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Customize WordPress’s TinyMCE editor with PHP filters, per-editor settings, and (for new controls) a small JavaScript plugin. Use mce_buttons through mce_buttons_4 to change toolbar rows, tiny_mce_before_init for configuration such as block formats, and mce_external_plugins plus JavaScript to add a custom button. Always scope callbacks by editor ID so you do not unintentionally change every editor, including or excluding the Classic block.
What you can customize
TinyMCE is the Visual editor used by WordPress in several places: the classic post editor, the Classic block inside the block editor, and standalone editors rendered with wp_editor(). WordPress builds each instance from an initialization array, a list of enabled TinyMCE plugins, and one to four toolbar-row arrays. Filters let a plugin or theme alter those values before the editor is created.
- Toolbar membership and order:
mce_buttons,mce_buttons_2,mce_buttons_3, andmce_buttons_4. - Initialization options:
tiny_mce_before_init, including the block-format menu and other TinyMCE settings. - Plugin loading:
tiny_mce_pluginsfor the plugin list andmce_external_pluginsfor JavaScript files outside WordPress’s built-in set. - One rendered editor:
wp_editor( $content, $editor_id, $settings ).
The callback receives the current editor ID. That argument is the key to safe customization: a rule intended for the main post editor should not automatically affect a custom metabox, a comment form, or the Classic block.
Choose the right method
| Goal | API | Implementation | Typical scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove or add an existing toolbar control | mce_buttons through mce_buttons_4 |
PHP filter | Any matching editor ID; all instances if you omit the check |
| Change the order of controls | The same four toolbar filters | PHP filter that edits the array | A selected toolbar row |
| Change a configuration value, such as block formats | tiny_mce_before_init |
PHP filter | A selected editor instance |
| Enable or disable a TinyMCE plugin | tiny_mce_plugins |
PHP filter | Instances matched by your condition |
| Load a plugin file that you wrote | mce_external_plugins, normally with a toolbar filter |
PHP plus JavaScript | A selected editor instance |
| Render a separately configured editor | wp_editor() |
PHP at the output location | That one editor |
TinyMCE treats each toolbar row as an ordered list. Adding a button name appends it; removing and reinserting names lets you control placement. A filter that changes membership is not a substitute for loading the code behind a custom button: a button name without a registered plugin produces no working control.
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Prepare safely before editing
- Use staging or a recent backup. A malformed PHP callback can prevent the administration area from loading, and a JavaScript error can leave the editor unusable.
- Put code in a site plugin. A small custom plugin survives theme changes and keeps the customization separate from WordPress core. Never edit core files.
- Identify the editor ID. The normal post editor uses
content; the Classic block usesclassic-block. A customwp_editor()call uses the ID you pass as its second argument. - Confirm the button’s TinyMCE name. Toolbar arrays contain identifiers such as
wp_more,fullscreen, andunderline, not the text displayed in a tooltip. - Test both editing modes. Visual mode and Text/Code mode can expose different problems, especially when a control inserts HTML.
Remove buttons from a toolbar
Use mce_buttons for the first row. The following example removes the More tag and fullscreen controls only from the main post editor:
<?php
add_filter( 'mce_buttons', function( $buttons, $editor_id ) {
if ( 'content' !== $editor_id ) {
return $buttons;
}
return array_values(
array_diff( $buttons, array( 'wp_more', 'fullscreen' ) )
);
}, 10, 2 );array_diff() leaves the remaining names intact. array_values() reindexes the result so the toolbar receives a clean, consecutive array. If another plugin has already removed one of those controls, the code simply leaves the current list unchanged.
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<?php
add_filter( 'mce_buttons_2', function( $buttons, $editor_id ) {
if ( 'content' !== $editor_id ) {
return $buttons;
}
return array_values( array_diff( $buttons, array( 'underline' ) ) );
}, 10, 2 );Do not assume a button is in row one: inspect the current toolbar or the generated configuration, then apply the filter for the row in which the control actually appears.
Add existing controls and control their order
If TinyMCE or WordPress already provides the control, append its identifier rather than writing a plugin. This example adds underline to the second row:
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<?php
add_filter( 'mce_buttons_2', function( $buttons, $editor_id ) {
if ( 'content' === $editor_id ) {
$buttons[] = 'underline';
}
return $buttons;
}, 10, 2 );Appending can create a duplicate when another extension has already added the same name. To place a control once at a predictable position, remove existing copies and insert it at an index:
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<?php
add_filter( 'mce_buttons_2', function( $buttons, $editor_id ) {
if ( 'content' !== $editor_id ) {
return $buttons;
}
$buttons = array_values( array_diff( $buttons, array( 'underline' ) ) );
array_splice( $buttons, 2, 0, 'underline' );
return $buttons;
}, 10, 2 );Indexes are zero-based, so position 2 means the third slot. The final position can still change if another plugin runs later and edits the same filter. Use a deliberate filter priority only when you understand the interaction; changing priority is not a guarantee that every other extension will behave the same way.
Change the format menu and other initialization values
Use tiny_mce_before_init when you are changing a TinyMCE option rather than the membership of a toolbar row. This example limits the format menu for the main post editor to Paragraph, Heading 2, and Heading 3:
<?php
add_filter( 'tiny_mce_before_init', function( $init, $editor_id ) {
if ( 'content' === $editor_id ) {
$init['block_formats'] = 'Paragraph=p;Heading 2=h2;Heading 3=h3';
}
return $init;
}, 10, 2 );The value is a semicolon-separated list. Each item has the label shown to authors, an equals sign, and the HTML element TinyMCE inserts. Keep the callback narrow and return the complete initialization array.
WordPress merges your values into its defaults. Preserve those defaults unless you have a specific reason to replace an option. In particular, do not casually disable the normal cleanup or allowed/disallowed-element rules: doing so can permit markup that WordPress would otherwise sanitize or normalize. Treat every initialization key as version-sensitive and test the saved result, not just the toolbar appearance.
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Add a custom TinyMCE button
A new button has two parts. PHP tells WordPress where the JavaScript plugin is and places the button name in a toolbar row. JavaScript registers that name and defines what happens when an author clicks it.
1. Create the JavaScript plugin
Save a file such as mybutton.js in your site plugin directory. This example inserts a paragraph with a class when clicked:
(function() {
tinymce.PluginManager.add('mybutton', function(editor) {
editor.addButton('mybutton', {
text: 'Insert note',
icon: false,
onclick: function() {
editor.insertContent('<p class="note">Write your note here.</p>');
}
});
});
})();The registration name, mybutton, must match the key used in PHP and the toolbar name. TinyMCE builds bundled with different WordPress versions can expose different UI APIs. The editor.addButton() form is used by older TinyMCE builds; if the active build does not expose it, adapt the registration to that build’s documented button API rather than silently loading a plugin that throws an error.
2. Register the file and toolbar control
<?php
add_filter( 'mce_external_plugins', function( $plugins, $editor_id ) {
if ( 'content' === $editor_id ) {
$plugins['mybutton'] = plugins_url( 'mybutton.js', __FILE__ );
}
return $plugins;
}, 10, 2 );
add_filter( 'mce_buttons', function( $buttons, $editor_id ) {
if ( 'content' === $editor_id ) {
$buttons[] = 'mybutton';
}
return $buttons;
}, 10, 2 );mce_external_plugins maps the plugin name to its JavaScript URL. The corresponding toolbar filter is required: loading a plugin does not automatically add a visible button. If the file is in a subdirectory, include that relative path in plugins_url().
3. Test the complete path
- Confirm the browser requests the JavaScript file with a successful response.
- Open the browser console and fix syntax or API errors before testing saved content.
- Click the control in Visual mode and confirm the expected HTML appears in Text/Code mode.
- Save, reload, and edit the post again to ensure WordPress has not removed or rewritten the inserted markup.
A custom control that inserts arbitrary HTML should also account for user permissions, sanitization, and the content model your theme expects. The editor is not a bypass for WordPress’s normal content-safety rules.
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Configure one standalone editor with wp_editor()
For a custom metabox or administration screen, configure the instance where it is rendered instead of changing every TinyMCE editor globally:
<?php
wp_editor(
$content,
'summary_editor',
array(
'textarea_name' => 'summary',
'media_buttons' => false,
'teeny' => false,
'textarea_rows' => 12,
)
);The first argument is the initial content, the second is the editor ID, and the third is the settings array. Give every instance a unique ID; do not use square brackets in that ID. Set a distinct textarea_name so the submitted value is not confused with the main post content.
| Setting | Effect | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
wpautop |
Controls WordPress’s automatic paragraph and line-break handling | Set deliberately when the field’s markup must differ from normal post content |
media_buttons |
Shows or hides the media-upload controls above the editor | Disable for short fields that should contain text only |
default_editor |
Selects the initial Visual or Text mode | Choose the mode that matches the field’s expected content |
drag_drop_upload |
Controls drag-and-drop uploads | Enable only when the screen and permissions support uploads |
textarea_name |
Sets the submitted form field name | Always set a unique, intentional name for custom fields |
textarea_rows |
Sets the initial textarea height | Use a value appropriate to the amount of content expected |
Because the generated editor still has an ID, your toolbar and initialization filters can target summary_editor just as they target content. Keep rendering settings in the wp_editor() call and behavior changes in the relevant filters so the boundary remains clear.
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The Classic block initializes TinyMCE with the editor ID classic-block. A callback that checks only for content will therefore affect the traditional post editor but not Classic blocks. If both contexts should have the same toolbar, branch explicitly:
<?php
add_filter( 'mce_buttons', function( $buttons, $editor_id ) {
$supported_ids = array( 'content', 'classic-block' );
if ( ! in_array( $editor_id, $supported_ids, true ) ) {
return $buttons;
}
return array_values( array_diff( $buttons, array( 'fullscreen' ) ) );
}, 10, 2 );Use the same ID test for mce_buttons_2, tiny_mce_before_init, and plugin registration when the feature genuinely belongs in both contexts. Conversely, leave classic-block out when the customization is intended only for the legacy editor. Test a newly inserted Classic block, an existing post containing one, and the main post editor separately.
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Understand plugin-list filters
mce_external_plugins loads JavaScript files you provide. tiny_mce_plugins filters the list of TinyMCE plugins WordPress is already preparing. They solve different problems:
- Use
tiny_mce_pluginswhen you need to add or remove a plugin identifier in the existing TinyMCE build. - Use
mce_external_pluginswhen the implementation lives in your own JavaScript file and needs a URL. - Use a toolbar filter as well when the plugin exposes a button. A loaded plugin can provide commands, formats, or events without showing a control, but a button name alone cannot provide the implementation.
Do not register an external file under one name and place a different name in the toolbar. TinyMCE must see the same identifier in the plugin registration, external-plugin map, and toolbar array.
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| Approach | Best for | Main risk | Maintenance work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toolbar filter only | Simple removal, addition, or ordering of built-in controls | Another extension may edit the same row | Check button names and filter priority after WordPress updates |
| Initialization filter | Format menus and other configuration values | Replacing defaults can alter cleanup behavior | Compare generated settings after version changes |
| External plugin plus JavaScript | Commands or controls that do not already exist | JavaScript API or escaping errors | Maintain PHP and JavaScript together and test the active TinyMCE build |
wp_editor() settings |
A metabox or a purpose-built admin field | Duplicate IDs or conflicting field names | Keep IDs unique and verify form submission |
Compatibility depends on the active WordPress version, its bundled TinyMCE build, the theme, and other plugins that modify the same hooks. The documented APIs do not provide a universal compatibility matrix, so test the exact versions running on your site.
Troubleshoot a missing or broken customization
The button does not appear
- Check that the filter matches the correct row:
mce_buttonsis row one, whilemce_buttons_2,mce_buttons_3, andmce_buttons_4target rows two through four. - Verify the TinyMCE identifier, not the visible label. A spelling difference means WordPress will ignore the entry.
- Confirm the editor ID. For a Classic block, use
classic-block; for a custom instance, use the ID passed towp_editor(). - If it is a custom control, make sure both external-plugin registration and the toolbar entry are present.
The editor shows a blank area or JavaScript error
- Open the browser console and identify the first error, not just the final cascade of failures.
- Check the JavaScript URL and file syntax. A 404 response means the PHP path is wrong; a syntax error prevents the plugin from registering.
- Verify that the button API used by your JavaScript exists in the TinyMCE build bundled with the active WordPress version.
The change affects the wrong editors
- Inspect every callback for an editor-ID condition and return the original array when the ID is not supported.
- Remember that a filter without an ID check is global for the TinyMCE instances that pass through it.
- Test the post editor, Classic block, and each custom
wp_editor()instance independently.
Markup changes after saving
- Compare Visual and Text/Code modes to see whether the editor itself rewrote the markup.
- Check the initialization and content-cleanup settings before changing them. WordPress’s defaults are intentional security and consistency boundaries.
- Confirm that the user’s role and the site’s normal sanitization rules permit the elements and attributes your button inserts.
A repeatable verification checklist
- Back up the site or deploy the change to staging.
- Place PHP in a site plugin, activate it, and confirm the administration area still loads.
- Record each target editor ID and test only those IDs first.
- Check every affected toolbar row and the order of its controls.
- Open the browser console and network panel when testing an external plugin.
- Switch between Visual and Text/Code modes and inspect the resulting HTML.
- Save, reload, and edit the content again to verify persistence.
- Repeat the test after WordPress, the active theme, or an editor-related plugin is updated.
Practical decision guide
- Need to hide an existing control? Start with the appropriate
mce_buttons*filter. - Need to add an existing control or move it? Edit the relevant row array, removing duplicates before inserting at the desired position.
- Need to change the format dropdown or another option? Use
tiny_mce_before_initand preserve the rest of the initialization array. - Need a new command or insertion workflow? Build a JavaScript plugin, register it through
mce_external_plugins, and add its name to a toolbar row. - Need a special editor in one metabox? Configure that instance with
wp_editor()and a unique ID and field name. - Need the same behavior in the Classic block? Include
classic-blockexplicitly and test it separately fromcontent.
Conclusion
WordPress gives you precise control over TinyMCE without modifying core files. Toolbar filters handle membership and order, tiny_mce_before_init handles configuration, external-plugin hooks connect PHP to custom JavaScript, and wp_editor() keeps a standalone field self-contained. The safest implementations identify the exact editor ID, change only the required setting, preserve WordPress defaults, and verify both the browser behavior and the saved HTML on the WordPress and TinyMCE versions your site actually runs.
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