WordPress Changes 2016 and 2017 – Accessing the Old System
Preamble
⇓ Accessing the Old System
Much of the old system still exists. For example the older and better “Classic Editor”, Dashboard, older Stats page, Post/Page Lists etc (see below). It is only the links from the new system that have been withheld. I presume, to give the appearance that the new system is preferred.
Any attempt to remove all access to the older, and generally preferred system, will surely be seen as a destructive act of belligerence against customers by WP.
The new system, which uses Rest-API (Application Programming Interface ⇐), makes “apps” programming easier, provides remote access and records a lot of information about our activities as bloggers. The information collected is potentially profitable as a saleable item. Perhaps that is why WP are so keen to force it on us. Allowing the old system to co-exist would probably mean replicating it using API. More about API and WordPress ⇐.
I don’t suppose that anyone would have minded the new API system if they hadn’t made such a hash of it.
Accessing the Old System
Please pass it on to any who might find it useful.
Two methods:-
1. Login to the Dashboard by using:-
https://yourblogname.wordpress.com/wp-admin/
Just copy the above to a notepad, replace yourblogname with your own blog name and then copy the result to your address bar (overwriting or deleting its current content) and then click on Go or Enter.
Example using my blog name. 
or :-
2. Thanks to a comment by notewords.wordpress.com, one can click on “WP Admin” at the bottom left of the new Stats Page and start from there.
Either way, your dashboard should then open and it is possible to use the left side menu to access all the old system, including a very old version of stats.
Do bookmark/favourite your Dashboard for ease of future use. .
.
The left side menu can be expanded to text, or slid back to icons, by using the lowest arrow button of the menu.
The menu includes the original Post Editor (Add New), Posts List (All Posts) etc.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
There is also access to a very old Site Stats.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
By using the right hand mouse button, any link can be opened in a new tab. More ↓.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I found it helpful to open a number of menu items in new Tabs and then bookmark/favourite for ease of future use. One can even create a Browser Folder of useful bookmarks, for each of one’s blogs, and use them as a custom menus.
One can log in to any part of old system by using the relevant Bookmark.
Always open the Reader in a new tab, to avoid getting trapped in the new system.
Using Bookmarks is very helpful if you find yourself trapped in the new system. It will also be helpful if WP start removing more links.
If you would like to make your views known about recent changes (and the more comments the better), the forum link is:.
https://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/stats-feedback/page/2?replies=52
All logged in WP bloggers have the right to use it.
About changes to the WP Reader ⇐.
WP Changes – Improved Workarounds
Sorry to redirect you but there have been developments that makes this easier at WordPress Navigation Links – Improved
No longer as relevant :-
This approach will, I hope, restore more enjoyment to blogging. More about WP Changes and What We Can Do to seek restoration of original function is here !
Meanwhile, the biggest problem is that the Reader is a catch-all. Log-in to it or click on any link to it and the Reader opens in the current Tab, then there is no way to the better Dashboard except via the “My-Sites” blue Mobile orientated User Interface. This approach solves that.
Note 1 : You can choose to Right-Click on any link and, from the pop-up menu, you can select “Open Link in new tab”. You might then need to select that Tab. A similar approach for Apple Mac.
Note 2: Everything here opens in a new Tab. Note:3 The “Refresh” button is usually found to the right of the address bar.
With the following approach it is possible to get away with using only one Tab, two Tabs to keep your Notifications Archive available and an occasional extra Tab for use of the Reader and/or Stats. Once one is familiar it becomes a new habit.
- Log-in to the your WP Dashboard:-
https:// {YourBlogName} .com/wp-admin/
You only need to do this once and then can Bookmark/Favourite it for future use. Once you have logged-in, you are automatically logged in to all of your UI pages. You can also log-out from there using the drop-down menu that appears when you hover the mouse pointer over your Gravatar.
- From there you have access to all the usual functions and can Right-Click “View All”, just beneath the graph, to open the better Stats page in a new Tab.
You can return to your Dashboard by closing the Stats Tab. Alternatively clicking on the Dashboard Tab, which keeps the Stats Tab open and saves reloading pages (although you will want to refresh Stats occasionally).
You can also choose a different blog from the drop down list adjacent to the small blue Home icon (top right) on the Stats page. Clicking on the Home icon automatically opens an Admin page in a new Tab.
- If you would like to add your Notifications Archive (the more useful view), open and Bookmark/Favourite the following for future use:-
https://wordpress.com/notifications
There is the option to keep that one extra Tab open for whenever/wherever the little bell lights-up. Just click on the Notifications Tab and refresh the screen.
- To add the Reader, without getting trapped, use the Note 1 tip above, or open and Bookmark/Favourite the following for future use:-
I’ve found that this approach works well but does require a small change of habit. If stuck, then one can always revert to the first Bookmark/Favourite (Dashboard), which you are still logged-in to.
If you would like more direct Links (e.g. My-Stats, older Stats, All Posts, New Post etc), please see:-
https://freedfromtime.wordpress.com/2015/01/27/help-with-wordpress-changes/
With thanks and credit to all those on the forums who initiated the idea.
At this stage, I do not think that these Links and/or this method will be tampered with. That would prove the intent to coerce and be contrary the CEO Matt Mullenweg’s own comments on About WordPress Changes and What We Can Do.
That post is still open for comments on the subject, which can be directed to the post subject or as a direct reply the Mr Mulenweg’s comment. The later, providing an opportunity, perhaps more useful.
Lastly; avoiding the new UI may well be helpful as any clicks to/from the new UI may be used to signify acceptance. The thrust of debate is that it is going to be better, for each endeavour, if the Mobile friendly UI is kept separate from the Desktop friendly UI.
Freed From Time 