Home » Guides » Wordpress » Wordpress Fse Synced Patterns
📌 Pin 🔗 Copy Link 📋 Copy Markdown ⬇️ Download
3 min read

Mastering Synced Patterns (formerly Reusable Blocks)

One of the most powerful features for content management in WordPress is the Synced Pattern. This feature allows you to build a component (like a "Call to Action" or "Newsletter Signup"), place it on 50 different pages, and update all 50 instances simultaneously by editing it once.

Note: Prior to WordPress 6.3, these were called "Reusable Blocks."

1. Synced vs. Standard (Unsynced) Patterns

When creating a pattern, you have two choices:

  • Synced (Purple Icon):
    • Behavior: The content is stored in one central place. If you change the text in the pattern, it updates everywhere on the site immediately.
    • Use Case: Newsletter signups, Contact info cards, Ad banners, "Meet the Team" snippets.
  • Standard / Unsynced (Regular Icon):
    • Behavior: It acts like a stamp or blueprint. When you insert it, the blocks are pasted into the page and completely detached from the original. Editing the page does not affect the original pattern.
    • Use Case: Page layouts, Hero sections, Columns arrangements where the content changes per page.

2. How to Create a Synced Pattern (No Code)

Synced patterns are unique because they are typically content-driven and created directly in the WordPress Editor, stored in the database (as a wp_block post type), rather than in theme.json or PHP files.

  1. Build your blocks: Create the group of blocks you want to reuse (e.g., a Group block containing a Heading, Paragraph, and Button).
  2. Select: Select the parent container (Group).
  3. Options: Click the three dots (Options) in the toolbar.
  4. Create: Select Create pattern/reusable block.
  5. Configure:
    • Name: Give it a clear name (e.g., "Global CTA").
    • Synced Toggle: Turn this ON. (This is the critical step).
  6. Save.

3. How to Edit a Synced Pattern

Once created, the pattern appears in the Block Inserter under the "Synced Patterns" tab (diamond icon).

To edit it:

  1. Insert the pattern into any page.
  2. Click on it. You will see the borders turn Purple implies it is a global entity.
  3. Click "Edit Original" (or just type directly, depending on WP version).
  4. Warning: When you hit "Save" on the page, WordPress will ask: "Do you want to save the page AND the Synced Pattern?"
  5. Confirming will update that pattern across the entire website.

4. Detaching (The "Override" Workflow)

Sometimes you want to use the design of a Synced Pattern but change the content for just one page.

  1. Insert the Synced Pattern.
  2. Click the "Options" (three dots) on the pattern toolbar.
  3. Select Detach Pattern.
  4. The blocks revert from Purple to standard blocks. You can now edit them without affecting the rest of the site.

5. Developer Note: Converting to Theme Files

Since Synced Patterns created in the UI are stored in the database, they don't transfer automatically if you switch themes or deploy to a new server (unless you migrate the database).

If you want to ship a Synced Pattern inside your theme (so it's available on a fresh install), you generally use a Template Part, not a Pattern.

  • Pattern (PHP): Always unsynced by default behavior (unless you use complex locking).
  • Template Part (HTML): Synced by definition.

Strategy:

  • If it is structural (Header/Footer), use parts/.
  • If it is content (CTA), teach the client to use Synced Patterns via the Editor.
Created: March 19, 2026 • Last Modified: March 19, 2026