The classic pre-WordPress version 4.8 text widget
As of April 2026, Classic Text Widget is a WordPress text plugin with 2.0K+ active installations and a 5/5 rating from 15 reviews. It has been downloaded 20K+ times in total. Requires WordPress 4.8+ and PHP false+. Available on WordPress.org since 2017. Last updated 6 years ago — may have compatibility concerns. Download volume is stable this week. Top alternative: String locator.
Brings back the classic WordPress text widget without TinyMCE. This is based on the code from WordPress Ver. 4.7.5
Functionality is exactly the same as the pre-version 4.8 text widget. Additional default functionality includes shortcode execution and custom class filter.
Note: This widget uses PHP namespaces to prevent conflicts with other widgets of a similar nature. PHP namespaces are only supported in PHP Version 5.3.0 and higher. If your site uses a PHP version earlier than 5.3.0, do not install this widget unless your PHP version is upgraded first.
The default text widget broke my shortcodes. Thanks for providing an easily solution!
I was about to make this exact plugin. Thank you for putting this together. Works perfectly!
A week shot, but at least we’re back to pre-update functionality.
Thanks a M I L L I O N !!!
This bug in WP core and then this fix encompases all that is bad and all that is good about WP.
Thank you for rescuing us from the latest WP 4.8 text widget disaster … keep us the awesome work. Thanx again…
| WordPress | 4.8+ requiredTested up to 5.2.24 |
| PHP | false+ required |
Bumped “Tested up to” tag
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Analysis and metrics by PluginSift.