Block Editor External Links learns the external URLs you’ve already linked to and suggests them again as you type – right in the Block Editor’s link popover and the Classic Editor’s link dialog, no copy-pasting from an old post required.
Key Features
- Automatic daily extraction of external links from your published posts and pages
- Autocomplete suggestions in both the Block Editor link popover and the Classic Editor link dialog
- Manual mode – maintain your own curated list of external links instead of scanning content
- Usage tracking so your most-used links surface first
- Manual “Run Extraction” and “Clear All Links” admin actions
- REST API powering the autocomplete, for anyone who can edit posts
How It Works
- Install and activate the plugin
- Open the Block Editor External Links menu item in your WordPress dashboard
- Let the daily extraction build your link list automatically, or switch to Manual mode and add links yourself
- Start typing http://, https://, or www. in a Block Editor or Classic Editor link tool to see suggestions
Who It’s For
- Bloggers and content publishers who cite the same external sources over and over
- Site owners who want faster, more consistent linking without digging through old posts
- Anyone who switches between the Block Editor and Classic Editor and wants autocomplete in both
Free vs. Pro
The free version covers autocomplete in the Block Editor and Classic Editor, automatic daily extraction from Posts and Pages, and a read-only view of your last 20 links. Block Editor External Links Pro adds:
- Custom post type support – scan any post type, not just Posts and Pages
- Network-wide multisite dashboard – manage links across every site in your network
- Bulk Tools – dedupe/merge, bulk delete, and CSV import & export
- Domain Rules – pin or blacklist specific domains
- Link Analytics – top domains and a 12-week growth trend
- Uncapped batch size and cleanup window, plus priority email support
Installation
- Go to Plugins > Add New, search “Block Editor External Links,” and click Install Now, then Activate
- Open the Block Editor External Links menu item in your dashboard to review your settings
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t I see suggestions when I press Ctrl/Cmd+K?
The Ctrl/Cmd+K command palette is a different tool built into WordPress. Autocomplete only appears in the link tool itself – the Block Editor’s link popover or the Classic Editor’s “Insert/edit link” dialog. Start typing http://, https://, or www. there, and suggestions will appear a moment later while your saved links are searched.
Does it work with the Classic Editor?
Yes – autocomplete works in both the Block Editor’s link popover and the Classic Editor’s “Insert/edit link” dialog, including the TinyMCE editor body.
Will this slow down my site?
No – link extraction runs once daily in the background via WP-Cron, not on every page load, and autocomplete searches only your own site’s saved links, not a remote service.
Ready to speed up linking on your site? Download Block Editor External Links free, or see everything Block Editor External Links Pro adds.