Yoast SEO meta box is missing

If the meta box appears but it’s partially or completely blank, please see this article.

The Yoast SEO meta box gives you feedback and tools to optimize your SEO. You can find it below your content. But what if it isn’t there? How can you get it back? In this article, we’ll discuss two ways to solve this problem.

It could be that the Yoast SEO meta box is disabled on the edit screen. If you’re using the block editor, you can undo this by following these steps. If you’re using the classic editor, we’ll explain the steps here. The meta box could also have been disabled in the Yoast SEO settings. We’ll explain how you can enable it in the last part of this article.

Did you know the Yoast SEO Premium meta box comes with more extensive analyses and social previews as well? Compare the two versions here to make sure that you pick the version that fits your needs.

Edit screen (block editor)

If you’re using the block editor, the Yoast SEO meta box can be enabled/disabled on the edit screen. This setting is retained when you switch between the same type of edit screen and when you log out.

Log in to your WordPress website.
When you’re logged in, you will be in your ‘Dashboard’.
Go to the edit screen where the meta box is missing.
Click on the icon with the three dots in the upper right corner of your screen.
Click on ‘Preferences’ at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
Click on ‘Panels’ and switch the ‘Yoast SEO’ or ‘Yoast SEO Premium’ toggle on.

Edit screen (classic editor)

If you’re using the classic editor, the Yoast SEO meta box can be enabled/disabled on the edit screen. This setting is retained when you switch between the same type of edit screen and when you log out.

Log in to your WordPress website.
When you’re logged in, you will be in your ‘Dashboard’.
Go to the edit screen where the meta box is missing.
Click on ‘Screen Options’ in the upper right corner of your screen.
Check ‘Yoast SEO’ in the meta box.`

Yoast SEO settings

The Yoast SEO meta box could also have been disabled in the Yoast SEO settings. Follow these steps to check whether that’s the case and to change it.

Log in to your WordPress website.
When you’re logged in, you will be in your ‘Dashboard’.
Click on ‘Yoast SEO’.
On the left-hand side, you will see a menu. In that menu, click on ‘Yoast SEO’.
Click on ‘Settings’.
The ‘Yoast SEO’ settings will expand, providing you with additional options. Click on ‘Settings’.
Click on the content type or taxonomy you want to edit the settings for.
In the Yoast SEO settings menu, click on the content type (below the heading ‘Content types’) or taxonomy (below the heading ‘Categories & tags’) you want to enable/disable the Yoast SEO controls and assessments for.
Scroll down to ‘Additional settings’ and enable or disable the switch next to ‘Enable SEO controls and assessments’.
This will show or hide the Yoast SEO tools and controls in the content editor for the content type or taxonomy you selected.