How to Add Nofollow Links in WordPress (Block Editor, 2026)
I often need to add nofollow to post links, and for years that meant switching to the text editor and typing rel=”nofollow” by hand. In 2013 I even requested a nofollow checkbox for the WordPress link dialog in WordPress Ideas. WordPress core still doesn’t have one, but adding nofollow links in WordPress is now easy with the block editor and an SEO plugin. Here’s how in 2026.
Quick answer: Install an SEO plugin like Rank Math, AIOSEO or Yoast SEO, then in the block editor select the link text, click the link, and switch on the “nofollow” (or “sponsored”) toggle the plugin adds to the link popup. Without a plugin, choose the block’s three-dot menu > Edit as HTML and add rel="nofollow" to the link.
Table of Contents
When to use nofollow, sponsored and ugc
- rel=”sponsored”: affiliate, paid and sponsored links.
- rel=”ugc”: user-generated links, such as in comments and forums (WordPress adds nofollow and ugc to comment links automatically).
- rel=”nofollow”: any other link you don’t want to vouch for.
Since 2019 Google treats these as hints rather than strict rules, but using them correctly keeps you within its link guidelines.
Method 1: SEO plugin toggle in the block editor
- Install and activate Rank Math (or AIOSEO or Yoast SEO; check which version includes link toggles).
- Select text in a paragraph and add a link.
- Open the link settings and turn on Add rel=”nofollow” or Add rel=”sponsored”.
Rank Math can also nofollow all external links automatically under General Settings > Links, with exceptions for trusted domains.
Method 2: Edit as HTML
- Click the block, open the three-dot menu and choose Edit as HTML.
- Change
<a href="https://example.com">to<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">. - Switch back to Edit visually.
In the Classic Editor, use the Text tab the same way.
Method 3: Bulk add nofollow
For hundreds of existing links, use a link management or search-and-replace plugin, or an SEO plugin’s automatic external link settings. We covered an earlier approach in managing outbound links in WordPress.
FAQ
Does WordPress have a built-in nofollow option?
No. The block editor only offers “Open in new tab”. Use an SEO plugin or edit the HTML.
Should all external links be nofollow?
No. Link normally to helpful, trustworthy sources. Use nofollow or sponsored for paid, affiliate or untrusted links.
Do nofollow links help SEO?
They pass little or no ranking credit but can still bring traffic. See the benefits of nofollow links.
Thanks!! this will same a lot of time.
And time is money ;)
The plugins work great, looking forward to see the results due the no follow comments
Thank you for sharing this. It is really important to add a re=”No follow” on every link to make sure that you are not building links to bad neighborhood.
I was searching for this plugin. Thank you.
I very much fear of PANDA now.
Short and easily understandable post. I need this guide.
First thanks for sharing this information, really its very useful article for enable no follow link, it will really help to all newbies bloggers.
This article very useful for backlink creator. whose make real backlink for there website visitro
I am very new to this, I’ve only knew what nofollow and dofollow were, never knew they pose a danger regarding google PR. I am very thankful for the epic information you provided.
Thank you for sharing really useful tips to create no-follow links in WP. i have got here some new tips and would like to replicate them.
Thanks so much for this very useful post to enable nofollow in wordpress
Thanks for this nice article about adding No follow links.
Google Panda and Penguin have applied a lot of security to all sites and I think if we want to survive in blogging then we will have to give a look on these little things.
Great short but descriptive guide. Nice to know about this. Have to use in future.
It is good to know that we can add no follow link to the wordpress posts
Thanks for the tip on the plugin ive been looking for a easier way to add no follow for some time its such a pain doing it manually.
The Panda and Penguin updates sound scary, but there’s no reason to worry about cleaning out existing links unless you hear from Google in a WebmasterTools message.
DO worry about continuing the practices that can be penalized. I follow this simple rule.. I never automate conversation. This comment was written by me, never a bot, employee or service. I use tools to find interesting posts like this one, and then I don’t bother tracking the nofollow status on my blogs or the ones I post on.
Google knows where the no-follow links go, and uses them to rank authority. DoFollow is still better, but one thing is certain. REAL people follow REAL conversations.
Want to talk more? Google me, Find me on social media, or reply here. You’ll talk to the real me and we can have a real conversation :)
So well said.