Make it easier to rename post titles by adding the page title to the post panel

[hanneslsm]

What problem does this address?

Imagine this scenario:

• The user creates a new page and therefore switches to the page editor.
• On default the template is shown in the page editor ( https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/af2bccce-af84-4aa9-92be-dfd4fab54f88 )
• The template does not have a title block included
• It's nearly impossible to set the title of the new page. The only way I could find to do this without leaving the editor is the "Rename" Button, which is hidden behind the three dots menu. ( https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/dd541595-ccd9-4f8b-a547-dd0930f426d6 )

What is your proposed solution?

I'm sure there is already a bigger discussion here in Github about the "show template" feature, layouts and so which also includes this issue I'm describing here.
However, apart from all discussions, I propose a very simple solution:
Add the title in the post panel (that's what it's called, right?)

Quick mockup:

Here is a user flow that represents what one of my client has clicked and struggled to rename the page:

CleanShot.2025-07-30.at.08.12.21.mp4

[Mamaduka]

I know that the Document actions are relatively new, but Rename is already available there.

Screeenshot

[hanneslsm]

I know that the Document actions are relatively new, but Rename is already available there.

Thanks. I also found it after searching, but it took a while. I don't think this is a good place though and we can easily enhance the UX by putting it in the post panel.
I don't really see the reason behind why some actions are in the post panel and some are in the dots-menu (also noting that "Move to trash" is in both). It feels unorganized.
A more meaningful distinction could be:

• Page attributes for the current post type are in the post panel (that are related to the current page and let the user stay on the page)
• Actions that leads the user away from the current post type are in the dot menu (View, duplicate, move to trash)

One more argument for my suggestion is that the post panel is basically a copy from the known and proven quick edit from the old dashboard. Everything is the same… everything but the Title is missing (and the order)

[hanneslsm]

(and the order)

Actually, I've seen that the order is also in the dots menu. This also doesn't really make sense to me. But that's another issue.

[Mamaduka]

IIRC, the initial document settings proposal included an editable title, but it was later removed or wasn't implemented.

The "Move to Trash" button was removed after the actions were implemented, but later restored based on user feedback. See: #65087.

Actions that leads the user away from the current post type are in the dot menu.

IMO, that's okay, based on the action type.

cc @jameskoster, @jasmussen

[t-hamano]

Instead of adding the title editing UI to the sidebar, we may be able to add it to the command palette. See #70969

[hanneslsm]

Instead of adding the title editing UI to the sidebar, we may be able to add it to the command palette. See #70969

Both would be nice :) I see that some of my clients feel not comfortable with using the command palette yet and therefore a "classic view" where they see all attributes at once and where they can just click to change it is still needed, in my opinion.

[jameskoster]

This will duplicate the title in the Inspector which doesn't seem like an ideal use of space. Especially as titles can be long; in many cases the button is going to wrap.

[hanneslsm]

Thanks @jameskoster for your input, but I disagree.

which doesn't seem like an ideal use of space

I don't think ideal use of space is what we should focus on here but rather the user experience. Note that we have plenty of space at the bottom of the right sidebar. If space would be really an issue we could introduce a components panel with an arrow to hide some of the info which is a proven UX pattern in the editor. The three dots menu doesn't follow a guideline on when something is hidden behind it and when not. That's an issue I think and therefore we should rather place the page title where users would expect it.

Especially as titles can be long; in many cases the button is going to wrap.

This argument could also be made for long slugs, long author names, template names and parent names.

[davemart-in]

I conducted some usability testing on the editor. When asked to edit the post title, a few users first tried clicking the title text shown in the right sidebar.

That text isn’t interactive, so they didn’t immediately discover that the editable title field is in the editor canvas. None of them clicked the ... menu to reveal the "Rename" option.

Expected:
Clicking the title text in the sidebar should move focus to the post title field in the editor, making the correct editing location obvious. Optionally, we could add a new "title" option as suggested in this issue.

Actual:
Users click the title shown in the right sidebar expecting it to be editable, but nothing happens, causing confusion and slowing them down.

[jameskoster]

The page title is a h2, I'm not sure we should make it a button as well. It would be unclear how to navigate back to the Inspector panel via keyboard after triggering the button. Another option could be a dedicated Rename button:

I'm still not sure this needs to be super-prominent though. In most cases editing the title via the canvas/blocks is more ergonomic.

The command palette is another option, though #74045 needs to be factored into any decisions.

[hanneslsm]

Expected:
Clicking the title text in the sidebar should move focus to the post title field in the editor, making the correct editing location obvious.

This reminds me of the discussion how to rename blocks in the list view. Double click was pretty bad for a11y, that's why renaming blocks was put in the menu.

The page title is a h2, I'm not sure we should make it a button as well.

Why? I'm using h1 in my themes.

It would be unclear how to navigate back to the Inspector panel via keyboard after triggering the button.

What button are you referring to? If you're referring to the suggestion from @davemart-in, I also think that we could run into a11y issues.
It shouldn't be an issue if we add the title in the post panel though, as suggested in the original issue.

In most cases editing the title via the canvas/blocks is more ergonomic.

Not when a dedicated title block is not in the template. And depending on the theme that can happen very often.

Another option could be a dedicated Rename button

Personally I think this is yet another placed option. We have so many already…