Hiding YouTube and Vimeo Blocks

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 89 views

Introduction

The Block Editor in WordPress provides a convenient way to insert various types of content blocks, including media blocks from YouTube and Vimeo. However, in some cases, you might want to hide these blocks from the Block Inserter while still allowing existing blocks to be usable. This can be achieved through custom JavaScript code that targets the Block Editor's API. In this article, we will explore how to hide YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter while keeping existing blocks usable.

Understanding the Block Editor's API

Before we dive into the code, it's essential to understand how the Block Editor's API works. The Block Editor uses a JavaScript library called wp-blocks to manage blocks. When a block is inserted, the wp.blocks object is used to register the block and its settings. To hide a block from the Block Inserter, we need to target the wp.blocks object and remove the block's registration.

Hiding YouTube and Vimeo Blocks

To hide YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter, we need to add a custom JavaScript script that targets the wp.blocks object. We can do this by adding an action hook to the enqueue_block_editor_assets hook, which is fired when the Block Editor is initialized.

add_action( 'enqueue_block_editor_assets', __NAMESPACE__ . '\enqueue_hide_blocks_script' );

In the enqueue_hide_blocks_script function, we can use the wp.blocks object to remove the registration of the YouTube and Vimeo blocks.

function enqueue_hide_blocks_script() {
  wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType( 'core/embed' );
  wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType( 'core/youtube' );
  wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType( 'core/vimeo' );
}

However, this code will not only hide the YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter but also remove them from the editor. To keep existing blocks usable, we need to use a different approach.

Using a Custom Block Filter

To hide YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter while keeping existing blocks usable, we can use a custom block filter. We can add a filter to the blocks.getRegisteredBlocks hook, which is fired when the Block Editor is initialized.

add_filter( 'blocks.getRegisteredBlocks', __NAMESPACE__ . '\filter_hide_blocks' );

In the filter_hide_blocks function, we can use the wp.blocks object to filter out the YouTube and Vimeo blocks.

function filter_hide_blocks( registeredBlocks ) {
  return registeredBlocks.filter( ( block ) => {
    return block.name !== 'core/embed' && block.name !== 'core/youtube' && block.name !== 'core/vimeo';
  } );
}

This code will hide the YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter while keeping existing blocks usable.

Conclusion

Hiding YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter while keeping existing blocks usable requires a custom JavaScript script that targets the wp.blocks object. By using a custom block filter, we can achieve this without removing the blocks from the editor. This approach provides a flexible solution for developers who need to customize the Block Editor's behavior.

Additional Tips and Variations

To hide specific variations of the YouTube and Vimeo blocks, you can use the wp.blocks.unregisterBlockVariation function.
To hide blocks from specific categories, you can use the wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType function with the category name as an argument.
To hide blocks from specific namespaces, you can use the wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType function with the namespace name as an argument.

Example Use Cases

Hiding YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter to prevent users from inserting them accidentally.
Hiding specific variations of the YouTube and Vimeo blocks to provide a customized experience for users.
Hiding blocks from specific categories or namespaces to provide a customized experience for users.

Code Snippets

Here are some code snippets that you can use to hide YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter:

// Hide YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter
add_action( 'enqueue_block_editor_assets', __NAMESPACE__ . '\enqueue_hide_blocks_script' );
function enqueue_hide_blocks_script() {
  wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType( 'core/embed' );
  wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType( 'core/youtube' );
  wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType( 'core/vimeo' );
}
// Hide specific variations of the YouTube and Vimeo blocks
add_action( 'enqueue_block_editor_assets', NAMESPACE . '\enqueue_hide_blocks_script' );
function enqueue_hide_blocks_script() {
wp.blocks.unregisterBlockVariation( 'core/embed', 'youtube' );
wp.blocks.unregisterBlockVariation( 'core/youtube', 'vimeo' );
}
// Hide blocks from specific categories
add_action( 'enqueue_block_editor_assets', NAMESPACE . '\enqueue_hide_blocks_script' );
function enqueue_hide_blocks_script() {
wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType( 'core/embed', 'category' );
wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType( 'core/youtube', 'category' );
}
// Hide blocks from specific namespaces
add_action( 'enqueue_block_editor_assets', NAMESPACE . '\enqueue_hide_blocks_script' );
function enqueue_hide_blocks_script() {
wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType( 'core/embed', 'namespace' );
wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType( 'core/youtube', 'namespace' );
}

Frequently Asked Questions

In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about hiding YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter.

Q: Why would I want to hide YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter?

A: You may want to hide YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter to prevent users from inserting them accidentally. This can be useful in situations where you want to provide a customized experience for users or prevent them from inserting blocks that may not be suitable for their content.

Q: How do I hide YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter?

A: To hide YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter, you can use a custom JavaScript script that targets the wp.blocks object. You can add an action hook to the enqueue_block_editor_assets hook, which is fired when the Block Editor is initialized.

add_action( 'enqueue_block_editor_assets', __NAMESPACE__ . '\enqueue_hide_blocks_script' );

In the enqueue_hide_blocks_script function, you can use the wp.blocks object to remove the registration of the YouTube and Vimeo blocks.

function enqueue_hide_blocks_script() {
  wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType( 'core/embed' );
  wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType( 'core/youtube' );
  wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType( 'core/vimeo' );
}

Q: How do I keep existing blocks usable while hiding YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter?

A: To keep existing blocks usable while hiding YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter, you can use a custom block filter. You can add a filter to the blocks.getRegisteredBlocks hook, which is fired when the Block Editor is initialized.

add_filter( 'blocks.getRegisteredBlocks', __NAMESPACE__ . '\filter_hide_blocks' );

In the filter_hide_blocks function, you can use the wp.blocks object to filter out the YouTube and Vimeo blocks.

function filter_hide_blocks( registeredBlocks ) {
  return registeredBlocks.filter( ( block ) => {
    return block.name !== 'core/embed' && block.name !== 'core/youtube' && block.name !== 'core/vimeo';
  } );
}

Q: Can I hide specific variations of the YouTube and Vimeo blocks?

A: Yes, you can hide specific variations of the YouTube and Vimeo blocks. You can use the wp.blocks.unregisterBlockVariation function to remove the registration of specific variations.

add_action( 'enqueue_block_editor_assets', __NAMESPACE__ . '\enqueue_hide_blocks_script' );
function enqueue_hide_blocks_script() {
  wp.blocks.unregisterBlockVariation( 'core/embed', 'youtube' );
  wp.blocks.unregisterBlockVariation( 'core/youtube', 'vimeo' );
}

Q: Can I hide blocks from specific categories or namespaces?

A: Yes, you can hide blocks from specific categories or namespaces. You can use the wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType function with the category name or namespace name as an argument.

add_action( 'enqueue_block_editor_assets', __NAMESPACE__ . '\enqueue_hide_blocks_script' );
function enqueue_hide_blocks_script() {
  wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType( 'core/embed', 'category' );
  wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType( 'core/youtube', 'category' );
}

Q: What are some additional tips and variations for hiding YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter?

A: Here are some additional tips and variations for hiding YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter:

Use a custom block filter to hide blocks from specific categories or namespaces.
Use the wp.blocks.unregisterBlockVariation function to remove the registration of specific variations.
Use the wp.blocks.unregisterBlockType function with the category name or namespace name as an argument to hide blocks from specific categories or namespaces.
Use a custom JavaScript script to target the wp.blocks object and remove the registration of the YouTube and Vimeo blocks.

Conclusion

Hiding YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter can be a useful feature for developers who want to provide a customized experience for users. By using a custom JavaScript script or a custom block filter, you can hide these blocks from the Block Inserter while keeping existing blocks usable. This article has provided some frequently asked questions and answers about hiding YouTube and Vimeo blocks from the Block Inserter.