The WordPress header is the top section of your website that visitors see first on every page. It typically includes your logo, navigation menu, search bar, call-to-action (CTA) buttons, and sometimes contact details or social icons.

Editing the header is crucial for branding (reinforcing your logo, colors, and style), navigation (making it easy for users to find what they need), and conversions (placing prominent CTAs to drive sign-ups, sales, or inquiries). A well-designed header improves user experience (UX), reduces bounce rates, and supports SEO through better site structure and faster load times.

WordPress offers multiple ways to edit the header, depending on your theme type (classic or block) and whether you’re using a page builder like Elementor or WPBakery. As of early 2026, WordPress is on version 6.9.x with 7.0 approaching, emphasizing Full Site Editing (FSE) in block themes, but classic themes and builders remain widely used.

What Is a WordPress Header?

The header is the persistent top area of your site, appearing site-wide unless customized per page.

Common elements include:

• Logo — Usually an image or text linking to the homepage.
• Navigation menu — Primary links to pages, categories, or sections.
• Search bar — For quick content discovery.
• Call-to-action button — Like “Buy Now,” “Contact Us,” or “Sign Up.”
• Contact information — Phone, email, or address.
• Additional items — Social icons, cart (for eCommerce), or secondary menus.

This section significantly impacts UX by guiding visitors intuitively and SEO by including structured navigation (helping search engines crawl your site) and fast-loading elements (Core Web Vitals factor).

How to Edit Header in WordPress Using Theme Customizer

For classic themes (non-block themes like many older or custom ones), the Theme Customizer provides a live preview without code.

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Go to Appearance > Customize.
3. Look for sections like Header, Site Identity, Menus, or theme-specific options (e.g., “Header Layout”).
4. Edit elements:
   • Logo: Under Site Identity > Site Logo (upload or replace).
   • Site title & tagline: In Site Identity.
   • Menu: Under Menus — assign or edit your primary menu.
   • Header layout options: Adjust padding, background color, sticky behavior, or alignment if your theme supports it.
5. Preview changes live on the right side.
6. Click Publish to save and make changes live.

This method is beginner-friendly and reversible.

How to Edit Header in WordPress Block Themes (Full Site Editing)

Block themes (e.g., Twenty Twenty-Four or later defaults) use Full Site Editing for visual, no-code header edits across the entire site.

1. Go to Appearance > Editor (this opens the Site Editor).
2. Click the homepage preview or navigate via the top-left WordPress logo > Browse all templates > Template Parts > Header.
3. Select the Header template part (often via List View for precision).
4. Customize using blocks:
   • Navigation block — Edit links, add submenus, or change styles.
   • Logo block (Site Logo) — Upload or replace your logo.
   • Buttons, Search, or Social Icons blocks — Drag in and configure.
   • Adjust spacing, layout (e.g., group blocks in containers), colors, and typography via the right sidebar.
   • Replace the entire header with a pre-built pattern if available (click Replace Header).
5. Changes apply site-wide since it’s a reusable template part.
6. Click Save (top-right) to publish.

This is the modern, recommended approach for new sites in 2026.

How to Edit Header in WordPress Using Elementor

Elementor (especially Pro) offers drag-and-drop freedom via Theme Builder.

1. Ensure Elementor is installed and activated.
2. Go to Templates > Theme Builder (or Elementor > Theme Builder).
3. Click Add New > Header (or edit an existing one).
4. Use the Elementor editor:
   • Drag widgets like Logo, Nav Menu, Search Form, Button, or Social Icons.
   • Customize layout, styling, responsiveness, and animations.
   • Set Display Conditions (e.g., entire site, specific pages, or exclude homepage).
5. Preview on desktop, tablet, and mobile.
6. Publish or Update the template.

Elementor overrides the default header site-wide when conditions match. For free Elementor, you may need a companion plugin like “Header Footer Builder” for similar functionality.

How to Edit Header in WordPress Using WPBakery

WPBakery Page Builder (Visual Composer) integrates with many themes.

1. Access your theme’s options panel (often Theme Options or WPBakery settings).
2. Look for Header or Header Builder section.
3. Use the backend/frontend editor to add rows, columns, and elements (logos, menus, buttons).
4. Customize custom header layouts if supported (some themes offer multiple presets).
5. Adjust spacing, colors, and responsiveness.
6. Save and apply the header globally or per condition.

WPBakery works best with compatible themes; edits happen through the builder interface rather than native WordPress tools.

How to Edit Header Code in WordPress

For advanced changes not possible via visual tools, edit code — but always use a child theme to avoid losing changes during updates.

1. Create/use a child theme (essential for safety).
2. Access via Appearance > Theme File Editor (select child theme) or FTP/SFTP (safer for large edits).
3. Locate and copy header.php from the parent theme to your child theme (if overriding).
4. Edit the file:
   • Add custom HTML/PHP (e.g., insert a new div for a promo bar).
   • Basic example: Add a sticky class or extra menu:text<div class="custom-top-bar">Announcement here</div>
   • Or modify existing code carefully.
5. Safety precautions:
   • Backup your site first (use plugins like UpdraftPlus).
   • Never edit the parent theme directly.
   • Test changes on a staging site.
   • Use plugins like “Insert Headers and Footers” for simple script additions without touching files.

This method gives full control but risks breaking your site if done incorrectly.

Best Practices When Editing WordPress Headers

• Keep it clean and minimal — Avoid clutter; prioritize key elements.
• Mobile-first design — Ensure responsiveness (test on devices; use media queries if coding).
• Fast loading — Optimize logo images, avoid heavy scripts, and enable caching.
• Clear CTA — Make buttons stand out with contrasting colors.
• Consistent branding — Match colors, fonts, and style to your overall site.
• Always preview on multiple devices and browsers.

Conclusion

Editing your WordPress header is straightforward once you identify your setup: use the Theme Customizer for classic themes, the Site Editor for block themes (the future-proof choice in 2026), or page builders like Elementor or WPBakery for drag-and-drop power. For deep tweaks, code edits in a child theme work best.

Choose the method based on your theme type and comfort level — start simple and test thoroughly. Always back up your site before major changes to avoid issues.

If you’d like expansions on any section, screenshots (via image search if needed), or a specific method in more detail, let me know!