.
If you make any chances, click the ‘Apply’ button to save them.
What does the ‘view mode’ option do?
Changing the ‘view mode’ option to ‘Extended view’ will show a little more information under your posts.
In my case, I was able to see the excerpt for each of my posts.
Reminder – click the ‘Apply’ button if you make any changes.
The ‘Classic’ view also has a gateway to the old Classic editor, where you can draft new blog posts. However, WordPress may remove this at any time.
Struggling with spam? Use the Classic option
As I use the Block editor, I use the ‘Default’ version. However, I use the ‘Classic’ option for specific functions that the ‘Default’ option doesn’t yet do. For example, I use the ‘Classic’ option for deleting all spam from my WordPress spam folder with just one click.
Don’t allow spam to cause you any problems or to allow you to make any harsh decisions. It can easily be dealt with.
Although the ‘Default’ option offers an option to bulk delete spam, you can only delete 20 spam comments at any one time.
So using the ‘Classic’ option helps save me time when dealing with hundreds of spam comments daily.
I’ve not yet discovered a way of marking comments that end up in the spam folder by mistake as genuine (not spam) in the ‘Default’ version. So, again, I use the ‘Classic’ version for performing this task.
While using ‘Classic’ view, if at any time you want to go back to using the new ‘Default’ (WordPress.com view) option, click the button.
The ‘Screen Options’ function may only be available with specific WordPress plans.
Let’s wrap it up
- The new ‘Screen Options’ button can be found on the ‘Posts,’ ‘Pages’, ‘Media’ and ‘Comments’ pages of the dashboard of your WordPress blog.
- ‘Classic’ view option has more options when viewing posts and comments.
- Delete spam with one click when using ‘Classic’ view.
- ‘Default’ view only allows bulk action (20 comments) when deleting spam.
- Works on desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones.
- Does not work via the WordPress app.
Have you been using the new ‘Screen Options’ button? Have I missed out anything you’ve discovered it does? If you have any questions about the ‘Screen Options’ button leave them in the comments section.
Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.
Click the ‘Diversity with a Twist’ image to check out my latest post over on my column at the Carrot Ranch
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Hugh's Views & News 
I found this the other day and was pleased to be able to use the classic view for certain things like sorting out my ‘Sticky’ posts and default view for other things. It’s great to have the option now. Thanks again for pointing out these changes Hugh.
Good to hear you’d already found this option and are using it, Debbie. It’s certainly a handy little tool to have.
Noticed WordPress new screen options. Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome.
Hi Hugh,
You are right! There are many new options. Thanks for letting us know.
Your post won the Inspire Me Monday Linky Party. You will be featured on my site tomorrow. Congratulations!
Janice
Thanks for the great news, Janice.
Have a lovely week.
I will have to check my site to see if this is available, although when having a quick check I did not see this. It will be interesting to see if I can find it. Thanks anyway for all the tips, and again it is so useful to learn all these new additions. Thanks for sharing it at SeniorSalon weekly linkup
I’m not sure how this works with self-hosted blogs, Esmé. However, there may be a plugin you can install to get the screen options button.
I will check it out Hugh, thanks so much.
As another superb lesson gets pinned another piece oh dear Hugh disappears😉😍 Thank you again.
Another excellent tutorial Hugh xx
Thanks Hugh and very useful and clear information that I am sure many may have missed. I have shared in the blogger daily later today.. hugsx
Hi Sally. Thanks so much for sharing this post in your upcoming Blogger Daily. I hope the post goes on to help many others.
I am sure it will Hugh, very helpful especially as it seems those who are self-hosted are having problems keeping up with WP changes to the block editor. xx
My tutorials are more for those on WordPress.Com rather than self-hosted blogs, Sally. I’ve been tempted to go self-hosted but never made the leap. I’m happier knowing I have good support at the end of the line when I need it. But it’s good to hear that WordPress are making improvements and changes to the block editor for self-hosters too. They shouldn’t be left out. WordPress is certainly making lots of improvements to the Block editor on the WordPress.com platform. Far better than it was when it was first launched (when I disliked it). Thanks again for adding my post to the Blogger Daily feature. I’ve lots more of these tutorials lined up.
Great Hugh and I know that they are extremely useful for a great many… enjoy the rest of the week..hugsxx
When my brain is a bit less scrambled than it is now I think this will be very helpful, Hugh. However, when I first saw the title I thought it was going to be WP adding buttons such as ‘Don’tLike’ as many of my followers have not wanted to ‘Like’ a post but wanted to show they read it 🙂
There is a rating button for blog posts where people can vote the post down, but I’ve never seen the point of it, Mary. It’s a little like not writing a one-star review for a book. I could never do that to any writer. There was talk of Twitter adding a ‘don’t like’ button, but I think they decided against it.
I think Facebook do better buttons 🙂