Simple Social Icons

FAQ

What’s the difference between the widget and block variations?

The widget is the traditional way to add social icons and works on all WordPress versions (4.0+). It provides access to all available icons through a widget interface.

Block variations are a newer feature that extends the core Social Icons block (WordPress 6.9+). They only add icons that aren’t already in WordPress core, so you get both core icons and additional options. Block variations are automatically available when you add a Social Icons block in the block editor.

Both methods work independently — you can use either one, or both, depending on your site’s needs.

Will updating break my existing widget setup?

No. The widget functionality remains entirely unchanged. If you’re using the widget, updating to version 4.0.0 will not affect your existing setup in any way. Block variations are an additional feature that activates only on WordPress 6.9+ and do not interfere with widget behavior.

Which icons are available in widgets vs blocks?

Widget: All icons are available, including those already included in WordPress core (such as Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, etc.), plus all additional icons provided by this plugin.

Block Variations: Only icons NOT included in WordPress core are added as variations. This means you retain all core icons (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.) and gain the extra icons from this plugin (AntennaPod, Bloglovin, Diaspora, IMDB, Ko-fi, Phone, PayPal, and many more). This results in full icon coverage when using the block editor.

Can I use both widgets and blocks?

Yes. You can use both methods simultaneously. For example, you might place the widget in a sidebar while using block variations within your page or post content. They operate independently and do not conflict with each other.

Can I reorder the icons?

Yes, icons can be reordered with the use of a filter. See: https://github.com/copyblogger/simple-social-icons/wiki/Reorder-icons-in-version-2.0

Can I add an icon?

Yes, icons can be added with the use of a filter. See: https://github.com/copyblogger/simple-social-icons/wiki/Add-an-additional-icon-in-version-2.0

My icon styling changed after updating

If your theme includes custom icon styling, you can try adding this line to your functions.php file:

add_filter( 'simple_social_disable_custom_css', '__return_true' );

This will remove icon styling options in the widget settings, and prevent Simple Social Icons from overriding custom theme styling.

Which services are included?

Available in both Widgets and Blocks:

• Amazon
• Behance
• Bloglovin
• Bluesky
• Diaspora
• Dribbble
• Email
• Etsy
• Facebook
• Flickr
• Github
• Goodreads
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Mastodon
• Medium
• Meetup
• Phone
• Pinterest
• Reddit
• RSS
• Snapchat
• Substack
• Telegram
• Threads
• TikTok
• Tripadvisor
• Tumblr
• X (Twitter)
• Vimeo
• WhatsApp
• Xing
• YouTube

Available in Widgets only:

• Periscope (service no longer exists, kept for backward compatibility)

Available in Blocks only (WordPress 6.9+):

• IMDB
• Ko-fi
• Letterboxd
• Signal
• YouTube Music
• Pixelfed
• Matrix
• ProtonMail
• PayPal
• AntennaPod
• Fedora
• Google Photos
• Google Scholar
• Mendeley
• Notion
• Overcast
• Pexels
• Pocket Casts
• Strava
• WeChat
• Zulip
• Apple Podcasts
• Podcast Addict
• iVoox

Note: Blocks also include all WordPress core social icons (Amazon, Behance, Bluesky, Dribbble, Etsy, Facebook, Flickr, GitHub, Goodreads, Instagram, LinkedIn, Mastodon, Meetup, Medium, Pinterest, Reddit, Snapchat, Telegram, Threads, TikTok, Tumblr, X/Twitter, Vimeo, WhatsApp, YouTube, Email/Mail, RSS/Feed) plus the additional icons listed above. Widgets provide access to all icons listed in the “Available in both” section above.

NOTE – The rights to each pictogram in the social extension are either trademarked or copyrighted by the respective company.