You can create an editable WordPress header and footer with blocks in the Site Editor, then use AI to draft or refine them where your platform supports it. The key prerequisite is a block theme: its header and footer are reusable template parts, so you can update their blocks without turning them into static images or editing code.
First, check whether your theme supports the Site Editor
In your WordPress dashboard, look for Appearance → Editor. WordPress.org documents the Site Editor as a feature for sites using an active block theme. If you see Customize instead of Editor, WordPress.com identifies that as a sign you are using a classic theme; its controls differ, so the block-theme steps below may not apply. See the WordPress.org Site Editor documentation and WordPress.com’s guide to editing the header.
The Site Editor lets you work with blocks across the site, including shared header and footer areas. If you are on WordPress.com and want its AI tools, check the platform-specific requirements too: the AI Editor requires a block theme, and feature availability can depend on account settings and plan eligibility.
Open the reusable header or footer
- Open Appearance → Editor from the dashboard.
- Open Patterns and find the template-parts area. Depending on the WordPress version or hosted interface, labels and navigation may vary.
- Choose the Header or Footer part to edit its blocks.
A template part is a reusable region: templates can include the same part, and edits to that part affect the templates that use it. That is what makes a block-based header or footer site-wide rather than a separate copy on each page. See the Template Part block documentation.
Build a practical header with blocks
Start with the elements visitors need most. A typical header contains a site logo or title and navigation; WordPress.com’s header guide also explains adding blocks and changing navigation order.
- Add a Site Logo or Site Title block.
- Add a Navigation block with links to the pages visitors need, such as About, Services, or Contact.
- Add search or a call-to-action only if it serves a clear purpose for the site.
Check each navigation destination and preview the arrangement at desktop and narrower widths. A menu that looks clear on a wide screen may need adjustment on mobile.
Build a useful footer with editable blocks
Use the footer for secondary routes and information visitors may need after reaching the end of a page. Depending on the site, that might mean secondary navigation, a contact line, social links, or other relevant site information. These are design choices, not universal legal requirements.
Keep text and links in blocks so they can be changed later in the editor. A static image of a footer may look finished, but its text and destinations are not independently editable as blocks.
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Use AI to create or refine the design
WordPress.com AI website builder
WordPress.com’s AI builder can create a site from instructions and supports further conversational changes. Its support guide says the builder is available on paid plans. Start by describing the site’s purpose, name, style, and content, then request focused changes rather than asking for an entire redesign at once. Read the current WordPress.com AI site-builder guide for availability and workflow details.
For example, you could ask: “In the site-wide header, keep the logo on the left, add links for About, Services, and Contact, and make the navigation easy to use on mobile. In the footer, add a short contact line and links to the same key pages.” This is a prompt example, not a guarantee of a particular result.
WordPress.com Agent and AI Editor
WordPress.com says its Agent can edit templates and template parts, including headers and footers. Its AI Editor works with block themes. If these tools are available on your site, open the Site Editor or AI Editor and describe the specific template part and change you want. Check WordPress.com’s current instructions for using the Site Editor and editing a site with the AI Editor; hosted features and eligibility can change.
Review the result and save it
- Preview pages that use the shared header and footer.
- Check the logo, text, navigation destinations, and any contact or social links.
- Review the layout at desktop and mobile widths, adjusting the blocks if spacing, legibility, or navigation behavior needs improvement.
- Save the changes in the editor.
AI output is a starting point, not a substitute for checking the actual site. WordPress.com documents continued manual editing alongside AI-assisted changes.
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Which editing route should you use?
| Route | What it supports | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Block theme with Site Editor | Visual site-wide editing and reusable template parts, including direct block changes. | Whether the active theme supports the Site Editor, what controls it exposes, and whether you prefer manual editing. |
| WordPress.com AI builder or Agent | Prompt-based site creation and ongoing edits, including templates and template parts in supported configurations. The AI builder is documented as a paid-plan feature; the AI Editor requires a block theme. | Plan eligibility, theme compatibility, feature settings, and how much manual refinement you want to do. |
| Classic theme or third-party page builder | The available sources do not establish one universal set of instructions for these configurations. | Identify the theme or builder and follow its current documentation; do not assume block Site Editor controls apply. |
What happens behind the editor
For developers, WordPress block themes can organize template parts in a /parts directory and include them in top-level templates using the Template Part block. Theme files can also contain editable block markup. Most site owners do not need to change those files; the visual editor is the more direct route for arranging and maintaining blocks. See the WordPress Theme Handbook’s template-parts guide.
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