How to Save a Post or Page as a Draft in WordPress

WordPress is a powerful platform for creating and managing websites, but sometimes you might want to save your work as a draft before publishing it. This article will guide you through the steps of saving a draft in both the classic and new Modern WordPress editor. Let's dive in!

Understanding the Draft Feature in WordPress

When you create a post or page in WordPress, the platform automatically saves your edits at regular intervals. However, if you want to save your work temporarily without publishing it, you can use the 'Save Draft' feature. This is especially useful when you're working on a piece of content that isn’t ready for immediate publication or when you want to continue writing later.

How to Save a Post or Page as a Draft in the Classic Editor

The process of saving a post or page as a draft in the Classic Editor is quite straightforward. Here’s how you can do it:

Log in to your WordPress dashboard. Click on the 'Add New' button to create a new post or page. Start writing your content or making your edits. Once you're ready to save your draft, scroll down to the bottom of the edit screen. Look for the ‘Post’ or ‘Page’ button at the bottom of the screen. Click on the ‘Save Draft’ option located next to the ‘Preview’ and ‘Publish’ buttons.

How to Save a Post or Page as a Draft in the Modern Editor (Gutenberg)

The Modern Editor, also known as the Gutenberg Editor, has a slightly different approach to saving drafts. Here’s how you can do it:

Log in to your WordPress dashboard. Click on the 'Create' button to start a new post or page. Write or edit your content. Go to the right-hand sidebar. Look for the 'Publish' section. Change the status from 'Publish' to 'Save Draft'. Click the 'Update' button to save your changes.

Additional Methods to Save a Post or Page as a Draft

There are a few other methods you can use to save your post or page as a draft in WordPress. These methods are particularly useful if you want to quickly save your work without navigating to the bottom of the page or the right-hand sidebar:

Quick Edit Method: Navigate to 'All Pages' or 'All Posts' to manage your content. Select the post or page for which you want to save a draft. Click the 'Quick Edit' button. From the 'Status' dropdown, select 'Draft'. Click 'Update' to save your changes. Edit Page or Post Method: Edit the post or page directly. Go to the right-hand sidebar. Change the 'Status' from 'Publish' to 'Draft'. Click 'Update' to save your draft.

Conclusion

Whether you’re using the Classic Editor or the new Modern Editor, or preferring any of the additional methods outlined, saving a post or page as a draft in WordPress can be a lifesaver. This feature allows you to save your progress without publishing your content, giving you the flexibility to return and refine your work at a later time. Happy writing!

Note: While the screenshots mentioned are crucial for visual guidance, feel free to search for images online that best match the version of WordPress you are using, as appearances can vary slightly depending on updates and themes.