Title: Archives block
Author: kriskorn
Published: March 7, 2019
Last modified: December 8, 2025

---

# Archives block

## In this article

 * [Block toolbar](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/archives-block/?output_format=md#block-toolbar)
 * [Block settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/archives-block/?output_format=md#block-settings)
    - [Color](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/archives-block/?output_format=md#color)
    - [Typography](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/archives-block/?output_format=md#typography)
    - [Border](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/archives-block/?output_format=md#border)
 * [Changelog](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/archives-block/?output_format=md#changelog)

[ Back to top](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/archives-block/?output_format=md#wp--skip-link--target)

[Go to the List of Blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/blocks/)

Use the _Archives _block to display a date archive of your posts. 

![The archive block in the site editor](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/
2023/02/archive-block.png)

To add the _Archives _block to a page, click the **block inserter** (+) icon to 
open the block inserter pop-up window and choose the _Archives_ block.

![A demonstration of adding the archive block](https://wordpress.org/documentation/
files/2023/02/adding-archive-block.gif)

You can also use the keyboard shortcut /archives to quickly insert an _Archives_
block. 

[Detailed instructions on adding blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/adding-a-new-block/)

## 󠀁[Block toolbar](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/archives-block/?output_format=md#block-toolbar)󠁿

To view the block toolbar, click on the block, and the toolbar will be displayed.

![Archive block toolbar](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2023/02/toolbar-
1.png)

Every block comes with unique toolbar icons and blocks specific user controls that
allow you to manipulate the block right in the editor.

The _Archives_ block shows five buttons in the block toolbar:

 * Transform to
 * Drag icon
 * Move arrows
 * Change alignment
 * More options

**Transform to**

![](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2023/02/transform-3.png)

Click on the **Transform** button to convert the _Archives_ block into a _Group_,
_Columns_ or _Calendar_ block.

**Drag icon**

![Drag and drop block moving tools on the toolbar](https://wordpress.org/documentation/
files/2023/02/drag.png)

To drag and drop the block to a new location on the page template, click and hold
the rectangle of dots, then drag it to the new location. The blue separator line
indicates where the block will be placed. Release the left mouse button when you
find the new location to place the block.

**Move arrows**

![Arrow icons on the toolbar to move the block upwards or downwards](https://wordpress.
org/documentation/files/2023/02/arrows.png)

The up and down arrow icons can be used to move the block up and down on the page.

[Get more information about moving a block within the editor.](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/moving-blocks/)

**Change block alignment**

![Block alignment options on the toolbar](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/
2023/02/align-1.png)

Use the change alignment tool to align the _Archive _block. Choose one of the following
options:

 * **None – **leaves the block the current size.
 * **Wide width – **increase the width of the block beyond the content size.
 * **Full width – **extend the block to cover the full width of the screen.
 * **Align left – **aligns the block left.
 * **Align center – **aligns the block to the center.
 * **Align right – **aligns the block right.

The “Wide width” and “Full width” alignment settings must be enabled by your WordPress
theme. 

**Options**

The Options button on a block toolbar gives you more features to customize the block.

[Read about these and other settings.](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/more-options/)

## 󠀁[Block settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/archives-block/?output_format=md#block-settings)󠁿

The block settings panel contains customization options specific to the block. To
open it, select the block and click the **Settings** icon next to the **Publish **
button.

![Block settings icon on the site editor](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/
2023/02/settings-icon.png)

**Settings**

The settings section provides four possible options:

![Archive block settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2023/02/archive-
settings.png)

**Display as dropdown** – display the archives as a dropdown, rather than the default
bulleted list.

![Drop-down display on the archive block](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/
2023/02/display-dropdown.png)

**Show label** – displays the archives label on top of the dropdown list. It can
only be enabled together with the _Display as dropdown _option.

![The archive block with the label shown](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/
2023/02/label.png)

**Show post count** – shows posts count.

![The archive block with the post count displayed](https://wordpress.org/documentation/
files/2023/02/post-count.png)

**Group by** – sets and groups the posts by year, month, week, and day.

### 󠀁[Color](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/archives-block/?output_format=md#color)󠁿

Text and background colors can be set on a per-block basis, allowing you to call
attention to important content. Using the Color settings, you can customize the 
block by adding text, background, and link colors.

[See this guide for more information about changing colors.](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/colors-settings-overview/)

### 󠀁[Typography](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/archives-block/?output_format=md#typography)󠁿

The _Archives_ block_ _provides typography settings to change the font family, size,
appearance, line height, letter case, letter spacing, and decoration.

[Get more details about changing typography settings.](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/typography-settings-overview/)

**Dimensions**

The _Archive_ block provides dimension settings options to change padding and margin
size.

![Dimensions settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2023/02/dimensions-
settings.png)

For details refer to this support article: [Dimension settings overview](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/dimension-controls-overview/)

### 󠀁[Border](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/archives-block/?output_format=md#border)󠁿

The _Archive_ block provides border settings options to add border color, width,
and radius.

For details refer to this support article: [Border settings overview](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/border-settings-overview/)

**Advanced settings**

The advanced tab lets you add a CSS class to your block, allowing you to write custom
CSS and style the block as you see fit.

![The advanced section lets you add a CSS class to your block.](https://wordpress.
org/documentation/files/2023/02/css-2.png)

## 󠀁[Changelog](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/archives-block/?output_format=md#changelog)󠁿

 * Updated 2025-12-08
    - Change capitalization in title to Archives block
 * Updated 2025-04-15
    - Add color and border block support.
 * Updated 2023-02-07
    - Updated screenshots
 * Updated 2022-11-21
    - Removed redundant content
 * Updated 2022-08-01
    - Added screenshots and updated content for 6.0
    - Added ALT tags for images
 * Created 2019-03-07

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First published

March 7, 2019

Last updated

December 8, 2025