A WordPress blogroll is simply a maintained list of links to other sites. You can build one without a plugin by adding Custom Link items to a Navigation block or classic menu, or by creating a dedicated page and linking each site name with WordPress’s standard Link control. The right method depends on whether your site uses a block theme or a classic theme and where you want visitors to see the list.
Choose the blogroll format that fits your site
| Format | Best for | Where visitors see it | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navigation menu | A short, highly visible list | Header, footer, or another navigation location | Edit one menu and its Custom Link items |
| Dedicated Blogroll page | A long or categorized list with descriptions | A page visitors open from your navigation | Edit page content and links manually |
Navigation menus are immediately visible but can become crowded. A page gives you room for categories, notes, and many recommendations, while requiring an extra click.
Add a blogroll with a block theme
The Site Editor and Navigation block are available when a block theme is active. WordPress documentation describes the Navigation block as the place to edit a site’s navigation menu, including its structure and design.
1. Open the Navigation editor
- From the dashboard, go to Appearance > Editor > Navigation.
- Select an existing menu, or choose the option to start a blank menu.
If the first Navigation block is a Page List, choose Edit before trying to customize individual entries. WordPress converts the page list into individual Page Link blocks so you can add and arrange specific items.
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- Open the Navigation block’s + inserter and choose Custom Link.
- Paste the complete address, including
https://, into the URL field. - Enter a short, recognizable label such as the publication or site name, then confirm the link.
- Repeat these steps for every recommendation.
Use the Navigation block’s move controls or List View to arrange the links. Its item settings can include opening a link in a new tab and adding a rel attribute. A new tab is optional; use it only when it improves the reader’s experience.
3. Choose the display location and save
- Place the Navigation block in the header, footer, or another template part where the blogroll should appear.
- Save the changes.
- Preview the result at desktop and mobile widths, opening several links to verify the labels and destinations.
Add a blogroll with a classic theme
Classic themes normally expose a menu screen through Appearance > Menus or through the Customizer. WordPress.com documents separate Site Editor, WP Admin, and Customizer paths because the available controls depend on the theme type.
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1. Open the theme’s menu editor
- Go to Appearance > Menus, or open the Customizer and select its menu section.
- Create a new menu or select the menu you want to use for the blogroll.
2. Add Custom Link items
- Choose Custom Links in the menu editor.
- Enter the site’s full
https://URL. - Enter the visible label, then select Add to Menu.
- Repeat for each site and drag the items into the desired order.
3. Assign and save the menu
- Under the menu’s display settings, select the theme location where visitors should see the blogroll, such as a footer or secondary menu.
- Save the menu.
- Visit the public site and test the links on both desktop and mobile.
Create a dedicated Blogroll page
A page is the better no-plugin pattern when you need categories, short explanations, or a large list. You can use ordinary paragraph, heading, list, or other supported blocks.
- Create a new page and title it Blogroll, Recommended Sites, or another descriptive name.
- Add headings or lists to group sites by topic.
- Select each site name and use the toolbar’s link button, or press Ctrl+K on Windows/Linux or ⌘+K on macOS.
- Paste the external HTTPS address and apply the link.
- Publish or update the page.
- Add the page itself to your site’s navigation so visitors can find it.
This approach keeps the navigation compact while allowing each entry to include context. It also means the page content, rather than one menu, is the place you must maintain.
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Why the old Links or Blogroll menu is missing
The legacy Links Manager and blogroll are hidden for new installations and for existing installations that contain no links from WordPress 3.5 onward, according to the WordPress Codex. That is why many current dashboards do not show a Links menu.
The Codex describes restoring that historical panel with the Links Manager plugin, but that route does not meet a no-plugin requirement and is not the recommended approach for a new site. Use Custom Links in a Navigation block or menu instead.
Keep the blogroll useful
- Use descriptive labels rather than vague text such as “click here.”
- Prefer the site’s canonical HTTPS address and check it after changing domains or URL structures.
- Review links periodically and remove dead, abandoned, or no-longer-relevant recommendations.
- Keep a navigation blogroll short enough to scan; move a longer collection to a categorized page.
- Open links in a new tab only when there is a clear usability reason, not because it is required.
Troubleshoot common problems
There is no Appearance > Editor
Your active theme may be classic rather than block-based. Try Appearance > Menus or the Customizer. Switching themes changes the available editing interface.
The Custom Link does not appear
Confirm that you added it inside the intended Navigation block or menu, placed it in the correct order, and saved the editor. In a block theme, convert a Page List by selecting Edit before adding individual items.
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Move the full collection to a dedicated Blogroll page and keep only a link to that page in the header or footer. Alternatively, show a short selection in navigation and organize the remainder on the page.
A link opens the wrong destination
Edit the Custom Link or page link, replace the URL with the complete current HTTPS address, save, and test it in a private browser window. Check both the visible label and the destination rather than assuming they match.
Which no-plugin method should you use?
Choose a Navigation block or classic menu when visibility and quick access matter and the list is short. Choose a dedicated page when the list is long, needs categories, or benefits from descriptions. Both methods use WordPress core editing controls and avoid the retired Links Manager interface.
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